Chapter 34: Departure

 

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Alice's POV

As the arm of the clock reached midnight, The sound of cheers erupted in one room, as a celebration of one's birthday for a young boy.

Maids including butlers, however, were the only ones singing for him, and his father that's nowhere to be seen but known working in his office.

His father officially wanted to invite people to celebrate his birthday, but Alfonso refused saying that it was a bother. Antelmo easily agreed since there would be still a second time when Alfonso turns 15 that he'll need to properly celebrate his age ceremony. Turning 13 was only saying that he is now open to their family's obligations like their traditions, going out like an adult to make a name for themselves, similar to that of an age ceremony.

They'll only be able to come back home again when it's their last coming of age. And if they still didn't make a name for themselves at that period of time. They basically failed and would either be punished or exiled from the family until they make a name for themselves.

In simple terms, the event was no other but an occasion for Alfonso finally turning 13 but amidst this, One petite girl with white hair stood quietly as she watched Alfonso who was being cheered on.

With the earlier memories of him vomiting still clear in her mind, she couldn't help but think about it.

When she saw Alfonso win a fight with Reinhardt, she was proud of him at that time. Having seen the things she taught to him, a sense of pride welled inside her. Just how many days did he train so hard? She couldn't even count how much blood, sweat, and tears that he endured. She could say that Alfonso was happy when he received his reward after watching and knowing him for the past two months.

However, when she saw him vomit, she realized that when he fought Reinhardt and the other knights. He faced a backlash from it but hid it from people.

Seeing how hard he tries just to maintain the expectations of people around him, especially his father, pained her.

"No wonder he didn't drink his tea earlier..." She quietly muttered. Thinking that if he drank it, he would have immediately vomited.

Her heart then welled for some reason because of how hard Alfonso is trying. To the point of not even taking care of himself.

She wanted to at least ease his worries, but no words could come out of her mouth. He might appear cold on the outside but Alice knew that he only does that to look like a respectable noble. A noble that his father aspires him to be.

Alice could say that Alfonso was truly kind and because of that she wholly appreciated him. After all, even though she was just adopted, Alfonso treated her equally unlike her past siblings who looked down on her for having a commoner's blood in her. That itself touched her.

Still... An invisible wall could be felt because of how difficult it was to connect with Alfonso. But she also felt warm that he trusted her enough to see a weak side of him in the alley. Was it a coincidence that he threw up suddenly?

Alice thought that it was not since he let her follow him, knowing that he needed her assistance at that time.

Although such speculation started popping out of her mind, she soon clenched her hands.

"I should work harder and more diligently like Lord Brother"

She spoke with her eyes screaming that of determination.

|"Just once I come back again promise me that you master sword auras"|

After remembering Alfonso's words and her promise, her motivation only grew as she aspired to impress him when he comes back.

She then soon snapped out of her thoughts and focused on the present only this time, with a clear goal in her mind.

"Before he goes... I should..."

Behind her thoughts and opinion of him, Alfonso who was just silent was soon left confused as to why he was getting points from Alice out of nowhere.

(You received 40 points!)

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Alfonso's POV

‹Oh... Another point?› I muttered under my breath, confused by the sudden point I just shook my head in response and checked my status.

‹That's a lot of points› I thought, and after I reminisced how Reinhardt, and how other people changed their view of me. It was no surprise for me to have such amount of points.

"..."

Anyway, I haven't noticed it because I was too focused on playing the piano and the memories of Alfonso before but the level of my skills in instruments increased from 70 which was labelled unknown to 200.

‹I didn't know that Alfonso could have such talent. Guess what he suffered from paid off›

I complimented in awe since I knew that I was not that good at playing instruments since I rarely did them. The only speculation I could come up with was that it was Alfonso's talent. After witnessing his past, I did not doubt it.

As for the points that I have accumulated so far. I think it's time to use it for my future travel in hunting the group of assassins.

𝔻𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣𝕤

The name of the group and quest I was given by the system to eradicate. A group that's hidden in the middle of the forest with only assassins being trained and taking missions that they get from the assassins' hall. They basically created an assassin hall in other places to get legal missions, but their main place is the one hidden underground. That's why in the game, even though you destroyed their hall to stop being assassinated by the nobles that hate you, they will keep on coming unless you destroyed and killed everyone in their main territory.

They were also one of the people who joined the demon forces and made the mission of winning against the demons harder, in the game, it was necessary to kill them all as early as possible before they could grow even more and spread all over the world as they slowly corrupt the nobles. Especially the boss, he has no other desire but to destroy the world for being treated like shit by people in his past.

I could understand his rage, however, I want to live.

He might have been treated by the people harshly before, however, that's none of my fucking business. If you want to be miserable, why drag others down?

I know I'm being unreasonable since I'm not in his shoes, and I don't fully comprehend his suffering. To be honest, I do pity him when I recall his backstory.

But yeah... It's none of my business.

I thought, then soon shrugged my thoughts away as I finally focused on my goals.

‹Shop›

I said inside my head before the system appeared in front of my eyes.

After seeing the words popping out of my sight, I then thought of clicking open beside abilities, and quickly, multiple lists of choices appeared.

‹Memorize...›

I uttered inside my head.

It was an ability in the game where you can memorize things in an instant by only looking at them for one second. Similar to a photographic memory. It's an ability that can help you tremendously in the game to pass academics easily and just focus on training.

I haven't been able to explain but, some of the abilities, potions, and skills that can be bought with points in the system had similarities with the game but most of them for me are unknown.

The game's system and the system I have right now have huge differences. Like the things I can buy and how can the system help me heal using points, unlike in the game, you cannot.

Still, the system is a huge help for me to develop my strength further. But my only problem is that... The system's powerful abilities and skills that give me can't handle my body.

Almost all of them are beyond what my body can handle even though it's already strengthened to a point right now. Even the basic swordsmanship book I bought that cost me 500 points had me a hard time adjusting my body to the first form. The only form I have mastered so far was one.

A technique I used to defeat the knights and Reinhardt, was the form called 'heaven's footstep' that made me agile in performing my swordsmanship. Combined with the abilities I bought from the system, it made my attacks and movements look elegant and at the same time powerful.

Even though I was able to quickly learn them by the use of the system, and the techniques and movements I need to do are already in my head, mastering them and performing them was different. Let's also mention how my body also needs to adjust to performing the skills, it's a hard and painful process. I always end up making my bones break or tearing my flesh apart. Just adjusting my body, that's what I've been doing for these past two months as I continuously improve my elemental ability and psychokinesis.

My only solution for them to be able for me to freely use them is by increasing my rank or acquiring items, traits, and abilities that could strengthen my body.

However, I'm not in a rush to increase my rank, since I still need to properly build my foundation or else... Even though I became high ranked my foundation would crumble if I don't master the basics first.

As I have mentioned, skills, talents, and how you fight are much more important in this world than ranks only. The only option I have right now is to make my body able to handle the system's powerful abilities and skills as I slowly climb up higher in rank.

"..."

Anyway, as for my purpose.

I'm going to buy Memorize today. Reason? Well, there's a ton of reason, it's because I don't want to keep memorizing shits and because it could greatly benefit me in solving other things.

‹It would be cool if I'm called a genius right?›

I thought while inwardly chuckling.

Without wasting any more time, I then bought Memorize.

‹This will also become handy in the future› I inwardly muttered only for my thoughts to be abrupted by a voice.

"Lord Brother"

With my elegant legs crossed and my cold gaze, I swiftly turned to look at the girl who sat beside me.

"What is it, Alice?"

I spoke.

"Uuhhmm..." with a muffled voice she then shyly twirled her hair as her eyes looked everywhere.

"I just want to say before you go, I really enjoyed spending my time with you Lord Brother... And..."

She then lowered her head before continuing with a felt heart words, "Thank you! Really..."

Looking at her, my cold and indifferent gaze suddenly loosened it was brief but my indifferent gaze quickly took over again. However, the inside could not be said the same, since a warm feeling was quietly swelling inside me.

I understand why Alice is thanking me, well... It's probably because of how I treated her better than her past siblings did. And since I'm departing for who knows how long, she at least wanted to express that she is grateful to me.

In return, I only replied to her in a playful manner,

"Are you perhaps trying to woo me because you're not confident in mastering sword aura?"

To her response, she let out a groan while pouting.

"Hhmmpp!"

Only for me to follow it with, "Ah... looks like I won't leave the recipe for your favourite food" making her hastily react.

"Wha- Nooo! Lord Brother!!!"

Looking at her cute cheeks puffing, I could only inwardly chuckle.

I've been trying to make her learn sword aura because there was a time in the story of the game when Alice had a huge scar on her body and mentioned that she had it for exhausting her mana while fighting and doesn't know any other method to protect herself but use mana. Which led to her becoming defenseless.

So I wondered, what if she used sword aura that time and knows a little bit about melees? Would it prevent her from having such problems in the future?

I carefully analyzed it. Since I can't also let Alice die. She could have an important role in the future even though she was only a side character or extra. But her overwhelming talent for being a mage is no joke and could help me in the future. That's... If she'll become my ally.

My relationship with her might be good right now but I still can't let my guard down and let the possibility of me being killed by her.

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It didn't take long before the cheers stopped and how the celebration ended. It was quite stressful for me to see so many disdainful commoners like maids and butlers, I never even touched the food they prepared. Only foods that Mary brought for me.

Though, it's quite manageable now. Is it because of how opening up with Mary? Or was it also because of Alice? Nonetheless, it's a good thing unlike before when I feel completely disgusted by them that I would want to go out and feel like vomiting. However, ever since I saw Alfonso's memories. I now completely understand why he acts the way he is.

With that in thought, a female voice then sounded behind me.

"My Lord we're departing"

It was no other but Mary with noticeable seals embedded in both of her hands. Night have already passed as new morning fell and the people inside the mansion have formerly gotten outside to pay respect for my departure. That includes Alice and Antelmo.

I then nodded as I stood up, whilst Mary opened the door for me.

With light piercing my skin I'm immediately greeted by bowing maids and some butlers lined up forming a way for me.

At the end of it was Alice and Antelmo standing beside a normal-looking carriage waiting for me.

Soon my foot finally stepped forward as Mary followed me behind.

While walking I checked every status of the maids and butlers.

Most of them were ranked Grandmasters and Legends but their ages were 70 and above yet their youthful appearance stayed the same, compared to Mary who is already Legend and only 22 years old just shows how talented she is. Whilst some of the butlers under my father had an unknown rank that my system cannot determine because of how low my rank is.

Without a halt, my footsteps continuously echoed, with a dignified posture I finally came front to front with the carriage as I turned to meet Antelmo and Alice's gaze.

 

 

With my gaze that's cold as ice, I stared into Antelmo's vacant eyes.

Looking at him I still can't get over how youthful he looks despite his age showing he is 212 years old, he just looked like a middle-aged man. Soon, however, I quickly disregard my thoughts away.

"I'll be going now Patriarch," I said as he nodded in response.

I then followed my gaze toward Alice and said my farewell too.

"I'll be going now"

"Good luck Lord Brother! Don't worry because when you come back, I'll be much stronger than you in swords" Alice joked.

While I couldn't help but give a faint smile at her response. Thinking how ridiculous her statement is. For some reason, warmth surged in my heart that someone like Alice had a genuine concern for me while departing. Especially after what she said to me last night.

I even questioned if it was because of Alfonso's feelings toward her. I found it strange because Alfonso has a weak spot for her. Like as if I've always yearned for a sibling. I unconditionally felt like I want to make her smile and be closer to her but the thought of her having a blood commoner in her just greatly affected and stopped my actions in doing so. After getting closer to her though the more I could intensely feel these emotions.

So...

"Yeah sure," I said. However, before I could turn my back on them, all of them had bewildered expressions on their faces, and at the same time, the system rang inside my ears.

 

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[+20 points! You impressed one person]

[+20 points!].... +20...

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I was left speechless, only to realize that my lips have faintly curved up. However, I could only disregard their reactions as I quickly turned and went inside the carriage with Mary.