***
Current level: 78.
Once I hit level 80, I can form a 4th Circle, so I'll be able to clear the fourth Fortuitous Encounter Quest by the end of the day.
For a while, I can keep leveling up quickly using Salamander's Tears, but even with fixed damage, the power of 3,000 attack strength falls short of 4th Circle level. After level 100, it won't shine much.
Still, pairing it with magic will allow slightly faster leveling than just fighting normally.
If the system hadn't put the brakes on my abnormal growth, I could've reached level 200 in no time. It's a shame in many ways.
For reference, while 4th Circle is at level 80, 5th Circle jumps to level 120, a big difficulty spike.
Level 160 for 6th Circle, level 200 for 7th Circle.
From 7th Circle on, you're called an archmage, and any country will promise you at least a baronial title to win you over. So my first goal is reaching level 200.
'Me becoming a 7th Circle archmage naturally means Arcia becomes an equivalent Aura Master.'
In a world with tech straight out of sci-fi, you might think magic is secondary and knights' swordplay is pointless, but that's not the case.
As technology advances, there are ways to massively amplify aura's power.
In other words, the moment I hit my first goal of level 200 is when I shed my wimpiness and reveal my true nature.
Of course, I need to take some measures to avoid suspicion of being Duke Lucas's Fortuitous Encounter beneficiary. I already have something in mind for that.
The timeline to reach level 200 is about two months.
Even on the battlefield, I'll log into the game whenever I get a chance, thick-skinned as ever.
"How long until Western Command?"
Sir Haman, the staff officer, stroked his neatly trimmed mustache and replied.
"If we keep this speed and route without changes, about three hours."
The armored train's top speed is 900 km/h, but for safety, we can't run at max.
The distance from Lawrence Territory in the northern kingdom to Western Command is around 1,600 km, so average about 500 km/h.
I nodded and stood up.
"Then I'll rest in my room for a bit. Message me on my terminal if anything comes up."
"Message?"
I pulled out my game login headgear and shook it confidently toward the puzzled Sir Haman.
"......"
A gesture anyone could see screaming "I'm gonna game."
Sir Haman and the staff officers all frowned.
But I countered with a look of genuine confusion.
"What's wrong? Any problem?"
The staff couldn't argue with me, the acting lord, whether they liked it or not.
"Man, the rumors are true...... You sure about this? The troops will see you as an incompetent commander."
But one man clicked his tongue without hesitation and voiced his mind: a burly knight named Dalton.
He was a high knight at 'Aura Expert' level and one of only ten 'Vanguards' in Lawrence Barony, so his words carried weight.
The atmosphere inside the train plummeted in an instant.
Knight and mage rankings are as follows.
1-2nd Circle (apprentice mage) = Mana User (apprentice knight)
3-4th Circle (regular mage) = Aura User (regular knight)
5-6th Circle (high mage) = Aura Expert (high knight)
7th Circle, Wizard (archmage, title) = Aura Master (knight captain, title)
8th Circle, Grand Wizard (archmage, title) = Grand Master (knight captain, title)
9th Circle, Lord Wizard (archmage, title) = Lord Master (knight captain, title)
As a high knight, he equated to a 5-6th Circle mage. 'Vanguard' meant special forces equipped with tactical gear like 'Force Armor' and 'Force Sword.'
Vanguards are the core of warfare and the top priority in assessing a nation's military power.
But even a Vanguard reacting to me, the acting lord, was blatant insubordination.
If my guard knight Bison were here, he'd flip out.
"Sir Dalton. Watch your words."
Stepping in for Bison was Knight Order Vice-Captain Billiam, who had stayed silent until now.
He was a Vanguard like Dalton and the commander leading the knights on this expedition.
"It's not wrong, is it? Rumors already paint a bad picture, and now dragging a woman along, gaming on the way to the battlefield. Well, she's pretty, so I get it."
"Tch."
Sir Billiam glared murderously, and bear-like Dalton scowled hard before backing down.
"My subordinate overstepped. My apologies."
Sir Billiam then politely gestured to my headgear, acting all understanding.
"A long trip needs some entertainment. Plenty of soldiers are probably playing cards together. No need for the acting lord to mind his men's glares."
His tone was fine, but his eyes were ice cold.
I had no intention of caring what they thought anyway.
"Message me when we arrive."
"Understood."
I headed to my private room without a care.
Arcia followed naturally, as if it were obvious.
I felt countless stares on my back, but I was used to this and didn't twitch.
* * *
[You have reached level 80.]
[You will be transported to the secret space by the goddess Ariel.]
While the armored train headed to its destination, I successfully hit level 80 and moved to the first floor of Manuel Lucas's mage tower, managed by the Fortuitous Encounters.
Fortuitous Encounter Quests don't end just by leveling up.
For full clear, you must defeat a special named monster.
[Fortuitous Encounter Quest Stage 4]
Conditions: Reach level 80 (Cleared), 'Slay Demi-Lich Emus'
Reward: Unlock 5th floor of Manuel Lucas's mage tower
This time, it featured a lich-type monster infamous for being tough to hunt.
At least Demi-Liches are known to be dumber than regular liches with slower casting speeds.
"Well come, prey."
But the Demi-Lich we faced looked perfectly intact, not half-baked at all.
Its clear speech was proof, and......
"Stone Curse! Icicle Lance!"
Had it precasted? Before we could even ready for battle, it bound Arcia's feet with Stone Curse and unleashed the piercing spell Icicle Lance at me, showing cunning and quick wits.
"Master!"
Arcia broke the curse fast, but blocking the attack spell too looked tough.
"Hup!"
If only I could use Salamander's Tear, but regrettably, this trial required pure skill.
[Consumable attack items such as bombs or scrolls cannot be used.]
A message I once ignored, but now it hit like a bone-deep rule.
-Boom!
"Argh!"
I dodged, but Icicle Lance pierced my shoulder.
The worst pain among all Fortuitous Encounter trials so far—my mind went white, barely holding sanity.
"Hahaha! Where ya going! Fireball!"
But hearing the Demi-Lich's annoying laugh overlapped it with Cedric, my nemesis.
Now that I noticed, its voice sounded just like Cedric's?
Miraculously, the crushing pain faded, strength filled my fists, and my head cleared.
-Whoosh!
Meanwhile, Fireball flew with a roar. I dodged with startling agility and charged the Demi-Lich.
-Kaboom!
The scorching Fireball shoved my back, and Arcia, caught up with shield raised, surged ahead.
In that time, I cast 3rd Circle recovery spell Healing on the Demi-Lich.
Healing heals humans but is a great attack on undead like liches.
"Gaaah!"
The smug Demi-Lich screamed.
Its casting delayed, and I swung my magic staff, beating it with Arcia.
"A m-mage swinging a staff?!"
It never imagined I'd close in for melee, panicking as it tried to cast.
-Thwack! Thwack! Smack!
"Die! You Cedric-like bastard!"
But outnumbered 2:1, it failed casts repeatedly. When I infused light attribute to our gear, its Cedric-like screams grew louder.
'The best way to fight a lich without a cleric.'
Gang up with melee beatdowns.
"Urk! Fire Wall!"
Panicked by our unexpected response, the lich desperately cast 4th Circle Fire Wall to create distance.
We were 3rd Circle mages, yet our opponent used 4th Circle.
"Die!"
"Y-you madman?"
I plunged through the flames without hesitation, swinging my staff.
As a mage trusting my magic resistance, I was sure this wouldn't kill me.
-Smack!
"Argh!"
Hot oil poured over my body, but oddly, its scream eased the pain.
No more rolling from one Icicle Lance.
* * *
They say adrenaline dulls pain in battle.
Was that me?
"Grah!"
Successfully beating the Demi-Lich to death with Arcia, I cheered.
But the cheer turned to a scream soon after. As berserker-like excitement faded, agony tore through my body.
[Fortuitous Encounter Quest Stage 4 cleared.]
If named monster hunts build real combat experience, this was spot on.
Crawling on the floor—pathetic sight?
Arcia opened my inventory without permission and fed me a Healing Potion.
A supporter accessing her master's inventory on her own.
Proof she was special.
[The conditions to unlock the next area of the mage tower have been met. Manuel Lucas's mage tower 5th floor unlocked.]
[Will you ascend to the 5th floor of Manuel Lucas's mage tower?]
Healing Potion effect or adrenaline from the message? Pain eased enough to stand.
I nodded and headed up. A more splendid, grand space welcomed me.
"Oh?"
But what caught my eye most was the treasure chest with the strongest presence.