****
“Commander?”
I voiced my doubt upon seeing a knight who had knocked cautiously, cracked the door open, and peeked his head inside.
“What is it?”
To my cold question, he scratched his head awkwardly and replied.
“I sensed a strange energy from inside.”
I flinched inwardly but feigned nonchalance as I showed him the rings on my finger.
“I was just checking the artifacts for any anomalies, so no need to worry.”
“I see. Understood.”
The knight closed the door and withdrew without further suspicion.
Letting out a small sigh, I opened my subspace and drew out a one-handed sword.
[Eastro Arming Sword]
Material: Mithril + Dragonbone
Function: Amplifies and releases aura.
Special Function: Aura storage
Output: 3.0
Description: A force sword crafted by Duke Lucas for the fortuitous one.
It has an embedded mechanism for storing aura, allowing anyone to use force by charging it.
However, releasing force using its own stored aura lasts only about 15 seconds.
Viewing the equipment’s detailed description through the magic mirror, I let out an exclamation of admiration.
“As expected of Duke Lucas…”
Just as I thought, it was the force sword that served as the vanguard’s main attack weapon.
Its high output was impressive, but what amazed me was that anyone could temporarily wield the vanguard’s power for 15 seconds simply by pre-charging it like a battery.
After all, the reason only knights could become vanguards was aura.
A vanguard’s force equipment amplified a knight’s aura, which—unlike mana—could not be artificially produced.
Thus, force equipment became the exclusive domain of knights, a key factor in elevating their value.
Yet here was a technology that could process aura.
News that would make knights freak out.
Of course, the release time was a paltry 15 seconds, but if used wisely in bursts, it could enable over ten attacks. No wonder it was revolutionary.
There was no need to think of it as equipment solely for Arcia.
If I stored aura in my own gear, it would prove a great asset in emergencies.
‘I can see why people are so obsessed with Duke Lucas’s technology.’
On the flip side, as it could disrupt the established order, those in power would likely view it with disdain.
Next, I pulled out the magic staff and robe to inspect them.
No way this function was on mage equipment too, right?
[Special Function: Aura storage]
The magic staff and magic robe had the same feature.
“Whoa…”
*
It had been two weeks since I, representing Viscount Lawrence’s family, led the territorial army to the front lines facing the Croisen Empire.
The tense atmosphere on the verge of war had vanished somewhere, leaving only a boring stalemate.
The leadership of both nations issued daily media statements condemning the other, stoking a hostile mood, but the front lines remained peacefully quiet regardless.
Thanks to that, I could immerse myself in the game even more comfortably than back at the territory.
[LV. 140]
“As expected, this is the limit for a two-man party.”
But like all RPGs, Chronicle Online’s leveling speed slowed as time passed.
After reaching 5th Circle, Salamander’s Tear no longer helped much in battle, so I stopped using it after level 130.
Thus, Arcia and I hunted using the standard warrior + mage two-man party strategy.
Even with money poured into it, our leveling was faster than a typical duo but far from satisfactory.
“Am I being ungrateful?”
Any mage who spent a lifetime struggling for even 1st Circle advancement would surely curse me, asking if that was all I found hard.
“Let’s call it here for today.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
After hitting level 140 and logging out, I took the water cup Arcia handed me as usual and drained it.
“Mm…”
Arcia received the empty cup familiarly, set it on the table, and stood quietly by the door, watching me.
She always waited like this after gaming sessions for our stroll around the command post.
Now fully a part of me, I donned the Myriad Mirror and rose from my seat.
[Arcia of Heavenly Steel / Aura Expert]
Race: Homunculus
Age: 1
Affiliation: Commoner of Lawrence Territory, Reinhartz Kingdom
Talents: Physical Ability (Supreme), Aura (Supreme), Learning Capacity (Supreme), Intellect (High), Empathy (Medium), Mana (Low), Spirit Affinity (Low)
Traits: Close Combat, Defensive Ability, Auto-Recovery
Relationship: Favorable / Absolute Obedience
Status: Feeling good.
All information flowed in through the Myriad Mirror.
At first, it was disorienting and eye-straining, inducing nausea, but for my safety, I forced myself to wear it until I adapted.
Now the nausea and dizziness had largely subsided.
Of course, long wear still caused headaches, but even those were easing bit by bit.
Didn’t someone say it?
Humans are animals of adaptation.
A crude method, but the Myriad Mirror was worth it.
‘A dog?’
As we began our stroll, Arcia’s status shifted to ‘Feeling good,’ drawing a hollow chuckle from me.
Such reactions suggested even homunculi had emotions.
They simply lacked strong individuality due to unknowns, but they clearly felt likes and dislikes.
Though they never showed it outwardly, the Myriad Mirror revealed frequent status changes, so I couldn’t dismiss them as mere artificial humans.
As Arcia and I walked the corridors, maids paled and scattered, while patrolling soldiers and knights snapped to attention.
“The escort is fine.”
“Understood.”
I waved off the knights who tried to follow and exited the brigade headquarters.
The temporary buildings stacked from containers stretched in a line, imposing in their own way, but the motley uniforms betrayed their nature as territorial troops, lacking uniformity.
I strolled leisurely through the camp, drawing many stares due to Arcia’s striking appearance.
Reaching the camp’s outskirts unveiled a vast plain stretching unobstructed.
Rondel’s lands were vast, divided among few nations—whether larger than Earth originally or not, every natural feature felt immense.
Just gazing upon it brought a sense of wide-open freedom.
“Nice.”
For reference, this world—where 16 of 20 nations ran on feudalism, rife with inequities—surpassed Earth’s rulers in their regard for nature alone.
Whether due to real gods or deep gratitude for nature, even rivers by major cities stayed pristine first-class water, reflecting an extreme aversion to pollution.
Thus, nature purification magic and related tech were treated as national basics. Even after war ravaged areas to ruin, mages and clerics were dispatched post-armistice to zealously restore it.
An ethos Earth’s development-first leaders desperately needed.
[Status: Feeling very good]
Checking Arcia’s status as she stared blankly at the plain, I snickered.
“Um…”
How long had we walked?
Just as I thought it time to head back, a man in a green uniform—clearly a knight—approached hesitantly.
“What is it?”
In this camp, green uniforms marked the Otis Count household.
Wondering if the division commander had summoned me, I voiced my question.
“If it’s alright, would you care for a drink together?”
“Pardon?”
Bewildered by the sudden offer, I checked his status via Myriad Mirror. Emotions like ‘embarrassment’ and ‘shame’ popped up, mismatched to his words.
Glancing around, I spotted a group in green uniforms watching from afar, smirking mischievously.
“Those guys behind you put you up to it, huh?”
At my question, the slender, not particularly burly knight flinched dramatically.
Not inclined to play along, I shook my head to brush him off.
[Allen Lopez / Aura User]
Race: Human
Age: 20
Affiliation: Regular Knight of Otis Territory, Reinhartz Kingdom
Talents: Mana (Supreme), Learning Capacity (High), Intellect (High), Aura Sense (Medium), Physical Ability (Low), Aura (Medium), Empathy (Low), Spirit Affinity (Low)
Traits: Rapid Calculation Processing
His odd info halted my steps.
“Why become a knight?”
The question slipped out unbidden.
Misinterpreting my intent, Knight Allen Lopez flushed.
“I apologize for the rudeness, but I don’t think I deserve such words.”
I felt awkward, as that wasn’t my meaning.
His talents and traits screamed mage, not knight—that’s what puzzled me.
In scanning countless people so far, aside from homunculus Arcia, I’d never seen dual high-grade talents.
Yet he had supreme mana, plus a rare trait.
I wanted to ask why waste it tailing other knights…
“My apologies.”
Did I really need the connection?
Nodding to Arcia to move on, I resumed my leisurely pace.
“You could’ve achieved great things as a mage.”
Still, passing him, I couldn’t help voicing my regret. Lopez stared at me in shock.
“Hey, you knights—cut the annoying antics.”
For good measure, before entering the barracks, I didn’t forget to warn the meddlesome knights.