Ch.3131. How Long Must I Live with This Bomb Strapped to Me?

“That guy, he’s always been weird.”

“…Is that so?”

“What do you think is weird about him?”

“His obsession with becoming stronger is far too intense.”

“That’s much better than being obsessed with me, isn’t it?”

“…Pardon?”

“Never mind. So that’s what’s troubling you?”

“Ah… yes, he’s so immersed in training that he’s harming his own body.”

Luna’s obsession with strength is ultimately beneficial to the protagonist, Serion Lykus, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it seems Rio is worried as her instructor.

Still, what can be done?

After all, she’s destined to be a companion of the protagonist who will protect the continent someday. He’ll have to endure it.

“If you’re that worried, just reduce her training time.”

“I’ve already tried that. However, she spends all her free time training, so reducing scheduled training makes no difference.”

“Hah… so that’s your concern?”

“Yes, lately I’ve been so preoccupied with worrying about her that I can’t even focus on my own training.”

Luna becoming stronger is good, but Rio’s training being disrupted is another matter entirely.

With no other choice, I nodded.

“Alright then. Riden, go fetch what I asked for earlier, and Rio, bring Luna here.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll be right back.”

A moment later, Luna entered the study alone after knocking.

Even from a distance, I could see her palms were covered in burst blisters, and her overall appearance was terrible.

Now I understood why Rio was so worried.

“Luna, how have you been?”

“Young master, I’ve missed you.”

“Haha… I hear you’ve been quite devoted to your training lately?”

“Yes, I need to become stronger so I can stay by your side, young master.”

Is it because she couldn’t accompany me this time?

Is that why she’s obsessed with becoming stronger?

I adjusted my posture while seated in the chair.

“Luna, even if you had become stronger, you couldn’t have accompanied me this time.”

“W-why not?”

“My reputation is already that of a scoundrel. What would people think if I traveled alone with a female attendant?”

“That’s true, but…”

“What I’m saying is that the reason you couldn’t accompany me has nothing to do with your strength.”

Luna trembled, her blistered hands shaking as she began to tear up.

“Then when will I be able to accompany you, young master…?”

“I’ll try to take you along on the next trip.”

“R-really? Do you mean it?”

“But in exchange, you need to train in moderation. If your hands are in this condition, I can’t take you even if I want to.”

“…I understand.”

“That’s all I wanted to say. Go rest now.”

“Yes, and please don’t overexert yourself either, young master.”

As Luna left the study, I felt the tension naturally dissipate.

How long must I live with this ticking time bomb…?

If the Blood Massacre activates within the mansion, the consequences would be unimaginable.

I need to find a solution as quickly as possible.

‘Come to think of it…’

Even when reading the novel, I often felt sorry for the protagonist dealing with an uncontrolled Luna.

Of course, I never dreamed I would end up in his position.

I lifted my head to look at the study ceiling, sighed, then quickly got to my feet.

Sitting around doing nothing won’t solve anything.

“Padericks!”

Padericks, who had been waiting outside the study, rushed in at my call and bowed.

“How may I serve you?”

“Have Jawil Wilson wait for me.”

*

Kueeeek!

┗+1 Vitality has increased.

┗+1 Agility has increased.

Now both my vitality and agility exceed 50.

As I looked at the system window with a faint smile, Jawil Wilson behind me raised his voice between gasps.

“Y-young master, please slow down…”

“Why are you so sluggish?”

“It’s because your stamina is extraordinary, young master. How do you never tire?”

“I need to get stronger quickly, that’s why.”

Kweeeeek!!

┗+1 Mana has increased.

━You have acquired Immunity to All Poisons.

I’m getting Immunity to All Poisons now?

If I had obtained this before meeting the “Poison Lady,” I could have visited the Honghua Tower with much more peace of mind.

Well, I suppose it will come in handy someday.

Moreover.

My mana stat, which previously didn’t increase even when killing magical beasts, has started rising steadily as if a meridian has opened.

I feel like if I could just learn high-level magic skills, I might be able to take down powerful magical beasts simultaneously.

Though I doubt skills will just conveniently appear with a “pop” whenever I want them.

“Phew…”

By the way, with these stats and skills, could I possibly face Luna if her Blood Massacre activates?

If I could overcome her, I wouldn’t need to put on an act to reduce her affection deficit score anymore.

Swoosh-!

Turning my head, I saw that all the magical beasts around us had already been cleared out.

Jawil Wilson, seemingly relieved, leaned against a tree and took a deep breath.

“If we kill all the magical beasts like this, we won’t make any money…”

“If I had intended to capture them alive, I would have brought more people.”

“So today we’re just hunting magical beasts?”

“Yes, since we came to explore unfamiliar territory. Just collect the magic stones separately.”

At my words, Jawil Wilson’s jaw dropped in shock.

“Y-young master! If this is for exploration, isn’t it more dangerous than usual?”

“Well, it could be since we’re not in familiar territory.”

“Then why did you bring me instead of Sir Rio?”

After returning from Cheonsonji, I realized something clearly.

While Jawil Wilson may be less capable than Rio at present, he’s someone who can stay by my side for life, so I need to help him grow stronger.

That way, he’ll be useful in the future.

“Just because you’re weaker than Rio now doesn’t mean you’ll be weak forever.”

“Th-that’s true?”

“I’m with you because I believe you’ll become stronger. So live up to my expectations.”

“I will!”

Jawil Wilson’s eyes sparkled.

It was just a casual remark, but his response was better than expected.

After a brief rest, we started moving again.

“By the way, did your conversation with Padericks go well?”

“Ah, Butler Padericks was quite persistent with his questioning. I had a hard time making excuses.”

“But you didn’t tell him, right?”

“Of course not!! You said you wouldn’t take me to the pleasure district again if I told Butler Padericks!”

“Good job. I don’t want to deal with that hassle either.”

As we were talking, we both suddenly froze.

The atmosphere around us changed instantly.

Jawil Wilson pointed behind me and shouted.

“Y-young master!! There’s a hobgoblin over there!!”

A hobgoblin is the strongest type of goblin.

Turning my head, I noticed the impressive black axe in its right hand.

Unlike regular goblins, hobgoblins don’t live in groups.

“Wow, I thought there were only regular goblins in our territory, but we have these too?”

“This is no time for admiration. There might be more hobgoblins nearby, so we need to take it down quickly.”

I sheathed my sword and nodded at Jawil Wilson.

“What are you waiting for? Go get it.”

“…Me?”

“Remember what I said earlier? I believe you’ll become stronger.”

While it is a stronger type of goblin, Jawil Wilson has enough skill to handle it.

The problem is his anxiety about facing one for the first time.

He needs to overcome such fears.

“Young master, could I perhaps take on the next hobgoblin instead of this one?”

“What difference does that make?”

“I don’t even know how hobgoblins fight or their patterns.”

“Neither do I. Besides, in real combat, you never know what variables you’ll face.”

After pleading a few more times, Jawil Wilson reluctantly stepped forward as the hobgoblin approached.

Clang-! Clang-!

At first glance, they seemed evenly matched, but Jawil Wilson’s sword gradually overpowered the hobgoblin’s axe.

And then.

Keuek!

With a short scream, the hobgoblin was finished by Jawil Wilson’s sword.

It seems he has grown a little from his diligent training.

“Young master!! Hahaha!! This hobgoblin was actually quite eas—”

Jawil Wilson proudly raised his sword toward me but suddenly froze.

The combat noise must have been quite loud, as hobgoblins had begun to surround us.

I opened my palm and cast Fireball.

Kueok-! Kweek!

Perhaps due to my increased mana, the flames of this low-level spell refused to die out easily.

I charged with my sword at a hobgoblin that had luckily escaped the inferno and quickly dispatched it.

Kweeeeek-! Keueek-!

Green hobgoblin blood covered my entire body.

Despite being goblins, they had a much stronger stench that seemed to penetrate my nostrils.

“Hmm…”

Until now, this area had been considered too dangerous, even excluded from joint monster hunting plans with the Familia family.

However, if even Jawil Wilson can handle these creatures with ease, I could bring a group of knights here without much concern.

Before that, perhaps I should thin out the hobgoblin numbers a bit?

“By the way, Jawil Wilson, what were you saying after killing that hobgoblin?”

As I wiped the green blood from my face with the back of my hand, Jawil Wilson stared at me blankly before gulping.

“N-nothing, sir. Let’s continue hunting.”