episode_0003

Surprisingly, it wasn’t my imagination.

[Unbelievable Achievement! You…]

[Unthinkable Achievement! You…]

…

As I wiped my dirty hands and gazed happily out the window, my contemplation was interrupted by the numerous messages that appeared before me.

It had been a while since I felt bewildered by the multitude of messages in front of me.

‘An achievement..?’

An achievement, you say?

And not just any achievement, but an achievement with modifiers like ‘unbelievable’ and ‘unthinkable.’

I was genuinely astonished as I looked at the achievement displayed before me.

What did I do just now to earn an achievement adorned with such modifiers?

What exactly is an achievement?

Well, typically, an achievement is the result of effort and hard work put into endeavors like business or research.

In games, it’s like receiving trophies or rewards for fulfilling special conditions.

However, in this game, or rather, in this world, achievements are similar but with slightly different outcomes.

Achievements in this world involve ‘leaving one’s mark on the world.’

The medal given to those who have done something significant enough to leave a mark on the world is precisely what an achievement is.

Among them, modifiers like ‘unthinkable’ and ‘unbelievable’ signify leaving a tremendous mark on the world.

Apart from those modifiers, there are many others like ‘transcendent,’ ‘remarkable,’ ‘ordinary,’ and so on, but we’ll get to those gradually.

Anyway, powerful individuals can utilize their achievements, the marks they’ve left behind, to wield their unique skills.

Such as the swordsman who can slice through the sky, the warrior who can sever anything with a single blow, or the mage who never misses a throw; these are examples of the world magic used by those who have reached a certain level.

Was that explanation too long?

But it’s essential to understand.

If you don’t know these things, newbies will end up crying out “Where did you learn that?” or “How do you use that?” when they see screenshots of techniques posted, only to perish while lamenting about the ‘shitty game.’ Newbies, oh dear.

In simple terms, I unexpectedly obtained something that serves as the foundation for a finishing move without even knowing why.

After inwardly unraveling the explanation and regaining composure, I checked the achievement.

[Unthinkable Achievement! You have triumphed over an overwhelmingly strong opponent alone.]

[Despite a massive difference in power, you refused to submit and emerged victorious, granting you the ‘Indomitable Will.’]

An overwhelmingly strong opponent..?

The achievement itself is good, and having an indomitable will is excellent.

This achievement will bolster your physical strength when facing powerful opponents and render mental attacks ineffective or less effective.

But no matter how much I think about it, I couldn’t comprehend fighting an overwhelmingly strong opponent.

I only killed a fly just now..?

Let’s look at the next achievement.

[Unbelievable Achievement! You have successfully vanquished ‘Arrogance’ single-handedly.]

[Unbelievable Achievement! By defeating Arrogance, you are more arrogant than anyone else in this world!]

[‘Power of Exorcism’ is bestowed upon you for defeating ‘Arrogance.’]

[You are more arrogant than anyone else! You, who reigns supreme over everything, embody ‘Arrogance’ itself.]

Huh..

Wait, was that annoying buzzing fly actually Arrogance..?

No, why did that brat from the original work come here and die by clapping his hands??

And isn’t that clearly a transcendent sect?

For a moment, I was taken aback by something I had never seen in 22,000 hours, then snapped back to reality.

Well.. isn’t this actually good news?

Dealing with Arrogance was quite a challenging boss even in , and the deeds that brat did…

But isn’t it beneficial to gain from its death?

As I thought it over and realized there was nothing negative about it, I found myself smiling.

And at that moment, the messages popped up again.

[‘Power of Exorcism’ concludes testing you.]

[‘Power of Exorcism’ now rests upon your soul, which has vanquished more evil than anyone else.]

[‘Power of Exorcism’ fully acknowledges you.]

The power of Pama (破魔) is bestowed upon you.

Oh?

I was genuinely surprised by the fact that I was given the highest-grade power of Pama, not intermediate or high grade.

Before catching one of the Seven Deadly Sins, even if I had to cut down countless beings, the highest grade was the best outcome, right?

Upon hearing that I could read the souls in the message window, I wondered if I had read everything from playing the game.

Well, considering how many enemies I’ve killed in 22,000 hours of gameplay… maybe it’s deserving of receiving the highest grade?

No, on the contrary, it might even be insufficient.

The power of Pama is imbued in your body.

Some may think they can’t accept such a scam-like attribute due to their hardcore pride, but for now, I crossed that line.

It wasn’t like receiving something out of thin air, and being rewarded for my past deeds was quite satisfying.

It was a rewarding experience for all the hard work I put into playing for 22,000 hours in the past.

I decided to accept the power of Pama with a good feeling.

Of course,

-Creak… Creak…

Just until the power of Pama tries to examine my body,

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh?!!!!!!!”

It hurts too much!

It’s so painful!!!

It’s so painful that I can’t even scream out loud.

After getting beaten up all over my body and soaking in an ice-cold swimming pool, doing a breakdance would be less painful than this.

I cursed the power of Pama sincerely.

It won’t go in, Pama..!

No, damn it, it really won’t go in!!!!

-Creak… Creak…

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!”

And whether it didn’t hear my screams, the power of Pama continued to take over my body.

No, but why is it so painful??

In the game, receiving the power of Pama was supposed to be exhilarating, right?

I started to think that maybe the highest-grade power of Pama was something different.

The power of Pama invades your body.

You are more arrogant than anyone else. You do not hesitate to confront the vultures who invade your body.

The highest-grade power of Pama fights against arrogance.

-Creak… Creak…

Ah..!

Wait a minute..

“You are more arrogant than anyone else! You who dominate everything in the world are ‘arrogant’ in itself.”

Is it because of that??

The reason I could handle arrogance so easily was that I was even more arrogant than arrogance itself?

And now I’ve become arrogant myself?

It’s an intriguing dynamic I’ve never seen in 22,000 hours!

As I thought about the remaining corners to uncover, I felt both pleased and dissatisfied.

But why am I considered arrogant!

..Could it be because of what I said earlier?

No, during those 22,000 hours, I approached the conclusion hundreds, thousands of times, even under unfavorable conditions, so isn’t it natural for me to say such things?

“You have an arrogant attitude! The power of arrogance grows stronger.”

Now that it has become reality.

Why should I be considered arrogant just because I can save everyone’s stories without hesitation?

“You are as arrogant as can be! The power of arrogance grows stronger.”

It’s not about replacing the gods; it’s about being more useful than gods who are of little help and only shed tears.

“You defy even the gods. The power of arrogance grows stronger.”

I really can’t understand.

I truly can’t comprehend why I’m considered arrogant, but as the pain subsided more than before, I opened my eyes with a frown.

Oh, my vision is red, did my blood vessels burst?

If I stay like this, will the maid come and offer me drugs like before? I was looking for something to wipe my eyes, fearing she might look at me like before, when another message popped up.

“The power of Pama takes all the milk-fed strength.”

“The power of Pama has witnessed the appropriate strength in the owner’s soul.”

Suddenly, the previously lagging power of Pama grew in size.

Huh…?

[···]

[···]

“The power of Pama successfully inherits strength from your soul.”

“The power of Pama (intermediate) is added.”

[The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) is enhanced to a higher level.]

[The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) is enhanced to a lower level.]

[The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking)…

…

[The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) evolves.]

[The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Highest Level) -> The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Transcendent)]

[The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Transcendent) roars and rushes towards evil.]

[Racing towards the despicable enemy to vanquish the most profound and vast arrogance in the world.]

A war that unfolds uncontrollably within my body has started once again.

Why am I suddenly experiencing this war again?

“Ah, damn it..”

-Zap..zap!!!

‘Aaaargh!!!!!!!!!!

I could do nothing but scream…!

It hurts so much..!!!!!!

Isn’t it enough pain to make me faint?

Haha..

[An indomitable will restores a mind pushed to its limits.]

“Do not worry! You are truly indomitable!”

Such a feeble mind was handled by an indomitable will, so rest assured!

-Zap!!!!

“Yaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!”

···

Everything eventually comes to an end.

The sun, emitting light from the sky, will eventually extinguish its flame, and the pulsating earth will someday lose its life.

Similarly, the battle between the two powers that fought through my body has gradually weakened.

The result?

Hmm..

[The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Transcendent) exhales rough breaths and asks how it feels.]

“The deepest arrogance says to stop complaining as it’s annoying.”

[The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Transcendent) tells you to stop babbling…]

“The deepest arrogance…”

For now, it seems like the judgment victory goes to the power of Pama.

Closing my eyes, shedding tears of blood due to their fight, I examined my body internally.

Surrounded by a white energy crackling like lightning around my heart, I sensed the swirling black energy.

It seems that it is the power of arrogance and Pama enveloping me.

As evident from its name, the power of Pama is the pinnacle of malevolent energy.

Even if the bathtub is filled with malevolent energy, just a drop of the power of Pama could incinerate it all.

To withstand being one of the Seven Evils with just the power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Transcendent)?

It’s not just Pama, but the power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Transcendent), right?

“The deepest arrogance claims this is me.”

“The power of Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Transcendent) tells you to admire your appearance reluctantly.”

To make that possible, several conditions must be met.

First, the arrogance must have been exceptionally powerful.

In other words, it had to be significantly stronger than the other Seven Evils.

In the game… it was a late-game boss, making Arrogance quite formidable.

However, now that I’ve become Arrogance myself, something must have changed.

Secondly, while Pama’s power is remarkable, the user’s qualities to activate it are lacking.

Since Pama’s power doesn’t emerge from the ground, naturally, fuel is needed to activate it.

And the fuel is typically the user’s mana.

So, the software-like power of Pama is outstanding, but my mana, the hardware, is lacking.

..Hmm

As mentioned earlier, for Arrogance to persist in such a manner, one of these conditions must be met.

Which one am I then?

Is it because Arrogance is strong?

Or is it because my mana is insufficient?

Or perhaps both.

Quantifying the former immediately is difficult, so I should focus on the latter.

I wiped away the frozen tears, opened my eyes, and quietly muttered:

“..Status Window”

Not just any magic bracelet distributed at the Academy, but a special ability possessed only by the protagonist.

It quantifies the Mind Qi (mental energy), guiding the way forward and revealing the acquisition and growth of skills—an ability unique to the protagonist.

Status Window!

With confidence that I too would have this Status Window, I whispered.

And the world did not betray my expectation of having a Status Window.

[Hihan Phone Adelheid]

[14]

[STATS]

Strength: F

Agility: E

Endurance: F-

Willpower: S+

Mana: F-

[TRAITS]

[Pama (Demon-Breaking) (Transcendent)]

[Arrogance (@#!#@···)

However, the only thing that ever betrayed me was my own body.

I froze for a moment and checked my stats.

Strength: F

Agility: E

Endurance: F-

How did this bastard end up majoring in martial arts..?

More importantly, how did he not get expelled until his third year?

Even as a GM-level rabbit, it was something I couldn’t possibly fathom.