episode_0037

ㅡFwhoooosh!!

“ㅡGgrrrraaaaaaaaggh!!”

Eugene’s attack on the two Goblin Bosses continued.

Basically, with the first Goblin Boss being sliced in one blow,

it was not a situation where the remaining Goblin Boss could do anything alone.

Sensing the situation, the guy raised his iron club in a final struggle,

but Eugene’s greatsword immediately soared up and pierced through the second Goblin Boss’s chin and crown.

“Wow, that’s really amazing! Even Ivan Uncle couldn’t show such a performance!”

“Eugene, you’re going to get scolded~ How could you introduce yourself as a Sword Runner when you have such skills~? Trying to steal the heart of this much older sister!!”

With just two cool attacks,

Eugene Schneider not only nullified the Shaman Goblin’s buff but also finished off two fully armed Goblin Bosses,

and Thomas and Sophia exclaimed in pleasant astonishment at the amazing sight.

It was practically a situation where the two were enjoying the victory.

However, judging by the detailed reaction patterns,

they didn’t seem to know the Sword User Alpha concept that Jeanne recognized.

‘I’m seeing that look I saw with Sister and Elisabeth from Eugene, too.’

The reason being,

even in the noble world where Awakened are relatively common,

the Alpha stage is a rare Awakening reaction.

It is a reaction that occurs in so-called geniuses,

and it is a phenomenon created when breakthrough occurs across multiple sections at once.

The cause is the discrepancy between the training of skills and the body, and the rapidly exploding Mana production that contrasts with it.

And the breakthrough section where those discrepancies are expressed is none other than,

‘It means it’s only a matter of time before he goes up to Expert.’

between User Level and Expert Level.

So, it is commonly called User Alpha,

and it is a concept that is hardly known among ordinary Awakened people, where Expert Level itself is extremely rare.

‘In 3 years at most, 1 year at the earliest. Eugene will become a Sword Expert.’

The structure that would inevitably make him an Expert was already in place.

Since it’s just a bottleneck phenomenon,

unless he deliberately tries to delay it, the Sword Alpha inevitably becomes a Sword Expert.

Sword Expert, a realm that Jeanne herself might reach in 10 years,

or even longer.

However, Eugene will take a step into that realm that she hasn’t reached within 2 to 3 years after Awakening.

‘There are often people whose bodies undergo rapid changes due to the influence of Awakening, so I thought that was the case, but that was Eugene’s Alpha premonitory symptoms.’

The puzzle was completed in Jeanne’s head.

The Alpha’s absurd Mana energy explosion

ultimately induces hypertrophy of the Awakened person’s specific ability.

In Charlotte’s case, from her User Alpha days, her healing abilities

were already at the level of an Expert, a high-ranking priest,

and her appearance turned silver.

Elisabeth, because she gained so-called spiritual sight,

was able to read the magic characters of debuffed ancient books without any problems.

Jeanne guessed that Eugene’s Alpha premonitory symptom’s buff led to a physical change.

Through that overwhelming physique, he achieved a one-hit kill against the fully buffed and fully armed Goblin Boss, which all his colleagues thought would be difficult.

‘In the end, Eugene is also different from me…’

It became too clear.

She wanted to deny it, but she couldn’t.

Eugene Schneider is a different kind of person from the commoner Jeanne d’Arc des Selles d’Aublain.

“…..”

After finishing off the second Goblin Boss,

Eugene looked at his comrades in the circle where Holy Power Aura was still blooming.

To be exact, Eugene’s gaze was directed at Jeanne.

Eugene learned that he was a Sword User Level

near the end of his Pilgrim’s Path training.

However, knowing Jeanne’s inferiority complex about the two geniuses, he didn’t want to provoke it.

So, he pretended to be a Sword Runner, but this situation was eventually created.

“Now, let’s split into pairs and look for the Shaman Goblin. The time limit is until the color of this magic stone turns red. By that time, Priscilla, who is upset that she couldn’t catch it, will have no choice but to return.”

Jeanne handed the time-checking magic stone to Sophia.

As Sophia analyzed, after the Goblin Bosses were defeated, the Shaman Goblin’s debuff spell, which was created through them, also subsided.

Therefore, without even having time to celebrate the victory, the Red Fox main infiltration team formed a unit for the next sub-quest.

Judging from the fact that there is no external signal, it seems that Priscilla has not yet caught the Shaman Goblin.

Since the Shaman Goblin has used large spells in succession, it seems that there is no room to use direction confusion spells in the escape situation.

Therefore, if not only Priscilla but also the main infiltration team form units of two people and look for the Shaman Goblin for a certain amount of time,

sooner or later, they will eventually be able to catch his tail in this cave.

“…..”

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle,

Sophia and Thomas were in one group,

and Jeanne and Eugene were in one group.

Eugene, who started looking for the Shaman Goblin while walking side by side with Jeanne, was managing his expression in his own way, but he looked like he had a lot on his mind.

‘There’s no way she won’t react to what I hid. Even if we’re on a mission.’

Jeanne has never tried to team up with him when forming a unit.

She usually paired Thomas with Eugene.

And the external justification for that was weapon synergy.

But now, Jeanne and Eugene themselves have become a team.

Of course, the difficulty of the current sub-quest is just chasing after the melee-impaired Shaman Goblin.

However, since Jeanne is a fairly professional mercenary captain,

Eugene believes that her decision to team up with him was influenced by personal issues with him.

In other words, the problem of being caught as a Sword User,

Eugene Schneider began to think about how to solve it.

“That’s right. I’m a Sword User. I’ve known since the beginning of this year.”

Eugene’s worries didn’t last long.

Wasn’t Eugene Schneider, who had become bolder than ever since his body grew bigger, was he?

Therefore, his choice was a frontal breakthrough.

“…..”

Despite Eugene’s ambitious decision,

Jeanne still had a nonchalant expression and continued walking through the cave.

“But honestly, I wasn’t good enough to just talk about being a Sword User. I hadn’t even mastered the basic Mana Footwork. The Mana Footwork I used earlier was actually inspired by what you showed me before, Jeanne.”

From Eugene’s perspective, there was a certain basis for moving forward boldly.

A breakthrough had been made, but it had not been systematized.

He thought that it would not look good to just say that he was a User Level when he couldn’t show the Mana Footwork, which is considered the flower of the User Level.

“Eugene, do you think you’re doing this just because you think of yourself as a Sword User?”

Then Jeanne finally opened her mouth.

“Isn’t that why? Is there another reason?”

Eugene was slightly taken aback by the sight.

His expected picture

was of a tomboy Jeanne reacting in a flustered manner.

A sight of her stomping her feet unable to control her emotions,

that’s how most of the two people’s arguments have been so far.

However, Jeanne’s tone just now was candid.

No, it even seemed calm.

“I know I have an inferiority complex, but it’s not that bad. If you’re a Sword User, you’re the same level as me. Of course, I don’t feel good because you lied, but there’s no reason to say anything more than that.”

Jeanne continued to speak.

“Then is there really another reason??? What is it??”

Eugene reacted more actively to Jeanne’s unexpected appearance.

He thought that it could be resolved more easily than he thought,

and he wanted to know what he was missing.

“Ha… judging by your reaction now, you really don’t seem to know.”

Then Jeanne closed her eyes slightly and sighed.

Eugene’s reaction, which seemed to firmly believe that the two were in the same Awakened realm,

that is, in Jeanne’s view, Eugene doesn’t seem to know that he is a Sword User Alpha.

“You’re a different Sword User from me. Even if the skin is the same, the contents are completely different. Sword User Alpha, you’ve heard it before when our sister and brother were Awakening. Eugene, you’re the same Sword User Alpha as them.”

So, Jeanne defined Eugene’s Awakening realm herself.

“I’m a Sword User Alpha?? Isn’t that just about learning skills quickly???”

“Mostly, yes. But theoretically, there is also a type where physical strength increases. You’re that case.”

Eugene Schneider, who had entered the Grand Duke’s family and watched the Awakening situations of other family members from the side,

as well as feeling the need for sufficient knowledge after experiencing Awakening himself, had been studying it in his own way.

Nevertheless, there was a reason why he didn’t even care about judging himself as a Sword User Alpha.

In Eugene’s case, the physical enhancement, which is a Sword Alpha premonitory symptom, was an extremely rare case.

‘Well, especially among nobles, there are quite a few physical-focused classes. The shieldbearers are mostly supplied from commoner Awakened.’

Listening to Jeanne’s explanation, Eugene was already convinced.

Like survival of the fittest,

the Awakening ability DNA of the nobles was also established in accordance with their society.

Knights, priests, and mages are the three musketeers,

and if you add a mainstream class, it would be archers and lancers.

In other words, the remaining classes are mostly commoners,

but among commoners, User Alpha cases are rare,

and among nobles, only User Alphas of the five skill-centered classes have been reported.

Therefore, it can be said that Eugene Schneider is practically the first Sword User Alpha case that fits the physical class in recent years.

“Ah! I’m so annoyed!”

Swish!

After revealing everything,

Jeanne stopped and expressed her candid annoyance.

“I’m the last place in the family now! Even Eugene is better than me!”

Jeanne shouted, almost in a childish manner.

“…..”

At the sight, Eugene also stopped walking and silently looked at Jeanne.

“Ha… but damn, I’m frustrated and bitter… but strangely, I don’t feel that bad…”

Pfft…!

After shouting at the top of her lungs,

Jeanne looked a little relieved and looked forward with a slightly bitter smile.

“It seems that I haven’t just been suffering because I’m lacking and inferior…”

Then she muttered something that was difficult for Eugene next to her to understand.

“I think I know now as I calmly look at my emotions… maybe I was suffering because I was abandoned…”

Jeanne’s inferiority complex, which had been tormenting her since she was young,

she herself thought it was created because she hated her own appearance, which was inferior to her family.

But,

the appearance that she hated so much,

that is, even Eugene has surpassed her,

but she feels that she is more okay than she thought.

And at the same time, she realized through the current situation with Eugene that the wound in her heart that has been in her heart for a long time was deeper and more fundamental than Jeanne herself thought.

“What are you talking about! Abandoned? Why would you be abandoned, Jeanne?”

Unlike her previous appearance, Eugene reacted quite seriously when Jeanne mentioned her fear of being abandoned.

He could feel her sincerity from the side of Jeanne’s face, who had lowered her head slightly after saying that she had been abandoned.

“Don’t abandon me. I think it would be really hard if you abandoned me.”

Smile…!

Eugene’s serious expression was somewhat scary.

But Jeanne seemed to like that look,

she smiled at Eugene with a feeling of gratitude rather than bitterness.

And then, in a refined but sincere,

as well as sadly,

she asked him not to abandon her.

“Idiot, why would I abandon you just because the situation has improved a little. After all, I’m just a rolling stone in the Aublain family.”

Eugene wanted to ask why Jeanne was thinking about being abandoned.

But because Jeanne had sad eyes than ever,

he couldn’t ask because he was afraid that his question might become an act of digging into her heart.

But his emotional state,

he wanted to spill it out.

So, he told Jeanne in front of him with a very angry tone and provocative words that the thought that he might abandon her was a foolish thought,

“You’re the person who has spent the most time with me so far. You’ve been with me more than my father. So, I’m not burdened, and I’ll suck you to the bone as you want. You can’t get away from me. I’ll take possession of your swordsmanship knowledge, wealth, and even the time you spend with someone.”

Eugene was really angry.

Of course, even Eugene himself thought that he was a type who was not good at expressing affection.

But he thought that he had really conveyed his heart to the Aublain people.

Eugene was angrier and reacted more oppressively than ever because Jeanne, who was the most unreserved among them, was showing this appearance.

“Yeah, as much as you want. Take everything I have, Eugene. Without leaving anything behind. But by my side, while being by my side.”

Smile…!

It was not just lip service but a sincere anger.

Therefore, it was enough to fill Jeanne’s deeply lacking heart.

Looking at that anger, Jeanne gave Eugene Schneider her beautiful smile that had spread gently,

Furthermore, she desperately wished that he would keep his promise.

However,

Fwhoooosh!!!

As if to laugh at Jeanne’s earnest wish,

a heavy and cold arrow flew in from the front and pierced the upper right side of her chest.