Today is the day.
My first time stepping beyond the estate walls. My first "adventure."
Only yesterday, I was whining like a kid, frustrated that I still couldn't leave the estate. And now? I was getting ready for departure, as if I hadn't spent the last week sulking.
Am I excited?
Hell no.
I'm terrified.
This is my only shot at getting stronger. If I screw this up, I might as well start digging my own grave and lie in it, waiting for the game's hero to come and finish the job.
I let out a deep breath, my fingers gripping the window frame. Outside, the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, painting the sky with soft shades of gold and violet. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of damp leaves and fresh earth.
I was already dressed—black shirt, black pants, with minimal gold embroidery. The simplest outfit Nathan owned, but still far too fancy for my taste.
I moved from the window and I sat on the edge of my bed, fingers sweating despite the chill in the air. My stomach churned with unease.
Then—
BAM!
The door slammed open. My head snapped up as my heart nearly jumped out of my throat.
Standing in the doorway was Evan, his brows furrowed in suspicion. His sharp eyes flickered across the room, scanning my bed, the corners of the chamber—like he was expecting to find something.
I narrowed my eyes. Is he seriously checking if I slept with someone?
After his little investigation, he folded his arms and scoffed. "Huh. I thought you'd be passed out like a log, but you're already up?"
I smirked. "Were you planning to kick my face if I was still asleep?"
"Kick?" He raised a brow. "I was going to drag you out and toss you through the window."
I scoffed. "You took the Oath of Knighthood. Do you really want to feel eternal pain?"
Evan rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. That's just some old myth everyone believes. Do I look like someone who falls for superstition?"
Oh? This guy's clever.
I tilted my head, my smirk widening. "Well, I don't know about that. But have you ever heard of the knight who betrayed his master after taking the Oath? A few days later, his body was covered in lesions. He grew so sick that even his wife abandoned him, afraid the disease would spread. He suffered alone for the rest of his miserable life."
Evan's fingers twitched.
"That's just a disease, you bastard! Don't twist the story like that."
I shrugged, my expression unreadable. "I'm only repeating what I heard from people." I locked eyes with him. "And I'm sure you've heard plenty of stories like that, haven't you?"
Evan swallowed hard.
"What? I've never—" He paused for a brief moment, his confidence wavering. Then he shook his head. "Whatever. Since you're already ready, what do you want to do now?"
Hah. Seems like he believed me after all.
Yesterday, I had asked Evan to accompany me on this Expedition. Since he had declared himself my knight, it was only natural that he accompany me.
But this bastard? He refused without hesitation.
When I tried to blackmail him using the Oath of Knighthood, he shot me down with a loophole—saying the Oath only took effect if the knight actively betrayed their master. If the master willingly wandered off alone and got himself killed? That wasn't the knight's problem.
'I had underestimated him.'
In the end, I had no choice but to strike a deal. I promised to release him from the Oath after this journey. It was the only way to get him on board.
But… did I really have any intention of keeping that promise?
Heh.
I sneered internally, watching his face as he studied me, his expression unreadable.
Evan might think he outplayed me, but he was forgetting one thing—I wasn't some honorable noble who kept his word.
I let out a soft chuckle and turned toward the door. "Follow me," I said, not bothering to look back at Evan before striding forward.
As for Clara, I had already instructed her to remain in the estate and focus on her usual duties. In her current state, she would be more of a burden than an asset, and also, I had no clue how to train her further. I needed to find a proper teacher for her, but how? That was a question for another time.
Exhaling sharply, I made my way toward the Stormbane Armory—a restricted arsenal only accessible to the direct bloodline of the family. The guards standing at the entrance gave me startled looks, probably surprised to see me heading here voluntarily. Ignoring their stares and pushed open the heavy iron doors and stepped inside.
The moment I crossed the threshold, a stale, metallic scent invaded my nose—a mix of rust, aged steel, and lingering mana residue from weapons long abandoned. The interior was dimly lit by enchanted torches lining the stone walls, their blue flames flickering against the towering racks of weapons.
Evan followed behind me, his gaze sweeping across the collection with obvious excitement. "Ohh… so this is the famous Stormbane Armory, huh? Damn, the rumors were true. I can already see so many great things."
His voice held genuine admiration, though I had little enthusiasm for the sight before me.
The weapons in this world weren't just forged for physical combat—they could resonate with mana, amplifying their user's abilities. Swords that burned with fire, spears that crackled with lightning, bows that never missed their mark. For a skilled fighter with the right elemental affinity, these weapons were invaluable.
But for me?
Completely useless.
Since I couldn't synchronize with any mana element, I couldn't wield any of these powerful weapons properly. A bitter reminder of my helplessness in this world.
Still, I wasn't here for myself.
"Take whatever you want, Evan," I said, crossing my arms.
Evan turned to me with a raised brow. "Wait. You dragged me here to pick a weapon? For free?" His expression shifted to suspicion. "Alright, what's the catch? What do you want in return?"
I smirked. "I want to punch your face real hard and see you cry like a baby."
Evan scoffed. "Heh! In your dreams."
I shrugged. "I'll make my dream come true one day, don't worry."
"Stop joking, bastard. I know you have some hidden agenda. Spill it."
I sighed. "I want you to protect me, idiot. What else?"
Evan crossed his arms. "Protect you? I'd rather kill you."
I rolled my eyes. "Haa… I don't have the patience for your nonsense today. Just pick a weapon and let's go."
Leaving him to make his choice, I wandered deeper into the armory, stopping at a rack of swords.
The hero of this world—the game's protagonist—wielded a legendary sword. A weapon unlike any other, not just because of its craftsmanship but because it housed the soul of a Swordmaster. With that, the hero could rapidly master high-level swordplay, accelerating his growth far beyond normal limits.
If I had a sword like that, things would be much easier.
But unlike him, I didn't have a system, magically dropping overpowered weapons into my inventory. Also no hidden quests, no divine guidance.
So what were my options?
I pondered this question throughout last week, and eventually arrived at an answer.
Stealing.
If I couldn't find anything comparable, I would steal items from the hero himself.
It was a risky gamble, but honestly, that guy could just get another broken weapon through some random side quest. Meanwhile, for me, it could mean the difference between survival and death.
"I'll take this," Evan's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I turned to see him holding a short sword pulsating with wind-element mana. The blade had faint green runes etched into its steel, glowing softly with stored energy.
Wind element, huh?
I had never seen Evan use magic before. He was supposed to be an exceptional swordsman as Marshal had said, but since he spent most of his time loitering around me—and I was usually busy watching Clara train—I had never actually witnessed his combat skills firsthand.
'Well, I'll figure it out during this trip.'
"Alright, we're done here," I said, turning to leave—only for my gaze to land on something unexpected.
An old, rusty dagger.
It was wedged between two polished weapons, almost like it had been forgotten. There was nothing remarkable about it—its blade was chipped, its hilt worn down by time. Yet, for some reason, I felt strangely drawn to it.
'What the… why does this thing feel familiar?'
Before I could inspect it further, Evan's loud, obnoxious voice shattered the moment.
"HEY, ASSHOLE! WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE? MOVE YOUR DAMN ASS ALREADY!"
People's Head turned as his voice echoed through the hall.
I clenched my jaw. 'This idiot. I'll get back at you later.'
With a sigh, I left the dagger where it was and followed him outside.
---
After breakfast, I arrived at the estate's departure grounds, where a group of soldiers had already assembled. Clad in armor, swords and shields strapped to their backs, they stood beside their respective horses, awaiting the signal to leave.
Evan stood beside me, a wide grin on his face.
'Is this guy… excited?'
I glanced at him. His eyes were practically glowing as he scanned the gathered warriors, his fingers twitching slightly, as if itching for action.
'Tch. So he's the adventure-loving type, huh?'
Shrugging off the thought, I made my way toward the stables, where the horses were being prepared. Fortunately, Nathan knew how to ride a horse. That was one problem I didn't have to deal with.
Selecting a sturdy, black stallion, I mounted up, gripping the reins.
Evan, already on his horse, shot me a smug look. "Try not to fall off and embarrass yourself, young master."
I shot him a glare. "Worry about yourself, dumbass."
As I mounted my horse, the soldiers suddenly shifted into formation, the rustling of armor and clinking of steel filling the air. A wave of urgency crept over me.
Turning toward the source of the commotion, my gaze landed on a striking figure.
An elegant woman, draped in a flowing gown, stepped forward, her presence commanding the attention of all. Flanking her were knights clad in pristine armor, their imposing forms radiating authority.
The Duchess had arrived.