1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

110. The Party (1)

As Luoan’s consciousness began to blur, hallucinations started to unfold before him.

A sky filled with clouds.

—

Echoes from afar.

“Ah, young Lord Hessel. The lady and gentleman you are to meet are not this way, but in the reception room.”

It was the voice of a servant who usually looked down on him.

This meant today was that day.

The summer when the eldest son of a grand noble family had come to visit, and the family had chased him out of the building.

While sitting blankly in a shadowy corner of the garden, a deep voice had reached his ears.

“I have no interest in the likes of stray kittens.”

Perhaps it was then that a shadow had loomed over him.

“Are you the one called Luon Al Banus?”

He had looked down with an air of disdain, his brow furrowed.

“The sight of the eldest son is truly pathetic.”

“······.”

With no interest in the matter, no words came forth.

Only the thought that this man had taken notice of him, and that he would likely be beaten later, crossed his mind, along with the grim realization that he would go hungry today.

Perhaps feeling ignored, he kicked at his stomach.

Thud!

When there was again no notable reaction, the man’s gaze seemed to flicker with a hint of curiosity.

“Hmm, you are quite the doll, aren’t you? Hey, is this fool perhaps unable to speak?”

“Ah, that is not the case, my lord. Ahem, Lord Luon. Please, say something.”

The servant, for the first time in ages, offered him a semblance of respect and helped him to his feet.

His mother had often treated him this way when she was alive.

Hessel commanded him to bring food.

“You’re so scrawny; bring me some snacks and drink.”

“Ah, yes. I will fetch it at once.”

As the servant departed, he stared blankly at the man’s face.

In any case, he felt grateful at the thought of receiving something to eat.

“Thank you.”

Yet the man tilted his head and replied.

“Fool. Who said I was giving it to you? I intend to eat alone in front of you.”

“······.”

“Your expression isn’t great. Why? Do you want to eat too?”

It was clear he was just teasing, like everyone else.

But if I nodded, there might be a sliver of possibility.

“I want to eat.”

The answer was as expected.

“I was just saying that.”

Yet, unexpectedly, he added something more.

“Of course, if you do what I say, I might just give you some. Want to hear it?”

“…Yes.”

He whispered with a grin that revealed his delight.

“Punch your sister in the face. Then I’ll let you eat to your heart’s content.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Well, what’s the harm? You’ll just get a little punishment. If you don’t want to, then don’t.”

Just then, my sister, half-blooded and all, came down the stairs, her presence heavy with concern for the outside world.

Naturally, hunger gnawed at me, and I rose from my seat to approach her.

She scowled as usual, hurling curses my way.

“Ugh, it stinks, you trashy b*stard. Can’t you move out of the way?”

I threw a punch at her face.

Thwack!

Having been hit by my father countless times, I knew well the difference between a painful punch and a less painful one.

It wasn’t what I intended, but judging by the tension in my arm, it must have been the painful kind.

My sister’s dazed expression was marred by blood trickling from her nose.

“Pfft!”

Laughter erupted from behind, and I turned my head.

Hershel was stifling his laughter with his hand, snorting like a pig.

Soon, he tossed aside any semblance of decorum and laughed wickedly.

“Ahahaha, you really did it! Heh, what a funny little guy you are.”

I stared at him, dazed.

But then I felt my lips quiver.

Let us touch it with our hands; the corners of his mouth were surely lifted just a bit.

Why, I do not know.

Yet for some reason, on that day, all I could think was how wonderful it would be if this man stayed just one more day.

Even while being struck by my father, that thought alone lingered…

* * *

It was only after mingling with that man that I realized what I had felt back then was ecstasy.

Roon brushed aside the memories and smiled slyly, recalling what Peldira had said.

– You do not know the pain of a wounded heart, nor can you feel the thrum of your own pulse. Even if you wish to, you cannot. It is because your brain is inherently flawed.

Peldira was wrong.

‘I can feel the thrum. I can experience pleasure.’

The events with Hessel had been enjoyable for a simple reason.

The acts we had committed had drenched my parched mind like sweet dew.

“…Ah, that was truly fun.”

To feel that once more, I must cross a thick wall.

Roon sensed the tightening grip around his neck.

Perhaps he had no intention of killing me; Akandrik’s hold was slightly loosened.

Well, if he had truly meant to kill me, my bones would have crumbled long ago.

“If you were going to knock me out, you should have put in a bit more strength.”

“…You’ve grown while I wasn’t watching, Roon.”

Roon raised his broken wrist to caress Akandrik’s face.

He brushed along his nose, covering his eyes, then quickly rummaged through his pockets with empty hands.

What he pulled out was a vial filled with a potion.

As he poured it into his mouth, Akandrik tightened his grip further and asked.

“What are you trying to do now?”

“Cough, cough. It’s already gone down the throat. Silly old man.”

Roon felt the warmth of the potion coursing through him.

Hot blood spreading throughout his body via the veins.

This was the beastification elixir that Peldira had crafted for him.

– It’s a potion made by combining the genes of the Evil Salamander. The downside is that it makes your skin slippery, but your limbs will regenerate quickly even if severed, so it should be useful.

– …Why on earth did you make something like that?

—

– What do you expect with just two days? The supply of materials was a struggle. Still, we’ve significantly reduced the side effects, so that alone is quite an achievement. Do you understand?

Luoan pulled downwards as if his neck would snap.

Thanks to his smoothened skin, he slipped easily from Akandric’s grasp, but he had to endure the pain of his vertebrae threatening to break.

“Lu, Luoan?”

Akandric called his name with a worried tone.

Luoan shook his drooping neck and rose from his place.

Luoan’s head stood tall once more.

Akandric’s mouth fell agape at the bizarre sight before him.

“Th-that’s grotesque…”

Luoan smirked, his eyes glinting with a predatory light.

“Old man, let me give you a piece of advice. If you don’t kill me with those hands, you’ll never stop me.”

Luoan pulled a sparrow figurine from his pocket.

In an instant, Akandric lunged forward, throwing a punch.

“Are you really going to let him do something so strange again?!”

“It’s too late, old man. I’ve already done it.”

As Luoan gripped the sparrow figurine with all his might, a faint green circular shield enveloped his body.

Akandric’s fist rebounded with a dull thud.

Thud!

Luoan glanced at the position of the steel box he had dropped.

‘To activate that, I need to break the barrier. It’s best to grasp it quickly and create some distance.’

Perhaps Akandric sensed that it was the key.

Their gazes locked onto the iron box.

Pop!

Luoan concentrated his rapid aura into his legs and dashed forward.

Akandric did the same, but the continuous drain from the binding stone began to show in his speed.

Luoan struck an invisible blow against his back.

But it only left a small scratch.

With no other choice, he aimed his strike not at Akandric, but at the iron box.

Bang!

The box was shoved violently to the left.

—

It was in the direction close to Luon.

Srrng—

Luon drew his sword, igniting the mana blade.

As Akandric turned left, the distance between them shrank just a bit more.

It was within striking range of the blade’s tip.

He reached out to jab at Akandric’s back, and a dull metallic sound echoed.

Kaaang!

‘Though it was just a light prick, the level of invulnerability is absurd…’

Still, it was a strike delivered with the mana blade.

Thanks to Akandric channeling much of his aura into defense, his speed had noticeably slowed for a moment.

In that instant, Luon surged ahead, throwing himself to grab the iron box and rolling away.

The two men exchanged heavy breaths, their eyes locked.

“Hah, hah…”

“Haah… You look quite exhausted, old man.”

“A leech clinging to my body. What in the world is this? It feels as if all the strength is draining from my limbs, haah…”

They both sensed it.

The end was drawing near.

‘The strength of the barrier is no trivial matter. For the final blow, I must give it my all…’

‘…That’s what he’ll think. Unaware that I’m the one who needs to break the barrier.’

Akandric’s earnest attack would be fatal even if it merely grazed.

If he couldn’t open the lid of the iron box within range, he would lose.

While Luon was contemplating this, Akandric charged forward with swift determination.

Pat!

The moment he was right in front of Luon, he attempted to break the barrier and open the lid of the iron box.

Even amidst this, Akandric’s fist surged with a heavy energy, ready to strike.

He hesitated.

Yet, his fist halted just before Luon’s forehead.

Luon grinned, finally opening the iron box.

“I thought you would stop. You never intended to kill me from the very beginning, not even a little.”

Akandric smiled bitterly.

“······What a slippery creature you are, Luon.”

*The Steel Prisoner*

A mystical trap that turns those caught within into smoke.

Akandric’s body began to dissolve into smoke, drawn into the iron box.

Luon watched this unfold, a quiet smile gracing his lips.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t have stopped, whether the barrier was lifted or not. You are strong yet weak. To suffer such a ridiculous defeat over mere affection.”

Clang!

The smoke was fully contained, and the lid of the iron box slammed shut.

At that moment, a dull vibration emanated from within the box.

Bang─

Luon’s eyes widened.

Bang─

As if something were thrashing about inside, a resounding noise accompanied by fist-shaped dents bulged out from the walls of the iron box.

Bang.

Yet, gradually, the struggle seemed to wane.

Thud.

The intensity lessened, and silence began to settle.

Luon sensed that the battle was over and collapsed onto the ground.

“Scaring people, you monstrous old man······.”

He wished to recover his strength before moving on to the next phase.

But, had he dozed off for a moment?

When he opened his eyes, Pheldira was leaning over him, peering down.

“…How long have you been like this?”

“Hmm? It’s been about thirty minutes since I saw you sprawled out.”

Luon rose from his place.

The slime and sweat had frozen, making his skin feel rigid.

“Pheldira, could you prepare some warm water? I’d like to wash up.”

“Oh, perfect timing. I brought your dress with me. Toss that filthy one away and change into this.”

Pheldira waved her staff, melting a portion of the frozen ice.

As the warmth enveloped him, Luon shed his clothes.

A sinister chuckle echoed through the air.

“Hehe, seems like you were born with a surplus of male hormones.”

“Turn your head.”

“Shall I make you some soap too?”

“That would be nice.”

With that, Luon finished her bath and slipped into a dress.

Peldira’s eyes sparkled as she adjusted Luon’s shirt.

“Isn’t that a gift from that old man? Quite the taste he has.”

“I chose the design myself.”

“Hm? You?”

Luon questioned Peldira, who stared at her with wide eyes.

“Is that so surprising?”

“It just looks a bit different from what you usually wear.”

“It doesn’t mean much. I merely tried on something similar to what someone else used to wear. Now, I suppose it’s time to move on to the next task.”

As Luon conversed with Peldira, they made their way toward the stronghold.

“I’ve prepared the invitation. Once it starts, we’ll arrive right on time.”

“So, you’re heading to the Forbidden Library now?”

“Indeed. Oh, right. Luon. There are eyes outside, so call me ‘Professor.’ I’m the professor sent to keep an eye on you.”

Peldira puffed out her chest, tapping it with a thud.

When Luon shot her a sharp glance, she wrapped her arm around Luon’s shoulder.

“A little flattery wouldn’t hurt.”

“······.”

By the time they reached the stronghold, a man approached Peldira.

“Ruden. What are you doing here? Everyone else is busy as hell, and you seem to be living the good life.”

Peldira glanced around, then tapped his head lightly with her cane.

“What, what are you doing? This guy is talking to a senior…”

One second later, his head exploded with a loud pop!

Luon blinked, half-awake, and asked Peldira, “Weren’t you worried about being watched?”

“What does it matter? It’s just the two of us here. Besides, this guy was a truly terrible person to the original owner of this body.”

Peldira buried the corpse deep within the earth using her telekinetic magic.

* * *

When the time came, I changed into the outfit I had prepared.

As I waited in the corridor for Limberton and Asley, passersby stole glances at me, their eyes darting like startled birds.

Surely, my modest attire must have seemed strange to them.

Had it been a minute, perhaps?

Limberton and Asley opened the door simultaneously, stepping into view.

Thanks to the coaching of quite a few, Limberton’s outfit looked rather impressive.

Asley, having left everything to the designer, appeared more conventional.

Yet Limberton, perhaps intrigued by my garb, stared at me with his mouth agape.

“Wow, I’ve never seen clothes like that before!”

“Why? Do I look empty to your eyes?”

“No, no. The way it fits you is quite nice. It’s pleasing to see!”

“Really? Well then, let’s be off. I’m hungry, and we should eat our fill.”

As we descended the stairs and passed through the lobby, the gazes of others thickened, as if they were observing a monkey at the zoo.

I felt as though I alone had strayed from the dress code…

If I had known this would happen, perhaps I should have donned something more extravagant like everyone else.

Thus, we stepped out of the Shulafe corridor and into the stronghold.

Click-clack.

The stares continued unabated as we ascended to the floor where the banquet would commence, and soon the entrance to the hall came into view.

While I walked, exchanging trivial chatter with Limberton, I turned my head toward the door.

In that moment, my eyes met Leana’s.

“Ah.”

Leana widened her eyes, scanning my outfit from top to bottom.