NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7
Originally, in the Reincarnated Hero, stats increase through training, and skills or traits are obtained by completing main events to earn SP or by auto-enhancement.
The problem is, since I’m a Supporting Role, even if I participate in the main event, I can’t gain any experience.
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[Supporting Role Quest]
[Main Event 1]
[Mission Object: Assist Edwin in his Awakening like a true Supporting Role]
[Reward: 100 Supporting Role Points]
[Remaining Time: 10 hours 04 minutes]
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In the end, to grow, it’s advantageous to complete this additional achievement.
Supporting Roles have really had it tough…
‘Help awaken…?’
I remind myself again and again, but according to the original story, Lev Denek was originally destined to become a Demon.
That too by combining with a F-grade Demon Creature – [Rag] to be used in the next selection test.
And the reason is undoubtedly to take revenge on Edwin, who, alone in a closed Training Hall, trains like it’s a room of spirit and time.
And then, fighting with Lev, who has become a Demon, he awakens as an Executor.
The key point is ‘Demon.’
In other words, the skill I obtained – the unique use of Demonization might come in handy right here.
‘Will it be okay just for a moment?’
I don’t want to think back to it, but remembering Reincarnated Hero 2 doesn’t mean that using Demonization instantly transforms into a Demon.
There would be a wave of magic power, gradually changing the appearance.
If I use it briefly while he’s in a weak state and knock him out immediately, I would raise suspicions but wouldn’t get caught.
Moreover, to prevent my ultimate goal, the ‘Caeran Ending’, aka the bad ending, I have no choice but to push the main character, Edwin.
Caeran shows up, post the selection test, and he’s an absolute talent with insane stats from the beginning.
Meanwhile, Edwin is the hardworking farmer’s son, so Awakening is essential for smooth progress.
Since I’m depending on Supporting Role Points, I have to achieve it no matter what.
So, am I going to have to play the Villain role now?
“Aah!”
I got up from my bed and headed to the Training Hall.
.
.
.
‘What a frustrating guy.’
Hiding behind the Training Hall, sure enough, Edwin was deeply engrossed in practicing his swordsmanship.
– Swish!
– Swish!
– Swish!
The crisp sound of slicing through the night.
While it couldn’t be described as powerful movement, I could feel his resolve behind each swing.
‘Was I supposed to show up around this time?’
Though my memory is hazy, I think the novel mentioned the moon was high in the sky, so roughly about this timing, Lev, having turned into a Rag Demon, would show up to awaken Edwin.
But to follow the story as is would be utterly foolish.
First, there’s Aveline Valantes, one of the most prominent heroines,
– “I can’t find a hint of skill in your movements.”
– “You’re not tiring out at all, really…”
She would claim she couldn’t understand Edwin, a mediocre talent, and promises to train him starting tomorrow.
Then, just after that, the fiery Sorceress, Melissa, barges into my room,
– “Well, still, seeing you putting in the effort is nice.”
– “Of course, it might take you a hundred years to catch up to me though!”
Her relentless support is something to marvel at.
If I intervene now, I might end up shouting that I’m a Demon all over town.
So, the best course of action is to quietly watch until that event is over and Edwin is utterly exhausted, nearly in a coma state.
*
In the Green House, freshman temporary dormitory, Aria Bluebell’s room.
After having dinner with Melissa and returning to her room, Aria immediately starts reviewing after her bath.
People would be surprised at her studious habits, but she felt no significant emotional upheaval.
She was simply doing what she always did.
On her desk, stacked with books and writing tools, the only thing unrelated to studying was…
A small wooden frame.
It held the faces of her beloved family.
“……”
There’s no need to explain, just a tragedy that passed like the seasons.
It had become a frequent occurrence since the Demon Creatures spread across the continent.
That incident took away much from the young girl but taught her how to swallow her pain.
Aria no longer relies on others, nor does she ask for anything.
Having entered the Academy a year younger and skipped a grade, she is even more cautious in her behavior.
With the season turning slightly chilly, the curriculum is set to start next week.
The day she has been longing for.
“……”
Aria put on a light coat over her shoulders.
When her mind is complicated and she can’t focus, nothing beats a walk.
*
– Swish!
– Whirr!
– Swish!
“What a persistent guy.”
I’m so bored that I could yawn. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve swung this thing.
Even after Aveline and Melissa dropped by, he hasn’t rested and continues his training.
If there were a hidden achievement for swinging a thousand times, that guy would undoubtedly have it.
Anyway, even I’m getting hungry, sleepy, and a bit cold, there’s no way he’s in his right mind.
‘Should I head out?’
It’s a decrepit closed Training Hall, and since it’s well past midnight, there won’t be anyone watching.
– Swoosh.
Grasping an old wooden sword lying around, I approached him.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“?”
Upon my blunt question, Edwin turned his gaze to me.
Though he instantly recognized my voice, his body seemed slow to react.
Sweat was pouring down him, and he looked like he could barely stand.
“Lev Denek?”
He managed to remember my name well.
Though he got the last letter wrong.
[Living Achievements]
[Presence of a Third-rate: Earned 10 Supporting Role Points]
Wow, they even reward something for that.
No need to adjust anything.
I want to finish this up quickly.
I boldly threw out a challenge.
“Let’s have a match.”
With the tone of a third-rate Villain, Edwin lowered his sword and muttered.
“Sorry, but as I said last time… I really don’t want to fight you again…”
“Then how about a conversation?”
“… A conversation?”
“Yeah, a deep conversation of bodies.”
“…!”
– Dash!
No need for an answer.
Knowing he’s the stubborn type, I immediately moved my feet.
And just as I closed in on Edwin, I swung my sword low to the left.
– Clang!
The dull sound of the wooden sword followed.
Edwin neatly parried my attack.
“I don’t want to waste time on useless fights…!”
So frustrating! Isn’t this all for your own good?
At this rate, I’ll lose everything to Caeran…
– Thud!
Edwin stepped back a bit to create distance.
With my weak strength stat of 1.0, even exchanging one blow left me feeling pushed back.
‘Should I’ve just waited for 20 more minutes?’
Let’s see if using Demonization works; his stats are displayed succinctly.
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[Edwin Gwynn]
[Status Average]
: 1.7
[Specialization]
Swordsmanship (3)
Holy Power (1)
[Trait]
Grit (Lv.2) (Activated) (Detailed Information Locked)
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‘Is it because of Grit?’
I had somewhat forgotten.
His unique trait, Grit.
When stamina falls below 5%, all stats slightly decrease, but the health doesn’t drop for a brief moment based on mental strength.
Basically, it’s a protagonist buff.
Plus, Edwin’s mental stat is incredibly high, so if this turns into a drawn-out battle, I’ll go down first.
It’s better to knock him out in one shot due to Demonization anyway.
I gripped my sword tightly once more.
“Sleep tight.”
– Dash!
Once again, I launched the first attack.
– Slice!
I aimed to slash low to the left but then thought, “!!!”
After bluffing, I attempted a surprise stab.
As expected, Edwin used his agility to dodge to the left.
“Exactly.”
“?”
This was deliberate on my part.
In tomorrow’s training with Diana, Edwin will be pointed out for a bad habit.
He slightly exposes a weak point during the left-side evasion followed by a combo move.
Thus, this setup is exploiting Edwin’s Achilles’ heel, available only today.
Of course, at my current level of skill, I can’t exactly capitalize on it…
But what if I use Demonization at this moment?
– Zoom!
Being a Gamer has made the activation as simple as hitting a keyboard button.
[Demonization Use: Expected Duration 1.02 seconds]
– Whooooosh.
An alien aura enveloped my body.
In that brief instant, I felt a significant increase in speed and without hesitation, I aimed straight for his weak point.
– Thwack!!
[Demon Power exhausted. ‘Demonization’ is released.]
-!!
In that moment, Edwin wore an expression that was beyond awesome.
The kind of face you wouldn’t see in the novel.
His expression just before feeling the wall of a Demon for the first time, right before awakening as an Executor.
– Thud.
Edwin collapsed as if fainting.
“Did… it work?”
– Splash!
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[Achievement Cleared]
[Supporting Role Achievement: Edwin’s Awakening]
[Reward: 100 Supporting Role Points]
[You have earned Supporting Role Points]
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“Sweet deal.”