NOVEL NEXT chapter 2
2 – Episode 2. Understanding the situation
* * *
“Please give me the cheapest one here.”
In response to my request, the well-dressed lady owner brings a glass filled with cheap liquor.
Thunk!
The sound of the glass being placed on the table slightly shook the noisy bar.
“You always look for the cheapest one. You’re such a cheapskate.”
It’s daytime now.
I was sitting in a bar, drinking alcohol.
It was like a wandering vagabond’s life, but whatever.
I was, astonishingly, embodying the world of a game.
I don’t think this kind of deviation is that bad. Seriously.
… Anyway, to summarize.
I found myself in the world of my favorite game, “Garand Eternity Saga”.
As soon as I arrived here, I eagerly called up the status window.
But unfortunately, nothing good happened, because it seemed like a shoddy, outdated game. The status window didn’t appear before my eyes.
Nevertheless, I was able to easily obtain quite a lot of information.
No, rather than saying I was able to obtain it, it would be more accurate to say that when I [possessed] this body, the memories it had felt like my own.
My name is Swen.
I was 20 years old this year.
I wasn’t a noble, and I didn’t have a surname.
I didn’t have any family members either. It would be easy to understand if you think of me as a perfect extra character who had the ideal shape for possession.
The only way to return to the original world.
That is to unify this continent.
More precisely, if the country I belonged to succeeded in unifying the continent, I would be able to safely return to my original world.
“This is a pretty common cliche.”
Since I couldn’t change the given situation.
Next is to check my abilities.
If I couldn’t accurately check my abilities through the status window, then I checked them by moving my body directly.
Judging from how even climbing a small hill was tough enough to leave me out of breath, it would be safe to say my physical strength and muscular power were low.
Although I had become 8 years younger than my actual age, I felt more frail than I did before.
It was probably somewhere between 5 and 15.
As for my charm stat… honestly, I’m not sure.
I’m not terribly ugly when I look in the mirror, but I’m also not handsome.
Other than my hair being close to white, there were no remarkable features.
You could say it was a plain feeling.
In this game, since it had a medieval fantasy setting, the characters’ hair colors were all natural.
Actually, there was no phrase in the game that said the in-game charm determines the character’s appearance.
It’s just my vague speculation.
In the game, the charm stat mainly influenced persuasion and diplomacy when dealing with others.
I guess it would be around 50 to 60.
There were various other factors.
Politics, leadership skills, and things like that.
But there was no way for me to find out about those right now.
I would be able to confirm them if I joined any military force later.
And the most important thing is… intelligence.
After a few experiments during the past few days since I transmigrated, I could be sure.
‘My intelligence… is definitely 100.’
“Ah, there you are. You came again today.”
Next to me, drinking cheap alcohol, an old man whom I had been making eye contact with for the past few days approached.
This old man was just a local resident. At least he wasn’t someone famous or well-known that I knew of.
“Hello.”
“Yeah. Heard any news? The Brans Army succeeded in recapturing the Heizel Castle.”
“Is that so?”
As expected.
The Brans Army is currently the military force that owns the land where the city I am in belongs to, and [Lynn Brans], one of the named characters, leads the country.
Lynn Brans. The youngest sister of the versatile Brans family with outstanding abilities.
She was the third child and a woman, which was a difficult condition, but she became the lord inheriting her father’s position based solely on her abilities.
Both her older brothers, the first and second sons, were currently under her command as generals.
To summarize the Brans Army in one word, it was:
Recommended ruler for beginners!
With no particular disadvantages in most stats and good talent pool, it was a ruler who could unify the continent with no major difficulties as long as they acquired basic knowledge of the game.
Once cleared, the Brans Army quickly escaped from the hands of the users since there was no need to think about strategies.
“Really impressive. That’s what you’re saying.”
“Me?”
I said while inexplicably acting nonchalant.
“You predicted that the Brans Army would regain the Heizel Castle, which was taken by the sudden invasion of the Walnut Army, and you also predicted that they would regain the castle again without even reorganizing their forces this time.”
The Walnut Army was an ordinary country by anyone’s standards, a country without any notable characteristics that would be suitable for mid-level players.
In the world line here, they were respawned next to the Brans Army.
It’s unfortunate, but the ruler Walnut would probably disappear in a short time, wouldn’t he?
Unless a user specifically kills him, he would be one of the countries that can never be unified.
The power game in the game, as it is, was transplanted into this world –
It was natural for ordinary citizens like the old man here to think, “Walnut Army cannot defeat the Brands Army.”
But.
From what I predicted, Walnut Army was able to capture Highzel Castle.
I don’t know why. Just, no matter how much I think, the only conclusion that can be drawn is “[Walnut Army wins].”
And they actually won.
That alone was a difficult thing to happen, but soon after, the next day, without properly reinforcing even, the Brands Army quickly gathered troops to recapture the castle.
This old man explained to me all the reasons why he thought it would be difficult for the Brands Army to win.
But.
This time, for some reason, only the conclusion of “[Brands Army wins]” didn’t come to mind.
This time as well, I don’t know why, but anyway, the thought – no, the [certainty] – that it would happen arose.
And the result came out just now.
It wasn’t just these two situations.
I could discuss various things with various people about the current situation, and every time, everything was going according to my thoughts.
After dozens of cross verifications like that, I could be certain.
It’s not explained logically, but it’s as if the entire universe is going according to my thoughts like magic!
Considering that this world is part of the “Garand Eternity Saga,” there is only one reason.
My intellect is 100!
“Well, it just seemed like it.”
“Are you some kind of prophet? Can you tell me if I can win at gambling soon?”
The old man said that while looking at me, then burst into laughter.
I responded with small talk.
“Ahahahaha, well… sir, it’s better not to gamble.”
“Right. If I gamble again this time, I’ll really get divorced.”
If this old man gambles, will he win or lose?
Unfortunately, the result for that was unpredictable.
It seemed that only the things that fell within the range I could predict as having an intellect of 100 could be predicted perfectly.
“If I could predict everything, then I should be the one gambling.”
By becoming an intellect of 100, it didn’t suddenly make me incredibly smart or make brilliant strategies pop into my mind.
It’s just that my expectations for a question hit 100% of the time. Whatever happens, that becomes the correct answer and the optimal decision that can be made.
As if the 100 intelligence characters in the game always gave the correct advice when asked.
‘Is there any way I can use this?’
After exchanging greetings, I bid farewell to the old man and once again immersed myself in thought.
In fact, there was a penalty, not a bonus, to my abilities.
My predictions could only be made when someone asked me a question.
When I thought alone in my head, ‘Can country A defeat country B in War X?’, I couldn’t come to a clear conclusion.
I was able to answer because the old man had asked me clearly about what he would become.
Considering that military personnel in this game usually didn’t give any answers until they were asked such questions, I could understand why.
However, once I received a question, I was able to make predictions multiple times.
Anyway.
This is a world in the game, and it operates according to the rules of the game but-
The person breathing here right now wasn’t like an avatar.
I am a living, breathing human.
It’s a chaotic time. It wasn’t a bad thing to make my name known, but if I did it too much, my life would be in danger.
In the game, users would press the enlistment button to gather about 2,000 soldiers for battle and invade the nearby castle on a daily basis.
2,000 soldiers meant 2,000 stamina to fiercely fight against the opponent.
However.
It felt like stamina only in the game- these 2,000 soldiers were actually 2,000 people.
When the number decreased, it was the same as people dying off little by little.
And I was… not a divine being in charge of that, just a human with a value of 1 that could potentially be recruited among 2,000 people.
Of course, if I became a servant of the unified country, I could safely return to my original world.
However, I didn’t know how long it would take to achieve unification, and the possibility of dying in the meantime was very high.
So, rather than becoming famous, I would go into Brans’ army as a stable civil servant, receiving a decent salary.
If Brans’ army achieves unification, that would be great, and if another country emerges during that time suitable for unification, I would transfer to that place for work.
That was my plan for my life in this other world.
That’s why I’m spending time in a tavern in broad daylight like this, right?
In this game, talent acquisition took place in taverns, and someone with an intelligence stat of over 100 would surely come to recruit me out of interest in my abilities.
However.
The lord who came to recruit me for one week was only one person.
When I think about the CPUs that always come to scout a character with an intelligence score of 100 who is playing without a job, it was impossible.
“In the game, you could check the characters’ stats…but since this is like the real world, I can’t be sure.”
Even the old man, who immediately left after talking to me, wasn’t something from the game or anything like that.
Even the cheap beer I’m drinking right now was the same. The game wasn’t detailed enough to describe things like this.
Then…even if I just spend time quietly at the tavern, does that mean Prince Brans won’t come to get me?
“Do I have to physically bump into him?”
I have to move my body to gain fame and fortune.
It might be dangerous, but…it was much better than just lazily waiting and getting drafted.
Even if I’m weak, I’m a man. And in this game, recruiting could pull as many adult male characters as there were in the population.
It meant that I might end up being a cannon fodder without even realizing it.
Emptying the cheap glass and contemplating how to enter the Brans army.
“Um…Sir Suen. May I bother you for a moment?”
“…?”
I turned my head and looked towards the direction of the woman’s voice.
Cute short cream-colored hair.
Eyes as red as strawberries on a strawberry cake.
An elegant look, but her clothes looked somewhat worn out, perhaps from wearing them for a long time.
Her name was Lunarien Iniang.
Her nickname in the game was ‘Luna’, a high-ranking lord for advanced players in the game, boasting the highest difficulty level.
Her territory and forces were in a state similar to a military group, rather than a fallen noble-born country with poor conditions.
Although she wasn’t a great help in the beginning, her potential was tremendous.
However, her companions who followed Luna were all SSS-class after a certain period, so she was a character known as the ‘King’s Return’ player.
Just a moment ago, she had told me that only one leader had come to recruit me in the past week.
And that leader was Luna.
“You came again?”
“Well, yes. I wanted to talk…is that okay? I’ll buy the drinks.”
“The drinks are fine.”
Because Luna had also played this game before, I knew more about Luna’s financial situation than anyone else.
It was better to take a sip of flea juice.
“Well then…”
She sat down cautiously.
Unexpectedly, she recalled the incident that had surprised her so much when she first met Luna.
An extraordinary beauty that could not be discerned from the outdated dot graphics.
If Luna had known that she was this beautiful, she would have played more games to unify with her.
“Um… Miss Suen. I apologize for bothering you again, but… could you please help me…?”
“As I mentioned before, I lack the talent to work under Luna, so…”
In response to my hesitant words, she frowned and said:
“No! I heard that Miss Suen is a renowned figure. I’m embarrassed, but our army doesn’t have a single bookkeeper… We really need Miss Suen’s help.”
“…”
In fact, if I rejected her this time, it would be the fifth time I pushed her away.
She had come four times in a week.
If I had rejected her three times, she should have realized and stopped coming. Instead, she kept coming without any sense, and even the Lord kept coming and using honorifics.
I’m sorry for her, but I don’t have two lives.
I couldn’t join Luna’s army, which would soon disappear from the map along with Walnut.
“Maybe I should tell her the harsh reality.”
It seemed like the time had come for me to inform her of the cold, hard truth.
“…Luna. May I have the audacity to say a few words?”
“O-of course…! Please speak freely.”
“Why did you decide to raise an army, Luna?”
“That’s… to unify the c-continent, and to ensure that everyone can live in peace-“
“In other words, you want to become an emperor?”
She is slightly taken aback by my uninterrupted words.
“T-That’s right.”
“But it’s strange. If you’re going to become an emperor, shouldn’t you be more confident and assertive, including towards me?”
“T-That’s…!”
She is startled, as if her heart has been struck, and she cannot continue speaking.
Even in the game, I knew she had this kind of personality, but I wonder how she feels knowing that I know.
“It seems like Luna is kind to everyone. I wouldn’t say that kindness is a bad trait. However, it is an unnecessary virtue in this era. I do not believe that Luna is the ruler who can unify this continent. Therefore, I cannot join under Luna.”
“If I say this much, she probably won’t come back again.
Sorry, but I’ve already made a plan.
So while ignoring her, I take a sip of cheap alcohol-
Beside me, I hear her trembling and sobbing.
“Is that so…?”
“…”
Lunarrien Inion was a fragile person.
He loved peace and starting an army for the sake of establishing peace, but he was completely unsuited for being a founding military leader in this turbulent era.
Even in games, his army would definitely be destroyed if left to the CPU.
Although his heart wavered at her crying face… there was no other choice.
I only have one life.
“In Swen’s eyes… Am I… unable to unify this world…?”
“…”
Well…
………
………
………
In that moment.
My world momentarily stops.
‘… Huh?’
The question Lunate asked me.
‘Am I, Lunarrien Inion, unable to unify this world?’
And-
The conclusion made by me, who has an intelligence stat of 100.
————————-That is not true.