Manuke FPS Chapter 217

Published at 8th of May 2023 04:13:29 PM

I stayed too long.

I visited the Zephanel’s residence in the royal palace to report to Chancellor Bergman. We had a  fun dinner afterward, where the finest seasonings I took out turned it into a timeless taste comparison show. The simple dinner quickly turned into a banquet and its participants became a group of drunk people who seriously talked about which sauce would suit them best, picking meat that resembled a lightly boiled bird’s beak.

I enjoyed a lively time, but I guess I enjoyed it way too much that I far exceeded the curfew.

However, perhaps because of how often Chancellor Bergman ended up staying the night here after dinner, a futon for accommodation was prepared next to the guest room. I would also be staying here tonight, and head to Marida company tomorrow morning.

Now, Chancellor Bergman and I are staying in the guest room, reconfirming the report in the Devil’s Mountains and discussing how and when to deliver the reward. Ashley, Sharle-san, and Chancellor Zephanell headed to the innermost private space of the mansion, where they stayed for the night.

“This will be the place.”

Chancellor Bergman, who sat on a tatami room table lit by faint magical light, removed the glasses that look like reading glasses hanging on his nose and declared the end of the discussion. Then, he moved his gaze from his notebook and showed a page to me, who sat on the other side of the table.

“By the way, Schwartz.”

“What is it?” 

“It seems that there are rumors floating around the noble ladies that the real face of the “Black Mask Shaft” seems to be quite ugly.”

“It’s embarrassing that the news has reached the ears of Chancellor Bergman.”

“I’m interested in your skill to change your face, but do you mind showing me a little?”

Chancellor Bergman knows that I and Shaft are the same person. Because both use a common weapon system called firearms――rather, the existence of Schwartz, who was known from the beginning as a [Magicless], and a mysterious mercenary who calls himself Shaft who subdued the Wolf Labyrinth alone. From the point of view of those who know the truth about [Firearms] and pedigree skills, it would not have taken so long to combine that trait with outstanding fighting ability.

I didn’t actually want to hide my true identity. Originally, I didn’t know why I fell into this world, so I just acted to hide it.

As a result, I knew why I fell and never returned.

And I swore――to foil the crazy Evil God who dropped me into this world. Subdue the labyrinth that sprinkles harm on this world and destroys its existence. So far, I have been able to conquer three labyrinths; Green Demon, Wolf, and Mine. However, labyrinths exist all over the continent and are still being born as we speak. My vow may end up being a lifetime of cat-and-mouse games, but I don’t mind. By the time I was forced to choose to live as a single FPS player in this world, I felt that my life in battle had been decided.

However, FPS is not just a simple action game. Winning the game is not as simple as just shooting at your opponent.

The most important thing is to show teamwork according to the game rules and aim for victory as a whole.

I may not be the only FPS player in the world, a united companion. Still――the map in my view has a light spot showing Chancellor Bergman sitting in front of me, and the map of the mansion also has a light spot showing Ashley and the others. Often, there is a Hero’s line that says, “Save all the people within your sight” . In other words――. Live to destroy the labyrinth. But it is not going to be a sacrifice to the world for everything that lives in this natural world.

Instead “I will save everyone shown in my radar”――I will save my acquaintances, friends, and people who I want to cherish. It’s the companions who I live with on this different world stage――that’s how we, as an FPS player who values ​​teamplay the most, should live.

Chancellor Bergman is also a person who can be recognized as an ally to me. There will be no problem in responding to the requests for me to show the true face of Shaft. I swung my hand lightly in front of my face――at that moment my face turned into a swanky zombie face.

“――!”

It must have been a faster change than Chancellor Bergman had imagined. I opened my eyes for a moment and heard a slight breathtaking sound.

“Does it… hurt?”

Is it――the exposed facial muscle? Or is it the left eye where the surrounding skin is sore and exposed?

“No, what the Chancellor sees is close to an illusion. You can actually touch it, but I don’t feel any pain at all.”

“I see, if you can make such a change in an instant, no one will think that Daikokuya Schwartz is the same person even if they can see the ‘Black Mask Shaft’s’ real face.”

“Though I have already been spotted by His Excellency and Chancellor Zephanell.”

“Because we know about Trespasser, do you think we will believe any Magicless person as useless?”

“Actually, how many people know about Trespasser?”

“Well, in the Kingdom of Kurtmerga, there are four people: I, Zephanell, King Arsika, the current king, and Prince Khan, the Crown Prince.”

“I see.”

Four people――less than I expected. I heard Prince Khan’s name for the first time. Is he the number one person in succession to the throne? Other than that, this is also the first time I actually heard the name of the current King. I sometimes hear rumors about Royalty in the city, but he is only referred to as King or current King.

“One thing I can say is that no country is going to spread knowledge about Trespassers. There was once a King who directly acted in response to a rumor about another world. It is rumored that he has gone mad. A stupid vassal advised him to use force to acquire knowledge and property of another world.”

“Will that happen?”

“Now… I can’t say for sure. The Kingdom of Kurtmerga has been in existence for more than 500 years, but there are nations with a longer history on this continent of Orlando, and many nations have been destroyed. It is one fact that one of the causes is that a Trespasser has been involved in various ways. The skills and skills of a Trespasser are many times higher than those we have inherited over the years. Surely you can understand that?”

“Yes, but it’s inconvenient not to be able to use magic.”

“That’s because your skill is that kind of thing.”

“Then, did anyone in the past ever use something similar to magic despite being a Magicless.”

“Our founding king was also a Magicless, but he seemed to have used a number of magic that is still irreproducible up until this day.” 

“Is that… different from skill?”

“Indeed, it didn’t activate as quickly as a skill, but the effect was said to be enormous. It’s a magic that scorches the ground, crushes mountains, and parts the sea.”

“It’s like… you’ve seen it.”

“There is… A person who ran through the Orlando continent along with the founding king, witnessed him destroy the labyrinths in various places, and how he always stood on the front line to protect the country. Even after the Founding King abdicated, he continued to protect the country. Only those who survived the war hundred years ago could have seen the great magic.”

“Could this person be Chancellor Zephanell?”

Chancellor Bergman didn’t answer my question, but――the corners of his mouth were raised and he was strangely satisfied… no, he had a proud look on his face.

“I would like to give you one piece of advice. He decided to step down from the front line because he had too much power, and he chose to work to nurture the younger generation. He wanted people to not repeat something――one thing”

“One thing――?”

“To never try to assume the form of a magic beast. Staying in that form for too long will cause the transformation to become permanent and corrupt your heart.”

“… I’ll take that warning to heart.”

Chapter end