Chapter 24

Silverback(3)

โ€œWhat is that?โ€

In the bright midday sun, the Whissen Castle stood tall.

Thud thud thud thudโ€”

As the half-broken carriage sped towards the main gate, kicking up clouds of dust, the guard knights gripped their swords.

โ€œStop right there!โ€

At the command of a knight who had drawn his sword, the coachman quickly pulled on the reins.

Neighโ€”

The horses pulling the carriage reared up high and snorted.

The knights spoke threateningly to the elderly coachman who had dismounted from the driverโ€™s seat.

โ€œIdentify yourself.โ€

โ€œUhโ€ฆ umโ€ฆโ€

Just as the bewildered coachman hesitated under the stern gazes of the knights,

โ€œI am Baron Etvan Jerfelt, lord of the Jerfelt territory.โ€

The lord, Etvan, descended from the carriage and presented an identity badge emblazoned with his family crest.

โ€œI have urgent business, and though I know itโ€™s an imposition, I must see the head of the Dark Order immediately.โ€

โ€œGreetings, my lord.โ€

The two knights exchanged glances after paying their respects to Baron Etvan.

โ€˜Could he have come to ask for the commanderโ€™s personal intervention?โ€™

โ€˜It seems so. He looks like heโ€™s been through hell to get here.โ€™

Secrets eventually leak out.

Though Belkan had issued a strict gag order to the knights involved in previous failures, it was nearly impossible to silence everyone in the Whissen Castle, despite his immense power.

Thus, the troubles in the Jerfelt territory had become an open secret among the knights.

โ€œYou must have had a hard journey, my lord. It seems urgent, so I will inform the commander immediately.โ€

As the knight looked at the baron with a sympathetic expression and started to run towards Belkanโ€™s quarters,

โ€œNoโ€ฆ thatโ€™s not it.โ€

โ€œWhat?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m here to thank the knights you dispatched for resolving the issue.โ€

When the baron gestured towards the carriage, two individuals in trainee uniforms of the Royal Guards got off.

The knights, seeing them, tilted their heads in confusion.

โ€œWho are they?โ€

โ€œFirst time seeing them. Are they new? They seem familiar, thoughโ€ฆโ€

Ignoring the murmurs, the two ran to the back of the carriage and started dragging something out.

Thudโ€”

With a cloud of dust, a massive chunk rolled onto the ground. The knightsโ€™ faces changed when they saw the bisected corpse of a Silverback.

They instinctively realized that this was the beast that had been tormenting the knights.

โ€œI will fetch the commander immediately!โ€

Without waiting for a signal, the knights turned and sprinted towards Belkanโ€™s quarters.


โ€œBaron Jerfeltโ€ฆ did I hear correctly?โ€

Belkan, who had arrived like the wind upon hearing the news, stroked his thick beard.

Baron Etvan nodded repeatedly.

โ€œIndeed. If thereโ€™s even a sliver of falsehood in my words, I will accept any punishment.โ€

โ€œSo, putting everything else aside, that man inside the carriage split the Silverback in two with a single strike?โ€

Though the method of luring it was more important than the strike itselfโ€ฆ

Baron Etvan swallowed his words and added something else instead.

โ€œIt wasnโ€™t a single strike. According to what I heard, it took three strikes. The first one the Silverback dodgedโ€ฆโ€

โ€œThatโ€™s not the point. You two, answer me. Did Jin really split that creature in half with one blow?โ€

Belkanโ€™s voice had lowered significantly. The shoulders of the two trainees kneeling before him trembled.

โ€œYes, thatโ€™s correct.โ€

โ€œI saw it too. Hisโ€ฆ I mean, Jinโ€™s sword flashed, and the massive Silverback was split in two. It was hard to believe, even seeing it with my own eyes.โ€

When the trainee responded hurriedly, Belkan approached the corpse and ran his hand over the beastโ€™s abdomen, from which its entrails were spilling out.

His hand was stained with its congealed blood, but that didnโ€™t matter at the moment.

โ€˜This isโ€ฆโ€™

A corpse holds a lot of information.

This wasnโ€™t merely a matter of using mana to cleave it with strength.

It might be a misjudgment.

But if his suspicion was correct, this was an unprecedented event.

โ€œThis isnโ€™t something I can judge alone. Who wouldโ€™ve thought heโ€™d hide something like this?โ€

โ€œYes, yes? What do you mean by that?โ€

Startled by Belkanโ€™s muttering, Baron Etvan stuttered, but before he could finish, Belkan had already vanished.

โ€œWhat in the world is happeningโ€ฆโ€

As Baron Etvan awkwardly looked around, Belkanโ€™s booming voice echoed throughout the Whissen Castle.

โ€œNo matter the cost, open the warp gate connected to the main house immediately!โ€


After the battle with the Silverback,

Jin, who had fallen into a deep sleep, was dreaming. It was a dream from when he was holed up in an inn in the Jerfelt territory a few days ago.

โ€œHooโ€ฆโ€

In Idrianโ€™s mental domain.

Exhausted, Jin plopped down, panting heavily.

In front of him were piles of monster corpses, stacked like mountains.

They were all summoned by Idrian to match Jinโ€™s current level.

As Jin, who had finally defeated them all, slumped, Idrian shook his head.

โ€œAn ordinary person would have had their mind shatteredโ€ฆ To think you could withstand this. Youโ€™ve exceeded my expectations.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ve always had a knack for hard work.โ€

Jin bragged. As Idrian, at a loss for words, was about to snort, Jin added a word.

โ€œOld man, I have a question.โ€

โ€œMaster!โ€

โ€œOuch!โ€

Thudโ€”

Idrianโ€™s iron fist struck Jinโ€™s head. Idrian had a particular obsession with the title of โ€˜Master.โ€™

Jin, who screamed and rolled on the ground, was in so much pain that he almost cried.

โ€œโ€ฆMaster, I have a question.โ€

โ€œAlright, what is it?โ€

Finally satisfied, Idrian met Jinโ€™s gaze.

โ€œIโ€™ve roughly understood mana. But, about the mental domain you mentionedโ€ฆ what exactly is this โ€˜vesselโ€™? It doesnโ€™t seem particularly usefulโ€ฆ It just sits there in the core and feels rather bothersome.โ€

โ€œThe mental domain, huh. Thatโ€™s a very good question.โ€

Idrian grinned with his wrinkled face and spoke to Jin, whose eyes were shining.

โ€œI wonโ€™t tell you for free.โ€

โ€œWhat kind of master are you?โ€

โ€œNothing in this world is free. At your age, you should know that by now.โ€

Taken aback by the unexpected response, Jinโ€™s jaw dropped.

As if expecting this reaction, Idrian chuckled and continued.

โ€œHow about this? Iโ€™m curious about something from you too, so letโ€™s exchange questions and answers, one for one. How does that sound?โ€

โ€œWell, alright. Letโ€™s do that.โ€

Jin agreed to Idrianโ€™s proposal without much resistance.

After all, he was the spirit fused with the Stormbringer, within his inner self.

Since there was no risk of leaking the truth, he figured there was no harm in it.

โ€œThen let me start. That inhuman mental fortitude and resilience. Are youโ€ฆ perhaps not an ordinary human, but a divine being?โ€

โ€œIf by divine being you mean an avatar of a god, then yes, I am.โ€

โ€œGotcha!โ€

Idrian snapped his fingers in delight.

โ€œWhy are you so happy? Donโ€™t tell me, youโ€™re like the spirit of Stormbringer, coveting my bodyโ€ฆโ€

Jin slowly backed away and crossed his arms over his chest.

Whackโ€” Idrianโ€™s iron fist struck Jinโ€™s nose.

โ€œWhatโ€™s with this creepy act!โ€

โ€œArghโ€ฆ Master, youโ€™re killing me.โ€

โ€œIf I wanted to, I could cut off your head here and you wouldnโ€™t die. Want to see what itโ€™s like to get broken a few times?โ€

โ€œNo, thanks. Anyway, itโ€™s my turn now, right?โ€

As Idrian growled, Jin quickly changed the subject.

Idrian, organizing his thoughts, slowly began to speak.

โ€œThe mental domain isโ€ฆ Itโ€™s a very abstract concept, hard to explain precisely. But think of it as a small world imprinted on your soul, made up of your imagination.โ€

โ€œImagination?โ€

โ€œYes. Everything youโ€™ve experienced, everything youโ€™ve imagined, you can manifest within your mental domain. Of course, it depends on the capacity of your vessel.โ€

โ€œWait a minute. Then, the size of your vesselโ€ฆโ€

Jin looked around. The green hills and the vast ocean beyond.

Idrianโ€™s mental domain seemed like an entire small continent.

In contrast, the โ€˜vesselโ€™ in his inner self felt about the size of a fingertip.

As he compared their vast difference, Jin muttered in frustration.

โ€œBut what good is a big inner world? It canโ€™t affect the outside like mana can.โ€

Perhaps due to the immense difference, he felt a competitive spirit.

Idrian smiled and began to explain.

โ€œPatience. Itโ€™s my turn now. You asked, and I answered.โ€

โ€œPicky, arenโ€™t you?โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re getting more insolent. Want to get disciplined by your master?โ€

โ€œWhat do you want to know?โ€

Knowing he could never beat Idrian here, Jin obediently calmed down.

Idrian looked at him with a piercing gaze and asked firmly.

โ€œAre you really from this world? To be exact, are you Jin Aster, the second son of the Meteor Sword Clan?โ€

โ€œNo, Iโ€™m not. My body is Jin Asterโ€™s, but the mind inside is not.โ€

Without hesitation, Jin answered, and Idrianโ€™s eyes widened.

โ€œThen who are you?! Tell me. Now, quickly!โ€

โ€œYouโ€™ve had your answer. Itโ€™s my turn now.โ€

โ€œShut up and speak! Who are you, where did you come from, and whatโ€™s your identity? Now!โ€

Idrianโ€™s demeanor changed dramatically. His eyes burned with a fierce light, and a tangible aura emanated from his entire being.

Boomโ€” Boomโ€”

Thunderclaps and lightning strikes surrounded them as the sky darkened and storms raged.

Realizing Idrian was too agitated to communicate, Jin began to speak.

It was a story heโ€™d have to reveal to Idrian eventually. The timing had just come a bit sooner.

โ€œโ€ฆItโ€™s a long storyโ€ฆโ€

Jin began to tell his tale.

From the moment he arrived in this world, to the moment he took over the body of the wastrel Jin Aster and narrowly survived by hunting the Silverback.

โ€œโ€ฆSo, thatโ€™s why I made such a request of you, Master. To eliminate even the slightest uncertainty. I donโ€™t engage in losing battles. I will win and survive in this wretched world.โ€

โ€œHa, ha ha ha!!!โ€

Idrian, who had listened to Jinโ€™s story, suddenly burst into laughter. It was a thunderous, booming laugh.

โ€œWhy are you laughing? Do you think my story is a lie?โ€

โ€œNo, no. I may not have seen it with my own eyes, but I believe your story is true.โ€

โ€œThen whyโ€ฆโ€

โ€œBecause Iโ€™m convinced our meeting wasnโ€™t a coincidence, but fate. Yes, thatโ€™s it.โ€

Idrian muttered as he stroked his beard. His gaze was fixed not on Jin but somewhere far beyond.

โ€œFate? What do you mean?โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s something youโ€™ll learn in time. Now, you asked what use the mental domain has, right? Iโ€™ll answer that.โ€

Idrian deftly changed the subject.

But since it was the answer Jin was most curious about, he didnโ€™t mind.

โ€œYour mental domain, created by the Heavenly Craft, indeed canโ€™t affect the outside directly, as you said.โ€

โ€œThen it really is a useless ability?โ€

โ€œBut if you add mental manifestation to it, the story changes.โ€

โ€œMental manifestation? Whatโ€™s that?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s the technique of manifesting images created within your domain into reality. But at your current level, youโ€ฆโ€

As Jin was intently listening to Idrianโ€™s explanation,

  • Sirโ€ฆ I mean, young master! Thereโ€™s trouble. Wake up!

A familiar voice called out as someone shook him vigorously. His vision went black, and he came to his senses. As he slowly opened his eyes, the panicked face of Rat came into view.

โ€œWas it just a dream?โ€

It seemed like a dream about the events a few days ago had replayed while he was unconscious.

His whole body ached, likely from the aftereffects of overexerting his mental manifestation.

Struggling to move his stiff body, Jin glared at Rat.

โ€œAnd calling me young master now? Trying to suck up because of the Ovelium I used? Want a new one?โ€

โ€œForgive me for not recognizing you sooner. Young master Jin Aster, please, Iโ€™ll do anything. Just spare my lifeโ€ฆโ€

Rat whispered in Jinโ€™s ear, his voice filled with fear and terror.

โ€œโ€ฆโ€

The air felt heavy.

Sensing something was off, Jin slowly turned his head.

โ€œHow have you been?โ€

Standing by his bed with a stern expression was the head of the Meteor Sword Clan.

Vergo Aster.


How to Survive as a Member of the Meteor Sword Family

How to Survive as a Member of the Meteor Sword Family

์œ ์„ฑ๊ฒ€๊ฐ€์˜ ๋ง๋‚˜๋‹ˆ๋กœ ์‚ด์•„๋‚จ๋Š” ๋ฒ•
Score 9.8
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Released: 2024 Native Language: Korean
Having spent four years immersing myself in a game devoid of dreams or aspirations, clocking in twenty thousand hours, I suddenly find myself thrust into the shoes of a character within its confines. Itโ€™s an unjust twist of fate, made worse by the abrupt demand to face the gallows in a mere three days. The reason? Simply put, the original inhabitant of this vessel was nothing more than a discarded miscreant, shunned even by their own kin. โ€œThis is utterly unjust. To be forcibly thrown into this predicament is grievous enough. Are they suggesting my fate will be sealed upon arrival?โ€ In a world Iโ€™ve never triumphed in, a world teetering on the brink of oblivion, I vow to endure by any means necessary. By any means necessary.

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