The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 23

“I did it! To think it has actually come into my hands!!”

In his past life, Bae Dohyun was able to secure a place among the top rankers county on just by possessing a B-rank meditation technique.

However, one of the reasons he was eventually pushed out of the ranks was due to a lack of total spirit power.

When he tried to find a better meditation technique later, it was already too late; the major guilds and other rankers had blocked off all paths to acquiring skill books.

From the start, the drop rate for skill books related to supernatural abilities was terrible, and finding a proper NPC master was as difficult as reaching for the stars.

As a result, information related to supernatural abilities was highly limited. Even on the Linked Cafe, there wasn’t much information about skill books or items related to supernatural abilities.

Information about the [Quercus Meditation Technique] wasn’t made public until more than 10 years after Connect had launched.

There was a story from Satoka Shigehisa, a fire mage and a ranker from Japan, who revealed on his personal broadcast, just before retirement, that each of the free city’s mayors had hidden one S-Rank skill each, and he had obtained his from the Mira’s Library.

Indeed, Bae Dohyun had also obtained an S-Rank skill book in Ignit, his free city. However, the catch was that it was a mage-exclusive skill, rendering it useless for Bae Dohyun.

Had there been a possibility of obtaining an S-Rank skill from other free city libraries, things might have been different, but there was only one such opportunity.

As a result, Bae Dohyun in his past life had to struggle with regret, but this time was different.

“Since the effects of meditation accumulate continuously, there won’t be any regrets about lacking spirit power in this life, right?”

Supernatural abilities might seem insignificant at first, but as one’s realm of mastery heightens, their power increases exponentially, along with the breadth of their applications.

With enough spirit power to support him, increasing proficiency would be much easier, allowing him to regain his past life’s realm of mastery much sooner. If he could regain his former realm before the full-scale war with the empire began.

“It really could turn the tables!”

Raul recalled numerous techniques he had conceptualized but couldn’t realize due to a lack of spirit power, eagerly awaiting the day they would come to fruition.

* * *

Raul picked a rare ring that enhanced magical power from Reynaldo’s secret storeroom.

Since his family home had much better weapons and armor, he opted for a suitable accessory.

With a light heart, Raul went down to the private training grounds in the mansion’s basement, deciding it was time to catch up on things he had put off.

There were about 60 quests he had accumulated, including sudden quests that appeared during subjugation processes and weekly quests from the skill manual. He had completed nearly 70 quests in just one night.

As a result, his level had increased by four, and he had acquired a few skill books below C-rank and several items of rare grade or lower.

He also gained about 50,000 player-only coins, making him feel like a coin millionaire.

‘Check status’

[Name]: Raul

[Level]: 55 (Hardcore Mode)

[Occupation]: Knight (Sword Expert Beginner), Intermediate Psychokinetic

[Affiliation]: Count of Ashton Family. First Knight Order

[Stats]: [Strength 66]

[Agility 67]

[Stamina 65]

[Intelligence 58]

[Spirit 71]

[Magic 70]

[Spirit Power 72]

[Sense 71]

*Unique Traits:

Skill Collector(EX),

Developer’s Insight(EX)

Psychokinesis Meister(S+),

Distinguished Swordsmanship Family Lineage(A),

???(EX)

The status window, checked for the first time in a month, had visibly changed, clearly reflecting Raul’s growth.

His physical abilities such as strength, agility, and stamina had all exceeded 65, while skills like magic and spirit power had already surpassed 70, marking him as an accomplished practitioner.

“But this is just the beginning.”

As the leading digits of the stats change, growth slows down. Raising a stat in the 70s requires as much experience as raising an entire spectrum of stats in the 60s. Nevertheless, the effects of each stat become profoundly more significant.

Typically, those called superhumans, such as Swordmasters or Senior Psychokinetics, have stats in the 90s.

Bae Dohyun in the past had reached the 90s in spirit and sensory alone.

Although it still seemed like a distant path, this time, he aimed for all stats to reach 90.

“And if the opportunity arises, to be the first player to reach triple-digit stats…!”

It might seem like a dream, but somehow, he felt confident it could be possible. Unlike his past life, this time Raul was presented with far more opportunities. He calmly lifted his left hand. The bracelet that adorned his wrist looked exceedingly ordinary. It had no patterns and was simply silver in color; it was something you might expect to find at any street stall. However, in reality, it was an incredibly rare item, unique in the world.

[Regnator: Power Armor]

Grade: B

Status: Bound (Raul), Partially Unlocked, Sealed.

Output: 1.5 CP (Core Power)

Operational Time: 5 min/max

Operational Mode: Self-charging.

Defense Spell: 6th Circle. Intermediate Mana Blade Defense Field. Elemental Effects Reduced by 50%.

Description: A replica of the mythic-grade power armor [Regnator]. Most of its functions are sealed as it has crossed through space and time, and some of its special functions have been altered. The seal can be unlocked under certain conditions.

Special Functions: Judgment (Amplifies effect by 200% against targets of the oath), Stealth Consumption (Can absorb lower power armors to mimic their functions).

This was one of the two items that had followed Raul in his reincarnation. The Skill Encyclopedia had unlocked through quests, and during this punitive expedition, he was able to awaken the power armor, Regnator. Both were still largely sealed.

But if he could fully unlock these seals and restore the items to their original mythic-grade? It would undoubtedly be a tremendous aid to Raul’s journey.

‘The problem is the conditions for unsealing….’

In the case of the Skill Encyclopedia, the next unsealing quest had already been assigned. A quest to complete 50 skill mastery quests related to the changing random slot skills once every week. It was achievable within a year if diligently pursued.

However, no clues were provided regarding the Regnator. It seemed likely that even its current output was difficult to handle. And then there was one more thing. A unique trait that had been hidden and was unlocked after the last battle.

[Developer’s Insight]

Grade: EX

Effect: Allows one to steal a glance at system-related information through the developer’s perspective and analyze the flow of special energies.

This trait had been what allowed Raul to see NPC information and the flow of mana all along.

The reason for its late unlocking was unclear, but it was speculated that it was due to contact with the Imperial Hound’s ‘Mage’.

As soon as the trait was unlocked, a quest arrived.

[Main Scenario Quest: Black Magic]

– Grade: ???

– Objective: Obtain a fragment of Black Magic Stone (1/5)

Additional Objectives: ???

Description: The scenario is not yet open. Please wait for the update.

Rewards: ???

This was a quest that should appear when formal service began, and players were about to leave the free city. It seemed like an error caused by Raul attacking the Imperial Hound’s hideout too county. If he followed the same route as in his previous life, he would continuously clash with the imperial forces to obtain the Black Magic Stone fragment. Amidst severe interference from the empire, he would have to navigate through the first and second scenarios.

‘But is there really a need to walk such a thorny path?’

After all, he was already aware of the scenario’s flow. There were several tricks to skip the county scenarios and intervene in the main storyline later. And for Raul, things that were impossible for a normal player were possible. That was because he was both a player and a resident of Connect.

“I refuse to be a puppet that moves as the developer manipulates this time. Which scenario I choose and which quest I clear will be entirely up to me.”

Quests were meant to aid a player’s growth, but they also served as shackles by which developers guided players’ movements.

If Raul had been a player from Earth, he might have followed the predetermined path to see the game’s ending, but he was a resident of Connect.

If the ending set by the developers proved to be different from what Raul desired, he might eventually have to shatter the scenario and quests themselves.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that… but I should be prepared nonetheless.”

Still, it was a distant story.

After all, it was still uncertain whether real players from Earth would even show up.

For now, it seemed he had no choice but to do what he could and tackle the problems as they came.

* * *

The next morning.

While in the study sorting through the information about the missing persons and bandits left in Mira, Bernard entered with a slightly excited expression following a soft knock.

“Lord. Niki has regained consciousness. Nakia asks to see you, what should we do?”

Raul, as if it were only natural, tidied up his space and stood up.

“Of course, I need to see her. Lead the way.”

Upon entering the treatment room, Nakia, gripping Niki’s hand, stood up abruptly, knelt before Raul, and started shedding tears.

“Thank you so much, Lord. I don’t know how I can ever repay you. Sob, sob.”

Raul lifted her up, speaking calmly.

“There’s no need to talk of repayment. Besides, Niki isn’t completely healed yet. Now more than ever, as a sister, you need to be Niki’s strong support.”

Then, he turned to look at Niki, who had regained consciousness.

Frankly, Niki looked unimpressive.

Despite being thirteen, her body was excessively small.

Perhaps due to a long illness, her body was so emaciated it looked like skin over bones.

Her hair was frayed and brittle, and her pale skin was cracked and fissured like a drought-stricken rice field.

However, one thing stood out. Her hair color, reminiscent of the blue sea, and her deep, sapphire-like eyes were striking.

“Th-thank you for saving me.”

Niki spoke slowly with a slight stutter, but her tone was flat, making her sound almost like an emotionless robot.

She tried to lift her head slightly, then seemed to lose strength and blankly stared into space.

“I’m sorry. Niki is really shy….”

But Raul wasn’t particularly bothered.

She had been bedridden for a long time, and after all, she was just a child. He felt nothing but pity. But then…

Suddenly, Niki’s eyes turned a vivid blue.

Within those eyes, a fantasy unfolded as if storms were swirling, and towering waves covered the sea.

‘What is this?’

Startled by such an abrupt change, Raul looked to Nakia and Bernard, but they seemed to have noticed nothing.

With a thought of disbelief, Raul focused mana into his eyes and activated ‘Developer’s Insight’.

“This can’t be!”

Raul unintentionally exclaimed.

(To be continued)