Anti Netotare Villian

Reich stood tall, his voice smooth and authoritative as he spoke, "That's fine. There's no need for you to beg me for mercy over such trivial mistakes. It's of no consequence." His tone was calm, almost detached, as though he were speaking to a child who had dropped a cup.

He turned away from the trembling maid, his gaze sweeping across the room to the other workers who were still frozen in place, wide-eyed and stunned. The atmosphere felt thick with disbelief. No one dared to move, their thoughts tangled in confusion. They had all been prepared for the worst—expecting Reich to execute swift punishment, to raise his sword high and deliver a cruel and final blow. Instead, he showed restraint, even kindness, an act none of them had ever witnessed from him. They stood motionless, like statues caught in a timeless moment.

Reich broke the silence with a cold, but not unkind, command, his voice echoing in the stone hall. "Someone fetch the healer. Get her burns treated, quickly. And I'll be returning to my room to send someone to fetch my clothes."

The air seemed to shift with his words, and a few of the maids blinked, snapping out of their stupor. Among them, one person stood slightly apart, a faint smile curving her lips. It was Sulvia, who had been watching the whole scene unfold from the kitchen. Her expression betrayed a quiet understanding, a knowing that this would unfold exactly as it had.

"You heard me," Reich's voice cut through the room once again, sharper this time, and the others snapped to attention. The stillness broke, and the workers, who had been paralyzed by the unexpected turn of events, now sprang into action.

One young man, his face flushed with embarrassment, stepped forward. His head bowed low, and his voice trembled as he spoke. "Apologies, master. I didn't mean to make you wait."

It was the former attendant of Reich, a young man who had served him loyally for many years. He, rather than any of the other workers, was the first to respond.

Reich gave a subtle nod, his expression impassive as he reiterated, "It's alright. Just make sure the healer tends to her burns, and I'll head to my room to send someone there to fetch my clothes."

"Yes, master," the young man replied, bowing deeply. "I will fetch the healer, and I will bring your clothes as well."

With that, Reich turned away, his footsteps echoing through the hall as he made his way back to his private chambers. He muttered under his breath as he removed his damp, soiled clothing. "Man, just how terrifying am I, that a maid begs for her family's life after spilling broth on me?" His voice was almost thoughtful, as if contemplating the absurdity of it all. He tossed the wet clothes aside and stood there for a moment, staring at the notification that had popped up before him.

A small, floating message hovered in the air, its words clear in the dim light:

[Congratulations, User! Your reputation has increased by 5 points!]

Reich's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the system message, intrigued by the unexpected rise in his reputation. "Hmm... Looks like my reputation took a little bump from that... funny, considering it was just a minor incident," he mused aloud, his tone tinged with mild amusement. "Sacrificing my clothes for a reputation boost? Definitely worth it, I'd say."

He paused for a moment, deep in thought. Though the incident had been small, it seemed that his actions had been enough to sway perception, earning him a quiet boost in his reputation. A strange satisfaction bloomed within him.

Reich's curiosity sparked as he wondered aloud, "Now that I think about it, what's my current reputation?"

With a few swift motions, he opened the system panel, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the details.

{Reputation: 19/100}

The number hit him like a cold splash of water. His jaw clenched in disbelief as he stared at the low figure. "Holy shit! That's too low, even for my expectations," he muttered under his breath, his surprise evident in his voice.

"Well, I need to fix this as fast as possible," Reich thought, a sense of urgency creeping into his mind. "I'll need to leave for the outside world soon, if not in the immediate future. With this tarnished reputation, I won't be able to accomplish a damn thing."

As soon as he was done processing his reputation, another system prompt suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his view.

[Congratulations, User, on Completing The Quest! The rewards will be given now!]

[User will be given the following skill as the reward: Flame Tornado (Offensive)]

[Congratulations, User, on leveling up! -> Lv 1]

[You have received 5 Skill points.]

The string of notifications hovered in the air, and Reich couldn't help but feel a small spark of excitement. "From the sound of it, these rewards aren't half bad," he said, running a hand through his hair as he read through the prompts. The mention of an offensive skill piqued his interest. "Flame Tornado… that sounds interesting." His eyes lit up at the thought of a powerful offensive skill at his disposal.

He immediately opened the system window, navigating through the various menus until he reached the skill information section. With a few more taps, the details of the new skill appeared before him, glowing with energy.

Reich scanned the details of the Flame Tornado skill.

{

Flame Tornado

Sword Skill

Rarity: Common

Description: Flame Tornado channels the user's energy into their sword, creating a swirling vortex of fire. The user swings the blade, releasing a fiery tornado that burns enemies in a 10-meter radius over time.

Activation: Swing the sword in a wide arc to release a flame-infused tornado.

Damage: Moderate, with burn damage over time to any enemies caught in the vortex.

Control: The tornado lasts for up to 5 seconds before dissipating.

Cooldown: 1 Hour.

Range: 10-meter radius.

Mana Consumption: 125 Mana

Strengths:

Effective against multiple enemies in a wide area.

Easy to execute, perfect for open spaces.

Weaknesses:

Low effectiveness against tougher enemies.

Difficult to control in confined spaces or when allies are near.

Fire-resistant enemies can mitigate the damage.

Tactical Uses:

*Inaccessible by User*

}

Reich's lips curled in mild surprise. "This seems like overkill for a skill marked as common," he mused. "I wonder what a rare skill looks like." His curiosity deepened, but something about the description caught his eye.

"What's up with this 'Tactical Uses' section? Why is it inaccessible?" He muttered, scrolling down to find that part of the skill information locked off.

A voice in his head, the Eri's usual sarcastic tone, responded, [It's locked because you haven't trained and used this skill. Once you use this skill in practice and in a fight, that section will automatically unlock, tailored to your combat style.]

Reich rolled his eyes, a hint of frustration creeping in. "Thanks for the explanation, idiot. Always helpful, as usual," he muttered, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "But seriously, once I start using it, I can expect a more detailed breakdown, huh? Sounds useful."

The Eri responded with a resigned sigh, [Sigh You won't stop, huh? Anyways, you're welcome.]

*****

Happy New Year.