SSS-Rank Hunter Reborn: Private Tutor to the Count's Bastard Son

In hunter life, there's a moment you look forward to most.

When you clear a difficult dungeon and get your hands on the rewards. Just like right now.

"What will come out?"

Ferda's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

After a moment, the light disappeared in the blink of an eye. Arcane's mushy corpse also vanished without a trace. Instead, unfamiliar items were visible in the middle of the swamp.

"This is..."

There were two items in total.

One was a dagger dyed completely black, and the other was a mushy lump of mud that made you question whether it was even an item.

Ferda picked up the dagger first.

=====

[Name]: Arcane's Dagger

[Grade]: Legend

[Type]: Weapon

-A dagger imbued with the hatred of a being who couldn't become a dragon. Made primarily from Arcane's teeth and claws, with the characteristic that when magic power is wrapped around the blade, extremely acidic poison forms. However, please note that those with low dignity cannot display its full abilities.

=====

Whoosh—

He swung it several times as a test.

"Hmm, not bad."

Actually, it was good.

It looked sturdy, and above all, he liked the weight most. It was almost identical to the daggers he'd mainly used when he was a hunter.

A smile naturally formed at the fact that he'd obtained a good weapon.

"Then next..."

The lump of mud dyed dark red.

His brow immediately furrowed. As before, could this really be called an item? Wasn't it just a lump of mud that had sprouted from the swamp?

Such doubts arose, but still, an item was an item. Ferda extended one finger and sent magic power into the mud lump.

Some time later.

=====

[Name]: Heart of the Swamp

[Grade]: Legend

[Type]: Consumable

-A heart containing all of Arcane's power. When consumed, all stats dramatically increase and magic power also greatly increases. However, please note that if the remaining time is exceeded, the heart will rot and disappear.

[Remaining Time]: 00:10:17

=====

When consumed, all stats dramatically increase.

At that description, Ferda's eyes went wide.

"...!"

He remembered seeing an item with a similar description.

Those called elixirs. And it was Legend grade no less.

The moment he saw this, someone flashed through his mind.

'...If Silvan ate this.'

He could grow at tremendous speed. Maybe he could easily clear the main story that would soon arrive, the 'First Disaster.'

But there was a problem.

'The remaining time is...'

Less than 10 minutes left.

Ferda's mind raced. What if he used the return stone to escape the dungeon, then reached the mansion at full speed? But no matter how much he thought, arriving within 10 minutes was impossible.

'Then what if I put it in inventory?'

Maybe time would stop?

He held such hope, but it wasn't the case. Even when put in inventory, time continued to flow.

Now only about 5 minutes remained. If he didn't eat it, it would rot and decay.

Then there was only one choice.

'It can't be helped.'

He reached out and picked up the Heart of the Swamp.

A squishy texture like grabbing a jellyfish. On top of that, blood-red mud dripped to the ground. The grotesque sight naturally made him frown, but what choice was there? He just had to eat it.

'Please let it have no taste...'

Ferda squeezed his eyes shut.

Along with a prayer he didn't usually make.

Gulp—

He swallowed the heart whole. Due to the squishy texture, it went down easily without chewing. Of course, some mud did get stuck in his teeth.

After a moment, his throat began to burn. Like downing strong liquor in one go. Then his chest, solar plexus, and stomach also burned. Ferda bit his lip tightly and concentrated.

"Phew."

This wasn't his first time swallowing an elixir. So he knew well how to handle it. While calming his breathing that had become rough from the internal heat, he rolled the surging energy around. Like slowly melting cold ice.

Drip— Drop!

Sweat that had beaded on his forehead flowed down along his chin.

Even so, his mind didn't waver.

While continuing an intense tug-of-war with the Heart of the Swamp, the heart's size gradually decreased. After becoming the size of a bean, it melted away futilely like snow on a furnace.

"Ah."

Hot breath escaping through his lips.

He opened his closed eyes. Ferda's face looked particularly refreshed.

"All the fatigue is gone."

He'd sweated buckets like coming out of a sauna. Moreover, all the waste accumulated in his body had been expelled, so it was natural to feel refreshed.

If not complete transformation, he'd gained quite a good fortune.

Let's see how much his stats increased.

=====

[Name]: Ferda Inosid

[Level]: 64

[Talent]: Assassination Arts - World Grade

[Race]: Human

[Strength]: 192/192 [Stamina]: 211/224

[Agility]: 271/271 [Magic Power]: 680/800

[Charm]: 29/55 [Luck]: 38/38

[Bonus Stats]: 130

[Abilities]

-Yggdrasil System (Lv. MAX)

-Inventory (Lv. MAX)

=====

First, his level had increased tremendously. Hunting monsters contributed, but defeating Arcane alone was probably the biggest factor.

Since he'd monopolized the boss monster's experience.

And one more thing.

'Magic power...'

It had increased so much he doubted his eyes.

Compared to before, it had risen over four times, so that said it all.

'Originally I was planning to invest more stats in magic power.'

There was no need to do that now.

A satisfied smile spread across Ferda's face.

After a moment, he turned around. It had been quite a while since coming here, so he should head back soon.

Stop—

Just as he was taking out the return stone from his chest.

He suddenly stopped moving.

'Come to think of it...'

He suddenly felt something was off.

The surroundings were too quiet. The chatty voice that had been rambling hadn't been heard for a while. It wasn't like he'd been chat-banned for talking too much, was it? While having such idle thoughts, he turned his gaze to where the magic sword was stuck.

"...!"

Ferda's eyes changed like a startled rabbit.

Because the magic sword was half-broken. Even the handle was turning to dust and scattering bit by bit.

"What is this..."

As he was unable to continue speaking at the sudden scene.

A familiar voice came from the broken magic sword.

<I was made for the purpose of eliminating that thing.>

It was Prang's voice.

<So I'm disappearing. Because I've completed my mission.>

In a voice that seemed like it might fade away at any moment, Prang continued.

<Honestly, when I first saw you, I didn't trust you much. I thought you were an ignorant fool with no dignity I could sense, so I'd half given up.>

The blade gradually crumbled. Black iron powder began to pile up softly over the swamp area.

<But thanks to you, I was able to shake off my last remaining attachment. I'm truly grateful for that. Thank you.>

Sincerity could be felt in Prang's voice.

<Hey, could you do me one last favor?>

"A favor?"

<Yeah. I'd like to see that sword up close.>

What Prang pointed to was Arcane's dagger.

It was a last request—couldn't he do at least this much? Ferda silently brought the dagger close to Prang's blade. A faint trembling could be felt from the crumbling blade.

Some time later.

<It's a good sword. Thank you. That's enough now.>

Prang's voice contained laughter.

<Though the time we were together was short...>

A voice gradually becoming fainter. In the end, he couldn't hear the last words.

Whoosh—

The half-remaining magic sword turned to dust and scattered. The swamp area that had become quiet in an instant. Just moments ago it had been full of vitality. Ferda smiled bitterly and stood up.

"Should I head back now?"

After taking one last look at where Prang had been, he immediately used the return stone. Blue magic power that rose from the spiral pattern gently embraced Ferda.

And some time later.

Ferda arrived at the underground waterway. After roughly brushing off the mud on his clothes, he fastened Arcane's dagger to his waist.

Now it was time to return to Silvan.

Just as he was about to start walking!

<Phew, it's a bit cramped but still livable.>

Stop—!

Ferda stopped walking.

What? Did he just hear a strange voice?

As he was looking around, the voice came again.

<Somehow it seems a bit more comfortable than before. Well, since there's nothing better right now, I'll be satisfied for now.>

He found where it was coming from. The voice was coming from Arcane's dagger.

Ferda drew the dagger and immediately spoke to it.

"Hey."

<Huh? Did you call me?>

He'd thought it was a familiar tone, and indeed it was Prang.

Ferda asked with a frown.

"Why are you here?"

<Well, because the magic sword disappeared.>

That wasn't a satisfactory answer. So he asked again.

"When a magic sword disappears, you should disappear with it..."

<Hey, what are you talking about? Of course only the magic sword disappears! You didn't have the terrible and senseless thought that the sword spirit would disappear too, did you?>

"..."

Ferda had suddenly become a terrible and senseless person.

Meanwhile, Prang, seemingly unaware that his face was gradually crumpling, chattered away in a rambling tone.

<More importantly, you have quite high dignity. Your skills seem much better than Lucian's too. How about it? Won't you make a contract with me? If you contract now, I'll specially allow several authorities...>

"I don't need it, so get out of here."

He didn't need a companion who was just chatty.

When Ferda spoke with a crumpled face, Prang made crying sounds.

<Hiiing, don't be like that. If I get kicked out of here, I have nowhere to go.>

"That's not my problem."

<No, how can a person be like that? At least you should prepare another sword for me to move to before kicking me out!>

Listening to noisy Prang's chatter, Ferda frowned.

It seemed like he'd get more wrinkles before leaving the underground waterway.

***

Ferda, who had emerged from the underground waterway, headed straight to his lodging.

It was already 6 AM, but strangely he wasn't tired at all. He'd hunted monsters without sleeping a wink—what was the reason?

The answer was simple.

Because he'd eaten a Legend-grade elixir.

"Hmm, doesn't seem like I need to sleep."

Ferda muttered blankly while lying in bed.

After a moment, he sat up and suddenly reached out into the air. It was to recall the system message that had appeared when leaving the underground waterway.

=====

[Hidden Achievement: Legend Hunter]

*Condition: Defeat a 'Legend-grade boss monster' solo.

*Reward: Achievement Points [2,500]

=====

He'd gained a large amount of achievement points. That made sense, since he'd solo defeated a Legend-grade boss monster.

"What should I buy to hear that I made a good purchase?"

With the achievement shop open, Ferda fell into contemplation.

He'd obtained a decent weapon. What remained was skills, armor, and accessories, but as before, the random aspect was really bothersome.

"Even if it's a bit expensive, just sell them confirmed like inventory."

Then there'd be no need to worry like this.

Just as he was sighing quietly, a sound that broke Ferda's reverie was heard.

Knock knock—

Someone knocked on the door. Since they weren't opening the door right away, it probably wasn't Silvan. To this, Ferda got up immediately instead of answering and opened the door.

Bang!

"Ah!"

A boy around Silvan's age was visible.

It was Aaron, the servant.

"What's the matter this early in the morning?"

"W-well..."

Aaron made a momentarily flustered expression.

But that was only briefly, as he soon revealed why he'd come to find Ferda.

"H-he's urgently looking for you. So I came to escort you."

"Who? The young master?"

Aaron nodded enthusiastically.

Then a puzzled light settled in Ferda's eyes.

'It's still too early for breakfast.'

The usual breakfast time was fixed at 9 AM. It was a time set considering Silvan's bedtime. But seeing him being called now, it didn't seem to be for eating breakfast.

'Did he not sleep again?'

That was the most likely guess.

Ferda looked at Aaron with narrowed brow.

"He's in his room?"

"Yes, yes!"

Should I go check right away?

After placing Arcane's dagger on the desk, Ferda immediately passed Aaron and headed toward Silvan's mansion. While watching him grow distant, Aaron suddenly started in surprise.

"Ah! That's right. Come to think of it, the head butler is also there..."

But Aaron's muttering didn't reach Ferda.

Because he'd already entered the mansion.