NOVEL NEXT chapter 3
3
“Let me think, among the roles in the Hero’s Squad, the slave dog-girl is one of my favorites. It seems she won’t be in the hands of the slave trader in neighboring Augslen Town for another month. Ah, there’s no way to proceed yet. Next, the half-elf girl brought back by her original master’s father. her time should be tomorrow. I need to prepare well and make a good first impression on her. As for other female leads, my current strength and status are insufficient to reach them; I’m still too weak.”
Gu Ming felt a headache brewing as he pondered if anything had been overlooked.
“Speaking of insufficient strength, maybe I could try intercepting the Hero’s swordsmanship master before they meet. Yes, that’s what I’ll do; next month I’ll head to the neighboring town to find both this dog-girl lead and this predestined affordable master.”
Gu Ming dressed himself and prepared to go out for a walk. to see this world of swords and magic with his own eyes.
Upon entering the grand hall of his mansion, Gu Ming saw an elegant old man in a black suit conversing with a knight commander. He subconsciously checked their details on his panel.
Name: Crite Charles
Level: 45
Profession: Sky Knight (a type of knight who can manipulate wind elements)
Skills: Wind Barrier, Flight, Knight’s Heavy Strike, Blade of Wind, Phantom Wind,
Crite Swordsmanship
Equipment: None
Gu Ming noticed that his panel lacked soul power information; then he started checking another knight commander’s data.
Name: Joel John
Level: 34
Profession: Sky Knight
Skills: Wind Barrier, Knight’s Heavy Strike,
Flight,Crite Swordsmanship (created by Crite Simon)
Equipment: None
He scratched his head somewhat puzzled about why there was no column for soul power.
At that moment Butler Charles also noticed him from the corner of his eye and asked
“Young Master, do you have any instructions?”
Gu Ming looked towards them.
“That is, Rui Li and Rui Ling have both received money for their fare and been sent home, right?”
“Yes, Young Master. What’s the matter?”
“Nothing much, just wanted to confirm and also to apologize to them.”
Charlie was somewhat surprised to hear Gu Ming say this but then felt reassured.
“Tomorrow when the old master returns and sees how much the Young Master has grown, he will definitely be very pleased,” Charlie continued.
“Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ve already arranged for someone to escort Rui Li and Rui Ling back home. The money they have is more than enough for their future needs.”
Gu Ming nodded.
“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”
“Young Master, you’ve finally grown up,” Charlie said with tears welling up in his old eyes and a sobbing tone in his voice.
Butler Charlie had been rescued from the slums by Gu Ming’s father. Having never married, he raised Gu Ming as his own child from a young age with great dedication. He always wanted to give him the best but unfortunately things didn’t go as planned; due to their indulgence in him, Gu Ming had skipped training daily under false pretenses and developed many bad habits. Charlie felt helpless about it now and chose not to bring it up anymore.
Gu Ming interrupted his melancholy thoughts,
“Actually there’s something else I need to discuss with you. I’d like us visit the monster zone outside of town.”
Charlie was startled by this suggestion but before he could respond John quickly spoke up,
“Young Master that’s not advisable! The family head is returning tomorrow; if anything were dangerous were happen while you’re in the monster zone how would we explain it your father?”
Gu Ming continued pleading,
“Uncle John, Grandfather Charlie don’t worry. I only plan on visiting outskirts of monster zone just broaden my horizons; nothing untoward will happen.”
Hearing that Gu Ming intended only a brief visit near its perimeter eased John’s worries considerably so then Charlie solemnly responded
“Master, I can agree to your request, but you must promise me a few conditions; otherwise, there’s no deal,” said Charlie with a nod.
Gu Ming replied, “Alright, go ahead.”
“Firstly, you absolutely cannot enter the monster zone. Secondly, John must accompany and supervise you throughout. Thirdly, you must also listen to John’s instructions,” Charlie listed his terms.
John nodded frantically beside them.
Gu Ming knew they were worried about his impulsive and reckless nature as the original master of the house. He assured them by saying, “Alright, I accept.”
Hearing Gu Ming’s response continued Charlie: “Good. Young master, today I will trust you this once. But let me be clear. if I find out that you’ve violated our agreement in any way. John will take you straight home and you’ll face the wall for a month.”
Then looking at John he said: “You must protect the young master well. If anything happens to him under your watch. I will hold you accountable.”
John responded solemnly: “Master rest assured; I will bring back the young master without a single hair missing.”
“Mm,” acknowledged Gu Ming when he felt it was time to leave.
“I’ll be going with Uncle John now; take care of yourself Grandpa Charlie,” he said as they prepared to depart.
Watching Gu Ming’s retreating figure stirred something in Charlie’s heart. especially touched by those words of concern for his health. it struck a tender chord within him.
“Young Master is finally starting to act like an heir should,” he murmured tearfully (ಥ_ಥ). “Ah! Today is indeed a good day; when Lord returns he’ll surely be even more relieved than me.”
“Are you thirsty, young master? Have some water.”
John handed the water bottle to Gu Ming.
“Thank you, Uncle John.”
Gu Ming took the water bottle, feeling somewhat emotional about the life of a wealthy second-generation heir. Without him even saying anything, people were already handing things over to him. He remembered how well he had lived as a child under fourteen in his previous life and felt a bitter sweetness in his heart.
“Young master, would you like some snacks?”
“Young master, are you tired of sitting?”
“Young master, are you feeling hot?”
“How is this pressure, young master?”
“Stop stop stop! Uncle John, really, there’s no need for this.”
“Crying (╥﹏╥), does the young master no longer need John? Perhaps it’s true that I’m old and should retire.”
After speaking these words he drew his sword and held it against his own neck. Gu Ming broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly intervened.
“I give up; I truly give up. Put it down. quickly put it down! That thing is really dangerous! Listen to me; good boy Uncle John!”
“No young master; if I haven’t served my role in taking care of the young master properly then only death can express my loyalty to the Crete family. Please do not stop me!”
“Spare your life under this sword. I was wrong; I truly was wrong!”
“No young master. you did nothing wrong; it’s my fault.”
“No no no. it’s my fault; I am truly greatly at fault!”
“No youngmaster. you’re not at fault. it’s mine.”
“F*ck off with your nonsense. I order you to put down that sword!”
Once he saw that he had lowered his sword did Gu Ming finally breathe deeply again with relief washing over him tumultuously. Damn it. the original host wasn’t useless without reason. this isn’t just spoiling but an entire family drowning him in their love without any regard for consequences. what on earth is all this madness?
“Master is crying (╥﹏╥)”
Seeing John’s utterly aggrieved expression, Gu Ming felt a headache coming on. He hadn’t said anything at all; he had merely suggested that John take a rest. Yet, the other party had started filling in the blanks on his own, scaring Gu Ming into a cold sweat. Damn, people who overthink are truly terrifying.
“Sigh! Keep fanning.”
“At your command, Master. Is this force suitable?”
“Perfect, just perfect! Haha.”
Gu Ming couldn’t quite grasp his thought process. Just moments ago he was acting as if it were a matter of life and death; now here he was, happy even when I spoke sternly. Brother, not to say anything out of line but your soft-on-hard attitude really makes me suspect you’re an M!
“By the way Master,” John inquired as they sat in the carriage moving through an isolated area where “not even birds would poop,” “did you come here for something specific?”
“Well… I was just curious and wanted to broaden my horizons by seeing what monsters look like up close.”
“Oh? Actually Master,” John explained helpfully, “if you want to see monsters we have plenty in our estate’s arena; there’s no need to venture out here.”
Sitting in the carriage, Gu Ming choked up slightly and awkwardly admitted,
“Eh… that does ring a bell… haha! It slipped my mind for a moment but since we’re almost there anyway let’s just go take a look.”
“Very well, Master.”
A few minutes later,
“We’ve arrived Master!”
Gu Ming jumped down from the carriage and looked around him. only then truly feeling that he had indeed arrived in another world.
On an endless grassland not far away stood adventurers swinging their weapons at wolves with blades slicing through air and blood splattering around them while low-level fireball spells flew overhead hitting their targets. From afar Gu Ming could smell faint traces of roasted meat.
“So this is another world…”
The view before him stirred his blood making him more determined than ever to possess such power.
Just then several foolish goblins emerged from the bushes wielding bloody clubs and rusty swords surrounding Gu Ming and his companions.
“They really are a bunch of blind fools, disturbing my young master’s pleasure.”
John angrily drew his long sword and charged forward. A whooshing sound filled Gu Ming’s ears as the blade of wind swept past, decapitating goblins one by one, their heads tumbling to the ground.
The blood from a goblin closest to Gu Ming splashed onto his hands. He looked at the bloodstains on his hands; there was no hint of fear in his eyes, only a longing for the life he envisioned for himself.
Just as John was about to behead the last goblin, Gu Ming quickly spoke up.
“Uncle John, may I try?”
“Of course, young master.”
John lowered his sword and with several mini wind blades crippled the limbs of the goblin.
He then handed over the sword to Gu Ming who approached this green creature.
Species: Goblin
Level: 10
Skills: None
Equipment: Rusty Long Knife
Gu Ming raised his long sword and brought it down. The goblin’s screams halted as its head split into two halves; fresh blood spurted from its brain. Gu Ming’s hand trembled slightly, but he felt surprisingly calm and even a bit excited.
“Fantasy Harvest activated: Experience +10, Level +1.”
“Huff huff… Blood… So much blood on my hands. Is this what it feels like to kill monsters?”
Gu Ming returned the sword to John and said,
“Uncle John, please help me subdue a few more monsters; I want to practice being brave.”
Of course, Gu Ming’s real motive was leveling up.
“All right, young master.”
And so it went. John incapacitated monsters in front while Gu Ming took care of delivering fatal blows from behind.
Time lingered until dusk, and Gu Ming’s level had reached 12, his status changing from a commoner to an ordinary warrior.
“Young master, it’s getting late; we should head back,”
Gu Ming nodded.
“Alright, Uncle John.”
Today, Gu Ming’s main gain was experiencing the thrill of slaying monsters.