Whelp, loophole in quest notification. Guess the obvious thing to do when spotting it is thinking about exploiting it.

Also sneak attack! Sudden chapter out of nowhere! Double damage!

Though I probably shouldn't have done so, it seems to run too fast.

Still, I'd rather write another chapter than rewrite this.

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"We will aid your kingdom" Rob spoke, his blond hair seemingly striking as he stood there like some hero.

There was a noticeable silence as I said nothing.

Josh turned towards me, "What about you?"

They all turned towards me.

"Uh"

My eyes flickered to the nearby spearsmen.

It said unfriendly right. Not enemy, not hatred. Just unfriendly.

Actually, let me just read the quest again..

QuestCollapse the empire!

DescriptionThe evil beast king and dictator of the horrible Fara Empire is oppressing the poor kingdom of Haden!

Defeat him! Topple the empire!Immediate RewardsTraining in a class of choice

Distrustful reputation with Haden Kingdom

Unfriendly reputation with the Fara Empire

1,000 GoldRewards30,000 EXP

Duke of Haden Kingdom

Gamer Title: Summoned HeroRefusalUnfriendly reputation with Haden Kingdom

Do I have to actually join in?

Is there a punishment for not actually doing the quest, and simply taking the immediate rewards?

Can I still get the end rewards even without actually participating in the quest?

If this was a game, it'd be a possibility. But logically in the real world, no.

If I refuse the quest, I'll probably just be kicked out. If I accept the quest, take the rewards and run away. They'll probably declare me a traitor after some time.

And if I'm there at the very end, my relations still good with the kingdom. I can get it all.

But..

I don't plan to go along with this.

The most incentive for the entire affair is the title 'Summoned Hero', the 30k EXP isn't too bad, but with the stat cap of 99 this makes the exp of limited use. Especially when my level doesn't seem to effect me much.

Actually, it doesn't seem very useful at all. My level is useless. The most useful thing about leveling up is solely the stat points.

The hell is the level for? I haven't encountered a single situation where beyond comparing other people's levels to my own when comparing combat strength that its been useful.

Update 0.2aUpdate Log

Quest log is now accessible

Applicable quests can be refused from questlog

Skills can be deleted

Status explanations can be viewed

Ohh, shiny.

Quest log makes some sense, status explanations is probably intended to address my question and deleting skills is quite useless. No really, very useless.

"Um, Jon?"

Even a skill where you can instantly bleed from every part of your body has its uses. Why would you remove it?

Might make sense if something like 'Crude Blacksmithing' is incompatible with 'Blacksmithing'. But not really. If anything it should upgrade or evolve.

"Jon?"

Hmm?

Oh.

"I accept" I smiled.

No wait.

"He accepts" Josh happily proclaimed out loud.

Shit.

You have accepted the quest: Collapse the empire!

Ah well.

Its not like they can untrain me or give back the coins. Hell, the worst thing that could happen is that I hide for 2 months.

Unless..

Na, that can't happen.

Author: Shitty foreshadowing

"Excellent" the duke grinned as Josh translated.

Then without checking if anyone was tired and wanted to rest a bit, he called in several people.

Masic lv.15 Magic Adviser

Denn lv.7 Servant

Avid lv.8 Servant

In their hands the servants each carried in a small table and round orb set on a thick pillow, as they settled them in the middle of the room I used *Examine* on the orb with growing fear.

Focusing OrbA rare mana crystal crystallised with the spell: Oracle: Skill Sight

This can be used by fueling with mana and having the target touch the crystal

Ah, not as bad as I thought then. You seem to read all about the summoned heroes receiving status screens like my own. No idea how it would work out here though, conflict? Conversion?

Now the biggest problem I have is how it displays things. Hopefully using pictures, not words. Definitely not words. I best go last, see how it works on the others.

Slyly stepping away from the table as the magic adviser stood in front of it, Josh was left at the new front of the group.

The king said something, everyone's attention turned towards the magic adviser who said something else and a short explanation.

"He says it will show our potential" Josh spoke, eyeing it with interest.

The magic adviser said something else, Josh stepped forwards and approached the table.

As the magic adviser did seemingly nothing as he held out his hand, I quietly looked at the mana about him. The crystal flowed with it, formless mana tinged with yellow for light mana.

Watching quietly as Josh laid his hands on the orb, I noticed the orb flare in response and after a second, a solid red sword began to float in the air above the crystal, large as a small knife but obviously a sword. It was also completely and obviously formed of mana.

"Mae ei bachgen bach!" the adviser proclaimed as Josh grinned.

Kira learnt over and translated for my sake, "He says great talent in sword"

Oh dear. I wonder if they are going to display my club as it is now, or a normal club?

Rob then stepped forwards as Josh moved to the side. As he placed his hands on the orb we all watched in interest.

Blue snow seemed to fall through the air above the ball, flakes of deepest blue swirling in a contained area by a unseen wind.

With a infectious smile, the adviser proudly proclaimed "Yr wyf yn datgan i chi fy ngwraig!"

Kira excitedly whispered "Unseen talent in ice magic!" as they happily congratulated Rob. I stayed out of their festivities, I was still worried about my own examination.

Eagerly Kira stepped up, replacing Rob at the orb as she placed her hands on the orb.

Almost immediately two knives began floating in the air, pale gray as they hovered there.

Obviously this wasn't so great a talent, but the adviser still proclaimed "Yr wyf yn gwyrdroi!"

Josh joined me by my side again, although Kira looked a little disappointed they all congratulated her loudly. "Good talent in daggers" he whispered. Obviously not the best.

Though does that include close combat or throwing? Or both? Probably the first.

Dreading my turn, I hung back as Mark finally stepped up, replacing a disappointed Kira at the crystal.

With bated breath, the crowd watched on as..

A bow appeared in the air, light brownish color with not a hint of shading.

"Yr wyf yn datgan brenin fy hun!" the adviser announced, his reaction as forced as Kira's had been. Evidently he was slightly disappointed.

As they loudly congratulated Mark, Josh whispered "Good talent in bow"

And then it was my turn, I felt a little nervous as I stepped up.

What if I crush the crystal? I should have enough strength for that yes?

Do they have spares?

As I hesitated, Josh prompted me "Put your hands on the ball and relax"

Turning around I hissed "I know", drawing the scene out.

Sweaty palms, I slowly lowered my hands onto the cold ball. Mana passively resting below the surface as my breath quickened.

Then I laid hands on it.

*Crack*

Oh god.

The ball slowly began to shatter, deep chasms to its very core appearing as the spell began to go haywire. Mana frothing at its very core as it desperately seeked escape.

With a soft roar, the ball collapsed into dust. The entirety of its mana consumed by the spell in a effortless moment.

I paused, fear and adrenaline pumping through my heart as I stared at it in horror.

Snapping my head up desperately, the guards were already covering the door. Drawing closer to surround me even as the magic adviser stumbled backwards with a look of shock on his face.

"What did you do?" Josh hissed, he didn't move away. None of the four did.

"I don't know" my face scrunched in shock and distress, though I had a very good guess. The gamer skill. Infinite in its possibilities, favoring none and favoring all.

Josh eyed the nearby guards as they closed in on me, and with a single decision he stepped next to me. The other three quickly moved with him.

"Don't worry" he smiled, "it'll be fine"

The four surrounded me, placing me in the center as the guards closed in with spears lowered. Kira glared at the surrounding guards even as Mark solidly stood by my back, Rob defiantly standing in front of me as he glared at the king.

"Cyfieithu shitty yn mynd yma" the duke commanded.

"We refuse" Rob declared, protecting my body with his own. If only he knew..

"A oes unrhyw un hyd yn oed yn poeni digon i drosi hyn"

"He is one of us" Rob spoke coldly, his voice challenging as the other three stood silently with him.

Spoken Language: Sidaen has reached 50% comprehension

Nice. Is this a effect of everything being translated for me?

The duke spoke towards Rob "We intend to Nid ydym yn him"

To what?

Rob paused, looked at me as he thought.

I could only look on with uncertainty as I frantically calculated the best path to take, forcing my body to stay still instead of giving the hint of preparing to run.

Guess its going to be spear and massive influxes of gravity and mass.

"He will stay with us, we will accompany him" Rob finally decided.

The duke hesitated as he considered, then finally reluctantly accepted.

"You will be gosodwyd in a anghysbell mewn"

At least I think he gave in, it sounded like he promised torture. His facial expressions and the slight relaxation of everyone said otherwise though.

Rob turned towards me, a blinding smile of reassurance on his face. "We are a team"

"And teams stick together" Josh finished as he gave me a pat on the back.

Kira eased up on her glare, smiling towards me "You don't need to worry"

Mark remained silent, but I could feel his presence reassuringly standing at my back ready to protect from behind.

With a half smile, I guiltily ignored the fact I was prepared to abandon them. They would probably have been fine anyways.

A quick command from the duke and the guards retreated, taking their original positions. Though notedly they no longer guarded the door.

The duke then spoke to Josh, "Ask your frind pa sgiliau he can i'ch"

"What skills do you have?" Josh translated.

Thinking for a second, I realized I had already backed myself into a corner. Magic wasn't that bad though, I had originally planned to spend my time researching more deeply into this.

"Obviously magic" I smiled towards Josh, "Though seeing that magic ball I'm now very interested in magic items".

I spoke in English, and unlike what Josh and the others could do my words came out in a single language. I also had zero intentions of revealing I suddenly knew how to speak Sidaen.

"He says he is good at magic, and he wants to learn more about magic items" Josh translated.

"Ah good good" the duke looked at me, "annhymerus see if we can find rywun to ddysgu him"

"He'll look into it" Josh translated.

Seriously though, I hear him promising torture.

A servant stepped up, "Dilyn me" he spoke politely as he turned towards the doors, walking as the others followed.

"Come on" Kira spoke, nudging me as she passed.

They sure do take their friendship stuff seriously. We met what. Two hours ago? And they were prepared to fight for me?

Following the servant down the halls we walked for a while, finally stepping into a seemingly abandoned wing of the palace overlooking a courtyard.

"You will be gwmpas here, you can each wedi a lleill from yma here. Byw wait in the byddwch until the others have cyrraedd"

"Others?" Rob asked.

"Other ddewis, they will be arhoswch to you" and then the servant walked off.

"We are waiting in the courtyard" Josh explained as we walked out in the sun.

You have entered 13th Courtyard

It seemed midday around here, and aside from the occasional weed this courtyard was of packed dirt surrounded on all four sides by the palace and its rooms.

As we waited there, Josh only lasted a few minutes before he asked me again "Are you sure you don't know what happened to the orb? Because I won't judge you, you are definitely one of us"

I smiled at him, I liked the feeling of companionship the four gave me. "Yeah, I don't really know. It might be the way I can use mana on earth, maybe I have a lot of talent?"

"Maybe" Josh echoed, his curiosity unsatisfied.

After a short pause, he spoke again "Hey, can you show us one of your spells?"

My face scrunched and I looked uncertain, finally caving in as I didn't have a decent reason to refuse. "Ok"

Fierce concentration as I held my cupped hands together, I looked intently at the clasped hands as I manually began to summon a Torchlight, omitting the connection and casting it as slow as I could.

With a Torchlight of average size, I opened my hands with wide eyed delight.

"I've never made one so big before!"

A floating light, white in color and totally ordinary in every single way.

The other four clapped, loudly admiring my magic.

"That's amazing!" Kira encouraged me as Mark nodded.

"It looks pretty cool Jon" he spoke quietly, poking it with his finger.

Then we heard a fifth person begin to clap, startled we looked across the courtyard where two people stood.

The first a thin looking man, age in his twenties with tight clothes and two small dagger sheathes strapped to his wrist. The other was a older man with graying hair, slightly unkempt beard and dressed in gray robes.

Arod lv.14 Mage Apprentice

Jeffery lv.29 Assassin

Assassin? The highest level I've ever seen too. He's there to train Kira right? I can't even react to him, it shouldn't be obvious to me.

The old man clapped as he approached, and with delight spoke.

"Cyfnodau heb lais!"

"Voiceless incantation" Josh translated unprompted.

Evidently the mage had forgotten this as he looked surprised at Josh then back at me with a slightly appraising look on his face.

"I am going to dysgu you" he nodded with a pleased look on his face.

More torture threats?

"He's going to teach you" Josh smiled to me, evidently pleased at my good fortune.

But really, this mage and his level seemed like he was the worst they could find to teach me on short notice.

"I shall be addysgu you the peryglon of cyllyll" the assassin Jeffery smiled towards Kira as she smiled back.

Soon after, three others arrived.

Sinin lv.26 Water Mage

Thorn lv.24 Combat Swordsman

Nalidn lv.27 Archer

As they introduced themselves to their new students, I could only think that I definitely got the worst tutor.

Spoken Language: Sidaen has reached 90% comprehension

"Shall we begin" smiled Arod.