Terminally-Ill Genius Dark Knight

The Chasers region is completely under my control.

I look around my newly acquired land now, unable to hide the smile that leaks out. The corners of my mouth are twitching upward.

It’s still a shabby place, but thankfully the barriers I built with the Iron Golem’s core are still intact.

Hagiya, it didn’t collapse when we captured the griffin, so we should be fine for now.

The old building used by the guards is also now mine.

Of course, I’ve rearranged the furniture here and there, and tossed out all the useless stuff.

I have also released all the innocent prisoners held in custody.

In their place, I have placed Grine and his soldiers.

You might think they’d do the same thing as Taigan, but I’m not too worried.

‘People are so simple, once they experience fear, they learn…’

Grine was listening to me now.

I don’t know why he would ever praise me, even in front of Theo.

It’s safe to say he’s unlikely to betray me now.

On a side note, the prison has been downsized, and the neighboring bandits have been cleared out. It took some capital, but it’s not a big deal.

It was all stolen from Theo and Grine.

‘Theo, I’m just supporting you, but I’m ripping off Grine. I like that.’

On second thought, I’m happy with that.

I look around the building to see if Zitri agrees, and she nods.

“Congratulations. Young Master Nox, it’s almost as if you’ve become a minor patriarch.”

I felt my shoulders slump.

He was only fifteen years old.

I have a land all my own in this strange landmass.

A strange sense of satisfaction washed over me.

‘Not bad,’ I thought, ‘this could be addictive…….’

I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.

A plan to become a full-fledged force in my own right, to step out of the shadow of my family. It all started with getting my hands on the Chasers territory.

And now that I’ve accomplished that.

You could say I’ve accomplished my goal.

“The Chasers is a region of constant trouble. It’s bordered by Tahalin to the east and fringe city-states to the west. This has led to a perception of the region as uninhabitable. …but that’s only half true.

In other words, it’s half wrong.

Why?

Because it’s going to be one of the key cities in the Inner Lunatic, where a lot of capital is going to come and go.

The reason is extremely simple.

‘Items drop from the beasts around here. And their prices will skyrocket.’

In Inner Lunatic, hunting mid-level and higher beasts has a low chance of dropping accessory materials like Essence and Hearts.

These are used for artifact crafting and alchemy, just like in any other game, and have many uses.

Unfortunately, at the start of Inner Lunatic, these alchemical and artifact-making skills are not yet established.

Elena is just a unique case.

Also, does that mean?

‘In other words, the materials that drop after killing a demon have no value now.’

They’re just being used for research, that’s all.

However, of course, items won’t be cheap forever.

Over time, the technologies will continue to evolve.

Artifacts can be artificially crafted, and alchemy can be used to create better things.

Along the way, blacksmiths and alchemists realize that making armor out of demonic materials can have special effects.

In many ways, it’s all the more reason to hunt demons.

I have the Chasers region under my control.

This demon-infested land is about to experience an unprecedented boom thanks to them. The price of all magic stones and magic materials will skyrocket, and I will benefit financially.

It will be well into the hundreds of millions. {1}

Buy low, sell high.

It was the basics of being a merchant.

‘The more capital I can accumulate, the better off I’ll be when I get to the main storyline in Chapter 3, where the Rivalin family comes into play.’

Plus.

There was one more reason to get the Chasers.

It was an extremely obvious one.

‘After all, the Reinhafers are a third-generation{2} dark family, and Theo is the patriarch of that family…. If you’re going to do anything under his watchful eye, it’s hard to do it in the family manor.

At the very least, I need to get out of his sight.’

Honestly, I don’t want to die with Talia’s sword through my heart.

Even less do I want to be engaged or married.

‘Ha… I’m angry again.’

Of course, situations like this are unavoidable for someone like me who has to play a villain.

But I’m sure there’s a way out, if I can find my hidden memories.

Otherwise, the letter’s sender wouldn’t have written such a meaningful note, urging me to come to terms with the truth, welcoming me back… or anything else.

‘It’s a shame, then, that I can’t develop this land of gold right away…….’

Right now, I have to follow the admissions and curriculum of Eldain Academy, so I can’t give the Chasers area my full attention.

That’s why I’ve put Grine here, who has become my hands and feet. I want to make sure that no one gets hurt in the event of an immediate demon attack.

In short, it’s a stopgap measure.

“You really only have a few more days left, so you should probably head back to the mansion.”

“Of course I will. It’s Eldain….”

I muttered, lost in thought for a moment at Zitri’s words.

It’s weird that I’m not actually worried.

It’s true that so far I’ve managed to keep things from going too badly.

But that’s before I’ve even gotten into the main story.

The main story of Inner Lunatic….

It’s so bad, it makes me angry to think about it.

I went through so much trouble to crack that thing.

To beat it with my bare body?

Eldain Academy is a place where cadets with truly outrageous talents come and go like moths to a flame.

Is it possible to compete there with a body with a time limit?

I don’t think so, at least not if you put yourself in the shoes of Nox, the final villain of Part 1.

No way. But what can I do?

That’s who I am now.

“Haa….”

“Are you worried?”

Zitri asks, and I answer, finally, honestly.

“Rotten.”

* * *

Again, some time later.

We are riding in a carriage to Talonfeather, the capital of Arkheim, home of the Eldain Academy, and the starting point for all knights and mages.

There is one great river that flows through the city. It’s called the Ark River, and it’s from this river that the capital developed and became the city it is today.

These are all pretty interesting elements.

It’s very solid for a game setting, and when I first read it, I couldn’t help but be impressed.

‘Plus, there’s a special effect for taking a dip in the Ark River. Might be worth a shot if I get a chance.’

I stared out at the swaying carriage and recited the in-game settings.

From here on out, I would have to rely on my memory and analytical skills.

And the experience of the dead to survive.

This is not a game.

If you mess up, you don’t come back.

‘That means I can become X with a single decision.’

Repeat after me. I am X.

While I’m thinking about this, a massive fortress-like building casts a tall shadow over the carriage.

Before I can look up, the family coachman speaks in a quiet voice.

“We have arrived. This is the Eldain Academy.”

“Indeed.”

I thanked him appropriately, then stepped out of the carriage.

I could see the outline of a gleaming building.

I’ve seen the Academy hundreds, maybe thousands of times in game.

The main gate stood there, imposing and imposing.

“There’s still some time until the entrance ceremony, but… do you want to go in early?”

Zitri asked, and I was about to nod when, suddenly. A carriage pulled up to a stop with a clatter of horses’ hooves.

“Young Master Nox!”

I spun around at the familiar voice, and there was Emma.

The maid of House Steiner, and the exclusive handmaiden of Talia von Steiner.

I cocked my head appropriately.

“I see you’re early, too.”

“Yes. Apparently, it’s an entrance ceremony for the Eldain Academy, so here you go, young lady. Please disembark here and say hello to Young Master Nox as well.”

“…Uh, uh, Nox?! At…… Wait! Wait! Wait…!”{3}

A voice called out from inside the carriage.

A high-pitched, clean voice. Talia had guessed right.

‘The Reaper is… right in front of me…….’

What a surprise, I met a powerful enemy as soon as I arrived at the academy.

She’s an honored member of the Steiner family, so she can’t be ignored.

I’ll just have to give them a proper greeting.

As I waited, I thought to myself…….

‘Wait, what is it? Why isn’t she here?’

For a long time, Talia didn’t come out. All I could hear was the rustling of things.

I was about to ask Emma if something was wrong.

Finally, Talia stepped out of the carriage.

The girl with the red eye.

Talia looked at me with an uneasy expression on her face.

She was wearing a pretty dress with ruffles, and she was starting to look like a lady.

Like a child, she seems to be growing up fast.

Maybe it’s the Western setting?

It’s only been a few months, I thought.

“Oh, hi….”

“Uh.”

“This must be Talia… the fiancé you told me about…….”

“……Zitri. I thought I told you not to bring that up?”

While Zitri was responding to the question with a strange look on her face, a distraught Talia asked.

“I mean… how have you been…?”

“Uh, okay. And you?”

I ask, thinking I should be polite, and she snaps her fingers.

“Yes…! I’ve been swinging my sword every day, and I’ve been training to become a knight…….”

“…Miss, do you really need to talk about your training?”

Emma cautioned.

It doesn’t matter to me, but I’ve heard that they almost consider me as their fiancée.

I suppose it’s better not to talk about my knightly skills and virtues.

I’m sure they don’t have enough time for small talk.

Talia pondered Emma’s words for a moment, then gave me an “Oops!” look.

“I… I’m almost over the spiders!”

“Really?”

I couldn’t help but ask, forgetting to act.

Apparently so, because in the game, Talia didn’t get over her arachnophobia until the end.

Talia tugs at the hem of her skirt.

“Mmmm… I’m almost over it, really, just a little more…….”

“You haven’t gotten over it yet.”

“No!”

I shake my head, looking at Talia as she screams.

Of course, even at that moment, Zitri somehow manages to look back and forth between me and Talia, a pensive expression on her face.

…Did I do something wrong again?

Meaningless thoughts fill my mind, but I can’t help it.

For now, I just have to pretend not to notice and move on.

As I continue to chat, I see other carriages pulling in. Each with their own personalities.

I realize that many of them are children of high ranking families. As for the commoners, most of them arrive on foot and make their way inside, but about a fifth of them are noblemen of considerable talent.

I followed their procession with my eyes until I spotted a particularly large and gaudy carriage.

And I knew instinctively who it belonged to.

deuleuleuleu….

(Drrrr)

The carriage came to a ghostly halt in front of me.

An unusually gaudy carriage. A woman was getting out of it.

She was dressed in an expensive blue dress with a lot of jewelry.

“Well, well. Who is this, aren’t you Young Master Nox? I didn’t expect the third son of the Rinehafer family to end up at Eldain Academy. How nice to meet you.”

The corners of the girl’s eyes curve charmingly.

She had auburn hair and unusually blue eyes. She’s petite, but her face is quite commanding.

She has gently curved eyebrows and a sharp nose.

She wore light makeup, and her lips and face were lightly red.

A girl who is still a child, but hides a cunning fox within.

Of course, I already know who she is.

Eleanor de Rivalin.

“Eleanor.”

The most powerful woman on the continent. The only daughter of House Rivalin, a star in the merchant world who would go on to shake up the entire business world.

Commonly known as the Fox of Gold.

“Yes, that’s me.”

Incidentally, she and Nox had met as children and…….

-A lowlife like you is a noble, can you get the hell out of here?

“A noble from a lowly merchant family that you ignored.”

Not on good terms with Nox.

Simply put, it was one of Nox’s many bad karmas.

Along with Talia, for the record, the character who helped drive a sword into my heart.

“-Eleanor de Rivalin. I never thought I’d see you like this again.”

Shit.

I wasn’t even mind-controlled at that moment.

Why do I get all these kids around me who want to kill me?

My luck must have been at an all-time peak!

{1} : hundreds of billions of won is like hundreds of mils of USD (june 2023)

of course currency model hasn’t been clearly defined yet

{2} : chaebol/zaibatsu reference, wiki for those that want to read more

{3} : Talia doesn’t use an honorific here

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