The Founder's POV

Chapter 42: Prodigy [2]

He's truly remarkable...

As someone who has read and watched many fantasy works, I've shamelessly incorporated numerous elements into this world for anyone to see. Among those elements is the concept of a "Prodigy character" or a "semi-Prodigy character."

What distinguishes these characters is their ability to confront those far more powerful than themselves. My younger brother Darian, for instance, will be able to fight those in the S rank when he reaches A+ rank.

This is called a Prodigy character because they surpass other characters significantly, possessing multiple advantages and a multi-dimensional story. For me, I can call myself a "semi-Prodigy" (disregarding my current disability).

This is because I can fight those stronger than me by one rank, but this will cease once I reach A- rank.

At that rank and above, the differences between levels can never be compensated for, except for Prodigy characters, of course. As for Jin, I had planned for him to become a Prodigy character as well, but only after future actions by Darian.

And I wasn't even sure that would happen, as I can't predict much about the characters' actions once the play begins. Although I placed special elements meant for Darian to find, which only Jin could benefit from, I couldn't be certain he would give them to him.

But now, the current Jin sitting there without any clear expressions has definitely reached the standard of a Prodigy character. Also, how did he get the legendary Morningstar Sword martial art? It was supposed to be for Darian!

I took a deep breath. I had already planned a certain way to become a Prodigy like them, but I need to heal myself first.

[Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I won't make you a slave either.]

I sent a reply to Jin through telepathy. It felt strange but comforting at the same time, a completely new experience. Jin seemed greatly relieved. Surely, he would feel better after being completely freed from slavery.

Having been a slave for a long time and knowing that feeling of helplessness and oppression, how could I take slaves after all that? If I truly go overboard and cross my moral boundaries here, will I really remain myself? And in what personality will I return to my family?

I mean my real family, of course...

I won't let this world change me, no matter the hardships and tragedies I witness. I won't let my personality change more than it already has. If I want to avoid the path of descent, I must draw boundaries for myself that I can't cross under any circumstances, and slavery is one of those boundaries.

(Killian's POV)

It's difficult... really difficult.

Trying to get close and understand someone you know nothing about is not an easy task, especially when I tried to make this person a slave a few months ago.

When I was a pirate over four months ago under the command of the my lord, we stumbled upon Mountain of Fog right after it was freed from the curse and found a random person sleeping near the body of a dead mythical beast.

Who would have thought that this random person was the heir to the StarHold family? The person who would soon rule the west... I sighed. If I wanted to continue my life normally, I had to get to know him properly...

It seems he doesn't know what happened four months ago, fortunately, and even Jin doesn't know that I had anything to do with that ship. But I still feel nervous while talking to them. It seems Jin has accepted me already, and the StarHold heir doesn't have any obvious issues with me.

The latter news made me feel relieved. I would need their help soon, so I should stay with them for now. As for the person named Elara, getting close to him seemed almost impossible from the start, so I didn't even try.

"You woke up at the right time; we should reach the mainland soon." I broke the silence and started another conversation.

I should keep a place for myself in their conversations; for my lord's future.

***
(Cassian's POV)

I looked at Killian and spoke: "What will you do after we reach the mainland?" I was genuinely curious.

Maybe Jin would go live a normal life for now since his contract with Loana had probably been dissolved. That's the least likely scenario, though.

As for Killian, I just remembered him. He was the third puppet entering the hall. His role was as significant as mine, maybe more.

If possible, I want to secure someone with his skills with me. An ally like him might help me as much as Jin in the future. Especially in one of the trials I will undertake soon to obtain the skill that will make me a Prodigy.

"I will explain something." Jin spoke as he leaned back in the chair a little and looked down. "A person named Gilbert formed a group called <The Resistance>. Its goal was to free the puppets and leave that society by any means. There were a few core members in that group..."

Jin started explaining some things about that group, and I noticed Elara's expression darken. I was really surprised that Elara was here with me now. Someone like him with me...

Anyway... Jin explained to me the plan of The Resistance and the matters concerning the three who died.

Lyra, Asher, Gilbert.

In the game, I wrote simple phrases about Gilbert as a secondary character.

[The former heir to the Morningstar Sword martial art, lost on a mission east of the human domain, hasn't been seen since.]

The sole purpose of his existence was because I was bored, and maybe to add some interesting dialogues to the play. When a martial art not inherited by blood is passed on, the current heir becomes entirely responsible choosing the one after him, like what happened with Jor and me.

Therefore, the responsibility of choosing the next heir to the Morningstar Sword martial art fell on Gilbert's shoulders. Even if the previous owner opposed Gilbert's choice, he had no right to prevent the inheritance process.

Since he had been missing for five years, his death was finally confirmed by the government, and the previous master regained the right to inheritance.

Perrin Morningstar, the person who inherited the Morningstar Sword martial art before Gilbert.

One of the strongest swordsmen in the human race and one of the few in the SS- rank.

A teacher among teachers, he has a combat school in the center of the human domain and rarely leaves it. He started working at Hope Academy a few months ago.

Supposedly, he encountered Darian upon his arrival at the academy and had already decided he was a suitable heir. As for how he knew that from just one look, we can simply say it was the protagonist's aura.

Back to the topic...

I looked at Jin. "It's truly unfortunate that so many died at the hands of those tyrants. I don't blame you for committing a massacre against them in the end. I've experienced the horrors of their treatment myself and know they certainly deserve it."

Time passed without any response. Jin simply nodded sadly, and Elara was on the verge of tears again. His eyes were stained red, and the black marks on his face indicated he hadn't slept for a while.

As for Killian, he was looking for some way to break the awkward silence.

"So, we will go to an eastern village near the coast to bury Asher, and another village in the North-west to bury Lyra?"

"Yes..." Elara spoke for the first time, and his voice was heavy. I looked at Jin, and he nodded to me.

I took a deep breath and decided to remain silent. This might not be the right time to discuss politics.

I will wait.