Flash!
The world shifted again.
"Where am I now…?"
It was supposed to show my death, but I found myself in an unfamiliar place.
"Nighttime, in a forest?"
I stood in a dense forest, with trees and bushes glowing faintly white. It wasn't an ordinary forest—it felt imbued with a mystical, legendary aura.
"No clue where this is."
Naturally, I couldn't identify the place. All around were trees, nothing else.
Step.
Footsteps approached from behind. Turning, I saw… myself.
A future version of me was walking toward me.
Gulp.
I swallowed hard, unsure how my future self would react. But he passed right through me, unable to see me.
"As expected, I'm invisible. But… why's he wearing that?"
Future me wore golden armor adorned with lightning patterns, specialized for one purpose.
"What's he here for?"
Following him as he walked slowly, lost in thought, I kept pace.
After a while, his measured steps stopped.
"Here…"
Future me halted in a clearing devoid of trees or bushes. Five stone tablets stood in a row, resembling an altar.
"Can't touch it."
I tried to touch a tablet, but my hand passed through like smoke. I was a ghost here, nonexistent.
Future me stood silently before the tablets.
Flash!
About ten minutes later, the night sky lit up as if it were day.
Squinting, I looked up to see something shimmering in the sky.
"What's that?"
Narrowing my eyes, I saw it—a creature with a dragon's head, fish scales, a deer's body, and an ox's tail: a Qilin, a mythical beast from Eastern mythology.
"A Qilin?"
Despite writing a Western fantasy, I loved mythical creatures and included Eastern ones in my novel. The Qilin was merely a guardian of a sacred place, never encountered by the protagonist. So why was future me here?
"What's he saying?"
I couldn't hear future me's words, only other sounds. He spoke earnestly to the Qilin, which floated silently in the air, showing no reaction.
"Is the Qilin using telepathy?"
Though it made no moves, future me's reactions suggested a conversation.
"Huh? What's happening?"
Thinking the talk was over, future me drew throwing weapons, and the Qilin began to glow again.
"Is he going to fight that divine beast?"
Future me conjured a giant umbrella-like structure and planted it in the ground.
Rumble!
Lightning crackled from the Qilin's horn.
Crackle!
The bolt aimed for future me but was caught by the umbrella, grounding the electricity.
Zzt!
"A lightning rod? Made from Agnes?"
The Qilin kept unleashing lightning, but the rod redirected it all. Even the ground's electric overflow, dangerous in itself, didn't faze future me.
His golden lightning-patterned armor, designed for high lightning resistance, nullified the Qilin's attacks.
It was clear now—future me came here to fight the Qilin.
Whoosh!
He drew a glowing red iron stake and hurled it at the Qilin. It pierced the beast's body before it could react, following the shortest path.
Boom!
The stake wasn't ordinary. The Qilin thrashed in pain, scattering lightning everywhere.
But the lightning rod and armor protected future me.
Crackle!
The Qilin, bleeding heavily, enveloped itself in lightning.
Flash!
A blinding light like a flashbang filled the world. Forcing my eyes open, I saw the Qilin's horn piercing future me's heart.
"Damn…"
Up close, the horn had impaled his chest. Moments later, the Qilin collapsed from blood loss.
"This is how I die? Stabbed by antlers?"
[Playback complete.]
[Eye of the Future Showing Death deactivated.]
Pop!
"Ugh!"
I was back, facing the Sharkrai King's massive body, right after beheading it and picking up the orb.
"Phew…"
Now I understood the reward. By showing my death, it gave me a chance to avoid it.
"What an insane reward."
Maybe because it was the first, it was staggeringly powerful.
"A Qilin…"
Future me didn't meet it by chance—he sought it out. That meant I didn't need to worry yet. An event would lead me to the Qilin someday, but I needed to plan how to dodge its final attack.
"The Qilin aside, what's with the orb and that cracked room?"
The fractured white room was a mystery. I was starting to doubt if this world was truly my novel.
"Ugh, no answers now. Are the kids doing okay?"
The orb and room were unsolvable for now, so I climbed the wall to check on Arin and Clyde.
Swish!
Arin had already slain one Sharkrai, its corpse in tatters, and was attacking another.
Boom!
Clyde, in Berserker mode, was pummeling a Sharkrai, clearly dominating.
Watching my knights, my mood lifted.
"Nice. I chose well."
"Thrust!"
"Thrust!"
After the Sharkrai King's death, monsters reappeared.
Vollarks and Mantars showed up often—perfect for training soldiers. I stayed back, commanding instead of fighting.
"Spearmen, forward!"
"Spearmen, forward!"
Since killing the King, the soldiers' view of me had changed. They trusted me completely, ready to follow any order.
"Young Master! Sharkrai sighted!"
"How many?"
"Two."
Perhaps seeking revenge for their king, Sharkrai appeared in droves, but they all became training fodder for Arin and Clyde. Either their numbers dwindled or they grew scared—now only one or two appeared.
"Arin, Clyde!"
"One each?"
"Yup."
"Young Master."
As Arin and Clyde charged the Sharkrai, Philo spoke.
"Yes?"
"His Excellency requests you come to Haiwa Island in a week."
"A week?"
"Yes. Like here, monster numbers have dropped elsewhere. We're down to less than 20 a day, so he plans to return."
"Why meet there instead of going home?"
Traveling to Haiwa and gathering there was extra work. Why?
"It's customary to sail the seas after a campaign to check for issues."
"I see."
The Marquis likely wanted me, Colin, and Laon to experience this.
"If things stay calm for four days, you can depart on the fifth."
"Got it."
Over time, monsters dwindled further. After three days, none appeared.
On the fifth day, as planned, we left the wall at dawn for Haiwa Island. Arriving at noon on the seventh day, we were the last—Colin, Laon, and the Marquis were waiting.
"Good work."
"No, I heard you took the toughest spot, Your Excellency. Well done."
"That's a Rox Marquis's duty."
The Marquis smiled, pleased all three sons completed the campaign safely.
"Brother! Great job!"
"You too, Laon."
Laon approached and bowed politely, looking healthy and unscathed.
"Consistent as ever."
Colin, meanwhile, ignored me, chatting with a knight.
"Let's begin," the Marquis said, ascending the platform. We aligned in our formations.
"You all worked hard against endless monsters."
"Well done!"
"Wooo!"
The knights and soldiers cheered joyfully.
"This campaign had remarkably few casualties. That's more satisfying than defeating monsters. Thanks to your efforts."
"Thank you!"
"Wooo!"
Everyone clapped and cheered at the Marquis's bright smile.
"I don't like long speeches, so I'll move on. As many of you know, this campaign was a test—the first to select my successor."
He revealed the campaign was an evaluation for his heir.
"Now, the results. Laon and the third butler, step forward."
Laon and his butler ascended the platform.
"Begin."
Laon stood with hands behind his back, facing forward, as the butler spoke.
"Young Master Laon perfectly defended the western wall."
"Oh!"
"Wow!"
The crowd erupted in admiration.
"We scored monsters with His Excellency: Vollark, 1 point; Mantar, 3 points; Kelain, 5 points; Sharkrai, 30 points."
The scoring, based on monster strength, was fair and accepted.
"We defeated 1,854 Vollarks, 467 Mantars, 341 Kelains, and 22 Sharkrai, totaling 5,620 points."
"Wooo!"
"Laon!"
The impressive tally drew cheers. Laon bowed politely in three directions.
"Outstanding work!" the Marquis said, ruffling Laon's hair.
Laon, happier with the gesture than the cheers, smiled and stepped down.
"Next, Colin."
"Yes."
Colin and the second butler ascended. Colin glanced at me, smirking.
"He needs another beating."
His smug grin suggested he outdid Laon.
"Young Master Colin also perfectly defended his wall."
"Oh!"
"We defeated 2,554 Vollarks, 545 Mantars, 423 Kelains, and 35 Sharkrai, totaling 7,354 points."
"Wooo!"
"Incredible!"
"Young Master Colin!"
The crowd roared louder at the 1,700-point lead. Colin smirked arrogantly.
"Impressive. You might've outdone me," the Marquis said.
"No, how could I surpass you, Father?"
"Well done, Colin."
"Thank you."
Smiling, Colin descended.
"Finally, Yuren."
"Yes."
I ascended with Philo, who pulled out a prepared document.
"Our wall was destroyed."
"Oh…"
"Tch."
"Ugh…"
Everyone but our group murmured, unsurprised I took only two squires and failed.
"Pfft!"
A snicker came from the front—obviously Colin.
"Sorry, I was surprised…"
His expression wasn't sorry, smirking crookedly.
"We defeated 1,332 Vollarks, 281 Mantars, 197 Kelains…"
"Pfft!"
Colin, covering his mouth, laughed again, thinking he'd won.
"Colin!" the Marquis barked, stopping him.
"Sorry, what's wrong with me?"
Colin tilted his head, grinning smugly. I wasn't bothered.
Soon, he and the others would be speechless.
"Continuing: 169 Sharkrai, totaling 8,230 points."
"What nonsense! 169 Sharkrai? How could you kill that many?!"
"Impossible!"
"Don't lie!"
"Oh, my apologies," Philo said, flipping the paper.
"A mistake."
"That's more like it!"
"Knew it."
The other groups nodded, as if expecting this.
"Yes, I'll correct it. Lastly, one Sharkrai King, worth 10,000 points. Young Master Yuren's total: 18,230 points."
The chattering crowd froze, mouths shut in unison.