The Heart of a Mage
The ideal scenario I'd been envisioning went like this:
First, I'd pull one B-rank card fit to be used as gladiator material.
Then, I'd get one A-rank or higher mage-type card that could serve as immediate combat strength.
If I got those two, it would be perfect.
Ah, so the mercenary gladiator I raised while practically bleeding out is just going to be tossed aside like an old rag now?
'…No, no, that's not it.'
Even though it was a C-rank card, I had no intention of throwing away my gladiator.
I'd already made close-quarters combat my main discipline—that's how I got this far.
Sure, I could shoot a bow, throw daggers, even hurl ropes when needed!
'Replacing the gladiator card isn't exactly easy anymore.'
I'd relied on its powerful survival and defense skills all the way here.
Naturally, that made it a card I couldn't easily swap out.
'I've already raised it from F-rank to C-rank—why stop now?'
So, I decided to steadily strengthen my gladiator card using other cards as material.
Now then, what about the mage card?
If I wasn't planning to remove the gladiator from my card slot, what would I do with the new one?
That was exactly what I'd been aiming for.
[Upon reaching level 30, new functions are unlocked.]
Yes—new system features granted at level 30.
From this point onward, I'd be able to use two Fate Cards at the same time.
[You can now use the Dual Card System.]
Reaching level 30 was basically like shedding the "rookie" label.
At this milestone, players gained access to both the Clan function and the Dual Card function.
'I'd already unlocked the Clan function early using the War Expedition scenario—but the Dual Card system had no shortcut like that.'
That's why I'd needed faster growth—and finally, the moment had come.
This time, the card shuffle allowed me to pick 2 out of 6 cards.
That was a whole different scale from picking 1 out of 3.
It was an incredible opportunity to make a huge leap forward.
'I have to make the most of this, no matter what.'
Heart pounding, I waited for the cards to appear.
"All right, RNG-skill game! Let's gooo!"
A thousand stars exploded into light.
The starlit cards spun brilliantly, showering me with radiance.
[May fortune bless your destiny.]
"...?"
Just as I was feeling something strange about that message—
[A-rank Fate, "High Demon Knight," has appeared!]
[B-rank Fate, "Capital Defense Force," has appeared!]
Huh? A Demon Knight?
[F-rank Fate, "Weekend Chef," has appeared!]
[B-rank Fate, "Commoner Gladiator," has appeared!]
…Wait, a B-rank gladiator?
I thought it was a bit ambiguous—then froze.
[D-rank Fate, "Clumsy Carpenter," has appeared!]
[S-rank Fate, "High Magic Inquisitor," has appeared!]
"...!"
I was struck speechless.
Then fury erupted from within me.
"Hey! This is just not fair!"
Seriously, this was too much!
I'd never felt so resentful toward the night sky that rained down Fate Cards.
If the last two shuffles gave me nothing but garbage trucks, this one just dropped a Benz.
'No—a Ferrari…'
A Demon Knight and a High Magic Inquisitor?
'The last two shuffles fed me pure sewage—now they're handing me gold dust?'
Oh, this is infuriating.
I was so frustrated I could've blown my top.
'Why are you giving me this now!'
If I'd drawn cards like these on my first shuffle?
No exaggeration—I'd have already unlocked the "Empire Conquest" scenario and stormed the imperial capital, Kertion.
'And that damned emperor's head—I'd have just—!'
Ugh. Why am I getting worked up about beating the emperor all of a sudden?
"Phew…"
Taking a deep breath, I carefully examined the cards.
'First things first—let's eliminate the junk.'
That part was easy.
First, the F-rank "Weekend Chef."
'That one's just a joke card you pull to make your party laugh while cooking ramyeon at camp…'
Next, the D-rank "Clumsy Carpenter."
'Unless this is a Healing Camp meta, even as a sub card, it's useless…'
Third, the B-rank "Capital Defense Force."
'Just an ordinary card.'
Originally, my plan was to use that B-rank as upgrade material.
"…Now everything's messed up."
The cards were tangled, and the choices awkward.
Anyone unfamiliar with New World Online would think it wasn't a big deal.
But to me, this kind of ambiguity wasn't just troublesome—it was devastating.
At first glance, the choice seemed easy enough.
This time, I could pick two cards.
'So I just grab the S-rank High Magic Inquisitor first…'
Then I had to decide: do I pick the "Commoner Gladiator" and keep growing my gladiator line?
Or switch to the newly-appeared A-rank "Demon Knight"?
It seemed like a simple matter of picking one.
…but reality wasn't that simple.
'If I choose carelessly, I'll be completely screwed.'
As mentioned, reaching level 30 unlocked the Dual Card system—meaning both cards would now operate together.
But they didn't just run independently.
There was a kind of synergy system between them.
In other words, some cards couldn't coexist—like oil and water.
'…And Demon Knight and Magic Inquisitor are exactly that type.'
If used together, their effects would halve.
That's because the Demon Knight's Darkness attribute directly opposed the Magic Inquisitor's Order attribute.
"Of all things, why these two?"
But neither was easy to throw away.
The Demon Knight was one of the rarest knight-type Fate Cards out there.
'It lacks strong defense or survival skills, but in exchange, it has absurd attack power and a high critical rate.'
Basically, it was a mix of assassin and knight—a so-called noble card.
So I began to run the numbers.
'Anyway, I already have Kals, so the tank position's filled, right?'
That meant even now, dropping the gladiator and switching over to the Demon Knight would be more profitable.
At the same time, this S-rank card, the High Magic Inquisitor, was truly worthy of its rank.
Unlike the gladiator or Demon Knight, who could only serve as a tank or a damage dealer respectively, this one was an all-rounder.
'It can defend, attack, and—'
Even heal when necessary. A completely broken card!
For someone like me, who couldn't play the game like a game, this card was a perfect fit—like a tailored suit.
Sure, it had the drawback of being notoriously difficult to control...
'But that's not really a problem for me.'
In this situation, if you were an old veteran of New World Online?
Of course, anyone—absolutely anyone—
Would pick the Magic Inquisitor without hesitation.
'All right, that would naturally make my combo the Commoner Gladiator and the Magic Inquisitor.'
But then—ugh, my head started throbbing again.
"Sigh. The Demon Knight–Gladiator combo is just too damn good, though…"
As I mentioned, the Demon Knight's weakness was its low defense and survivability.
But what if the gladiator compensated for that?
'It'd be practically a walking tank.'
And since I already had a C-rank Gladiator card, all I'd need to do was merge it with the new B-rank one.
'That would carry over one of the C-rank skills.'
Then I'd have a B-rank Gladiator card—one forged through battle, a true veteran risen from F-rank.
If I managed to upgrade it once more, pushing it up to A-rank—
'It would come with additional effects.'
…And those effects were nothing short of phenomenal.
A sigh escaped me.
"Damn it. Why is this happening to me?"
At such an infuriatingly ironic timing, I could feel my teeth grinding.
If these cards had just appeared in separate shuffles, it would've been fine!
Back then, all they gave me were dried-up, worthless scraps!
"Phew…"
Still, I had to make a choice.
Ironically, I was holding the lowest of the bunch—a B-rank—and yet had to decide whether to discard an A-rank or an S-rank.
I clenched my jaw.
This was almost as frustrating as the time I had to throw away that Archmage card.
The deeper I thought, the more absurd ideas started to bubble up.
'What if I just take the higher-ranked card… split it apart, and gamble it all on enhancement…'
…Higher rank?
'Split and enhance?'
Something flashed through my mind.
"Ah, right! That's it!"
I suddenly exclaimed, remembering something I'd completely forgotten.
How had that slipped my mind?
And just like that, the answer was clear.
"All right—A-rank Demon Knight, S-rank Magic Inquisitor. Final choice!"
Yes, I picked the two cards that were polar opposites.
[A-rank Fate, "High Demon Knight," and S-rank Fate, "High Magic Inquisitor," have been selected.]
[Are you sure?]
That question carried a certain weight—almost as if asking whether I truly wanted to combine two cards that couldn't coexist.
But I nodded without hesitation.
"Absolutely sure."
Then another message appeared.
[A-rank Fate, "High Demon Knight," and S-rank Fate, "High Magic Inquisitor," are bestowed upon Gilroshan Elo di Valt!]
[Insufficient slots—cards will be stored in card form.]
[May fortune favor you.]
Tssssss…
Two cards materialized in my palm, gleaming side by side.
As mentioned, they couldn't both occupy active slots.
But I knew a way to use them together.
That's why I'd confidently chosen both.
'My S-rank Fate Card sleeping in my inventory—the Genius Stage Actor.'
I was going to use that to make these opposing cards work in tandem.
Of course, not immediately.
But it wouldn't be that hard, either.
'Once I unlock and fully clear the Stage Actor's exclusive scenario…'
I'd obtain the unique skill that transfers and copies other card abilities—Perfect Imitation.
'…That's the one I need.'
A grin spread across my face.
[Gameplay resumed.]
Time, which had been frozen during card selection, began to flow again.
"Hmm?"
Tirvaen, who'd been resting in a corner of the lair, frowned at me.
"What is it? Why are you smiling like that? What are you plotting this time?"
"Come on, Master. Can't I smile now?"
"Every time you smile, something weird happens—that's why I'm asking!"
"…Sharp intuition, as always."
"What did you just say, you brat?"
The little witch looked ready to flick my forehead, but she couldn't move—Kals was fast asleep, resting his head on her lap.
'How heart-warming. Sickeningly so.'
I chuckled and stood up.
Then muttered softly,
"Equip Magic Inquisitor."
[S-rank Fate, "High Magic Inquisitor," is bestowed upon Gilroshan Elo di Valt!]
Shuuuuu!
At last, the power of the high-rank card surged through me.
Until I cleared the Lair of the Four Dragons and obtained Perfect Imitation,
I planned to use my C-rank Mercenary Gladiator alongside the S-rank Magic Inquisitor.
My Mana Heart hadn't recovered yet…
'But it's about time it does.'
Ahead of us, the inner passage of the lair began.
The terrain was even more treacherous than the cliffs we'd crossed, but I felt confident.
Once inside, I'd first acquire the Non-Elemental Magic.
Then, after resolving this troublesome issue with my Mana Heart—
'…I'll go claim that hatchling.'
Not much time left now.
"All right! Let's move out! Wake up, Warrior Kals!"
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