CHAPTER 50
It didn't take long for Aelswith to return. Behind her came a line of servants carrying trays piled high with food.
She smiled warmly as she sat beside the bed.
"You must have been starving, my poor boy."
She clapped twice. At once, tables appeared from shimmering circles of light, and the servants carefully placed the dishes upon them.
Roasted meat glazed in golden sauce, steaming soups, freshly baked bread, fruits he didn't even recognize, and desserts that looked too beautiful to eat filled the room.
"Was all of this really necessary, Mother?"
Aelswith blinked, turning towards him.
"What do you mean?"
John looked away. He didn't know why, but he couldn't hold her gaze.
"Isn't... this a little too much?"
"Nonsense." Her expression softened. "Do you know how many days you have been unconscious? Your body has been deprived of nutrients for far too long. You need to compensate."
Even if he wanted to argue, his stomach had already betrayed him.
A delicious aroma filled his nose. Without realizing it, he had begun salivating.
John picked up a piece of meat and took a bite.
The flavor exploded in his mouth. Before he knew it, he was eating one dish after another with no decorum whatsoever.
It was like he had been possessed by a pig.
Aelswith watched him with a gentle smile.
"Slow down, dear."
John didn't even hear her. At that moment, a voice came from the doorway.
"Your Grace, Lady Eadith of House Crimson requests your presence."
A woman stood there wearing a maid's uniform.
Unlike the others, however, hers was far more elegant and refined.
John recognized her from his new memories.
Her name was Mary, the Empress's personal maid. For a brief moment, Aelswith's eyes turned cold.
But then, the emotion vanished as though it had never existed.
She turned toward John. He was currently stuffing his mouth with food as if someone had announced the end of the world was in ten minutes.
A small laugh escaped her. She gently patted his head before standing.
"If you need anything, simply ask the servants. I will return as soon as I can."
John could only nod in reply, his cheeks puffed with food.
Her smile deepened. Then she left with Mary.
Silence reigned in the room.
And after Several minutes, John finally leaned back.
His stomach was completely bloated. It was so swollen that he almost looked pregnant.
"Ugh..."
I think I ate too much.
[You think?]
Echo sounded genuinely horrified.
[Watching you eat was like watching a Fenrir devour its prey. I honestly thought you were going to eat the plates as well.]
Hey, stop exaggerating. I didn't eat that much, maybe a little above normal but not that much.
[A little above normal…]
Yes.
[Then look at the servants.]
John glanced around. To his disbelief, several servants were staring at him with pale faces.
...
Okay, maybe I ate a little too much.
[They are terrified. They think you might eat them next.]
That's ridiculous.
John coughed awkwardly.
They're only scared because I'm supposed to be the evil prince that will ruin their life at the smallest slip-up.
Yes. That has to be it.
[Whatever you say, minion… if you even believe yourself.]
Ignoring Echo, John glanced back at the empty dishes.
But seriously... That food was incredible. How did they make it?
[It's because they used spirit beasts and plants.]
John blinked.
[They are not only delicious, but they also help one's cultivation.]
Really? Then why doesn't the Covenant use them?
[How should I know what those lunatics are thinking?]
Echo paused. [More importantly, have you decided what you're going to do next?]
John slowly lay back on the bed.
Training.
But first... Let's see the trial conditions.
***
SYSTEM ERROR
[Access Denied.]
[The Origin Archive cannot be reached during the trial.]
[Interference Detected.]
[Trial Parameters Have Been Changed.]
[The Pseudo-Source Well has been upgraded to a True Grade Trial.]
[Warning: Difficulty has increased significantly.]
[Good Luck.]
***
John stared at the messages. His expression slowly stiffened.
After a long moment, he attempted to open his status again.
The same message appeared and slapped him across the face—figuratively, of course. But for John, it may as well have been literal.
Echo... What exactly is a True Grade Trial?
[Huh?]
For the first time in a long while, genuine surprise appeared in Echo's voice.
[How do you know about that?]
Just answer the goddamn question.
[...Fine. But ask nicely next time.]
Echo's voice became serious.
[There are six grades of trials in total. But only five types of source wells]
[The first five merely determine difficulty—what dangers you face and how much Source Energy you can obtain. They also correspond to the five types of source wells.]
[But the sixth is different.]
John's fingers slowly curled.
[The first five are constructed realities. Artificial worlds created by the Archive based on reality and past events that happened before to test you.]
[You enter. You complete the objective. Then you leave.]
[And when you leave... Those worlds cease to exist; they are not real.]
Echo continued.
[But a True Grade Trial does not disappear. It becomes reality.]
The room suddenly felt colder.
[Every person you meet... every action you take... every choice you make... All of them will affect reality if you succeed.]
John's pupils trembled.
[Save someone who was meant to die, and they will continue living in the real world. Kill someone, and they remain dead.]
[Change history... And history changes.]
John said nothing; he was in too much of a shock to say anything. Echo spoke once more.
[Only extremely special existences are forced into this kind of trial, those who hold things that can alter reality. And the cruel part? They never get a choice.]
[No matter what Source Well they enter... They will always face a True Grade Trial. And they die a miserable death.]
[Now… why are you asking? It is—]
Echo suddenly stopped. A terrible realization struck him.
[...Please tell me you're joking.]
John slowly raised a hand to his face.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
"Oh no, Echo."
He looked at the screen. His expression became ugly.
"I think we're completely screwed."
Neither of them spoke. Finally, John exhaled deeply.
"...So, what do I do now?"
Echo remained quiet for a few seconds.
[Hope for the best.]
Another pause.
[Because in a True Grade Trial...]
[Even a god might suddenly appear and destroy the world.]
John stared blankly ahead.
"...Wonderful. You have great advice by the way."
"My lord?"
John turned towards the voice; it was one of the servants who was currently looking at him worriedly.
"My lord, are you feeling unwell?"
John slowly stood from the bed.
"I'm fine."
The servant still looked unconvinced. John looked toward the window.
"I'll be going to the training yard."
The servant's eyes widened.
"The training yard...?"
"Yes."
"But my lord, you've only just awakened. Surely you should rest—"
John turned his head. The servant immediately froze.
"Are you questioning me?"
"P-Please forgive me, my lord!"
The servant quickly lowered his head.
"I shall inform Her Grace immediately."
John walked toward the door without glancing back.
His expression slowly hardened. His hands slowly clenched into fists.
I need to become stronger.
[A lot stronger, minion.]
For once— John couldn't disagree.