The impossible reward for the side quest burned in his vision. 100,000 points. It was a fortune.
The system was mocking him, dangling a prize for an impossible task. This felt less like a side quest and more like a final mission.
But it also gave him an idea. A crazy, desperate idea.
He looked away from the system screen and met his sister's icy gaze.
"I accept," he said, his voice clear and steady. "But I have a proposal."
Celestria raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "And what could you possibly have to propose?"
"The terms of the bet," he said. "Winning is impossible, and we both know it. So let's change the condition."
He took a breath. "If I manage to land a single clean hit on Sebastian… I will annul my marriage with Elvara."
The words hung in the air, heavy and shocking. Elvara gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
Sebastian's stoic expression finally cracked, his eyes widening in surprise. Even Celestria was momentarily stunned into silence.
"Are you insane?" she finally hissed, her composure breaking. "Do you have any idea what you are saying?"
"If Sebastian uses even a fraction of his real power, you won't last a single second, forget about landing a hit."
"But 'annul'? That word is what's truly frightening."
"It's my decision," he stated calmly.
"No, it is not!" she snapped, her voice rising. "You don't have a choice in these matters! You never have!"
"This marriage is for the good of the family, and more importantly, for your own protection!"
"If you're so confident I'll lose, then why are you scared of the bet?" he countered, pressing his advantage. "It's an empty threat, isn't it?"
Celestria let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Hah! Scared? Of you? A pathetic loser who would run from an E-rank monster? Don't make me laugh, brother."
"Then accept the terms," he said, his gaze unwavering. "Unless you're afraid I might actually succeed."
That was the final push. Her pride, the core of her entire being, could not allow such an insult to stand.
Her expression hardened into one of pure, chilling rage.
"Fine," she spat. "I accept your foolish terms. Be on the mansion's training grounds in one hour. Prepare for your humiliation."
She turned her venomous glare on the butler. "Sebastian. If you lose, if you allow this weakling to so much as graze you..."
"...I will command you to end your life on this very spot. Do you understand?"
The butler bowed deeply, his face once again an unreadable mask. "Perfectly, Matriarch."
Celestria stormed out of the room, slamming the heavy oak doors behind her. The silence she left behind was deafening.
Elvara stared at him, her mind reeling.
"Why?" she finally whispered. "Why would you do that? This is not a game."
"She will make him hurt you. And… and the marriage… is it a trick?"
"No trick," he said, turning to face her. "This marriage is a cage, Elvara. For both of us."
"You hate me, and you have every right to. You don't deserve to be tied to a man like Azrael Ashveil."
'Help Elvara,' he thought. 'What better help is there than freedom?'
"But… my family…" she stammered. "This alliance…"
"Is a chain," he finished for her. "If I can land one hit, I can break it. You'll be free."
She looked at him, truly looked at him, for the first time. The fear in her eyes was still there, but now it was mixed with a deep, unsettling confusion.
This was not the cruel, selfish boy she had been forced to marry. This was someone else entirely.
He left her there and went to his room, the one-hour deadline ticking away like a bomb.
He shut himself in, alone with his thoughts and the glowing blue screen.
'Shop,' he commanded.
The interface appeared. His balance was still a pathetic 10 P. He needed something, a hidden trick that could give him an edge.
For the next hour, he frantically explored every corner of the system's store.
[Healing Potion: 100 P]
[Aether Recovery Potion: 100 P]
[Antidote Potion: 500 P]
[Temporary Stat Boost (Minor): 500 P] Chapters first released on N0velFire.ɴet
[Steel Dagger: 350 P]
[Reinforced Spear: 400 P]
[Pendant of Minor Vigor [+1 END]: 700 P]
[Ring of Swiftness [+1 AGI]: 700 P]
[Amulet of Focus [+1 INT]: 800 P]
[[Basic] Sword Slash: 10,000 P]
[[Basic] Parry: 12,000 P]
[[Basic] Bow Mastery: 10,000 P]
[Fire Affinity: 10,000 P (Evolves to: Lava / Explosion / Plasma)]
[Water Affinity: 10,000 P]
[Wind Affinity: 15,000 P]
[Lightning Affinity: 20,000 P]
[Earth Affinity: 30,000 P]
[Light Affinity: 50,000 P]
[Darkness Affinity: 50,000 P]
The time ticked away. He scrolled through pages of items, his hope dwindling with every passing minute.
He thought of the stories he used to read, where the hero would find a unique, cheap skill to save the day.
There was nothing like that here. He had explored everything. He was left with nothing.
A soft knock came at the door. "My lord, the Matriarch is waiting."
His heart sank. The hour was up. He followed the maid through the silent mansion and out into the manicured grounds.
Everyone was there. Servants lined the edges of the large, grassy field. Elvara stood to one side, her face pale with worry.
And in the center, his sister sat on an ornate chair, her expression as cold and hard as marble.
Across from him stood Sebastian. He held a simple wooden sword in his hand.
'A wooden sword,' Kenji thought, a sliver of false hope flickering within him.
'Well, at least the beating won't be that serious, I guess.'
Sebastian bowed. "I am ready when you are, my lord."
Celestria's voice cut through the air, sharp and final.