-Frey starlight POV -
---
I felt the wind tousling my hair as I sat at a small table, a single pen and sheet of paper laid before me. Across from me, Ada meticulously scrutinized the document. Letting out a slow sigh, I glanced up at the sky from the balcony where we now sat.
The past few hours had been spent negotiating the terms of my Aura Contract with Ada. Now, we were finalizing the last details before signing.
A month had already slipped by. In three days, I would come of age, officially becoming the Fourth Lord of House Starlight
That meant the contract had to be signed today. The title of lord was bestowed by the titans of House Starlight, which meant that in three days, I would have to stand before them.
Three days. That was how long it would take to reach the Starlight Knights' stronghold. Unlike this tranquil estate, House Starlight's seat lay on the empire's eastern border, nestled in the rugged Oklas Mountains. Their duty was to shield the realm from the Nightmare land, a landmass once known as Asia…
For three centuries, House Starlight had guarded the empire's east without fail. The Nightmare Lands teemed with mutated beasts, warped by the planet's corruption after the Demon Invasion.
Some of these creatures exceeded the S-rank in strength.
In three days, I would be facing the people who had held them back.
To say I wasn't nervous would be a lie.
After all, my body was Class F in strength, and my mind hailed from another world entirely… But I had no choice. Every shred of my plans hinged on this meeting.
…
Ada tapped the table lightly, snapping me from my thoughts. She'd reread the contract a thousand times, though its terms were straightforward:
– Aura Contract
By this contract, both parties agree to mutually binding conditions. Once both parties sign, the user's Aura is bound, and any violation of the contract results in death.
Caster: Frey Starlight.
- *I, Frey Starlight, irrevocably relinquish my title as Lord of House Starlight and all associated privileges to my elder sister, Ada Starlight.*
Recipient: Ada Starlight.
– I, Ada Starlight, lady of House Starlight, pledge to provide the following in exchange:
1. Funding and equipping Frey Starlight with the best available resources.
2. Support Frey's training through potions and facilities.
3. Surrender my right to choose the skill that accompanies the lord's title.
Signature:
When Ada read the terms for the final time, she hesitated at the third clause—granting a skill.
That was the primary reason she had hesitated for so long. After all, skills were rare and expensive. Even within House Starlight, members were typically allowed only two.
Ada already possessed one. I also had one, albeit useless—*seduction.*
The first skill was granted upon coming of age.
The second was awarded upon achieving a significant feat for the family or under special circumstances—such as inheriting the lordship.
Frey had been a special case. Favored by his father, he had been granted the right to choose a skill at a young age.
My plan, however, was simple—I intended to obtain two new skills at once.
One for my coming of age, and the other from Ada, who would inherit the title of lord.
This was a crucial part of my strategy.
Still, Ada couldn't help but object.
"Frey, I understand the first and second conditions, but… isn't the third one too much?"
I slowly shook my head. "We've had this conversation dozens of times already over the past month… Ada, this condition is nothing compared to the title of lord, and you know that."
Ada lowered her head, thinking.
"Is there… nothing else you want instead? Surely I could—"
Before she could finish, I raised my hand in front of her face.
"Anything else, and this entire deal becomes worthless to me."
"But—"
"Ada… These are my final terms. Either accept them, or we drop the matter entirely."
She clenched her slender hands gently when she saw my firm stance, realizing I wouldn't change my mind.
In the end, she had no choice but to concede, lifting the pen with a weary expression.
"…Fine. You win, Frey. I accept."
I smiled. "We both win, Ada."
My sister signed her part of the contract, and I followed suit.
The contract glowed with a sky-blue light before a thread of energy shot forward, piercing both Ada's forehead and mine.
I smirked as it happened. Now, I wouldn't have to worry about her backing out of the deal.
Aura Contracts were a creation of sorcerers—a group entirely distinct from martial artists who relied on combat techniques in this world.
Sorcerers had reached an advanced understanding of Aura, allowing them to alter the very laws of the world itself. Their abilities were vast and limitless.
They were a terrifying presence on any battlefield, and this paper in my hands was one of their masterpieces.
Of course, becoming a sorcerer was an exceptionally difficult feat, and their numbers were scarce. Even within the massive House Starlight, they could be counted on one hand.
I carefully stored the Aura Contract. With this, I had completed a major part of my plan.
Ada fidgeted, studying me.
"…Frey, I don't understand you anymore."
"Hmm? And why is that?"
I was in a good mood, so I decided to humor my dear sister today.
"Why are you giving up your title? You said you wanted something in return, but all you asked for were privileges you would have had anyway…"
"So why? You gave away what was already yours, only to request it back in a roundabout way."
I glanced at the scenery before me. The balcony we sat on was high enough to provide a vast view of the surrounding estate.
"The reason's simple." I met her eyes. "I intend to focus on my swordsmanship. I'll have no time for the family's petty games… especially when they'd rather see me dead."
With that, I rose from my seat, ignoring whatever Ada was about to say.
"It's getting late, Ada. We have a busy day tomorrow, so good night. I'm heading to bed."
I made my way out, leaving my elder sister behind.
…
Upon entering my room, I immediately walked to my desk and sat down in front of my personal computer.
I took a quick glance at my stats and noticed some improvement—a natural result of the training I had been doing over the past month.
Host Name: Frey Starlight (Dual Soul)
Class: Swordsman
Talent: A
Current Rank: F
- Strength: F
- Speed: F
- Agility: F-
- Endurance: F-
- Aura: SSS
- Magic: G-
[Swordsmanship Lv.1]
(*Due to the host's lack of talent in swordsmanship, this skill cannot surpass Level 3.*)
Talents: None
Combat Style: None
Skills:
- **(seduction) – Rank F**
*A skill that triggers sexual desire in the target. Its effect is stronger when used on the opposite sex. The effect weakens against stronger opponents and may not work at all if the target is more than two ranks higher than the user.*
Abilities: None
Achievement Points: 620
System Note: *You are still incredibly weak! We strongly recommend finding a combat style or acquiring a skill soon before you get yourself killed.*
...
Well, at least I had improved a little. I had advanced from F- to F in just one month, which was good—after all, Frey's talent was A-rank.
As for Frey's talent limit, I wasn't too worried. I could break past A-rank and enter the S-rank tier using Achievement Points, but there was no need to do that just yet. An A-rank talent was sufficient for now.
Speaking of Achievement Points, I had finally accumulated a decent amount—just enough to create a new talent after a full month of suffering. The daily quests had been getting progressively harder, while side quests still appeared from time to time…
**Quest List:**
- Run 25 km: **5 Achievement Points** (*Completed*)
- 1000 push-ups: **5 Achievement Points** (*Completed*)
- 1000 sword swings: **10 Achievement Points** (*Completed*)
- Steal Ada's underwear: **30 Achievement Points**
- Sleep with 10 maids: **25 Achievement Points**
I let out a soft sigh as I looked at the list. The daily quests had become significantly harder, and as for the side quests… they were all sexual in nature, only bringing trouble my way.
This was a perverted system that wanted me to harass my own sister, after all…
But even with my progress, I was still trash compared to the story's protagonist, Snow Leonhart. By the time he entered the Temple—less than a year from now—his stats would be:
Name: Snow Lionheart
Class: Swordsman
Talent: SSS
Current Rank: D
- Strength: D
- Speed: E+
- Agility: E+
- Endurance: D
- Aura: D
- Magic: E-
[Swordsmanship Lv.3]
Talents:
- {Weapon Master}
- {Star of Aura}
- {Born Fighter}
- {Beloved by Light}
Combat Style:
- One-Sword Style
- king of war style
I felt a wave of despair just looking at his stats. He was overwhelming…
I was starting to understand why my readers had complained about Snow's strength before. Now that I was forced to confront him, I was beginning to grasp the issue.
I mean, his abilities alone were enough to turn the world upside down…
*Weapon Master* allowed him to fight with any weapon.
*Born Fighter* let him master any combat style with ease.
*Star of Aura* granted him monstrous control over Aura.
And worst of all…
The cheat ability *Beloved by Light* let him use all elements at 100% efficiency.
I threw myself onto my chair. What the hell was I even trying to do?
How was I supposed to defeat this monster?
This was the beginning of a thousand-mile journey… A journey where no matter what I did, I couldn't take a single step forward. For every step I took, he would take ten.
*~Sigh~*
Taking one last look at the protagonist's profile, I noticed his combat style—*One-Sword Style.*
It filled me with nostalgia…
That was the fighting style of the First Emperor—the man who had protected this world and sealed the dimensional gates by sacrificing himself.
An SSS-ranked existence who had stood at the pinnacle of the world, fighting the High ranked Demons as their equal… And in the end, he had chosen Snow as his successor.
I laughed bitterly as I thought about it.
This was hopeless.