CHAPTER 2

Why on earth is Meyer Knox trying to get me into the Black Knights?

Jun Karentia, my instinctive character, was the only support wizard.

The only support wizard with no attack magic, defense magic, or healing magic.

Among players, Jun was evaluated that she was almost as good as filling in the nominal head count.

I once expected that games and reality would be different.

In this world, however, a wizard is considered a reverence, so I wondered if it would be okay to be a support wizard.

It was a useless expectation.

The disdain for the supporting wizard was prevalent not only among game players but also in the world.

I was ignored by my family just because I was a supporting wizard, and people wondered if I was among the warrior Fabian expedition.

And so did the expedition colleagues.

It was okay at the time.

Blame is a moment, and no one's eyes or assessment was meaningful.

Reputation, etc., will be reset at the end of the first round.

The important thing was that Fabian recognized me.

Fabian, who represents the player, is the only character who greets the second round with a memory of the first round.

Oh, Meyer Knox also has the memory that he is the core of the demon king.

I'm an exception because I'm possessed.

Anyway, in the second round, Fabian once again gathers members of the expedition to defeat the Demon King with himself.

Of course, a useless member of the first round will not be chosen in the second round.

At the end of the first round, or at the time when the second round started, I thought it had nothing to do with me.

Considering what I've done, it was natural for me to be included in the second round.

Of course it was my misunderstanding.

He whispered to me so kindly, and eventually abandoned me.

The evidence was that Fabian did not appear in the joining point now in the second round.

The point of Fabian and I joining was in the dungeon.

It was because the villagers, who were embarrassed by the sudden dungeon, sacrificed me, the only wizard of the village.

What do you want the backup wizard to do alone? Don't you know what support means?

In short, I was a human sacrifice.

In the first round, I wasn't able to figure out the situation properly because it wasn't long since I was possessed. I cried and blared, but I was eventually thrown into the dungeon.

Fortunately, I ran into Fabian, and if I hadn't, I would have died as soon as I could have possessed.

So I might have thought of Fabian as a lifeline and devoted myself.

When it came to the second round, I was able to face the situation more than the first. I followed the villagers without much resistance.

Of course, I thought Fabian would show up.

'If I knew it would be like this, I would never have gone in. I was crazy alone in the dungeon…'

I bit my lips well.

Yeah. You might have thought that the sweet water was gone because you got all the information you could get from me.

But…

But you can still come and get me.

I don't have to join the expedition because I'm useless, but…

You know my situation better than anyone else…

If it wasn't for Meyer Knox, I would have died in the dungeon waiting for Fabian.

Without any knowledge of the subject.

'It's just something happening, and it's getting late, I guess.'

Attacking dungeons is a political issue.

When Meyer entered this dungeon, it meant that Fabian had given up attacking this dungeon.

'There is only one reason to give up the attack. Attacking other dungeons is more profitable than saving me. Maybe…. It looks like he went to attack the Ignota dungeon.'

It was one of the dungeons held at a similar time to the dungeon I was thrown at.

If you attack the dungeon, you can get a ring of flames. It was a very important item for Fabian, a Fire Properties Wizard.

Fabian must have given up on me because he can't chase both rabbits.

It's not a person, it's just a ring.

'Oh… that's terrible.'

I sighed deeply.

It's something you don't know how your life will go… It seemed that life in the game was also one thing.

I didn't expect Meyer Knox to save me of all expeditions.

To be honest, Meyer took ten years off of me thanks to his appearance. Thank you so much for saving me.

But thanks and accepting his offer was one thing.

It was enough to give up my mind with the swinging leg effect.

I opened my lips painfully, moistening them with difficulty.

"First of all… Thank you for saving me, Sir. If you hadn't saved me, I would have been killed by Cyclops."

Meyer asked me again, bending up my eyebrows to see if my answer was satisfactory.

"First of all, that's not a very positive answer."

He's good at getting to the point.

I smiled a dazed smile and scratched my chin like I was in trouble.

It would be great if Meyer pretended not to know, but he was more persistent than I thought.

"Lower your footsteps, cast as soon as the monster enters the field of vision. I don't think anyone who is very familiar with how you should behave before dungeon says that they have no intention of joining the expedition?"

Were you watching me run away from the Cyclops all alone…? And I didn't feel the gaze?

Sweat pouted. Even when I was trapped in the dungeon alone and chased by monsters, I didn't feel as many chills as this.

"That's… I'm a supporting wizard."

"Is that a problem?"

"But you don't even know my skills."

I looked up at Meyer and said what I thought.

As soon as he rescued me from Cyclops, Meyer called me to the barracks and was extorting me to join the expedition.

Speaking of the Black Knights, I don't have to act like a servant. I'll join you, I guess?

Oh, well. Everyone is good, I must…

"Hmm."

While I was thinking about how to turn down Meyer's suggestion, Meyer fiddled with his chin and brooded his thoughts.

"Yes, I was hasty."

I'm alive!

Meyer's step back was involuntary, and I couldn't help but cheer up.

I laughed awkwardly, as if I was in a hurry to put my face in order.

"Haha, well, thank you for the great opportunity for me as a support wizard…"

"Okay. Let's take a look at your skills and talk about it again. We still have the dungeon attack left."

No, excuse me?

Meyer said that and sent me out. It was a very cool attitude, like a lie that he hadn't been so persistent earlier.

But why?

I'm sure Meyer will never let me go.

How can I change his mind about making me join the Black Knights….

I'm going to hide my skills as much as I can. I trudged out of the barracks so determined. The steps were heavy.

***

I'm doomed.

***

"I'll ask you again, Jun Karentia. Will you join my expedition, the Black Knights?"

Same words, same voice, same atmosphere.

The second Meyer's barracks gave a strong sense of déjà vu.

'Every time I come in here, I'm out of breath.'

Meyer, the person who stifled me, stared at me with a smile of satisfaction.

It was like a snake looking at a prey caught in a trap.

"I learned more about your skills by attacking the dungeon like you did. You're a supportive magician who dramatically reduced Dungeon Clear time. You're an indispensable member of our expedition. So I'd really like you to join the Black Knights."

"Haha…"

I felt like crying.

I tried to do nothing as best I could, but my eyes were burning as I could keep an eye on him.

In short, if you don't want to remain alone in the dungeon, show your skills.

He was really going to leave me alone in the dungeon.

Eventually, I had no choice but to cry and use my skill to *eat mustard.

In the second round of the match, skills including Stan Point were handed over.

It was the consideration of the game company, which allows players to play the second round without being bored.

Naturally, the inherited abilities and ordinary abilities were incomparable at the same level.

Without knowing what it was intrinsic virtue or not, I had the characteristics of the game intact, and I also had that inheritance attribute.

Of course, my condition was also complete.

So, by deliberately adjusting the skill level, the increase in support magic was lowered…

The problem was that I habitually found the timing of the skill optimization, which had been rolling throughout the first round, where I didn't have any.

And the efficiency was higher than I thought.

As a result… It was a complete failure to conceal my ability.

But I can't join the Black Knights!

I gave my best reason not to join the Black Knights.

"The Grand Duke's expedition is so tight with hands… I don't think I have a chance to interrupt…"

"Doesn't it feel it's an excuse when you say it?"

"…"

No, you have to say it like that.

Last time he let me go, but this time, I think he's going to put me in the Black Knights.

Meyer continued to pursue me as if driving monsters.

"What's the reason you don't want to join my expedition so far?"

"That's…"

"Everywhere you go, there will be prejudice against the supporting wizard. Our expedition will be the only one that can use your talent to perfection."

"Of course, I appreciate your acknowledgment of my abilities…"

"If not, is there any reason you shouldn't join my expedition? There are other expeditions that are supposed to join."

My heart dropped with a thud at Meyer's words.

Meyer's golden eyes stared at my face. It was a hard-line stance without any hesitation.

This wasn't just a hunt, it was a mole hunt.

I had a lot of cold sweat on my back, which was pushed into a prepared outer layer.

'It's not a forced event, is it possible to reject this?'

I pulled on the corners of my mouth, moistening my parched lips.

"Other expedition? I have lived in this village since I was born. Your expedition is the first one I've met."

"First time."

Meyer's mouth drew a slight line.

He was a man who knew how to smile. Without knowing, I looked at that smile blankly.

Meyer's fingertip touched the desk. My distracted mind found its place in that little action.

"I'm just…"

"Do you still have any lingering feelings for Fabian?"

"…!"

(T/N: It's a Korean proverb, it's literal meaning being "cry while eating mustard seed" it's used when someone is forced to do something he or she would rather not do, but pretends to enjoy it, anyway. (Mustard seed is hot and spicy and is used for seasoning.)

English Equivalent: Grin and bear it.)