MT - 66 Rudeus

Roy sat deep in thought, contemplating what he lacked and the weaknesses in his current abilities.

The more he mulled over it, the drowsier he became.

Peering out the window, he noticed the world outside had gone still, with only the chirping of insects breaking the serene silence of the night.

He yawned. The mental strain from the earlier duel had left its mark on him. As he lay on the bed, he naturally opened his system interface.

His stats had improved significantly across the board.

[Roy Greyrat]

[Age: 11]

[Strength: D-]

[Agility: D+]

[Stamina: D]

[Intelligence: A-]

[Talents: Immaculate Soul (Phase One), The Fool (Phase One), Greed, Sword Ruler (Level 2)]

[Skills: Advanced Magical Knowledge, Sword God Style Swordsmanship (Advanced), Cumulonimbus (Water Saint Level), Magic Sword, Magic Seed]

[Evaluation: You are now qualified to explore the world.]

This was his current standing. All his attributes had risen significantly, especially his intelligence, which had reached A-.

Each rank represented substantial growth. However, he understood that at this level, he could handle ordinary foes well enough, but taking on beings like the Dragon God? That was pure fantasy.

Sinking into the soft embrace of his bed, Roy let out a long breath. The moonlight poured through the window, casting its silver glow. His thoughts shifted momentarily to his alternate self from Sword Art Online.

Currently grinding mobs.

He yawned again. Lacking the energy to engage with the "real-world Sword Art Online" scenario tonight, he decided to call it a day.

At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight graced the land, Roy was already awake.

He remained nestled in the cozy warmth of his bed, showing no inclination to rise.

The sky outside was still faintly dim, and he thought to himself that he could probably indulge in a little more sleep.

But then, someone knocked on the door.

The sound was abrupt and forceful.

Roy frowned, turning over in bed, unwilling to move.

What time is it anyway? He guessed it wasn't even six yet. Who would be knocking this early?

Convinced it must be his imagination, he shut his eyes again.

The knocking came again, louder this time.

Sighing, Roy dragged himself out of bed, slipped on his shoes, and opened the door. Standing there was none other than Rudeus.

Roy raised an eyebrow, his tone puzzled. "What are you doing here?"

Rudeus leaned in closer, a conspiratorial grin on his face. "I've been thinking. That young lady's a bit too spoiled and willful. I've got an idea that might straighten her out."

Roy's previously tired expression began to show traces of interest as he listened, though he remained silent.

Without needing to elaborate, Roy already had a clear idea of what Rudeus was suggesting.

And, as expected, Rudeus leaned in closer and whispered, "Here's the plan: we arrange for someone to 'kidnap' Eris. Then, using my magical knowledge, I'll rescue her and help her escape. That way, she'll see how useful magic can be and start taking her lessons seriously."

Roy fell into thought. Rudeus's suggestion wasn't new to him; he'd considered something similar before.

Initially, Roy had hoped to avoid resorting to such extreme measures to discipline the fiery young lady. But the results of his current approach weren't exactly promising. Despite her outward compliance and perfect attendance in class, Eris remained as headstrong and fearless as ever, simply obeying Roy because of his firm authority.

In modern terms, she displayed all the signs of a textbook "princess syndrome."

If this plan could help temper her unruly nature and sharpen her character, Roy saw no harm in giving it a try.

Seeing his older brother's silence, Rudeus knew he'd won.

He understood Roy's personality well. If Roy didn't reject an idea outright, it meant he was seriously considering it.

Of course, Rudeus had his own motives for this scheme. Perhaps it was a desire to showcase his heroic side—he didn't want to be looked down upon by the younger generation.

Roy, naturally, saw through this. But he also knew that Rudeus had been on the receiving end of Eris's antics one too many times recently. After a brief moment of deliberation, Roy nodded in agreement.

Rudeus's face lit up with excitement as he laid out the details of his plan. "I'll make sure to be kidnapped alongside Eris. Not because I want to, but, well, Roy, your strength is just too overwhelming. It wouldn't make sense for someone to succeed in capturing you."

Roy nodded. "Fair point."

Rudeus continued eagerly, "Leave this mission to me, then! I'll make sure to put on a show and let that brat see how capable I really am."

Roy smirked. His younger brother's little quirks definitely needed some addressing.

But if things played out as they did in the original story, the "fake kidnapping" could quickly turn into a real one. If that happened, Rudeus would find himself in quite the predicament.

It might be the perfect opportunity to teach him a lesson about taking things seriously.

Roy's tone was calm but firm as he said, "Alright, if you're set on trying this, go ahead. But remember, this is your plan. If anything goes wrong, you'll have to deal with the consequences."

Rudeus nodded confidently, puffing out his chest. "Don't worry, Roy! You know how capable I am."

Roy gave him an enigmatic smile, patting his overly enthusiastic younger brother on the shoulder. "As long as you're prepared, that's all that matters."

A shiver ran down Rudeus's spine. There was something unsettling about Roy's words.

Before Rudeus could dwell on it, Roy waved him off, pointing toward the door. "Now, go. I need some peace."

Rudeus grinned cheekily. "Alright then! I'll go discuss this with Philip."

As Rudeus's figure disappeared down the corridor, Roy rubbed his temples in irritation.

Why couldn't this wait until later? he thought. Did he really need to bother me this early in the morning?

After a quick wash and tidying up his room, Roy settled at his desk, flipping through a book on magical theory. While Eris might eventually become more cooperative, for now, she still required careful guidance.

Roy sighed, hoping he could reach her with genuine effort and lead her back onto the right path.

His gaze fell upon a sheet of parchment on his desk. It was covered in neatly written lines of text:

What is mana? How is magic constructed?

The document meticulously explained these two foundational concepts in a straightforward, accessible manner. It could serve as a perfect beginner's guide to magic, clear enough for anyone with basic literacy to understand the nature and principles of magic.

Yet deep down, Roy knew his hopes were futile. Eris, undoubtedly, was destined to test even this foolproof approach.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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