Approval Points

The middle-aged man with long brown hair and striking dark eyes led them to a small cottage in the western part of the village. It was only a matter of time before Elon recognized who he was.

Vorden Acot, the leader of the village's Male Mercenary Team, was a prominent figure highly respected by everyone in the village. This reverence stemmed from the fact that he was the strongest mage the village had ever known.

It was no surprise that he led the Male Mercenary Team; under his leadership, there were few, if any, missions that ended in failure.

Matilda's reflex to reach for her sword had been driven by the assumption that the Village Head had sent Vorden to fetch them. Knowing how volatile Carlas Lang could be when enraged, she had instinctively prepared to defend herself.

However, upon realizing that Vorden meant no harm, Matilda softened her stance. After all, he was the last person she expected to harm her on behalf of the greedy Village Head.

"It's unfortunate that Carlas couldn't help out," Vorden remarked, sparing a slight smile as he settled into a wooden chair. "I understand his pain. He needed you for the raid."

He gestured for the two visitors to take seats opposite him, inviting them to join the conversation.

"My son really wants to go to Salvador," Matilda began, her tone laced with concern. "He claims he could make a difference in the war, and that makes me worry."

"Is that not absurd?" Vorden flinched, his disbelief evident. "Does he have any idea who the Negators truly are?"

"Yes, of course," Elon interjected with a bold tone. "They are demonic figures who negate mana. For the past month, the people of Salvador and Thera have battled them using swords and spears, yet they've only managed to kill the weakest among their armies. It's only a matter of time before they face total annihilation. I know."

"Precisely," Vorden sighed, his expression grim. "So, tell me, Elon, what is it that you possess that could make any difference?"

"When the time is right, you'll see," Elon replied with a smile, his humor surprising the middle-aged man.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're the same Elon who nearly died on a simple mission with the teenage mercenaries? The one who repeatedly injured himself during sword training? The underperforming combat student?" Vorden smirked.

Elon felt a memory flash before his eyes—memories that weren't his. While it stunned him, it was also oddly fascinating. Stealing someone's memories and body had its perks, yet he couldn't help but wonder: what had become of the real Elon?

"Did he die?" he pondered, though there was no one to answer his question.

The fact that the real Elon had been such a weak figure in the village was disappointing, but the current Elon knew he was destined to be different.

"This is the dawn of a new era for Elon," he resolved internally.

"You both have to trust me... I have a solid plan," Elon said, trying to persuade them.

At just eighteen, his words were bound to be underestimated. The idea that a boy with no notable achievements in a mere village could defeat the armies of the Negators sounded preposterous. However, Matilda seemed unwavering in her support for his ambition.

Her reasons, though, were not entirely selfless. While she supported Elon's desire to fight the Negators, she was more invested in the possibility of him ascending the throne. As a prince of the kingdom, Elon's victory could pave the way for him to claim his rightful place.

The king's first wife had borne four sons and a daughter, all of whom were mages. Matilda knew that the king and his sons would inevitably join the battlefield. Given how nearly impossible it was to kill the Negators, the odds of the mages, including the king, perishing in battle were high.

This meant...

If Elon, the son of the second wife, was acknowledged as the fifth prince, he could be crowned king.

That was Matilda's ultimate hope—not the reckless mission Elon had set his sights on.

"I really want to go with him, Vorden," Matilda pleaded. "We need your help to escort us past the Terror Zone. That's all I ask."

Vorden hesitated for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

"Very well. An escort it is. I'll get you past the Terror Zone," he agreed, his tone reassuring.

"Thank you, Vorden. You truly are the Brave Warrior," Matilda said, her gratitude evident.

That nickname, "The Brave Warrior," was well-earned. Years ago, when Vorden's mercenary team was ambushed by top bandits and he was kidnapped, he singlehandedly fought his way back to the village, defeating the entire bandit squad with his specialized magic: Aura Flame.

With Vorden agreeing to the escort, Elon and Matilda returned to their fort to prepare for the journey. Vorden promised to arrange the horses, easing some of their burdens.

Elon realized that his journey to face the worst had officially begun.

---

That night, lying on the mattress in the cottage, Elon explored the features on the interface.

He examined the Bloodline stat first, understanding it immediately. Then, he clicked on the Rank stat.

---

— Ranks:

Lieutenant (Current)

Captain

Major

Colonel

General

You are currently a Lieutenant. To rank up to Captain, you must accumulate 1,000 Approval Points.

---

"Interesting," Elon muttered. "At least it's something to work toward."

He noticed the Approval Points Accumulated section and deduced it showed the total points he'd gained so far. However, the "Approval Points in Store" stat puzzled him until the system offered an explanation.

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**[You must obtain keys in exchange for Approval Points. The "Approval Points Accumulated" stat records the total points you've earned, while "Approval Points in Store" shows your remaining points after all exchanges.]**

_____________________

"Fair enough," Elon said. "But... do these points flow like mana? Or will I need to cultivate?"

He shuddered at the thought. Cultivating points seemed arduous, reminiscent of the grueling journeys of protagonists in the novels he'd read.

"I just want to end this war and live my life to the fullest. No unnecessary suffering," he sighed.

_______________________

**[An explanation for obtaining Approval Points has been requested. Request granted!]**

**[Approval Points are earned by convincing and impressing those around you, making them believe in your capabilities. The amount varies depending on the person]**

**[For every pleasuring event with a normal character, which are known as Extras, you will gain 10 Approval Points]**

**[For every pleasuring event with the key characters, known as the characters who often showed up in the Fallen Mages, you will gain 50 Approval Points]**

**[For every pleasuring event with the Main Characters, known as the Male Lead, Female Lead, and the highly Supporting Characters, you will gain 200 Approval Points]**

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Elon's eyes widened in shock. Simply earning people's belief in him would grant points.

Given his knowledge of this world and his plans to save it, wouldn't the people of Salvador trust him?

And if he conquered the Negators, wouldn't that solidify their faith?

Fueled by a sudden surge of eagerness, Elon's determination soared.

"We need to move quickly. I can't let Aiden be taken before we arrive," he murmured, forcing himself to push past the lure of sleep.