Chapter 15

In essence, Roxy was an unlucky soul with a heart of gold.

That was exactly why Roya Greyrat found himself drawn to this slightly awkward girl. (And no, it wasn't just her looks—he was serious about that.)

A gentle breeze tousled her hair, blue strands spilling down to her waist as Roxy strolled along the winding paths between the fields. Around her, farmers tended the land, their faces brightening with warm smiles whenever they caught sight of her. Each one offered a hearty greeting as she passed.

Roya observed in silence, the golden hues of the setting sun casting a soft glow on her face and stirring a warmth in his chest.

To put it simply, whether it was love at first sight or an infatuation with her beauty, Roya had made up his mind: Roxy was the one for him.

Quickening his steps, Roya moved forward and gently took her hand. Roxy stiffened for a moment, caught off guard by the feel of his fingertips against hers. Memories of the previous day flooded back, and a faint blush crept across her cheeks.

Roya walked beside her quietly, watching as she wove magic to summon rain for the farmers. Droplets fell softly from the sky, nurturing the soil and the sprawling fields. Both Roxy and the farmers radiated joy.

When she finished, Roxy didn't wait for Roya to reach out this time. Instead, she flashed a smile and took his hand herself.

"She seems in high spirits, doesn't she?" Roya mused, studying the cheerful Roxy. It occurred to him that she might have a touch of a tsundere streak—prickly one moment, warm the next.

Later that evening, after dinner, Roya sauntered back to his room, ignoring Rudy's jealous stare. He lit an oil lamp, its dim, flickering light filling the space, and settled down to reflect on the day.

After some deliberation, Roya jotted this line in his journal. But as he reread it, doubt crept in. Did it sound too trivial? Too flippant?

After a moment's thought, he activated his system, briefly linking to his other self in another world. Then, with a quiet smirk, he added a few more words:

[Games are really fun.]

What a disaster. Both Royas grimaced internally, silently berating each other for their laziness.

Soon, it was time for the highlight of the night—bedtime.

Roya closed his journal, shed his clothes, and slipped into bed to wait for Roxy.

Ever since that one night, Roxy had been a little hesitant about staying over. The memory of it still left her too flustered to sleep easily.

The moon glowed brightly outside, stars dotting the sky sparsely, and the night slipped by in silence.

When Roya awoke the next morning, Roxy was wrapped around him like an octopus. Her unique scent filled his senses, sending his heart into overdrive. He cursed his own weakness—too feeble to play the dashing romantic he longed to be.

With a quiet sigh, Roya let the moment fade.

Time marched on, and the connection between Roya and Roxy deepened. The distinction, though, was stark: Roya was captivated by her beauty, while Roxy's affection for him resembled that of an older sister toward a younger brother. Meanwhile, Sylphie's "training" had proven a triumph. Thanks to Rudy's skillful guidance, she'd been shaped into his perfect companion.

Watching Roxy flounder helplessly while Rudy preened, Roya felt a twinge of irritation. As for his other self in the Sword Art Online world, Roya had long since stopped trying to control him. Let him do as he pleased, so long as he finished the storyline. Out of sight, out of mind.

Here, Roya filled his days with sword practice and magical studies, living a carefree existence. Glancing at his B-rank magical aptitude, he indulged in a fleeting fantasy of becoming a legendary swordmaster. In this little corner of the world, he might just be unstoppable.

After a moment of reflection, a daring idea sparked in his mind: he'd become a shadowy powerhouse.

First, he'd recruit a dim-witted sidekick to train into a loyal subordinate. Then, he'd defeat the Dragon God and make him an ally. Together, they'd take down the Human God, freeing Rudy from his grasp, avenging the Dragon God, and granting Roya a massive surge of spacetime power. Everyone would come out ahead—except the Human God, naturally. A flawless world where only the Human God suffered!

But to bring the Dragon God to heel, Roya would need to overpower him first.

With that thought, he pulled up his stats panel:

---

[Character: Roya Greyrat]

[Age: 6]

[Strength: G+]

[Agility: F]

[Stamina: G+]

[Intelligence: B]

[Talents: Immaculate Body (Stage 1), Fool (Stage 1), Greed]

[Skills: Advanced Magical Knowledge, Sword God Style (Intermediate)]

[Evaluation: You possess immense potential for growth. At present, you're barely capable of holding your own in a fight.]

---

Roya opened the world-capture interface, and a small line of text appeared:

[Spacetime Power: 0/100 (Unable to capture world)]

What a shame. His magic was impressive enough to flaunt, but everything else was laughable. The Dragon God could likely crush him with a single blow.

A wave of gloom settled over him. Clenching his jaw, he silently cursed his Sword Art Online self for being so useless, leaving the real Roya to fend for himself. His dreams of an easy life were slipping away.

And soon, a new issue arose: Roxy was leaving.

Though Roya desperately wanted to beg her to stay, he couldn't find a solid reason to hold her back. She'd taught him all she could, and once she finished instructing him in water saint-tier magic, her lessons would be complete.

He'd once tried to use Rudy's unfinished magical training as an excuse to keep her around, but Roxy had gently turned him down.

"I'd love to stay a little longer, but… you know I've got nothing left to teach you," she said, her smile tinged with strain.

Roya fell quiet, his expression a mix of emotions. She wasn't wrong—Roxy had little more to give him.

Noticing the flicker of sadness in her eyes, Roya grudgingly accepted her departure.

But he decided to leave her with a parting gift.

Drawing on the vast well of magical energy within him, Roya narrowed his eyes. The four elements—wind, fire, water, and earth—swirled chaotically, merging into his body. He absorbed the natural forces in one swift motion.

Dark mana pulsed and condensed, an eerie aura radiating outward. Moments later, a pitch-black seed took shape in his hand. Roya's molten-gold eyes locked onto the dark seed.

A magic seed.

If planted in someone, it would vastly amplify their magical power. But there was a catch: the recipient's mana would be linked to the caster's, allowing the caster to end their life in an instant if they wished. Mana overload was a serious risk, after all.

Naturally, Roya wouldn't give Roxy anything so perilous. Instead, he'd refined it into a safer version—still boosting power, but without the deadly flaw. Its strength was tempered, yet it remained a generous gift. Who could turn down free power?

While the mana it provided wasn't earth-shattering, it was significant—especially for Roxy. Though a saint-tier mage, her natural mana reserves were modest. Compared to average folk, she had plenty, but beside true prodigies, she fell short.