Chapter 28

Reality games are always like that. They lure you in with “free-to-play,” then push you to spend like crazy, or sell you a “complete edition” only to chop up the true ending or crucial parts and sell them as DLC. The production company of *Draghinty Fantasy 2* was one of those scoundrels. They revealed Werner’s past story there. Plus, the DLC quest rewards were all so good that they even got praised for their business skills.

The items inside the box that guy, now pierced by lightning fangs, had were especially valuable. The clicking sound of a box opening is always charming. This is why people love cracking safes. Inside the box were colorful potions. These potions were extremely valuable in the game, though not the kind of drugs like methamphetamine or cocaine. If VR games allowed drug use, parent groups and Christian organizations would’ve thrown a fit.

The potions inside could change a character’s appearance. Despite being potions, they had no usage limit. They could transform you into another race, make you look younger or older. These would be useful, especially when you need to run away. Disguise is the foundation of escape.

“Gurgle… gurgle… who are you…?”

His heart was clearly pierced by lightning, yet he was still alive. Even in the game, as a sorcerer, he was a tank, hard to kill. Truly tenacious. The lower the intelligence of a creature, the more tenacious its life force. Cockroaches are like that, and in card games, monsters with low attack power often have high defense.

But I should grant the dying man’s wish. I’m a kind and deeply empathetic person, after all. If you’re curious about my identity, it’s only right to answer. I can’t say, “I’m Werner,” so I took off my hood to show my face. Of course, it’s Werner’s face, but since it looks a lot like mine, it’s fine to say it’s me, right?

“Do you recognize my face?”

“You… you’re Werner…”

Werner and this sorcerer were old acquaintances. This sorcerer was part of a group deeply connected to Werner’s childhood.

“How did you get here… gurgle…”

“You’ve aged a lot. You’ve gotten much older since I grew up in that organization.”

Seeing him still alive and gurgling, I thought it’d be fine to give him a bit more pain, so I lightly stepped on his hand.

“Grrrrk!”

This is fine. He’s a villain who deserves it. He led bandits to rob people’s wealth. Like a spider, he set traps and harmed innocent people. A truly heinous bandit.

“Just die here, old man.”

“If you kill me, you’ll be hunted again…”

“Oh? Then tell them to come.”

“What…?”

“I’m Werner Altan. What do I have to fear? Tell them to come all at once, it’s less hassle.”

The sorcerer was clearly shaken. Typical third-rate villains always threaten that someone won’t let it slide if they’re touched, but I wasn’t scared at all.

And living on like this, gurgling, would be worse than death. So, this magic isn’t murder but a merciful act to free a suffering acquaintance from pain.

“Lightning, slither like a snake and devour.”

The lightning snake extending from my fingertips coiled around the sorcerer and began to swallow him. With such strong lightning, he’s 100% dead…

But just to be sure, I kicked the ashes of his corpse and left the cave.

It’s fine to kick the ashes of a sorcerer’s corpse. I’ve never been trash to anyone.

.

I put the potions he had into a small bag inside my robe and stepped outside, where Airi was waiting for me, puffing her cheeks. Why does she always puff her cheeks? Is she a frog or something? Honestly, I’m not a fan of overly cutesy girls. Maybe it’s because I’ve met some who were cute but utterly ruthless.

“Leaving your cute disciple among those rough bandits! I’ll tell Father!”

Damn, I didn’t think of that. Using the “dad card,” huh? This is why I dislike golden spoon kids. They never think of overcoming hardships with their own skills but always rely on their parents.

But what can I do? Both Werner and I are orphans. We can only resent the reality of not having parents to use such cards.

“Calm down, Airi… Let’s go back to Bekem and eat out. You can pick the menu.”

“Then let’s go to the restaurant on Mabu Street and get pork schnitzel.”

“Sure, sure.”

Damn, that’s expensive. Why do I have to spend my hard-earned money on education? This is the sorrow of an educator.

“But I feel like I’m forgetting something…”

“Huh?”

“Ah, crap… what was it?”

Ah, crap, I forgot Irina. I’m such a trash ninja for forgetting my comrade. Breaking the rules makes you trash, but not valuing your comrades makes you even worse.

I quickly took Irina out of the invisibility barrier. She was also mad, puffing her cheeks and pouting. Why does everyone puff their cheeks when they’re mad? They’re not beasts.

Even as we rode the carriage I had waiting, the dissatisfied looks didn’t fade. Seriously, Airi, even after I promised to buy you food, you’re still fussy.

“Hey, I took care of those bandits for you ladies. Isn’t this look of dissatisfaction a bit much?”

“You locked someone in a barrier and threw me among bandits. Is it strange that I’m not giving you a good look?”

“Right, you’ve always been indifferent. You have zero consideration.”

Even as the Archmage Werner, arguing with two sulking women is exhausting. Even if Zhuge Liang came back to life, he’d hit the surrender button.

“Fine, I’ll buy food and drinks. Please, just stop with the looks so I can sleep.”

If I sleep now, my life might be at risk, so I couldn’t even close my eyes properly. Like an adventurer stranded on a snowy mountain, I held on, thinking if I sleep now, I’ll die. Don’t sleep, Werner. If you sleep now, you’ll die.

“Food, drinks, and dessert.”

“Then buy me new clothes too.”

These guys are trying to rob a kind, innocent adventurer. Adventurers risk their lives to earn money. Trying to rob them is like trying to rob me of my life.

I can’t even use Werner’s bank account. The moment I try, my location will be exposed, and followers or other older brothers and sisters will swarm in.

I had no choice but to spend my hard-earned money. Goodbye, my beautiful money.

Just as I was despairing over the financial loss, the horse pulling the carriage started neighing roughly. Even you, a mere beast, understand the value of money. Why don’t they?

But the situation didn’t seem positive. The carriage shook, and when I stepped out, the horse that had sympathized with my sorrow was dead, and the coachman was subdued by masked figures.

Judging by their demeanor, these masked figures weren’t ordinary. The way they held their weapons, how they surrounded the carriage and subdued the coachman without me noticing—they were top-tier. Even in my past life, I rarely saw such skilled individuals.

“Master… what’s happening outside…”

“Airi, Irina, don’t come out.”

They’re probably after either me or Airi. If they’re after me, I might let them live, but if they’re after Airi, I’ll have to kill them all. That’s the only way I can survive.

“I don’t know who you are, but who are you after?”

True professionals. They didn’t waste words, just stared at me. That’s how top-tier people are—they don’t talk much.

But judging by their gaze, they’re after me, not Airi inside the carriage. If that’s the case, I’ll just break an arm or a leg and let them live.

They charged at me without a word, their stance impeccable. Whoever trained them must be a formidable educator.

I grabbed one’s arm, broke it, and slammed him to the ground. Only then did their wary glances intensify. It’d be tough to take on so many with just martial arts.

“Who’s your employer? I’d like to pay them a visit later.”

No answer, of course. Top-tier people don’t reveal their employer’s name.

“Fine, no need to answer. I’ll just sweep you all away.”

“Lightning—”

I was about to rain down lightning to wipe them out when a cold metal sensation gripped my wrist.

“No need to look for the employer.”

Damn, that voice…

I turned my head to see Glacia Winterheart, Werner’s fiancée. And on my wrist was a magic-sealing restraint.

“The employer… no, their master is me.”

“Glacia, why…?”

“After reading my letters, you still don’t understand the situation?”

Damn, bad ending confirmed.

As I despaired, Glacia grabbed my chin and said, “Besides, I’m just here to retrieve what’s mine. Is there a problem?”

Yeah, a damn big one.