Lichstein Kingdom – Estate of Count Valentine
The echo of sacred chants still lingered in the air when the priest stepped away from the bed.Jeremy's fractured legs had been healed, though his skin still looked fragile—like pain could return at any moment.Before leaving, the cleric murmured one final warning to the Count: the boy must not be pushed too hard.
Henry didn't respond.
His face, hardened with fury, turned slowly toward the trembling young servant standing at the door.Ryan.
The silence grew dense.
With a venomous glare, Henry activated the stigma's effect.An invisible wave swept through the room, and Ryan's body immediately convulsed.He dropped to the ground, writhing, sobbing—tormented by a pain far too cruel for his age.
—"You worthless garbage!" —the Count roared, landing a violent kick on the boy's side——"I don't want anyone from your filthy family near my house again.Get to the stables and clean the shit with your hands. That's an Order."
—"Y-yes, sir..." —the child gasped through tears.
Ryan crawled to his feet.His steps were shaky, his small frame hunched over from the humiliation.He left the mansion without looking back, face hidden beneath a sweat-drenched fringe and tear-streaked cheeks.
But as he passed the threshold of House Valentine,the air felt lighter.The weight on his shoulders loosened.And then, when he was far enough from the estate—
—"YES, YES, YEEEEEES!" —he shouted, skipping through puddles with barely-contained joy.
—"I'm no longer under the young master's orders, thank you, unknown goddess...Now I can see Mom and Dad more... I'm so happi—"
He stopped before finishing the sentence and thought:
"Sam... Little brother, please come back soon"
***
Lichstein Kingdom – City of Atris – Bullet Tavern
After registering and checking in with Quincy,I returned to the table where Obraham-senpai and the others were seated.
Neil Obraham: —"You registered already?"
—"Yeah... I think so."
Jeff: —"Show us your badge."
I pulled out the one they gave me.Jeff grinned immediately.
Jeff: —"Finally... I'm not the lowest-ranked one anymore."
Noelle: —"Welcome aboard, Raymond."
Debora: —"Yeah... welcome to the band of misfits."
Neil Obraham: —"Guys, I told you—we're not calling ourselves that."
Brock: —"HAHAHA! I won, losers!"
Jeff: —"How much this time?"
Brock: —"Enough for four rounds."
Debora: —"Awesome, we have someone to pay for tonight!"
Brock: —"This is my win, screw all of you!"
Neil Obraham: —"Hey, Brock... remember that debt you owe me?"
Brock: —"Fine, maybe I'll treat Neil."
Jeff: —"And the loan I gave you last week?"
Brock: —"Okay, Jeff too."
Debora: —"Brock, remember what you promised me—"
Brock: —"Alright, alright! Drinks are on me!"
Noelle: —"That's what you get for being addicted to gambling."
Brock: —"It's not my fault I love it!"
—"You love gambling, senpai?"
Brock: —"Just call me Brock. I hate honorifics.Wait... do you have gambling issues too?"
—"Maybe."
Brock: —"I like this kid."
Neil Obraham: —"Alright, guys—We've got a mission early tomorrow morning. Don't go overboard tonight."
Debora: —"Chill, Captain."
Neil Obraham: —"Kid, you're not coming. You're too weak.Just stay here and do whatever errands Bang assigns you."
—"I know. No problem."
Neil Obraham: —"Good. See you all tomorrow."
Noelle: —"Later, Captain."
As soon as Neil left, Brock leaned in:
Brock: —"Well, now that the killjoy's gone... who's in?"
Noelle: —"Count me out. I'm heading home."
Debora: —"I'll go with her. You know I don't gamble."
Noelle: —"Alright then. See you boys."
The two of them left, chatting quietly.
—"Those two seem really close..."
Jeff: —"They are. You don't know Noelle's story, do you?"
—"What story?" (I literally met them today, genius.)
Brock: —"Don't tell him, Jeffrey.Better if Noelle explains it herself—like she did for all of us."
—"That serious?"
Brock: —"I'm saying nothing. I don't want Debora mad at me."
—"Aragón? Why?"
Jeff: —"She was the first one Noelle ever told.They've been tight ever since."
—"I see...But is Debora really that dangerous?"
Brock: —"You have no idea how deadly her aim is."
—"Seriously?"
Brock: —"She's a disciple of one of the Three Musketeers.You should be scared."
—"What?"
Jeff: —"Let Brock tell you the story some other time.We've got work tomorrow. Later, kid."
Brock: —"Yeah, I'm out too. See ya, brat."
Once they left, I sat there thinking.
Honestly... I didn't expect this kind of backstory in a place like this.
(Debora, a disciple of the Three Musketeers?)
Makes no sense in a fantasy game world.Sure, War of Kingdoms is a blend of magic, tech, and medieval setting—
But the Three Musketeers are from a French novel.How the hell are the writers connecting something like that without wrecking the narrative harmony?
And without making it a central part of the lore?
I'll have to dig deeper...But first, I need to check my account. I've got to find a place to sleep.
[System Window]
[Accessing Electronic Bank]
[System Message: Error... Account Not Available]
—"WHAT!?" (Another glitch?)
[System Message: Access Impossible][System Message: User Account Does Not Exist]
—"What do you mean doesn't exist...? Quincy, what's going on?"
[Master, access has been terminated.]
—"Terminated?"
[You know what that means, Master.]
...
This can't be happening.
But deep down, I already knew.Finally, my four brain cells pieced it together.
The devs must've found out that my character, Erling,was involved in the stats-loss incident.
And they deleted him.
And with him—my bank access.
I was an idiot for not preparing for this.Thinking they'd leave me alone was just plain stupid.
I've lost all the money.And with it... the one chance I had at freedom.
My only lingering question is—
If my character was deleted...
Why do I still have the System Window?Why do I still have my Unique Trait?
But right now, that's not my biggest concern.
I have no idea how I'm going to make money.
I need 120 silver coins just to buy my family's freedom.
And even then... what comes after?
My original plan was to rescue them,retire with them far away,and live a life of luxury off that money.
sigh
—"I'll have to reorganize my plans."