Chapter 27

The underground reeked of the musty smell of beasts.

A single flame flickered to life in the darkness. Peren flinched as the monster’s fangs glinted in the light.

“Damn it, that scared me.”

Seeing that it posed no threat, she brought the lamp closer to check the state of the creatures. Their necks were properly secured. As long as she didn’t get too close, it would be fine.

Peren walked down the corridor, stopping before the face of a woman with moth eyes, the size of a bust.

“Y-Yuurana?”

Muttering the name of the monster from the childhood horror stories, she once again realized what kind of person the master of this place was.

‘Crazy… I thought adults made up stories to scare kids, but it was real? And he caught this thing by himself?’

Swallowing nervously at the sight of a monster she had dismissed as fantasy, Peren was once again reminded of the power of the man who captured it.

From the very beginning, she felt uneasy; at the end of the corridor was the most dangerous monster among those the man had captured.

The “Black Swan of Resentment,” a grand beast that inscribed its disastrous presence in modern history as a true calamity.

Click, click—

As she neared the end, three red crescent moons formed a circle. With each step, the dark energy in the air pricked her skin like needles.

“Disgusting… ugh.”

For a wizard sensitive to mana, the presence of this dark energy was nauseating.

Suppressing her gag reflex, Peren took out a key and a piece of paper with a long arrow drawn on it. It was the item Deisel called a Timer Seal.

[Rotating Seal Talisman]

The attached object rotates. It can be torn for use and the timing can be adjusted based on the paper’s area. For light objects only.

‘That damn guy, I barely got this one, but it should be enough. Let’s see, six hours should do. That’s enough time to escape.’

Peren tore off enough paper for six hours and attached it to the key. She then carefully inserted it into the lock hanging from the black swan’s neck.

But the key began to turn on its own.

“What?”

The paper attached to the key started decaying as if the dark energy was alive.

Realizing something was wrong, Peren abandoned even the lamp on the floor and ran for her life.

‘Damn it, legs! Move faster! If I don’t get out now, I’m dead!’

Three minutes later, the sound of the lock opening echoed through the basement.

Click!

***

The sky was a thick purple.

Servants, with faces filled with fear, were running toward the main gate.

Watching from the window, I couldn’t help but feel like I had just woken up from a coma and was seeing the future unfold before my eyes.

Is this real?

“Ah.”

I pinched my cheek, hoping it was a dream, but it hurt.

Once again, I asked myself. The familiar sight of livestock trapped within the purple barrier. The scene I had seen countless times in the game over and retry sequences of the “Black Swan of Resentment” scenario. Ṛ

Is this really happening?

“Ha, ha.”

Laughing like a madman, I sank into my chair and told Donatan to stop this childish hidden camera prank.

‘Enough with the jokes.’

[Jokes?]

‘You can tell me now. How long was I unconscious?’

[What nonsense are you talking about?]

‘If you want to keep lying, go ahead. I’m not falling for it.’

Sometimes I sound like a lunatic.

Common sense dictates that events that should occur years later couldn’t possibly be happening now, before the scenario even started. So, I should be safe. The playable characters who had grown stronger while I was out would take care of it. I just had to watch like I was at a movie.

What a great opportunity.

If only I had popcorn and cola, it would be perfect.

As I was thinking of enjoying some tea and snacks instead, a sound came from behind me.

Mircel approached, his face pale with fear. It seemed he had appeared while I was laughing to myself.

Wait a minute.

Why is he still the same height?

I wanted to believe it was because his growth plates had closed, but that was clearly a denial of reality.

…Wasn’t I in a coma?

So, this is real…

I don’t know why the Black Swan woke up, but it’s probably because of me. But that doesn’t matter. What’s important is finding a way to survive this life-threatening situation.

While I racked my brain, Mircel seemed relieved.

“Even in this situation, you’re smiling, Brother.”

“I’m excited. I wonder how you’ll defeat it.”

Defeat it? Me?

I thought of the standard “Black Swan of Resentment” scenario.

This region has the best of both worlds—cool breezes from the north in summer and mild winters from the east, making it an ideal place for people. The land is vast and the population sparse, with a high density of playable characters. Given their dramatic lives, incidents and accidents were common.

Heroes, I should say.

They would handle the problems that arose, and eventually, the time would come for them to be rewarded. Naturally, the land’s owner would be the one to acknowledge their achievements.

But it was never a simple matter.

A busy Aol couldn’t individually reward each hero, so he organized a grand banquet to honor them all at once. That’s when the incident occurred.

Where there is light, there is also shadow.

As they shone brightly, there were those who suffered in the darkness. These people, known as the Guardians of the Shadows, wanted to eliminate the playable characters before they became even more of a nuisance.

Conveniently, the banquet presented a perfect opportunity. They unleashed the Black Swan of Resentment to create chaos.

In short, it was a boss battle that required a group of protagonists to overcome.

To defeat the Black Swan, you needed the special weapon called the Holy Sword.

Thus, the child’s innocent expectations were met with my awkward reluctance.

How could I possibly handle that monster?

I, who had less power than an extra, without even the Holy Sword…

“It’s impossible to defeat it.”

“What?”

“Even our father couldn’t kill it; he could only seal it.”

“…So we’re all going to die?”

I placed my hand on the trembling Mircel’s head.

“No, we can survive. If you help me.”

There was a 99% chance I was lying, but 1% was true. The Black Swan scenario wasn’t always about defeating the boss.

If you couldn’t obtain the Holy Sword, there was another method. Breaking the barrier around the mansion would also be recognized as clearing the scenario.

There are five barriers in total.

To break them, you need to find and remove five Feathers of Restraint hidden around the mansion.

If we do that, a cutscene would play showing Aol arriving to slash the Black Swan’s neck and seal it, ending the scenario.

Of course, given the different circumstances, he wouldn’t appear out of nowhere, but we could at least escape outside.

So, we could survive.

If this talented kid and I played our parts well enough.

“Mircel, get a sword and search the mansion. You’ll find a feather as tall as you somewhere.”

“Huh? Should I cut it?”

“No, don’t cut it immediately.”

Feathers appear in random locations, so finding them can take some time.

But I had a tip thanks to a playable character’s monologue about the keen sense needed to detect them.

“There will be a strange aura flowing from the feather. Learn to sense that first. It’ll make finding the next feather easier. Only cut it after you’ve done that.”

In this desperate situation, if Mircel could sense it even once, it would save time.

And my job…

“I’ll buy you some time, so focus on the feathers and ignore the monster. Got it?”

Sadly, I was to be the bait for the Black Swan.

Somehow, it’ll work out.

I have “1-second invincibility.”

“Got it. You be careful too, Brother.”

Mircel handed over a warning before leaving. I approached the drawer and rummaged through it for anything useful.

I can’t use the cursed giant’s skull or staff because I can’t use magic.

But this should be quite handy.

[Viper Silus’s Poison]

A corrosive toxin with particles finer than mercury, with deep penetration.

[Talisman with Alarm Function]

Used to automatically turn doorknobs. The timer can be adjusted based on the length of the string.

As I stuffed the items into my pocket, the door suddenly opened, and Jack, Rodel, and Selly burst in.

“Hurry up, Rodel! Ahem, are you okay, Young Master?”

“Ha, I was bringing the sword. Anyway, I rushed here to protect you, Young Master. Hehe, I did well, right?”

Jack and Rodel wiped the sweat from their foreheads and grinned stupidly. Selly, as usual, grumbled and put down the baggage she was carrying.

“You dragged me along, but what difference does it make being here?”

Looking at the three who had become dear to me, I felt a strong emotion. I didn’t want to leave them to be killed by the Black Swan.

“Stop lying. You were running for the main gate without even looking back.”

Because I had to kill them myself.

“Young Master, we were just trying to assess the situation…”

“I saw it all. You had bags hanging all over you and were sprinting away. You didn’t even glance at my window.”

You’re here because you had nowhere else to go, yet you’re shameless.

***

The fountain in the center roared louder.

Swoosh—

The ground trembled. Cracks appeared in the fountain, and black liquid seeped out. It gathered into a form.

Black feathers covered its skin. Its body was like a pot-bellied drunkard, and its head was that of a crow with three eyes.

Inhaling deeply, the Black Swan savored the fresh air, then looked up at the sky. Half-obscured by the purple barrier, the sun still shone above.

The Black Swan closed its eyes, enjoying the brilliant sunlight.

After a few minutes, soldiers armed with swords and spears approached. The soldier who seemed to be their leader shouted.

“Don’t retreat! Our duty is to protect this place!”

No one dared to advance. They kept their distance, forming a net around the creature. The Black Swan remained still, eyes closed.

A young soldier behind it smirked.

‘Doesn’t it look weak? Is this really the monster from the rumors? It just looks like a bundle of feathers.’

Despite its fearsome reputation, its size seemed no larger than a person, making it look easy to handle.

Thinking that the rumors were exaggerated, the young soldier, dreaming of glory, stabbed his sword into the back of the Black Swan’s head.

Thunk!

It struck solidly. The soldiers’ faces brightened. They continued to stab the unmoving creature.

“Wow, it’s so weak. It must have rusted being underground for so long.”

“Step aside, let me cut off its head.”

The captain, exuding aura, prepared his stance. At that moment, the Black Swan extended its arm and lightly tapped the captain’s helmet with its index finger.

“What the…?”

One second later.

His head exploded.

Boom!

As the headless captain’s body collapsed, the Black Swan opened its eyes. The soldiers, splattered with blood and brains, froze.

“W-What happened?!”

While one soldier shouted in a trembling voice, the young soldier who had first stabbed the creature began to back away. Once he thought he was out of reach, he threw his sword aside and ran.

‘Shit, shit, shit! I should have just stayed hidden!’

Even though he heard the short cries behind him, he didn’t look back and ran at full speed. As he neared a barn where he could hide, his view shifted upward.

“Huh?”

He couldn’t feel his legs. No, his legs were gone. Where did they go?

As he pondered, his upper body fell to the ground.

Chomp, chomp—

Hearing the chewing sound beside him, the young soldier turned his head.

He met the eyes of the Black Swan, which was munching on a long piece of flesh.

‘Is… isn’t that my leg?’

The Black Swan grabbed the soldier by the hair, dragging him along. Seeing his own thick blood streak on the ground, the soldier struggled.

“Let go! Let go of me! Aaargh!”

Clawing, pinching, and hitting the Black Swan’s hand was useless. By the time his nails started coming off, the creature stopped. They had reached the broken fountain.

The young soldier saw other soldiers who had lost their legs, groaning in pain, and muttered.

‘…Why?’

The question didn’t last long.

As the Black Swan held a living soldier, opened its beak wide, and took a big bite, the young soldier realized.

The creature was just gathering its prey in one place.

To eat fresh, living humans.

Meanwhile, a maid watched from afar, holding her breath. She glanced at the mansion. The old butler inside signaled her. He gestured for her to crouch lower and approach slowly.

The maid, holding her breath, moved carefully. But she stepped on a twig. The crackling sound caught the Black Swan’s attention, and it assumed a posture ready to leap.

The maid, thinking she would be hunted like the soldiers, froze and shut her eyes.

“You could easily dodge from this distance. What are you doing?”

Startled, the maid opened her eyes. Hersel, who had appeared without her noticing, pulled her by the shoulder.

At that moment, the massive black body flew past where she had been standing.

Whoosh—

The heavy wind from the Black Swan blew the sweat off her forehead. If she had stayed, she would have been crushed.

While the maid calmed her racing heart, Hersel chuckled.

“Why? Not so fun when your life’s on the line, huh?”

“…”

“Whatever. I’ll give a signal. If you want to live, run to the mansion or do whatever you want.”

Hersel looked away from the maid, focusing on the Black Swan embedded in the wall. He took a few steps back, then started walking toward the broken fountain.

The Black Swan charged at him instantly.