# Serenia Castle, Yuda’s House.
There are people you dislike just by looking at them. As you go through life, you'll come across such people from time to time.
Because their first impression is awful, their words clash with their appearance, their talent overshadows you, or they’re just utterly incompetent. Beyond these, there could be countless other reasons.
Honestly, Yuda disliked Kain. As kids training under Kaseun, he didn’t feel this way, but now he could say he truly disliked him.
If someone asked how much, it was vague. Not enough to want him dead, but he didn’t want to share space with him. Still, it might be enough to cross blades.
If Kaseun had arrived a bit later, and Kain had kept hesitating without speaking, Yuda might’ve lost patience and swung his sword.
It would’ve been better that way.
Yuda stared blankly at the ceiling with his lips sealed. After Kaseun appeared, things moved swiftly. He was scolded for recklessly chasing the wolves alone but praised for defeating Requiem.
All of Requiem’s spoils were confiscated. They said they would return them after reporting to the lord, but… Yuda wasn’t sure if he would get them back.
‘But Kaseun wouldn’t lie, so I’ll get them back.’
If Kaseun said he would return them, he would make it happen. He was a man of his word. After that, nothing notable occurred. Or rather, Yuda had no memory of it. He fell into a deep sleep, unable to wake even at sunrise.
When Yuda opened his eyes to the sound of muffled laughter nearby, he realized he was being carried on Tia’s back, forcibly moved somewhere. Beside her, Jeanne and a few guards from the east gate were walking along. Still groggy from sleep, Yuda stared blankly at them, trying to make sense of the situation. He wasn’t sure when they had started moving, but considering they arrived at the castle shortly after, he must have been asleep for quite a while. As soon as they returned home, he mumbled that he would sleep a bit more, headed straight to the room on the second floor, and lay down on the bed.
“Haa—”
He let out a long sigh. At home, the fatigue from outside vanished like a lie. Maybe because it wasn’t his usual sleep time. Rolling on the bed, he called up the system log. Beyond the quest completion after defeating Requiem, other messages had appeared, hidden by priority.
[The bastard sword’s durability has reached its limit.]
[You won a duel against the black wolf leader, Requiem. Stamina and Agility increase by 1 each.]
[The title 〈Slaughterer of Black Wolves〉 has been upgraded to 〈Conqueror of Black Wolves〉.]
〈Slaughterer of Black Wolves〉
A title granted to those who have hunted over a hundred black wolves.
-+3% damage against black wolves, 20% reduction in wolf howling effects and duration.
-Intimidation when hunting any wolves, except bosses.
└Intimidation (Passive): Reduces movement and attack speed by 5%.
↓ ↓ ↓
〈Conqueror of Black Wolves〉
A title earned by defeating the black wolf leader in a 1:1 duel.
Wolves will instinctively sense danger upon seeing you.
-+5% damage against all wolves, 40% reduction in wolf howling effects and duration.
-Intimidation when hunting any wolves, except bosses.
└Intimidation (Passive): Reduces movement and attack speed by 6%, attack power by 3%.
└Awe (Passive): Reduces preemptive attack chance by 20%.
[Your level has increased]
[Your level has increased]
[Your level has increased]
[Obtained 2 gold coins.]
Ah, his stagnant level finally rose. Three levels at once. Recalling the significant level gap, he nodded. Two gold coins were decent, and the two stat increases were satisfying. The upgraded title was nice, but its wolf-specific perks were useless since he wouldn’t face wolves soon.
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「Status Window」
[Name: Yuda Arshe]
[Title: Conqueror of Black Wolves (1)]
[Level: 23]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman(Hidden_A)]
[Revival Count: 2]
[Strength: 41(C) / Potential A]
[Stamina: 41(C) / Potential S]
[Agility: 43(C) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 43(C) / Potential B]
[Mana Resistance: 52(C) / Potential S]
[Knowledge: 17(F) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 84(A) / Potential S] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 8]
──────────────────────────────
Checking his status, Yuda chuckled.
‘I’ve grown quite a bit.’
Defeating a region’s iconic boss was a huge leap from when he first arrived in this world. But it was just the start and he couldn’t be satisfied yet.
Requiem was unusually polite for a foe, making it easier. Future enemies wouldn’t be. Some would overwhelm with numbers, others use poison, or wield unmatched power. With his current strength, no opponent would be easy.
‘Once I get Requiem’s hide back, I need to leave quickly.’
He had originally planned to leave after the coming-of-age ceremony once he recruited Jeanne, but he had delayed too long. Vowing to craft something with the hide and leave, Yuda closed his eyes.
He received Requiem’s hide three days later. The castle’s mood was grim. Soldiers had contributed little in the extermination, and a few had died in two unlucky ambushes. The lord held grand funerals and compensated the bereaved generously. To lift spirits, the lord posted a lengthy notice, seemingly transcribing Kaseun’s report verbatim.
「…According to the report, enraged by the soldiers’ deaths, Yuda defeated the black wolves and chased the fleeing ones with a single torch. When the soldiers caught up, Requiem was already dead, with Yuda standing before it, holding a broken sword. The black wolves, leaderless, scattered, and the soldiers mopped them up…」
Surprisingly, they didn’t claim the soldiers killed Requiem, though they could have. Judging by how things were handled, it felt like even if Kaseun had taken down Requiem on his own, he would’ve honestly admitted it. Later, when Yuda was invited back to the lord’s castle for another meal, he was given back the spoils that had been confiscated and received a mostly useless title as well.
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〈Little Hero of Serenia Castle〉
You protected the East Forest from the black wolves, the source of the residents’ fear.
The lord and residents applaud your remarkable achievement.
-+10 favorability with Serenia Castle residents.
-Receive discounts or extras when purchasing items.
-A statue is built at the East Gate entrance.
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A statue? It made him laugh. Still, leaving a mark here felt deeply gratifying. Later, Yuda commissioned a tailor to craft long coats from Requiem’s hide. Its size was enough to make 3 coats in total.
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[Name: Leader of the Pack “Long Coat Made from Requiem’s Hide”]
[Grade: Unique _ Famed Item]
[Equipment: Coat]
[Durability: 50/50]
[Defense: 70]
[Effects]
+15% physical defense, +10% magic resistance, +3% movement speed
Charisma +3
[Description]
A long coat made from the hide of the black wolf leader “Requiem.” Crafted with dedication for Serenia Castle’s young hero, it’s a top-tier famed item. The mane fur around the collar and buttons carved from claws elevate its dignity.
-Physical Resistance (Passive): Reduces damage from slashing, piercing, and striking attacks.
-Magic Resistance (Passive): Reduces damage from magic attacks.
-Self-Maintenance (Passive): Resists stains (blood, grease) and has a low durability decay rate.
-Refined Aura (Passive): Exudes the dignity of a pack leader, making you less likely to be disregarded.
-Moonlight’s Blessing (Passive): On moonlit nights, gain a movement speed bonus and enhanced perception of surroundings.
-Code Source: Leader of the Pack
└Grants Charisma stat, Charisma +10
└Intimidation - Enhanced by Charisma, exerts intangible pressure on opponents. More effective against lower-level targets, less against higher-level ones.
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It was an exceptional item. Unable to hide his satisfaction, Yuda gave the tailor an extra gold coin that was worth several times the advance. He imbued his coat with Requiem’s code, gifted the other two to Jeanne and Tia, gave leftover claws to Kaseun, and presented the remaining head hide to the lord.
After resting a day at home, Yuda roamed the market for supplies before leaving Serenia Castle. Maybe the 〈Little Hero of Serenia Castle〉 title worked its magic, as people were incredibly kind.
Their kindness felt burdensome. Honestly, he didn’t kill Requiem for them. It was an impulsive act, driven by ugly emotions from seeing Kain. He hunted Requiem for spoils, but they saw it differently. Well, good results were enough, so he stopped overthinking. Smiling, he accepted their goodwill, buying far more for less than expected.
It felt like a good day, but unluckily, he ran into Kain in the plaza on his way home. Riel, at Kain’s side, waved with a bright smile.
“Hey, Yuda! Coming back from shopping?”
Glancing at Kain, Yuda gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“Yeah. Where are you two headed?”
Riel smiled brightly and shook her head.
“No, Kain said he needed to talk to you. We’ve been looking for you. Thought a celebrity like you’d be easy to find, but where’ve you been wandering?”
“Just picking up some stuff. But Kain, looking for me… Oh! To finish what you couldn’t say that day?”
Yuda answered Riel kindly, then turned to Kain, wiping the smile from his face. Surprisingly, unlike before, Kain didn’t avert his gaze or hesitate.
“Yeah. I have a question.”
“What is it? Say it.”
Riel, sensing the unexpectedly heavy mood, looked between Yuda and Kain, bewildered, wishing someone would explain, but no one did.
“I saw it.”
“Saw what?”
“That day, the longsword you summoned in the air when you fought the black wolves. Couldn’t see properly with the dim moonlight but I’m sure it was Ea’s.”
Ho— Yuda’s eyes widened, feigning surprise. But he wasn’t shocked. He had already expected that Kain was suspecting him. A faint smirk curled his lips.
He had once feared using the longsword might expose him to Kain, but now, he found Kain’s suspicion oddly pleasing.
“So? Say what you’re thinking. I’ll answer.”
“…How do you have Ea’s sword?”
Yuda stepped toward Kain, closing the distance.
“How? You already know.”
Kain flinched at his words. After seeing Yuda with Ea’s longsword, he had visited the West Gate guards to check her entry records. With just an ID, entry was free, so no logs were kept, but Ea’s striking beauty and unique martial knight title made her memorable. She hadn’t returned to the castle since “that day” she parted with Kain. Yet Yuda held her vanished longsword. Did he witness her death and take it? Or… As Kain pondered, Yuda whispered, reading his thoughts.
“Yeah you’re right. I killed her. And took her sword. What, did you hope she was alive?”
“What? Wait, Yuda!”
“That’s all you’re curious about, right? Seems like you want explanations, but I don’t feel like giving them. Think what you want.”
Kain’s face hardened, and Riel paled. They fell silent. Yuda, finding their expressions refreshing, chuckled.
“Could you move now if you are done?”
Brushing Kain’s shoulder, Yuda walked on. They didn’t follow, likely too shocked. Sighing softly, he looked up at the clear, blue sky.
‘Tomorrow, I leave this place.’
He had said farewells to Kaseun and the lord, bought supplies, recruited Jeanne, and hunted Requiem-everything was done. He had no more business in this castle.
* * *
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「Status Window
[Name: Yuda Arshe]
[Title: Little Hero of Serenia Castle(2)]
[Level: 23]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman(Hidden_A)]
[Revival Count: 2]
[Strength: 41(C) / Potential A]
[Stamina: 41(C) / Potential S]
[Agility: 43(C) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 43(C) / Potential B]
[Mana Resistance: 52(C) / Potential S]
[Charisma: 5(F) / Potential A]
[Knowledge: 17(F) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 84(A) / Potential S] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 8]
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***Author’s Note***
Phew—
I’m not a big fan of BL.
But I respect everyone’s tastes!
If you wait a bit, an extra side story chapter will be posted once this chapter wraps up.
If the response is good, I might post such extras at the end of each chapter. Heh heh heh.
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