I could guess the reason why.
As I thought… Are [Skills] and 『Magic』 fundamentally different?
I had felt a sense of dissonance when I manifested Ignite.
Even if the process of acquiring it differed, Ignite was ultimately a skill.
Which meant that if I managed to manifest it, Ignite should have appeared on my skill list.
However, my skill list remained simple.
《Skills》
Natural Enemy
Silver Mastery
Shooting Mastery
Simultaneous Shot
Exorcism
It was the same when I manifested other magic.
Comparing that past experience with the current one, I reached a single hypothesis.
[Skills] and 『Magic』 were completely different concepts.
Placing the two on separate tracks made everything clear.
How much time and effort did it take just to manifest a single spell?
I did not know the exact details, but… I could tell one thing for sure: it did not fit the character settings.
You know, that cringelord setting of Grandfel's, where he could manifest magic instantly just by seeing it.
I opened my mouth.
"Indeed, it was only to be expected."
This time, it was not a defense mechanism.
[Skills] and 『Magic』 were completely different.
It was only fitting that I suffered so much when I tried to view skills as magic and comprehend them.
My head was splitting from trying to force the impossible!
But wait… didn't I succeed in the end?
In that sense, it seemed the backstory of being the greatest genius in the history of the Claudi family was properly applied.
I looked at the portal.
Observing it directly was completely different from trying to analyze skills through a NetTube videos.
I did not even need a pen or paper.
The process leading up to 『Examine』 and 『Interfere』 was drawn clearly inside my head.
『Portal』 was magic on an incomparably higher tier than Ignite.
And yet, I felt certain I could actually manifest it.
Although, manifesting it required an immense amount of mana.
Right now, I could not even attempt it.
However, simply realizing that fact was enough.
Shifting my gaze, I took in the full view of the Magic Tower.
I will probably be visiting this place a lot in the future, won't I?
In truth, I wanted to grab any passing mage NPC and plead with them to show me magic.
Nothing too complex—just starting step-by-step with low-tier spells.
Of course, there was no way the arrogant residents of the Magic Tower would grant my request.
Besides, I knew that now was not the time for that.
─Hunt the Vampire. (In Progress) ▲
●Announce that the hunt has begun. (In Progress)
"I require no teachings."
Furthermore, there was no way this noble pride of mine would permit me to ask for a favor.
Unless it were an order…
Truly, an exhausting personality.
Soon, I stepped through the portal.
Tap—
With an incomparably arrogant stride.
* * *
Fwoosh—
…Damn it, it really is cold. If I had the sense to pack tea bags, I should have brought heat packs too!
It was cold enough to make me want to cross my arms and stamp my feet.
However, I was a noble soul who would not even ask for a favor.
There was no way I could perform such an unrefined act.
I walked on steadily, despite legs that felt as if they might tremble at any moment.
As my view shifted, a dense forest came into sight.
A large crowd had already gathered there.
"Yes! I am currently standing right in front of the new rift in Russia."
News reporters.
"Alright, chat, I'll enter whichever rift you want. Pick a number."
NetTubers.
"How's the situation? Is it good? Yeah, the video is broadcasting fine."
Even guilds that had set up camps outside.
Indeed, it was a sight that clearly displayed the overwhelming interest poured into Count Oscura's rift.
For now, I had to consider most of them competitors.
After all, my quest objective was to hunt the vampire—which meant going head-to-head against top guilds and players.
Honestly speaking, defeating Count Oscura before them sounded impossible.
Not only were they superior in numbers, but the level gap was also beyond comparison.
Yet, confidence was one thing I had in abundance.
Please let this confidence be grounded in reality…
Hoping so, I took a step toward the nearest rift.
"Hey, hold on a second."
"?"
"Excuse me! Let's maintain some basic courtesy here."
The one who stopped me was a man with a strikingly round face.
He was holding a tripod with a camera attached.
Ah, a NetTuber.
Scanning me from head to toe, the man spoke.
"There's no way I wouldn't remember a face like this… You're a newbie, right? Fresh concept, though. What, an office worker in a rift or something? Anyhow, I'm reviewing this rift, so find another one. Shoo, shoo."
A newbie NetTuber with an office worker concept, huh? Hard to refute that.
Granted, my outfit certainly looked that way.
For starters, I definitely did not look like a player who had come to clear a rift.
Take a good look. Am I holding a camera like you?
Even if I wanted to answer like that, I could not.
"Step aside."
"W-what?!"
"I possess no patience to spare at this moment."
I spoke in a voice colder than the harsh Russian wind.
It was the gentlest way I could express: I am so cold I can't stand it.
"C-chat, did you see that? I'm telling you, newbies these days have zero manners! What? L take? Bro's too majestic to be in the wrong? Hey! Stop glazing him just because he's handsome!"
Leaving the flustered man behind, I stood before the rift.
Territory Outskirts
Recommended Level: 240–270
Collapse Progress: 9.7%
My current level was 67, almost 200 levels below the recommended level.
Standing before such a rift, I had only one thought in mind.
If I go inside, I might be able to escape this cold…
* * *
Guild Rank 32, Berserker.
Its Guild Master Leonie Bellucci furrowed her fair brow.
"Fuck, what the hell is this shit?"
Currently, Leonie was Level 348.
She was a ranked player sitting in the top 100.
Befitting that status, she possessed vast experience.
However, this rift was different from any before it.
Honestly, it sucked.
Leonie swung her twin swords with great force.
Swish—
Although she clearly slashed its leg, that red-eyed wolf did not flinch in the slightest.
"This damn mutt!"
Slash—
An endless barrage of strikes poured from her twin swords!
Soon after, the wolf collapsed.
It was only natural.
Bloody Wolf (Lv. 230)
There was a staggering level difference of over one hundred.
A mere Level 230 monster could never withstand her attacks.
Leonie checked the system message.
She had definitely defeated it, and she had definitely received the experience points.
Yet, she couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling.
"…Guys. Is it just me?"
Leonie wore a serious expression.
However, that solemn face did not match her appearance.
A cute face highlighted by messy, bright orange bobbed hair.
A delicate frame.
Who could tell, just by looking, that she was a Berserker—let alone the master of the guild?
"What is it now?"
"Sis, are you pretending to be sharp again?"
"Seriously, not scary at all."
Her guild members wore amused smiles.
Partly because her face was cute, but also because Leonie's intuition was never that sharp, despite her usual tough act.
Predictably, this heartwarming atmosphere didn't survive her next breath.
"No, fuck, I'm telling you, something feels super off!"
Was there anyone else in the world who shattered impressions the moment she opened her mouth?
Joking aside, it was a shocking contrast no matter how many times they saw it.
The guild members let out a collective sigh.
"…Yeah. That's our sis."
"So what feels off? Is it because we're clearing it too easily?"
"Her terrible instincts are acting up again."
Raising her fist, Leonie glared at them.
"Of course it's easy, you lil shits! What level do you think we are?"
"Sis. Even if you can't watch your mouth, let's not get physical today."
"Screw off with the nagging. No, seriously, have you guys ever seen monsters like these?!"
Thump—
Leonie kicked the wolf sprawled on the ground.
"These things show zero signs of pain until the second they die."
"Well, isn't that just because they're demons?"
"Wanna bet? Is this our first time hunting demons? Have you never heard an imp scream before?"
There was truth in her words.
Leonie and the top 30 elite members of the Berserker Guild had entered [The Territory Outskirts] rift and hunted continuously for about three hours.
In the process, they had slain dozens of [Bloody Beasts] and [Bloody Bandits].
"…Did any of you hear them scream or whimper?"
Looking back, they did not.
When her guild members remained silent, Leonie shrugged her shoulders.
"It just feels shitty. Something is up with these bastards."
"So what is that 'something'?"
"How the fuck should I know?!"
"Sis, listening to you, it really is strange… But still, wouldn't it be fine? Most importantly, we definitely killed them and got the EXP."
"That's true, but I'm telling you, my gut says otherwise!"
Their guild ranking was always hovering around rank 30, teetering just above and below it.
It was all because the dignity of their guild master had hit rock bottom.
"Seriously, what do you guys take me for…"
Just as Leonie was about to vent her useless anger, from the forest far off in the distance—
"Y-yip!"
A sound echoed.
"!!!"
Though faint, it sounded like a beast whimpering.
In an instant, all eyes shifted onto Leonie.
"…Hey, what's with that 'of course' look in your eyes?!"
Given how many players had entered this rift, it could just be a noise they were making…
"Awoooo!"
However, the mournful howling that followed sealed the deal.
Now, it was not just eyes—
"Of course."
"That's our sis for you."
"Gah. What went wrong this time?"
Why are those things whimpering and howling?
She felt half wronged and half curious.
Leonie led her guild members toward the source of the sound.
"Isn't it better to group up anyway? After all, we're all in the same boat trying to clear the rift."
In truth, [The Territory Outskirts] was little more than a warm-up rift.
Even if demonkind monsters appeared, the guilds participating in this raid could clear it without much difficulty.
The real competition was set to begin only after all outskirts rifts were cleared.
Starting with [The Count's Territory].
"…Just who on earth could it be?"
…to make those tight-lipped bastards howl in sheer terror?
Leonie narrowed down a few likely candidates.
First, let's rule out Shining and Gaon. We deliberately avoided them—they're the 1st and 5th ranked guilds for a reason. What would getting tangled with those two do except crush us like shrimp in a whale fight?
With that in mind, the Berserker Guild had entered a rift far away from them.
And so, not many candidates remained.
"Judging by the looks of it, it's either Second Sun or Bohemian. One of the two."
However, as previously mentioned, Leonie's intuition was not very good.
"?"
Arriving at the source of the sound, they saw no guild in sight.
Standing amidst the frozen snowscape was a lone man with striking silver-white hair.
Yet that man's appearance fit the backdrop just as poorly as Leonie's.
Not only was he wearing a suit, but he was even wearing dress shoes.
However, what took the cake above all else was the fact that he was holding a teacup, of all things.
Gentle steam curled upward from a teacup that exuded warmth at a single glance.
Yet strangely enough, the man did not look unnatural in the slightest.
Though he looked out of place, an air of relaxed composure flowed naturally from him.
He looked as if he were thoroughly enjoying tea time.
Gulp—
"…What kind of crazy bastard is that?"
At the bizarre sight, Leonie swallowed hard.
The man looked at her.
"Regrettably."
He spoke in an incomparably resolute voice.
"I have no tea to offer unto you."
* * *
So warm. The cold's finally going away.
Now that I had come to know the sacredness of tea time, I could not help but treasure the green tea bags tucked safely in my inner pocket.
Which meant…
Gulp—
Swallow all you want, you're not getting a single drop.
─Hunt the Vampire. (In Progress) ▲
●Announce that the hunt has begun. (Success)
●Instill the terror of being hunted. (In Progress)
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