“Huff, huff.”
“That was close. Luckily, the teleportation succeeded at the very last moment.”
Ian gasped for air.
Successive uses of protection shields and Teleportation Scrolls had consumed a massive amount of his magic power.
At this moment, he could barely hold himself up and felt as if he might faint at any time.
Using the last of his strength, he forced himself to look ahead.
A majestic and magnificent villa stood before him, with knights in armor standing on two sides, making the estate appear even more imposing.
Seeing this, Ian knew he was safe for the time being.
This was the St. Yola Duke’s Mansion — his home.
His exhausted body could no longer hold on.
His figure, standing on the carriage, slowly toppled over as he fell into a deep sleep.
***
After an unknown amount of time, a voice as thin as a mosquito’s buzz echoed in Ian’s ear.
“Young… Young Master, it is time… to wake up.”
“Don’t be noisy. Let me sleep a bit longer.”
Ian ignored the shout and rolled over, prepared to continue enjoying his grand dreams.
“Just how long do you intend to sleep?”
An explosion of a voice, containing a hint of anger, erupted in Ian’s ear.
“Mmph, huh? What happened?”
Ian sat up in a fright.
Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, his eyes revealed a sense of confusion.
‘Didn’t I fall asleep while playing a Lily Game?’
‘This doesn’t seem like my house.’
‘Can anyone tell me where this is?’
The room was filled with high-end furniture that did not match his own home, and the space was so spacious it was beyond his imagination.
A classical European chandelier hung high from the ceiling, and even the layout of the entire room exceeded his understanding.
However, the thing that shocked him most in the entire room was the beautiful blonde girl standing in front of him.
‘Aetherinra? Did I really transmigrate into that game?’
‘So everything just now wasn’t a dream?’
“Since you are awake, pack up and head to the hall. The Duke is waiting for you.”
After saying that, Aetherinra turned and left without looking back.
‘Where is the System? System, come out quickly.’
Ian vaguely remembered that he had awakened a System.
He understood that his transmigration definitely had everything to do with it.
**[What is it?]**
“You’re the one behind all of this, right? Send me back immediately.”
**[Sorry, I am powerless.]**
Without denying it, the System generously admitted that it was the one that brought Ian to this world.
Hearing the System’s answer, a nameless fire rose in Ian’s heart.
He had been living perfectly fine on Blue Star, yet this damn System made him transmigrate and almost got him killed.
How could he not be angry?
**[I am sorry, Host. Due to bringing you to this world, my energy has been greatly consumed. I currently do not have enough energy to teleport you back.]**
“I don’t care about any of that! I still have things to do. You must teleport me back.”
The “things” Ian referred to were actually the many games he had bought on Blue Star but hadn’t had the chance to play yet.
If he bought them and couldn’t play them, wouldn’t that be a total waste?
If he had known that staying up all night to play a Lily Game would result in transmigration, he never would have done it.
**[There is nothing I can do right now, but as long as the Host works hard, there is still hope.]**
**[As long as the Host defeats the Demon God of this world and achieves the grand finale achievement, I will be able to obtain enough energy.]**
“Huh?”
“System, did you hear yourself right?”
“You want me to fight the Demon God?”
Ian pointed at himself, looking at the System panel with a dazed expression.
**[Yes, Host, you heard correctly.]**
Hearing those words, Ian’s face darkened.
He didn’t want to say anything else to the System.
He stood before the mirror in the room and prepared to get dressed.
Since he couldn’t transmigrate back for now, he had to live well in this world.
Although the System just said he had to defeat the Demon God, it also mentioned that any method of achieving the grand finale achievement would provide enough energy.
According to the original plot of the game, Veronica and her hero’s party successfully eliminated the Demon God during the grand finale.
In that case, wouldn’t it be fine as long as he didn’t interfere with the original plot?
Once Veronica finished the crusade against the Demon God, wouldn’t he be able to transmigrate back?
Thinking of this, Ian made up his mind.
He would stay far away from the protagonists and heroines of the original story.
Before completing the grand finale achievement, his only task was to stay alive.
With his thoughts concluded, Ian looked into the mirror and observed himself carefully.
Short blonde hair paired with handsome features and ornate clothing—anyone with eyes could see this was no ordinary person.
‘Well, I’m still as handsome as ever.’
Looking at the appearance in the mirror that was almost identical to his previous life, Ian wondered if this was one of the reasons he had transmigrated.
After finishing his inspection, he didn’t dare to linger any longer and walked toward the living room of the Duke’s mansion.
Since he had to live in this world, there was one person he had to face: Duke Dill St. Yola.
A moment later, Ian reached the entrance of the living room, but he hesitated to push the door open.
In the game, because of Ian’s absurd behavior, this Duke had never given him a good look, showing a feeling of resentment that his son failed to meet expectations.
Furthermore, as the front line of the struggle against the Demon Race, Duke St. Yola loathed traitors of the Human Race.
Regarding the kidnapping of Aetherinra, it was impossible for Dill not to blame him.
He had to find a way to bluff his way through.
**[Ding! I believe it is necessary to remind the Host that if you die here, you will truly die. You will not return to Blue Star, so please work hard to survive.]**
Hearing the System’s reminder, a cold sweat broke out on Ian’s forehead.
Does this dog System really want me to die?
However, Ian wasn’t too worried at this moment.
After all, no matter what, he was the Duke’s biological son.
He shouldn’t be executed directly, right?
Right?
With a trembling heart, Ian slowly pushed open the large doors, and a very spacious hall appeared before his eyes.
Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man sitting in the main seat with an air of natural authority.
He wore magnificent aristocratic clothing and had a sword at his waist that looked anything but ordinary.
Ian knew clearly that this was his father, Dill St. Yola, the man known as the Sword Saint.
On this Faloran Continent, everyone cultivated magic power, which was divided into two types: Sword Magic Power and Spell Magic Power.
Dill was the man who had cultivated Sword Magic Power to the peak.
Looking to the side, Aetherinra sat in the secondary seat below his father.
Standing beside her was another young girl.
Ian recognized her true identity at a glance; she was the protagonist of this game — Veronica.
Who could have imagined that the majestic protagonist Veronica of the future was currently just a guard for Aetherinra?
“You’re here?”
“Sit down. Don’t just stand there like a fool.”
Dill pointed to the empty seat beside him, signaling for Ian to sit.
Although Dill appeared very easygoing at the moment without any sign of anger, Ian understood that this was merely the calm before the storm.
After taking his seat, Ian looked at Dill and asked, “Father, did you call me here for something?”
“It’s nothing, nothing. I just have a few questions I want to ask you.”
“I just want to ask, do you want to die?”
As he finished speaking, the aura on Dill’s body rose sharply, pressing down on Ian until he could hardly breathe.
Ian struggled to lift his head amidst Dill’s pressure.
“I… I don’t know… what you mean, Father.”
Of course he didn’t want to die! Did he even need to ask?
“Still unwilling to speak?”
Seeing Ian’s stubbornness, Dill shook his head and withdrew his aura, revealing a look of deep disappointment.
He stood up and walked to the window of the hall, clearly heartbroken by Ian’s actions.
“Veronica, bring up the evidence you collected.”
“Yes.”
Receiving the order, Veronica took out several letters from her person and placed them on the table.
The letters contained content regarding Ian’s collusion with the Demon Race and his attempt to sacrifice Aetherinra to the Demon God.
Dill let out a long sigh while looking out the window.
He could never have imagined that as the Sword Saint of the Farrah Kingdom and the Wall of the Kingdom against the Demon Race, the son he raised would be a traitor colluding with the demons.
This chilled his heart completely.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
Ian was so angry he wanted to punch the original owner of this body.
How could someone use letters to communicate such a massive matter?
Wasn’t that just asking to be discovered?
“Duke, the evidence of Ian’s collusion with the Demon Race is conclusive. According to the laws of the Farrah Kingdom, those who collude with the Demon Race shall be sentenced to death,” Veronica reported to Dill after glancing at Ian with a look of pure disgust.
“Heh, haha.”
Hearing Veronica’s words, Ian let out a few cold laughs.
“What are you laughing at?”
Veronica was completely puzzled by Ian, who was still laughing even as death approached.
“I’m laughing at your ignorance for failing to see my true intentions.”
“Everything I did wasn’t to sacrifice Aetherinra to the Demon God. On the contrary, it was all to save her!”