Chapter 11: Lynn’s first orange move

Kurt never figured it out, even in death.

Why was this guy called Lynn able to prepare in advance to deal with him?

Just when did he expose himself?

He couldn’t think of any answer anymore.

This question was destined to disappear along with his own ashes, vanishing from the world.

When Livia saw Lynn emerge unscathed, she could no longer hold back.

She ignored her own weakness and threw herself into Lynn’s arms, tears sliding constantly from the corners of her eyes.

“Mr. Lynn… idiot, big idiot!!”

Livia clenched her delicate fists and kept pounding them on Lynn’s shoulder.

“Do you know how worried Livia was about you!”

Listening to the sobs of the girl in his arms, Lynn was at a loss for words.

If the Abyssal Deathsworn had obtained the Dragon’s Heart, the energy released would have been enough to destroy the entire Artz Royal City.

Lynn hadn’t only wanted to save himself; he wanted to save everyone while he was at it.

Over countless cycles, he had made many mistakes and considered many options.

He had calculated every possibility, except for Livia’s feelings.

Was that why she had treated him so harshly before?

Suddenly, Lynn seemed to realize something.

It felt like everything could finally be explained.

“Sorry, Livia.”

Lynn gently ruffled Livia’s hair.

“Next time… no, there mustn’t be a next time!”

Livia wiped away her tears, puffed up her cheeks, and spoke a little unhappily: “Don’t ever go off and do such dangerous things by yourself again.”

“Isn’t Livia supposed to share the burden with you?”

A warm feeling filled Lynn’s heart.

So this is what it feels like to be cared for by someone?

“Uwah, why am I up in the sky…”

The unconscious Sophie was also gradually waking up.

After struggling a bit, Sophie finally freed herself, only to fall hard to the ground.

She rubbed her backside and looked at Lynn, finally recalling what had just happened.

“Uh, um, I did pretty well, right?”

Sophie raised her head, unable to hide her eagerness, like a child longing for a parent’s praise.

“Of course.”

Lynn nodded.

“Hmph, when I step in, victory is only natural.”

Sophie put her hands on her hips and lifted her head proudly, but in the next moment, her weakness made her sway unsteadily.

Seeing this, Livia covered her mouth and let out a soft laugh.

Perhaps it was a little schadenfreude.

But this time, Livia truly felt a hint of gratitude toward Sophie for the first time.

In a way, she had also saved her life!

Even though Sophie was often jealous, that much was true.

But when it came to matters of principle, Livia was always rational.

Just as this thought popped up—

The next moment, Sophie, who had regained her senses, suddenly hugged Livia tightly and rubbed her soft little face against her.

“If not for Lady Livia’s timely support, I fear Mr. Lynn and I really would have become a pair of doomed lovebirds.”

Sophie said with lingering fear.

She’d only just learned this phrase from Kurt.

In truth, she had no idea what “doomed lovebirds” really meant.

“D…doomed lovebirds…”

When these words reached Livia’s ears, her fist instantly tightened.

This girl… really blooms at the slightest ray of sunshine!

Amid the playful chaos, the group left the forest and slowly walked toward home.

Half an hour later, Lynn returned to the manor.

Livia and Sophie, having exhausted themselves, went off to recuperate.

Only Lynn was still in decent shape.

Taking advantage of the empty surroundings, he stood by the window and pulled out Kurt’s storage ring.

Kurt was quite poor; there wasn’t much in his bag.

A few gold coins, an iron badge indicating his identity, and the black iron greatsword he used in life.

Of all this, the only thing that might be useful to Lynn was that black iron greatsword.

“What a pity, just a warrior.”

Lynn felt a little disappointed.

Warriors were famously all brawn and no brains—never had much at home.

They were tough to fight, and even so, those old-timers never had many gold coins to loot.

If it had been a Mage, perhaps he could’ve gotten some secret techniques from the Abyssal Cult.

Although the Dragon’s Heart couldn’t be turned into a Chesspiece, if he could make the Abyssal Cult’s secret techniques into Chesspieces, his current fighting strength would definitely rise a lot.

Still, better than nothing.

Lynn put the black iron greatsword into his own storage ring.

The next moment.

A pale blue panel once again appeared before Lynn’s eyes.

[Level Up]

[Current Rank: First-Rank Mage (Phase Two)]

[Remaining Rewind Count: 2]

[Note: When the rewind count reaches zero, the timeline will suffer irreversible damage. Please be vigilant.]

[Ability “Auto-Crafting” unlocked]

[Materials for Orange Chesspiece ‘Dragon’s Heart’: Black Iron, Dragon’s Heart, First-Rank Chesspiece “Fireball” have all been gathered.]

[‘Dragon’s Heart’ has been successfully synthesized.]

[Rarity: Orange Legend]

[Rank: 1]

[Note: Beware of fire hazards.]

“???”

Staring at the long string of prompts, Lynn’s mind nearly overloaded.

It took him a while to fully process what had happened.

“Bushko, what does it mean that the Dragon’s Heart has been synthesized?”

He immediately looked inside the storage ring, and sure enough, everything inside had vanished, leaving only the Dragon’s Heart.

He took out the Dragon’s Heart and examined it closely in his hand.

The jet-black “Queen” chesspiece bore a dragon coiled atop it, emanating a faintly murderous aura.

Lynn let out a barely audible sigh.

He hadn’t wanted to synthesize the Dragon’s Heart into a Chesspiece.

But this talent insisted on putting the Dragon’s Heart into his own pocket.

This really… did His Majesty a disservice.

Thinking this, Lynn didn’t hesitate and accepted the Chesspiece.

Then, he gripped the Chesspiece and slowly channeled magic into it.

Next, as long as the “Dragon’s Heart” recognized Lynn, he would become its sole master.

As Lynn’s magic flowed into the Chesspiece, pale blue patterns gradually spread across its surface.

The next moment, Lynn’s vision went black.

When he came to, he was already inside the Chesspiece.

A void.

Only a massive black fire dragon coiled on the ground ahead.

Sensing Lynn’s arrival, the dragon slightly raised its head.

Seeing that the visitor was human, it sneered with utter disdain.

“To enslave us… it turns out to be a human, born a slave.”

“Heh, the cycle of fate truly spares no one.”

The black dragon’s deep voice echoed throughout the empty space.

It was filled with the unique majesty of a king.

Although there hadn’t been detailed information in the game, Lynn surmised that the original owner of the Dragon’s Heart must have been an ancient royal from the draconic clans beyond this world.

Since it was a royal, the dragon would naturally have its pride; unless Lynn’s strength surpassed it enough to utterly subdue it.

Otherwise, it would never willingly obey Lynn’s commands.

If that happened, Lynn could hardly wield even a fraction of the Chesspiece’s true power.

That wouldn’t do.

But, Lynn was Lynn.

He would always find a way.

“You’re wrong, I’m not your master.”

Lynn folded his arms across his chest, his tone stern.

“Oh?”

Hearing this, the dragon’s previously drooping eyes lifted ever so slightly.

Not his master, yet able to enter this space?

Could it be he had a way to release the dragon from here?

Originally, it hadn’t wanted to bother with this foolish clown.

But now…

It suddenly wanted to see just what medicine this clown was selling in his gourd.