Chapter 48 Reasonable Overthinking

Russell Moon and Amelie Rose Merveil returned to Earth after some conversation.

Russell, who felt some unfairness returned to his composed self, while Amelie, who seemingly remained with a shocked expression, was very grateful for what had transpired.

Although she was concerned at first even after resolving herself, she began to understand various things during her conversation with Russell; she didn't ask how he knew such things, the most important to her was that she felt she was not alone anymore in a real sense where her past was exposed.

…

It was midnight as they returned from the Chaos Training Ground.

The bluish moon illuminated the surroundings whether it was the world itself, dark corners of the human domain, Obelisk Academy itself, or a specific dormitory.

It gives off a serene feeling as if the world has achieved a peaceful life where the natural order of things were at its optimal equilibrium.

Russell Moon, for some time, as he looked outside the window, was slumped down on his bed reined in his thoughts. He recalled the details he wrote in his novel in his previous life before his reincarnation inside the said novel [The Forgotten Swordsman of Ruined Star].

'Untouched Elements are some things that I didn't explain thoroughly, or left vague throughout the novel like the 'Seed of Chaos' where it was passed by some of the students, then left unchecked…

Also, Maya, the sales clerk from the Player General Store where she massacred a certain guild for some reason and then seldom made an appearance again in the novel…

And my younger sister, who became a classmate of the main characters I've written…'

Russell realized the absurdity of the novel he didn't manage to publish in his previous life. He silently let out a self-deprecating laugh as he reined in his thoughts to come up with classifications of his experiences so far.

'Untouched Elements are something I know… but vague… which means some supplementary and corresponding details are unknown to me such as the presence of the Goddess of Night when I looked for the Seed of Chaos… I didn't expect her to be in that hidden dungeon…'

With such an encounter, the story he knew from the novel probably drifted away from the original story.

'Although, it is not evident right now… I'm certain that is the case.'

He couldn't help but remember Samantha Hall who asked her for a dance during the Banquet of Obelisk which resulted in Reinhardt sending some goons to warn him through torture.'

He let out a self-deprecating sigh as he remembered the mess where blood was splattered across the floor, where a head flew to the ground, and a pair of feet were mutilated by Ceru, the Chaos Slime, through a sneak attack.

'Plus the System messages and modification of skills… Although skills modification was not rare depending on the unknown conditions of the System, I felt like the System is sometimes b*llsh*tt*ng me, but at the same time it felt like it's responding to one's concrete thoughts… does it mean if I don't find something amiss, it won't notify me?'

Russell lampooned, as the feeling of irascibility he experienced earlier felt like surging again.

He continued on his train of thought under the gaze of the bluish moon penetrating his bedroom, comparing the details in the novel he wrote, and what he encountered so far.

'Based on what I wrote in my novel… the System has an unknown origin, and the System does help every player such as skill modification for optimization… at the same time I recall stating in my novel that the Goddess of Night does not take interest in anyone, and also I mentioned the existence of "unknown" gods and demons…'

As Russell's thoughts kept swirling in his head, he took note of the System's behavior towards him, wondering if there was an identity behind the System itself.

He also realized that the Goddess of Night had just drifted slightly from the setting he wrote about her in his novel, though he got contracted with her, after that, she basically just watches sometimes, then mostly goes back to her slumber.

After some time, Russell realized quite a problem.

"The 'unknown existence' of some gods and demons… there is no exact number to them…"

Russell curse himself inwardly as he muttered those words, though he didn't even expect such reincarnation inside his own novel was possible, he couldn't help but felt like paying a price for his trash writing.

He remember the Constellation, 'Lady of Shaded Spade', whom he didn't know.

After some time of rumination, he sighed, and muttered in a voice of resignation…

"I feel like this world drifted to some mystery genre…"

Of course, almost everyone except him, and the Goddess of Night, or some other variable… knew of some critical things that are a complete mystery to others. Russell thought of the untouched elements… and before his eyes shut as he cannot bear the mental strain anymore, he thought of another classification of the peculiarities he encountered.

'Unknown elements.'

…

Saturday Morning, Room 393, Andromeda Building.

Russell woke up from his sleep as he heard a knock on the door.

As he opened his eyes, he felt the heaviness of his head as he unconsciously pressed it.

The sight of the ceiling came into his view then he glance at the alarm clock on his study desk where the time was 8:30 AM.

"Knock! Knock!~"

His half-trance state was purged with the persistent knocking as he stood up, wear some clothes, and reached out the door knob.

There, he saw Freya whose hair was still slightly wet, looking at him with anxious eyes.

"Come in."

Russell let her come in as Freya sat on the couch beside the bed as he prepared some breakfast.

After some time, without beating around the bush, Russell spoke with a tone of curiosity.

"What's going on?"

'I want to sleep more!' he lampooned inwardly.

Freya took the glass of water prepared by her brother, then sipped it lightly before she spoke.

"I need advice 'Oppa'…"

She said, feeling somewhat expectant, but also anxious.

"Advice on what?"

Russell looked at her with somewhat worried eyes, feeling like there is something serious going on…

"Mock battle, later afternoon against a senior, you know…"

After some time of thinking, Russell recalled that Disciplinary Committee Members have to train every weekend afternoon.

"Hmm… do you know your opponent's profession?" he asked, so he could come up with something.

"High Pugilist."

'High Pugilist… that's someone who's specialized with melee brawl, as well as kicks…'

"What about his or her rank?" Russell asked, to determine if there was a chance of winning, though his younger sister is a Magic Swordsman, if the High Pugilist came too close to the point where she cannot swing her sword, it would be troublesome.

"He's D rank"

Freya said, causing Russell to frown slightly, but she didn't catch his expression as her face was looking on the floor while her expression seemed dejected.

'My younger sister is E rank right now… three ranks down compared to her opponent...'

After some time, Russell voiced his true opinions without sugarcoating his words for his younger sister.

"If he is 3 ranks above you, you will not win because of the difference in stats gap, it would be somehow fine if he is two ranks above as experience can be an alternative, but he is a senior, so he probably has experience in mock battles, too."

"What should I do then, Oppa?" Freya, who listened to her older brother's words felt gloomy.

'What should you do? Hmm… how about I let her lose?'

Although Freya was under some training with their parents, she didn't experience losing before...and not losing could stagnate the growth of someone, especially in the mental aspect.

Russell ruminated on how he should respond, then he spoke…

"Just do what you are good at, and accept it whether you win or lose."

Freya stared silently at his older brother, sitting beside her, as she absorbed what he said, and contemplated over it for some time before saying…

"Okay, Oppa…"

'It feels like some sh*t is going on, I guess I'll watch them later.'

Russell recalled the difference in rank which is unreasonable to some extent.

Then, he glanced at his younger sister then spoke with an inquisitive tone.

"Freya, can you tell me all the details about the mock battle?"

…

Rigel Building Exclusive Training Grounds

Aside from the Personal Training Ground that each A-1 student from Rigel Building of first-years, as well as the other years in their corresponding dormitory building, 'exclusive training grounds' was meant to develop interactions and develop social connections between A-1 students.

...

A bunch of students was sparring, sizing up each other's combat prowess. From strangers to at least acquaintances because of the Banquet of Obelisk… or a certain blonde Princess with green eyes.

'So, this is what you were talking about… Alexander.'

Han Jiho thought as he was watching a woman whose long blonde hair was tied, with green eyes sparring against another woman with also blonde hair but had pig-tail style and sapphire-like eyes.

Then on the other side, there was a man with lofty stature, blonde hair, and deep blue eyes, sparring against a redhead woman whose hair was bob-style and has ruby-like eyes.

'Elizabeth, Rumia… Leon, and Anya? If I remember right…'

Being bad at remembering names, Han Jiho tried his best to remember those he interacted with, then he took a glance at another side of the 'Exclusive Training Grounds' where a woman was sitting cross-legged while her hands touched her knees, seemingly in thought as her eyes were close.

'Samantha…'

Han Jiho thought, and he felt an inexplicable sense of coldness with a such woman.

'She's strong… probably stronger than everyone here I won't probably win if I clash swords with her right now.'

He instinctively felt the atmosphere around Samantha Hall, the daughter of the number 1 rank player in the human domain.

After some time, he stood up from the bench where he was sitting, then proceed to swing his sword at a nearby training dummy.

…

Obelisk Institute of the Origin, Research Center

A man still in a laboratory coat sat on a chair inside his personal office where a table with stacks of paper with a nameplate where the name: Emmanuel Lyncoster was written alongside with his rank as a player.

Emmanuel Lyncoster was holding a piece of paper that just came from the Obelisk Organization Headquarters.

It was about the report about the response of the Elven country called the Elnira Kingdom, and Dwarven country called the Vulcan Kingdom regarding the two 'World announcements' last Thursday.

He read the contents of the report; the Vulcan Kingdom does not have any idea.

While he kept reading, Emmanuel felt an inexplicable sense of apprehension.

He muttered the words on the report to check if he read it right at first glance.

"After the 'world announcements', one of the attendants of the Queen of Elnira, attempted to mutter something in front of the Queen, but suddenly died on the spot.

Cause of death: Unknown"