The ‘red moonlight’ was far more real than I had realized, and possessed an unsettling power.
A quality that made me lose my sense of self.
It’s more than just the state of [insanity] granted by the Red Moon.
‘…Damn. My consciousness is gradually blurring. I’ll have to be careful, even if I fulfill the conditions to clear it.”
I had already fulfilled the conditions to clear the trial a long time ago.
But there’s a difference between clearing an ordeal with a few clicks in a game and facing it head-on.
My body is being bathed in an ego-devouring red light. Even in the midst of it all, I kept repeating to myself.
‘In order to successfully clear this place [the Trial of Moonlight], two conditions are necessary.’
The first is at least one [Genius] and at least one [Prodigy] trait.
This is virtually meaningless at the point where you have two Genius traits. Isn’t Nox already a fraudulent character from the start?…for a limited time, of course.
The second is a Magic stat of 10 and a Will stat of 11 or higher.
A faint smile crosses my lips as I recall the stat window I checked in the dormitory earlier.
[Basic Info].
Name: Nox Von Reinhafer
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Race: Human
Primary Element: Darkness
Achievements: None
[Traits].
Positives: [Genius with Swords and Martial Arts] / [Genius with Mana Sensitivity] / [Insightful] / [Master of Memorization] / [Steel Mentality] / [Master of Acting]]
Neutral: [Manifestation of Darkness]
Negative: [Time Limit] / [Weakling] / [Crippling Chill] / [Possession]
[Stats].
Physique: 6.2 (+1)
MP: 9.2(+1)
Luck: 10
Willpower: 11.3
Charm: 26.2
[Hidden Stats]
Agility (uncivilized): 7
[Skills] – Active Skills: Time of Genius / [Shadow Family Intermediate Swordsmanship] / [Southern Swordsmanship] / [Ignite] / [Transmute]]
*The player’s remaining lifespan is 142 days based on the [Time Limit] trait.
I can’t say I’m itemized, but my magic and will stats already meet the requirements.
In addition, my other stats have increased slightly.
I’ve grown a bit taller and my shoulders are a bit broader, so my appearance has increased by 0.2.
This was a positive thing, as it meant that I would be less and less restricted in my use of [Supreme Ruler’s Awe] in the future.
Regardless, there was a reason for these requirements.
[Trial of the Moonlight].
To take it, you need to be able to resist insanity.
It also requires genius talent and exceptional stats.
Furthermore, the only time you can join Lunatic is after the first main episode, the Entrance Exam, but before Orientation. It’s only halfway between the two events.
In many ways, joining a villainous group is more demanding and difficult.
Of course, it’s different for characters who have already joined Lunatic.
Even if they don’t have the Genius trait like the player, they’re still a part of the group and are free to act as such.
The only restriction is if the player joins the villainous group.
The reason for the restriction…… is that the main storyline would be ruined if the protagonist joined the villainous group.
This makes it almost impossible to join the organization.
‘I didn’t think it was possible at first either.’
But then I stumbled upon the Trial of the Moonlight, and after hundreds of attempts, I was able to join the Lunatics.
Why, if you don’t do it, you want to do it more.
Plus, I had seen a fan-made version of a famous manga where the main character joined the enemy group and beat up their allies, and it was pretty funny.
It really made me think, “What if the main character was the villain?”
That was on my 27th try.
The one where I had the most successful boss kills and completed Part 1. …The only problem is that the boss I killed there was Nox?
I killed myself.
This is dark comedy at its finest.
I shook off my newfound thoughts and drew my sword, pointing it forward.
It wasn’t as if I hadn’t been in danger of dying once or twice before…….
I shouldn’t be surprised, so let’s draw my weapon first.
Closing my eyes, I begin to slowly push the red moonlight out of my body. You steady your breathing, familiarizing yourself with the exact path the energy will take.
‘Stay calm, recognize the mana circuit and learn the path it takes. It’s the fastest way to pass this test.’
Trial of Moonlight.
Here, prolonged exposure to the red moon causes one change in the player’s body.
Key points on the body where the magic works begin to pulsate rapidly, and the flow itself becomes unstable.
Once that happens, it cannot be touched.
The player’s character is gradually consumed by the Red Moon.
They lose their sanity and life force as they are consumed by the magic…….
Eventually, you’ll be decapitated by a hulking executioner standing next to Luna, wielding a clunky unworldly sword.
It was quite a creepy scene in the game.
Anyway, I had a bad ending in mind, and I had to make the best of it. I had all the requirements, so it shouldn’t be a big deal, but….
‘Nothing good can come of a distraction.’
I tighten my grip on the sword.
The Sword of the First Lord. The Stormbringer emits a black light.
From its lofty form comes a small whine of wind.
Krrr….
(keuleuleu….)
With that, the dark shadows of the demons began to emerge from the forest.
Soon the shadows were as red as the moonlight, and then they were fully revealed. Their appearance was grotesque.
A lion’s face in a cat’s body.
One with the talons of an eagle and the eyes of an owl…….
I’m not even sure if this is a game for 15 year olds.
Anyway. I began to follow the movements of the demons through my blurry vision, my pupils not working properly.
They weren’t very threatening, as their bodies were strangely off-balance.
Some sort of chimera, I suppose.
CRACK!
(keuleung!)
I slashed at the first chimera that lunged at me.
It had eagle wings, and its face was splattered with red liquid as blood gushed into the air.
In that moment, for some reason, my heart was beating like crazy.
Something must have gone wrong with the circuitry, causing it to become constrained.
Even in the game, it took me a while to resist the anomaly.
Perhaps it’s best to stay in this state for a while longer.
Bam!
(seogeog!)
I once again began to slash at the myriad of chimeras rushing at me.
A tangled mess of blood and flesh littered the floor.
And yet, I never left the altar.
For that was the point of the trial.
[Trial of the Moonlight].
It wasn’t an easy quest that cleared simply by meeting the required stats.
You have to fulfill all the conditions perfectly, and the longer you can hold out, the greater the reward.
…The last one is the most important to note.
The longer you hold out, the better.
‘Plus, every time I kill a demon.’
[You have killed a Chimera. Your life is increased by 4 hours].
My lifespan increases even more.
The corner of my mouth turns up in a sneer.
Isn’t this what raw food is all about? {1}
That’s a lot of life per animal for the difficulty level…?
I adjust my sword and grip it.
I’m going to kill every single chimera here. And I’ll get the best reward, at least a week of life!
Exhaling, I turned to the group of Chimeras in front of me.
“Don’t stagger, just charge at me all at once.”
[Activates the Active Skill ‘Hour of Genius’].
If I had one personal wish here…
I’d like all of the Chimeras to die within the next five minutes.
Because I’m pretty much invincible for at least five minutes.
* * *
Watching Nox’s battle, Luna felt herself gradually sinking deeper into thought. In fact, at first she thought he would give up here.
‘Either that, or he’ll lose it right there at the first sign of moonlight.’
But it was neither.
Nox von Reinhafer. He didn’t mind being called the scoundrel of the family, but he was surprisingly resistant to the light of the red moon.
Many more of his fellow Lunatics could not withstand it. ….
For a boy who is only 15 years old. To be honest, I was a little surprised.
But Luna believed what she saw, and she was quick to be convinced.
The image of a white-haired boy mercilessly slaughtering a chimera before her eyes was not an illusion, but the truth.
Thus, Luna had already made her decision.
“I think we should recognize him as a member of the Lunatics.”
“You… have… the… ability… to… do that…….”
Her henchman, Duff, said.
He stood nearly two meters tall, with coppery skin and a scar that ran down the center of his face.
He was characterized by his stuttering speech; he was a man who always talked too much, but who Luna trusted for his skill.
“This is the end of the trial. Get off the altar!”
Luna shouted, determined. But the sound of scythes, flesh-cutting, and landing continued to ring in her ears.
The next thing she knew, something was wrong.
‘No way… Did he fall into madness in the meantime!’
Her panicked gaze snapped to Nox.
Snow-white hair and lavender eyes. A well-balanced swordsman’s body with glazed shoulders.
Luna is instantly relieved.
‘He hasn’t gone mad yet.’
She’d seen countless others go mad in the red moonlight.
So, what is Nox’s condition now?
‘He’s surprisingly sane. He hasn’t lost his mind… If that’s the case, why does he continue to fight after I allowed him to join?’
Luna’s eyes narrowed in thought.
No?
There was no doubt.
Nox von Reinhafer was gritting his teeth and slashing at the chimera to prove to himself that he could certainly withstand the red moonlight.
A true demonstration of knighthood.
Luna couldn’t help but bite her lip.
Suddenly, her gaze traveled to Nox’s sword.
Nox’s sword.
It undoubtedly belonged to the first Lord of Reinhafer.
Theo’s most prized possession. But it was also a sword not for the faint of heart.
‘Stormbringer… you handed the family heirloom to the youngest of the family?’
It must have been Theo’s decision to give the Stormbringer to Nox.
That leaves only one conclusion.
‘Theo has recognized the talent of his youngest son, Nox von Reinhafer… Interesting boy.’
As she said this, Luna’s lips curled up slightly in a cold expression.
It was a rare sight to see her smile, as she rarely showed any expression.
But this time, she could see it clearly.
It was because Nox intrigued her.
Nox was pushing his sword to its limits against an enemy. His mouth was bleeding, and he was pushing his sword beyond its limits.
She couldn’t believe it.
How many times had she seen someone with that kind of venom, even in the slums where she grew up?
This was not the aura of a rich man’s youngest son.
‘It’s a good tool, if you raise it right.’
Luna nodded and instructed.
“Duff. If he’s in any danger, get him out of there.”
With that, she crossed her arms and continued to stand and watch Nox fight.
To see how long he would fight.
…About half an hour passed.
To everyone’s surprise, Nox had killed all the chimeras in front of him, and he walked off the altar, turning to Luna.
“Is the trial complete?”
As he spoke, Nox was in full bloom.
His bleached gray hair was stained red with the blood of the demons, and his pure white skin was streaked with blood.
Nevertheless, he casually wiped the blood off his sword.
{1} : double entrendre with “Could this really be eating me?”
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