The Survival of an Inferior

Rena and I walk up to the space illuminated by dim light. Hand in hand, Rena guides me step by step and adjusts my posture. 

"Oh, you are a natural. Not bad." Rena says. 

"It's thanks to your guidance." 

Both of our reaction times might be on par. When I almost step on her feet, she quickly moves away and I instantly regain my posture. 

I start to get the hang of it and we slide zigzag around. 

"I'm curious," Rena says "You've attracted unnecessary attention by taking the credit and joining the BOV. It contradicts your field of work. Why?" 

...

The honest answer? It's to prepare myself for going against Prince Armin. I need Melissa who loathes injustice and evil, I also need a technique from the BOV library but it can only be accessed by a Captain or an Officer with a high contribution, and lastly, I need an alibi for "snooping around". 

Nonetheless, it is purposeless for Rena to know. 

"I'm worried about you," I say. 

Rena raises her brows. 

"I know you originate from Elvis. However, why did you deliberately expose your identity to stop a threat? The perpetrator will target you and I want to help you." I say. 

...

Rena chuckles at my "foolishness". 

Indeed, I am anxious. I no longer control Rena so I am not confident if she can survive. She is key in most of my strategies. 

Rena holds my hand firmly. I don't understand how she can be so imperturbable to a stranger she just met. 

I pull up her status screen.

---------------------------------

Rena Altos 

Age: 21 

Level: 142

Title: The Chosen One

Class: Aura Knight

Hp: 500000/500000

Mana:50000

Atk: 273(383)

Def: 211(291)

Dex: 288

Mag:201

Luck:8

Skills:

[Active]

-Moonlight Swordsmanship(lvl max)

-Cross Dimension Swordsmanship(lvl 2)

-Call of a Hero(lvl max)

-Zero Friction(lvl max)

-Adrenaline Frenzy 

[Passive]

-Frugal Embodiment 

-Iron Will 

Blessings obtained: 

-Gate Keeper 

-Ghoul

(Samuel)Favourability: 29 

(Arsto)Favourability: 72

Altos Bloodline awakened

--------------------------------- 

Not a bad growth. Gatekeeper and Ghoul blessings are one of the best early-game buffs.

I glance at her hand, there is a ring on her index finger. 

--------------------------------- 

Ring of Spirits (Legendary)

Type: Ring 

Durability: 899/1000 

+110 Atk 

+80 Def 

A ring worn by spirits of an ancient civilisation. 

---------------------------------

Rings of Spirits... 

It's a mediocre early-game item found in the Dungeon of Forgotten Land. There, the Ghoul of Blessing and Severing Lance can be obtained, a special weapon incredibly effective against the undead but useless otherwise. 

"What's wrong?" Rena says when I'm lost in thoughts. 

"Nothing."

I stare at Rena eye to eye. Why does she have such a high favourability of my current persona? It's a complete turn from when I was Samuel. 

She glances away. "Thank you for your concern. But...there is no need to get into unnecessary danger."

Suddenly a foul smell comes from the second level. The Prince turns around and enters the door on the platform. Several other knights follow him. 

Wait...

!!

I look at Rena, her eyes staring straight in the direction of the smell. 

"Rena, you-"

She smiles. "Sometimes, a woman can protect a man. I don't want someone of my type to die because of me."

Her type? What? Wait, no, that's not the point. 

I grab her arms. "Rena!"

She jerks at my sudden outburst.

"Rena...you...why are you doing this to yourself?" 

...

"Someone has to take the hit." She says with a weak and soft tone. 

"..."

I can see the desolation in her eyes. 

"With this, they will focus on me. Soon they will forget about you too. You don't need to help me. I can do this." 

Rena pulls her hand away. 

"It was nice to meet you." She says and turns to leave. 

"AHHHHHH!!!" A shriek rings from the second level. The pungent foul smell grows stronger. Many nobles stand up to check the commotion, pinching their nose. 

This smell...it's familiar. It's the smell of death. Corpses. 

The servants keep the gifts to Prince Armin in a room. Among the many gift boxes, inside some are "heads" of corrupted power figures. 

A maid runs out of the room as Prince Armin checks the situation. He furrows his brow, not disgusted but annoyed. He clenches his fist and clicks his tongue. 

"We apologize for the foul commotion but we will have to cut this banquet short. Please leave through the exit to your left." a knight says to the nobles. 

"What?"

"What's that smell?" 

"A terrorist attack?" 

Thunderstorms of gossip shoot. 

...

"Hah...fuck." I mumble. 

================================ 

A young woman with silver hair and double braids down her shoulder stares up at the floating ocean in awe. It causes her yellow hood to slip back, revealing the girl to be Lena(Recap: She is the High Mage from Volume 1).

Two hooded figures appear behind Lena. They stand under the shade of jagged uneven rocky terrain. 

"Is this your first time here?" one of the hooded dark blue figures asks Lena. 

Lena nods. 

Ever since Samuel faked his death, Lena has become less talkative. She suffers from the immense guilt of leaving Samuel behind despite it being merely her survival instinct. 

Both figures pull back their hood to reveal two older mature women. One with crimson eyes and blonde hair in a ponytail, the other lady has similar features to Lena. 

It is Maile and Lena's mother, Lia. 

(Recap: Maile is the mother of Samuel in this world.)

"I never thought the Fury Mage with a horrible temper and pride will ask me for help," Lia says to Maile. 

"My, please let the past be past." Maile glance at Lia with an intimidating smile. 

Lia looks away. "Sure sure..."

Lena looks back to her mother and Maile. "Is young master Samuel... alive?" She asks. 

Maile nods. "He most likely took refuge at Rodgof." 

A little light returns to Lena's consciousness. 

Maile and Lia take the lead and climb down the mountain. Lena follows.  From the darkness behind Lena, many people wearing yellow robe appears. They are members and followers of Lena's household. 

With the arrival and collision of many parties in Rodgof, an explosion of onslaught and events concentrates on the tiny kingdom. Rena's action at the banquet will spark a revolutionary civil war amid the demon's threat. 

This is only the start.