My name is Adler Dietrich, and this is my second life.
I believe I'd inherited the memories of a 35 years old Malaysian man which ended in the year 2025.
I insisted that I believe it is so, since my previous faith doesn't entertain notions of reincarnation.
Until such personal views evaporate eventually, my easiest mental workaround would be to believe I inherited the memories of said man instead.
The first time I woke up here as Adler, we were 10 years old.
We woke up in our bed late afternoon. My head was bandaged and my left eye swollen. It seems we had a hard tumble from our horse.
It seems I got involved with a monster attack during my first hunting trip with my brothers.
It was supposed to be a leisurely trapping trip aimed to catch rabbits and an occasional fox.
We were on our trotting horse to reach another trap when a wounded wolf leapt out and startled my horse which threw me off its saddle.
I fainted when I fell head first onto the ground.
That wolf was dispatched swiftly by my brothers and the hunters chasing it.
It took a few days for the new reality to set in, and a week to get myself up to date on my new life. A head injury and an extra 35 years of life experiences does not mix well.
My new life is quite different from the old memories.
Here, I'm a 10 years old third son of Noble in an early 18th century European-like nation, with magic.
Back then, I was a father of three children, who worked a blue-collar job alongside my wife of 10 years. I supposed we were a tight happy family. I do feel some pain for leaving them on behalf of my previous self.
It took time for me to realise that this new world of mine is an actualization of a MMORPG that I'd played during my youth. It was part of a large RPG franchise, one which I've played extensively.
That realization actually came with a boon of sorts.
I could use a nebulous [Inspect] skill, where extra information could be glanced on any item I interacted with.
No game-like display would appear when used, but a subtle insight is imprinted within my consciousness.
This skill grows with use and compounded with familiarity.
Best of all, I could use it on my own person.
This could be the start of a game-breaking exploit in real life.
Back in the old world, we believe that if magic exists, healing magic should too.
In this new world, it does and more. Despite the gap in medical advances between worlds, common healing magic and magical R fills up much of said gaps.
By having intimate knowledge of my body, and having healing magic as a trainable skill; my growth should be accelerated and enhanced significantly by comparison.
If I'm tired from working out hard?
Healing magic heals and repairs the body, and done right, it has a controlled hypertrophy effect in enhancing the body better.
If I lack the mana and magic control to do so?
Utilizing Healing magic upon myself also counts as magic training, while it enhances my mana storage and control.
It's a win-win situation for me. Compound Interest for the Win!
I slowly trained and grew from then on, around our estate and lands, until I was 15 years old.
As part of Nobility, we are entitled to join the Royal Academy then to learn the ropes in administration and battling both beast and men.
I wouldn't wish to exaggerate, but I believe I'm stronger than the average new students at the Academy.
And I wasn't disappointed when I was acknowledged as a Level 16 amongst the Level 5s and 6s.
Then… She appears. She had done the impossible. Level 99!
Adler met Eumiella that evening in the corridor towards the dorms.
She was heading to her room after the audience at the Royal Palace.
The meeting with the Queen was mentally exhausting for Eumiella due to that unexpected offer by Her Majesty.
"So how goes the Royal Audience, Eumiella-san?" asked her friend as he greeted her.
"I hoped His Majesty didn't force you into something dangerous like a war conscription, or subjugating the Demon King.
Well, He probably insisted since you're His strongest subject currently alive" he deadpanned.
Eumiella slightly flinched at Adler's statement, something Adler realised as a confirmation.
"Did He conscripted Eumiella-san to fight a war?" A second passed by without answer.
Trying his luck, he asked his second question.
"No. No. His Majesty requested you to subjugate a demon king instead, isn't He?"
Eumiella's slight agreeing nod just adds fuel to the fire.
"Good God, why would He do that?!
That's pretty harsh don't you think?
I mean you are Level 99, but you're just still a student!"
Eumiella looked at him. Her gaze is a mixture of stoicism, tiredness, annoyance, and resolve.
"Adler-san. Thank You. Thank You for caring about me"
Her laconic gratitude was answered by "No worries, Eumiella-san. It's the least I'd do as a friend"
Eumiella continues "Don't worry too much, Adler-san.
Although our Royal family would want me to keep this secret, I'll tell you since you'd probably anticipated this event.
Actually, the King wishes me to serve our kingdom as Her Shield, which is proper and Their Majesties also uncovered when the Demon King shall rise once more.
The Demon King shall target our monarch and nation due to their Heroic bloodline, whose ancestor sealed the Demon King and defeated its army.
Pretty much our game knowledge.
…
The time and location of the resurrection had been determined.
We have two years to train for the subjugation.
The term [We] here refers to the Subjugation Squad which shall attack the Demon King separately as Special Task force.
The kingdom would by then have prepared a dedicated defensive army standing firm for battling the oncoming Demon Horde.
Naturally as Gamers, you could guess who are the members of the Squad, can't you?"
Within a few beats, Adler answers "You don't say. Let me guess…
The Second Prince, His Magic Man, His Muscle-brain,
Several high ranked Royal Knights,
Miss Enlyght the Light Mage,
And finally, You, Eumiella-san the Ultimate Level 99 Weapon? Yes?"
"If you left out the knights from your list, you had guessed right, Adler-san.
It's a troubling set of individuals, which I can see" said Eumiella, confirming Adler's guess on the matter.
"Adler-san. I'm feeling tired already, and I need to head back to my room.
I do need to tell you something before that.
Starting tomorrow, everything should be hectic for me.
Every noble house will be trying to befriend me and gain my power.
I hoped you might help me or something" as she turned towards the girls' dorm.
"Don't you worry, Eumiella-san.
I might not be able to do much, but I'll try to help you.
Knowing human nature, this is going to sucks anyways" answered her friend, before he too walked back to the boy's dorm.
The floodgate of offers fortunately only started coming two days later, as lavish gifts took time to be prepared.
The day after her return met Eumiella with either apprehension or awe from the student body.
The presence of Adler with Eumiella was confusing at first to many;
But it actually helps build some rapport for her with the other students, especially when Adler managed to introduce the Lloyd siblings to her.
The day after that is when some pandemonium began, as several students from prominent Houses competitively tried meeting Eumiella for various reasons.
The second Prince trio met her first for a half-hearted apology which tricks none of the spectators of their true sincerity. Somehow, Adler's presence adds some urgency to them leaving her.
Much of the students she met during class and time in-between responded to her cordially. These students are often from the lower ranked Houses which often stayed neutral in the Royal Court.
Some of the Royalist Houses ended up bearing some common gifts for acknowledging her (minor) promotion to be the Kingdom's [Shield, as requested by their respective families.
The gift floodgate finally opened when the first of many Radicalist families came bearing large lavish gifts and offers to entice her in joining them and their faction.
Some gifts were tame yet expensive gifts suitable for many noble ladies such as jewellery and dresses in all form and sort.
Much more of them were invitations for luncheon and tea both within and without the Academy grounds.
Their young men, heir or otherwise, sought a different approach.
Along with the extravagant gifts were (mostly clumsy) flirting attempts and dates invitations.
The less self-aware ones even boast around to prove their worthiness in being her future better half.
It had been a week since Eumiella had her audience with the King.
She knew that the fight for her attention would be fierce, but sometimes she felt she underestimated how annoying things would get.
Adler and the Lloyd siblings help to integrate her better with their fellow students by just mingling around her and disproves her dark reputation, just a bit at a time.
But any positive gossip about her is still overwhelmed by her Black Hole incident, which is very much fresh within every students' memories.
But… The Radicalists are another kind of breed.
That (unexpected) show of force was the miracle they sought for their faction.
She, the level 99 girl, must be befriended, enticed, and made to join them at any cost.
And this mind-set leads to numerous mentally frustrating encounters, such as right now.
"…That way, we can colonize the neighbouring countries and rule over them!
As I've explained, all you have to do is wipe out the military forces of our opponents!
Rest assured, you can leave the ensuing political matters to me! Your future Husband!
And finally, we shall rule over this whole continent. Would not that ambition be wonderful?!" as the proud bespectacled young man winded down in front of Eumiella.
"You know. It's not a bad deal for you.
A black-haired girl like you has the great privilege of becoming my wife.
And I shall shower you with all the beautiful dresses and stunning jewels that you could ever want" he added with a haughty tone, unaware of how despicable he sounded.
"Forgive me, but I must refuse such an offer" countered Eumiella with the most bored monotone she could.
"I would prefer my partner to be someone stronger than I am" she answers in order to deflate him. It was in fact quite effective so far.
Unfortunately, not to this young man.
"Hmmph.
In this day and age, one cannot simply depend on sheer strength alone.
What's important is intelligence to leverage one's capability, and leadership!
That is precisely my department. Which I excel at!" his counter to Eumiella's decline of his initial proposition.
"That's true.
Then, in that case, I shall refrain from acts of violence such as engaging hostile armies in battles, or subduing mutinous elements thereafter" Eumiella starts her verbal maneuvers.
"Wait!
People like you who's only worth lies in combat should listen to talented beings such as I without question!
How could we achieve anything if you won't follow my lead?" he ejaculated back as his previous point was reversed onto him.
"You professed to be talented, and yet, why aren't you the top student of your year then?" she asked in a subtle goading.
"No. A person's talent isn't determined simply by mere test scores…" his confidence weavers slightly.
"Previously, you'd spoken of reigning over the whole continent.
But who shall actually govern it?" preparing her verbal trap, Eumiella questions him.
"Why?
I shall be the one, of course.
I have full confidence in my ability to govern it all" he proudly retorted.
"Ability to govern?
Do you mean the governance of the entire continent?" she securely tighten her trap upon the fool.
"Indeed. Truly, with you as my wife, this won't be a fleeting dream. It shall be the future! Our future!" he boasts for his flimsy future
"Wouldn't assuming the governance of the entire continent entails overthrowing the current Royal Family which preside over this Kingdom? Doing that should be your very first military action?"
"Ehh…?" he stumbled when hit by the sudden implications.
"In other words,
You are suggesting High Treasonous Acts against the Royal Varschine Family, are you not?" as Eumiella tightens her verbal grip.
"N-No. No…?" he tried denying the unexpected misstep he made.
"According to the laws of the Kingdom.
Your voicing of these plans are considered Sedation at least, which carries a long prison sentence.
Which brings us to High Treason when it is executed, whose sole penalty is Death by the choice execution method of His Majesty the King.I shall pretend I never heard any of your preposterous plans.
However, there may be some people who overheard such… criminal thoughts.
So I think it is BEST you abstained from coming into contact with me.
There is always a chance you could be falsely accused or suspected just because you're with me, you know?" Eumiella triumphantly outplayed his words and intentions, and successfully freed herself from this ponce.
Hopefully others won't repeat such blunder towards her, or use similar lines and thoughts.
"Umm… Tch!
D-don't you dare breathe a single word of this to anyone! We never met! OK!" he ran off in false bravado amidst all who watched the encounter because of his loud prideful voice traveled far.
"Eumiella-san…
Should I be amazed that he actually boasts like that in front of so many witnesses here?
Even when we are right beside you?" asked Adler, stunned at such brazen acts.
He and some friends were walking alongside Eumiella towards the cafeteria for lunch, when she was accosted by that prideful windbag for a private meeting.
A meeting that was done foolishly too close to the main corridor full of students, all eager audience to the debacle.
The trip towards lunch proceed ahead in silence as no one wished to attempt seeking her as a repeat of such a spectacle itself was embarrassing.
Eumiella wished she could have peace for the day.
So far, the magic classes were surprisingly challenging for her in unexpected ways, such as the challenge in learning another element which eluded her as if Darkness is the only one she could wield.
She took to the Administrative classes like a duck takes to water since her previous life as an adult probably had her studied similar subjects.
The Swordsmanship class was unique since Adler is still the only student brave enough to spar with her. He also became the teacher's personal aide in training her the usual stances and common sword techniques.
But Eumiella didn't get this particular wish of hers today.
Despite her best effort, the one person she desired to evade had found her.
She hoped Her Majesty could forgive her, but her pursuer had indeed hunted down and found her.
With a slightly smug grin and long blond hair, the famed sparkling Ojou-sama of the Academy greets Eumiella cheerily.
Young Lady Eleonora Hillrose had found her target, as her Papa asked her to find: the famous Level 99 holder, Miss Eumiella Dolkness!
[To be Continue]
It's another chapter done. What will happen next? Stay tuned.
To the readers, have fun and enjoy reading the world.
To the writers, have fun and enjoy creating the world.