Chapter 78
Where is this?
And why am I lying here in this unfamiliar place?
“…….”
Lloyd blinked.
How long had he kept his eyes closed?
His eyelids felt dry.
His neck and back ached.
He thought to himself.
‘Man, it’d be nice if I could just get reborn into a brand-new body. If I could just pop into some ultra-privileged, diamond-spoon physique, that’d be awesome.’
Of course, that wasn’t the case.
Lloyd knew that better than anyone.
As soon as he opened his eyes, a series of messages flooded his vision.
Reading through them, he was able to piece together what had happened to him.
[Through sacrifice, courage, and leadership, you have saved countless people from disaster. The citizens of the trade city Cremo are deeply moved by your noble deeds.]
[As a special bonus for this significant social achievement, a large amount of RP has been awarded.]
[You have obtained 1,000 RP.]
[Current RP: 1,046]
‘What? Sacrifice and courage? Leadership? Saving people from disaster? Ha.’
Lloyd let out a hollow chuckle as he read the messages.
Leadership?
Courage and sacrifice?
Not his thing.
He wasn’t interested, not even if someone begged him.
And yet, here he was, supposedly guilty of such noble acts.
The messages weren’t done yet.
[The citizens of the trade city are hailing you as the ‘Guardian of Cremo.’]
[Your outstanding courage, resourcefulness, and self-sacrifice have deeply moved many people.]
[This is a trade city. Numerous merchants and visitors will hear of your achievements through the citizens, spreading admiration for you.]
[Your heroic tale will travel across the kingdom, passed along by merchants’ word of mouth.]
[Inspired by your deeds, many artists will create various works based on your story.]
[Songs, plays, and artworks depicting your achievements will become widespread trends for a time.]
[You have become a national celebrity.]
[Your name and accomplishments will be briefly recorded in the kingdom’s historical records.]
[As a special bonus for increased social fame, additional RP has been awarded.]
[You have obtained 500 RP.]
[Current RP: 1,546]
‘Whoa.’
Jackpot.
He barely had time to process it all as message after message flooded in.
At the same time, a realization struck him.
‘I took down Gigatitan.’
A monster he hadn’t even dared to challenge.
A creature that seemed impossible to defeat.
He had planned to just lay low while the beast rampaged.
And yet, somehow, he had defeated it.
It didn’t feel real.
But it had to be true.
A memory flashed through his mind—the last thing he saw before blacking out.
Gigatitan.
Exploiting its weak points.
Preparing to use blasting techniques.
Then, a sudden barrage of falling rubble.
‘And then I got hit in the head.’
Even now, he could vividly recall the sensation.
Something had struck his head—hard.
Everything had slowed down in that moment.
He had blacked out.
No, lost consciousness.
And in that final moment…
‘I used blasting. In the most reckless way possible.’
2:3.
The ideal rotation ratio for mana circles used in blasting techniques.
As he lost consciousness, that ratio had been the only thing he obsessively repeated in his mind.
Which led to him doing something insane.
‘I didn’t protect my heart.’
He had redirected every mana circle, even the ones meant for defense, into the blasting technique.
All three circles had collided in a massive detonation.
The overwhelming shockwave that tore through his body—that was his last memory.
‘But I survived.’
He wasn’t dead.
He was alive and well.
His heart was still beating.
No, if anything, he felt stronger than before.
But instead of feeling bewildered or panicked, Lloyd simply examined the messages that had been lingering before his eyes.
They were kind enough to explain the situation to him.
‘A Mana Heart skill awakened?’
His eyebrow twitched.
Mana Heart.
Something he never had.
No, something he thought he’d never have.
‘It takes way too long to train. Even at the fastest pace, it takes a minimum of five years. That’s why I gave up on it completely.’
That was the truth.
It required relentless and consistent training.
So, he had abandoned it.
Spending that time on construction work seemed like a far better investment.
‘And I had already found a substitute in mana circles.’
Thanks to that, he had gained strength comparable to most knights.
Plus, he had Javier by his side.
It wasn’t like he was going to die from some random stray sword strike.
He had made peace with it.
Decided that this was enough.
‘And now, I suddenly have a Mana Heart.’
It felt like receiving an unexpected gift.
Like opening a surprise present.
Ding.
[Accessing skill information.]
[Skill Name: Mana Heart]
[Stage: Mana User Lv. 1]
[Through an artificial technique, high-density mana is stored inside the heart. The stored mana can be freely extracted and used. This significantly enhances physical abilities, and as the level increases, the amount and efficiency of stored mana improve.]
[Physical Ability Enhancement: 150%]
[RP required for next level-up: 50]
[Current RP: 1,546]
‘Whoa. This is insane.’
Lloyd clicked his tongue in amazement.
A fully developed Mana Heart.
Something he had secretly wanted but given up on because it took too much time and effort.
Now, it had simply materialized as a skill.
He could even feel a change in his heartbeat.
Thump. Thump.
Every time his heart beat, he could feel the condensed mana within it.
It was about the size of a plum.
But the power it held felt like a four-cylinder engine.
It was like having an entire engine installed inside his chest, pulsing with energy.
And the best part?
That power felt completely natural, as if it had always been part of him.
If he wanted, he felt like he could freely send mana flowing through his arms and legs.
‘I… I really became a Mana User.’
Mana User—the threshold that separated ordinary people from those who wielded mana.
And if he combined that with his Triple Circle?
He might even surpass a mid-level Sword Expert in strength.
If things went well, he might barely be able to hold his own against a high-level Expert Knight.
And yet, the gifts didn’t end there.
No, the real prize was still waiting.
Ding.
[Your Mana Heart was not formed through traditional training but was instead created through the shock of blasting.]
[This unique formation history has granted your Mana Heart a special trait.]
[A new skill option has been unlocked.]
[Skill-Specific Option ①: Shock Nullification – Your Mana Heart can naturally cancel out the impact generated between Mana Circles. As a result, you take no damage from blasting. This option significantly helps overcome the restriction of having to allocate a circle for heart protection during blasting.]
‘What the hell…’
His eyes widened as he read.
He swallowed dryly.
An absolutely broken ability had been added.
Lloyd’s mind raced.
‘Let’s break this down. So, my Mana Heart has become a skill, meaning I can invest RP to push myself beyond a Sword Expert. On top of that, I can gain useful skill options. And now, I’ve got this ridiculous ability that makes me immune to the impact of blasting?’
Simply put, jackpot.
No, a colossal jackpot.
This meant that he no longer needed to protect his heart while using blasting.
In other words, he could now freely execute the Triple Circle Collision he had used against Gigatitan.
‘That must’ve been what took Gigatitan down—the triple collision blasting. If that’s the case, then the power of blasting must increase exponentially with the number of collisions… If that’s true, then the destructive potential could be…’
Lloyd became completely absorbed in his calculations.
And then—
More messages flooded his vision.
Beyond them, a familiar face quietly emerged.
And with a deadpan expression, he spoke.
“You actually survived.”
“…….”
It was Javier.
With his usual indifferent gaze.
His ever-present nonchalant expression.
And, as always, his cold, detached voice.
He asked.
“Are you planning to fall into another coma anytime soon?”
“…Are you hoping I will?”
“Hmm, if I were to be completely honest—”
Javier tilted his head slightly, deep in thought.
“I think so.”
“…….”
“It was quite comfortable while you were unconscious.”
“Comfortable?”
“Yes.”
Javier continued, perfectly composed.
“All I had to do was stand by your bedside while you slept. I didn’t have to blast through the ground or break rocks. I didn’t have to drive stakes into the ground with a hammer. I didn’t even have to endure the endless, soul-crushing labor of digging.”
“Hah. So, you were just chilling?”
“That is a very accurate summary.”
“So now that I’m awake, you’re disappointed?”
“Yes.”
“…Wow. You didn’t even try to deny it.”
“When a superior starts moving too diligently, it’s always the subordinates who suffer.”
“And what exactly is the meaning of that raised right hand?”
“…….”
“You wouldn’t happen to be planning to knock me out, would you? Like, Sleep now! Bonk!”
“…….”
“Oh wow, look at you unclenching your fist the moment I call you out.”
“Perish the thought. I would never do such a thing.”
Javier reached out.
His hand firmly supported Lloyd’s back and neck.
And then, he slowly helped him sit up.
Maybe it was because he had been lying down for too long—
“Ugh.”
A brief dizziness hit him.
Still, he didn’t mind.
Because despite the sharp tongue, Javier was smiling as he looked at him.
“I’m relieved, Lord Lloyd.”
“Yeah. It’s a relief, alright. Now I get to torment you again.”
“Yes. A relief indeed. Your extended time as a bachelor has been successfully prolonged.”
“Exactly. A great relief. Now I can report your insubordination to the Baron.”
“…You wouldn’t actually do that, would you?”
“Depends on how you behave.”
“…Which means you won’t.”
“Wow. Look at you making assumptions.”
“I’m correct, aren’t I?”
“You’d better pray I’m not. Maybe even pour water every night as an offering.”
Lloyd chuckled.
It really was a relief.
Both he and Javier were safe.
Truly, a relief.
A grin spread across his face.
And seeing that, Javier intentionally hardened his expression.
Which only made Lloyd laugh even more.
It finally felt real.
Everything had passed safely.
Now, it was time to enjoy the rewards.
—
The rewards were persistent, extravagant, and overwhelming.
The moment news broke that he had woken up—
Visitors flooded in.
The very first to storm into his hospital room was none other than Count Cremo.
“Would you consider becoming my son-in-law?”
“…Excuse me?”
The moment the Count stepped into the room, he dropped a marriage proposal out of nowhere.
And he did it while handing over an enormous bouquet of flowers.
“…Pardon, what did you just say?”
“What do you think I mean? Should I repeat it?”
“……”
“Become my son-in-law.”
“……”
Lloyd shut his mouth.
At first, he wondered if the old man had eaten something weird.
But judging by the seriousness in his eyes and tone, this was neither a joke nor a test.
If he so much as nodded, the Count looked like he’d summon his only daughter on the spot and arrange a wedding immediately.
So, Lloyd firmly shook his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“I sincerely appreciate the Count’s kindness and offer, but…”
“But?”
“I don’t think I can handle it.”
That was the truth.
A sudden marriage proposal?
And to the only daughter of a Count’s household?
Sure, on the surface, it might look like a golden opportunity.
But reality was different.
‘Marriage at this point? That’s a disaster.
I’d have to spend a fortune keeping up appearances with my in-laws.
The wedding itself would cost a ton.
Then, if kids come along—diapers, baby formula, education expenses—it’d be endless spending.
And with all that, how the hell am I supposed to pay off my estate’s debt?!’
Of course, the Count’s family could have taken care of his debts.
But that would never be free.
It would just be another kind of debt—an invisible one.
Lloyd had no intention of getting entangled with the Count’s household.
His goal was simple:
Pay off his debts, live freely, and enjoy an easygoing life.
A life that was peaceful, stable, and comfortable—where he could relax without any worries.
And diving headfirst into a powerful noble family was definitely not the way to achieve that.
Lloyd bowed his head once more.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“Tsk. Is that so.”
“Yes. But I sincerely appreciate your kind offer, Count.”
“Well, if you appreciate it, why not accept it as well?”
“I’m really sorry.”
“…Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Count Cremo clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Even after the Count left, many others came to visit his hospital room.
Prominent merchant families with deep roots in the city.
Wealthy shipbuilders.
Powerful families that made fortunes running private escort fleets.
All of them were influential figures in Cremo.
And every single one of them said the same thing.
“Young man, have you considered forming a good relationship with our family?”
A parade of marriage proposals disguised as hospital visits.
And, of course, Lloyd turned down every single one.
He had already rejected the Count’s offer—there was no reason to accept anyone else’s.
Instead, he rejected them politely while making sure to maintain good connections.
After yet another proposal, he sighed.
“Haa… Another one. That makes how many today? This is ridiculous. I feel like I’ve suddenly become the city’s most eligible bachelor.”
How was it that every visitor seemed to have the exact same agenda?
Still, it was a clear sign of his rising value.
It meant that in this city, he was now the most sought-after groom.
That thought made him weirdly happy.
After all, back when he was in Korea, this kind of thing was beyond impossible, even in his imagination.
Javier, who had been watching over him, let out a small chuckle.
“Most eligible bachelor, huh? Congratulations.”
“……Tsk. That sounded like sarcasm.”
“I assure you, it wasn’t.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
“Then what’s that?”
“Pardon?”
“That pile of envelopes in your hands.”
“Ah.”
“…Wait. Don’t tell me.”
“Yes, you’re correct.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“Those are…?”
“Yes, love letters addressed to you.”
“……”
“Would you like me to count them?”
“No, don’t.”
“One… Two… Seven… Eleven… Twenty…”
“I said don’t.”
“Thirty-nine in total.”
“Damn it.”
“Ah, and if I recall correctly, you’ve received twelve official marriage proposals.”
“……”
“Hmph.”
“……”
Never pick a fight with ridiculously good looks.
Lloyd shuddered as the lesson sank deep into his bones.
And then—
Knock, knock, knock.
“A visitor has arrived for Lord Lloyd. I will open the door now.”
A maid from the Count’s estate called from outside the room.
The door creaked open.
At that moment, Lloyd assumed it was just another noble or wealthy merchant.
No doubt, someone else coming in under the guise of a hospital visit, only to propose marriage yet again.
With that thought, he turned toward the entrance.
And instantly froze.
“You fool!”
A sharp reprimand.
Heavy footsteps storming toward him.
Strong hands grabbing him tightly before he could react.
“You foolish child! How many times have I told you not to do anything reckless?!”
Grab!
“…Huh?”
Lloyd’s eyes went wide.
He never expected them to come here.
Baron Frontera and his wife.
His parents.
Tears welled in their eyes as they held him tightly in a fierce embrace.
