MTLNOVEL 68
A day passed in nerve-wracking tension that felt like it was scraping away at my soul.
In just one day, we had harvested five cores. Considering the ferocity of each beast, it had been an arduous march. As proof, Kyle was drenched in the blood of the monsters, his black hair soaked to the point that it looked almost red.
“It does seem to be a type of mutant. And it’s not just the beasts, Your Highness. I found this as well.”
Belial flicked off the sticky blood clinging to his sword, irritation clear in his voice.
“And what the hell is that bluish wormwood supposed to be?”
“This… is ice wormwood, something occasionally found in the North.”
Belial’s subordinates sneered at his words.
“And what does some weed from that backwater region matter?”
“Maybe he’s feeling nostalgic?”
Kyle, who had been casually wiping the blood off his face, stepped forward and gave a low warning.
“Avoid unnecessary disputes. Is this really the time for petty grievances?”
If not for the current war, they would have fought each other to the death rather than cooperating.
Belial’s knights had been with him since childhood, making it impossible for them to get along with Kyle. Likewise, Kyle’s loyal Blake Knights had no reason to welcome Belial’s men.
However, Kyle was right. Displaying such emotions here was no different from begging for a quick death.
When Kyle stepped back after calling them out, their armor clinked as they shifted uncomfortably. He may not have intended it, but the sound was fairly intimidating. The knights, who had been ready to argue, shut their mouths immediately.
“It’s not just an ordinary plant, is it?”
Sen pulled a small pouch from her belt and took out some ointment, applying it to the knights’ wounds as she asked.
It was the ointment I had given her. She probably didn’t have much left, but since it was highly effective, she seemed determined to use every last drop efficiently.
“It’s a mutated species that grows near a mage’s territory.”
“A mutation…”
An existence that had strayed beyond the natural flow and order of the world. Since the mages had become even more deeply involved in this conflict, it was undoubtedly a dangerous situation…
“But they say crisis breeds opportunity.”
It seemed that fate never intended to leave people completely without a way forward—there was a method.
[Adjusting…]
The power of the mages, which violated the natural laws of the world, was similar to the “miracle” that the system used to interfere with my fate.
Just as the system had intervened in the North, causing swamp goats to appear, the mages had altered the ecosystem here and strengthened the monsters. In doing so, they had unwittingly made it easier for the system to interfere in my favor.
[The prices of products in the ‘Cashew Nut Shop’ have temporarily decreased!]
[New items have been added to the ‘LoveLove Corner~❤’!]
[New attributes are being applied.]
[To obtain the thing you need the most, □□…]
[NOW LOADING…]
The easiest section to adjust, the Cashew Nut Shop, was the first to update. True to the term temporary decrease, the numbers listed on the prices wavered slightly.
I didn’t even hesitate—I bought the acorn cookies first. Unless my life was in immediate danger, it was much better to remain human.
Five cookies for just one percent of my miracle value. A bargain.
I immediately bought ten sets. Since my miracle value had increased from defeating the abnormal monsters, I had used exactly what I had gained.
After waiting a little longer, the LoveLove Corner also updated with new items.
NEW! [Eye of Truth (For Humans) | ❤×800 ←Recommended!]
NEW! [Eye of Insight (For Hamsters) | ❤×800]
The problem was that the descriptions alone didn’t tell me exactly what they did.
“Well, if it’s recommended, there must be a reason, right?”
Hearts accumulated over time anyway, and buying it wouldn’t hurt.
The real problem was…
[Current Balance: ❤×780]
I was just a little short. Really, just a little.
Ever since we entered the forest, my heart count had practically stopped increasing. Which made sense—this was not a place where people could find happiness.
But with only twenty hearts left to go, it felt like a waste to give up.
In that case, I needed to earn more hearts…
“Uh, Your Highness. Excuse me, but for a moment…”
I had only called out softly, but Kyle approached immediately.
“Is there a problem?”
“…Well, could you please lean in for a second?”
Kyle slightly bent down, bringing the side of his face close to mine.
They say the first to let their guard down is the first to die, yet here he was, acting without a hint of wariness.
His expression remained softly neutral, as if he had completely forgotten how to doubt someone.
I hesitated for a moment, then, making sure no one else was looking, I lightly pressed my lips against his cheek.
“I really didn’t want to do this given the situation, but I apologize. I had a reason.”
“…A reason?”
Kyle looked at me, visibly startled. No matter how composed he usually was, he clearly hadn’t seen that coming.
He was someone who fought on the frontlines. Under normal circumstances, he would never have allowed such an act to break his focus.
But given the situation… if the system was actively recommending something, then it had to be incredibly valuable. That made it hard to resist.
So…
“I’ll explain later.”
Kyle still looked puzzled, but he didn’t press for an explanation. He probably didn’t think I was just playing a meaningless joke. …Honestly, I was grateful for that.
[Current Balance: ❤×793]
[Current Balance: ❤×801]
Even in this situation, Kyle’s heart showed no wavering feelings toward me. After a short while, I had enough hearts.
Without hesitation, I purchased Eye of Truth.
Thud.
“…Huh? Glasses?”
What dropped into my palm was a pair of black-rimmed glasses, slightly heavier than the ones I sometimes wore when working.
There’s no prescription in them.
I stared at them curiously for a moment before putting them on.
“…Oh?”
“What’s wrong, Shu?”
“…I can see it.”
“See what?”
“Yes, I mean…”
With a slightly trembling finger, I pointed past him—toward the faint, shimmering blue light beyond Kyle.
“That symbol… I can see the monster’s core. Through Your Highness.”
At that moment, I still hadn’t fully grasped the significance of what I had just said.
But when Kyle, looking startled, turned to glance at the core held by one of his knights and then back at me, I finally realized just how valuable my words were.
“I can see where the monsters’ cores are!”
***
“Forehead—no! Closer to the left eye! Yes, there!”
“Look at this bastard’s location too, monster scholar!”
“Right arm, just above the elbow!”
“This damn catfish’s core is buried too deep!”
“Wait a second, its weak point… I’m sure it was in the guidebook. Ah! Tilt your sword and stab toward the gills!”
We fought with everything we had—just to survive and for Kyle to become Emperor.
Covered in dirt, blood, dust, and filth, we never let go of our swords, never stopped pulling our bowstrings, and constantly shouted out information to one another.
There were no victories or defeats in this battle.
Only death and survival.
“AAARGH!”
A shrill scream tore through the air.
Blood spurted like a fountain, staining the ground a dark crimson. No one spared it a glance.
Because we all knew—if we let our attention slip for even a second, the next thing to hit the ground wouldn’t be blood. It would be our heads.
One of Belial’s knights collapsed, his shoulder impaled by a monstrous eagle, a creature larger than a grown man. Impaled might be too soft a word—half of his shoulder had been ripped off, left hanging by mere shreds of flesh.
Belial saw it happen right in front of him but couldn’t protect his knight. He was too busy blocking another incoming beak with his sword.
Sen, holding a dagger tightly, pressed her back against mine, watching every direction.
As if these damned birds weren’t enough, we have kobolds too.
Clicking my tongue, I opened the Cashew Nut Shop and quickly bought a madeleine, shoving it toward Sen.
[Mini Mini Brazil Nut Madeleine | Consumes 1% Miracle Value | Shrinks your body for 30 minutes! Smaller than a hamster!]
It normally cost 2%, but with the appearance of the mutant monsters, even this had been discounted by half.
I could turn into a hamster and hide if needed, but Sen was a much bigger target. If she just got slightly faster, she could still get hit. But if she shrank completely, she’d be much safer.
At least I got it for cheap. Thanks, you damned mage bastards.
“Hurry up and eat it!”
Without even checking what it was, Sen shoved it into her mouth. She looked ready to swallow it even if it had been a rock covered in mud.
“Sen?”
Belial, who had been protecting her nearby, sounded slightly alarmed. Sen mumbled a reply through a full mouth.
“I’m fine! Don’t worry about me!”
I quickly explained.
“She’ll be moving to a safe place!”
The moment I turned and started running, Sen’s body rapidly shrank, becoming even smaller than a hamster.
Deactivating Reload, I grabbed her tiny hand and led her to a corner.
Realizing there was no longer any need to protect us, Kyle’s movements became even sharper.
His massive sword, wreathed in crimson energy, flashed as it cut through the air. With each swing, monsters were cleaved in half, their corpses scattering across the battlefield.
But as he withdrew his blade, a monstrous eagle with piercing eyes lunged from behind, its hook-like beak wide open, aimed at Kyle.
Even as it folded its wings and dove, I could see its sheer determination—it was ready to rip his throat out, even if it meant dying in the process.
―Chirp! (No!)
Kyle’s greatsword had devastating power but lacked speed. Even if he managed to turn in time, he wouldn’t avoid injury.
Is there really nothing I can do right now?
A bow wouldn’t work. More than that, Kyle and the bird were too close. If I tried to shoot, I might end up hitting him instead.
At least, that would be the case if I were still human.
But right now, I was a hamster.
Come on, think! There has to be something!
I was powerless. Of course, I wasn’t meant to be a fighter, but just standing there, watching as Kyle got hurt, felt like someone was clawing at my insides.
[Kyle Jane Meinhardt. Estimated time until death: Approximately 162 days remaining.]
[Kyle Jane Meinhardt. Estimated time until death: Approximately 2 days remaining.]
His survival was still uncertain. Just seeing that notification made my throat dry up.
I can’t just stand here and do nothing.
I wanted to protect him. Any kind of power would do—just something, anything—
At that moment, a system window popped up.
[A new attribute, ‘Luck,’ has been applied!]
[Luck will now affect the acquisition of ‘Monster Cores.’]
[Current Balance: ♣×33]
Clang!
A burst of blue light exploded near Kyle’s shoulder, sending the monstrous eagle flying backward.
As if it had hit an invisible shield, the creature lost control and was hurled away—straight into the waiting blade of Belial, who cut it down without hesitation.
…Wait. Did that just happen because of me?
[Current Balance: ♣×1]
My luck value had decreased.
…Did I somehow cause that blue light?
As if responding to my silent question, another system window appeared.
[Wish for luck! (ෆ`꒳´ෆ)]