Haruto stood frozen, the desperate pleas of the captive players echoing in his ears. His mind was torn—he wanted to help, but the overwhelming strength of Robert and his soldiers made it seem impossible. The stakes were too high. But just as the weight of indecision threatened to paralyze him, a familiar ding echoed in his mind.

[Quest Received!

Objective: Safely rescue every captured player and bring them to a safe zone.

Reward: Skill – Absolute Strike

Grants a 100% critical strike chance on the next three attacks within a single combat encounter. Usable 3 times in a battle].

Haruto’s heart raced as he read the quest details. The Absolute Strike skill was an invaluable reward—something that could make him nearly unstoppable in a fight if used at the right moment. The temptation was strong, but the risk was equally high. If he failed, he would be facing death at the hands of Robert Stein and his elite soldiers, who vastly out-leveled him.But he once played this game even though he will not claim he knows 100 percent of every character.He know the Family Stein

Still, the reward was too good to ignore. Haruto’s mind churned, thinking of a way to turn the situation in his favor. His hand hovered over his inventory, and his eyes fell on the Horn of Madness. The horn had been useful in the dungeon, driving the goblins into a berserk frenzy. While it wasn’t powerful enough to work on high-level beings like Robert or his soldiers, it was effective against low-tier creatures like goblins, orcs, and wild demons. If he could leverage the horn strategically, he might be able to strike a deal.

Haruto straightened up and stepped forward, clutching the horn in his hand. His mind was set—he was going to negotiate.

Robert watched Haruto closely as he approached, his sharp eyes narrowing with curiosity. The soldiers around them tensed, unsure of Haruto’s intentions. The tension was thick in the air, and every movement felt like it could spark a battle. But Haruto didn’t raise his weapons. Instead, he held out the Horn of Madness for Robert to see.

"This," Haruto said, his voice steady, "is the Horn of Madness. It’s capable of driving goblins, orcs, and wild demons into a killing frenzy. I think you understand how useful this could be in the right hands."

Robert’s eyes gleamed with intrigue as he studied the horn. He clearly recognized the item, and Haruto could see the gears turning in the commander’s mind. Robert was ambitious, that much was clear. To him, the horn represented not only a powerful tool but also something that could elevate his standing. But Haruto could also sense the subtle shift in Robert’s expression—the temptation to kill him and take the horn was growing in Robert’s mind.

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The young commander stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "You have two rare items," Robert said coolly, his eyes flicking to the necklace around Haruto’s neck as well. "You’re just a low-level Otherworlder, and yet you possess artifacts that would be highly sought after by any noble house. I could take them from you right now."

The threat was clear. Haruto’s pulse quickened, but he held his ground. He could see the conflict in Robert’s eyes—the desire to take the items for himself was strong, but so was the knowledge that killing an Otherworlder could have severe consequences. Robert was no fool; he knew that killing Haruto could backfire on him.

Haruto spoke calmly, knowing that his next words would either save him or doom him. "You could take them, sure," Haruto said, "but what would that make you? A bandit? Worse yet, your soldiers would start to question your honor. If word got out that you killed an Otherworlder for loot, it wouldn’t take long for your half-brother, Lucius Stein, to use that against you."

Robert’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Lucius. Haruto had hit a nerve.

Lucius Stein—the second son of Count Stein—had long been a thorn in Robert’s side. The two half-brothers had been locked in a silent battle for control of their father’s house, each vying for power and influence. Lucius was known for his cunning, and any misstep Robert made could be used as leverage to undermine his position as the leader of the count’s forces.

Haruto didn’t know the full extent of the conflict between the brothers.( in the game Lucius will be the head no matter what), but he could see that his gamble had paid off. The mention of Lucius had given Robert pause.

"If you kill me and loot my items," Haruto continued, "what’s to stop Lucius from spreading rumors about you? He’ll twist the story, say you’ve become no better than a common criminal. Your soldiers may trust you now, but how long will that last if your reputation is tarnished?"

Robert’s hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his jaw clenching. Haruto could see the internal struggle in the commander’s eyes—Robert wanted the items, but he also couldn’t afford to make a reckless move that would jeopardize his position.

After a long, tense silence, Robert let out a slow breath and released his grip on his sword. "Fine," he said, his voice measured. "I won’t kill you. But the horn—why offer it to me?"

Haruto took a deep breath, feeling the tension ease slightly. "Because I don’t want a fight," he said plainly. "You release these players, and the horn is yours. It may not be a legendary artifact, but it’s incredibly useful against low-level creatures. Orcs, wild demons, goblins—they’ll tear each other apart if you use it."

Robert considered the offer carefully, his eyes flicking to the group of prisoners. He could see the logic in Haruto’s words. The horn, while not legendary, was powerful enough to give him an edge in battles against low-tier enemies. Moreover, sparing Haruto would mean gaining a favor from a potentially strong Otherworlder—a valuable ally in the future.

Robert finally nodded. "I agree," he said. "Release the prisoners."

The soldiers hesitated for a moment, but with a nod from Robert, they stepped back, lowering their weapons. The chains around the players were removed, and they stumbled forward, relieved but confused. Haruto let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.

Robert reached out, and Haruto handed him the Horn of Madness. The young commander inspected the item closely, a satisfied look crossing his face. "You’ve made a wise choice," Robert said. "But remember, Otherworlder, I won’t always be this lenient. You’d do well to avoid crossing my path again."

Haruto nodded silently, grateful that the situation had been defused without bloodshed.

As the players gathered around him, murmuring their thanks, Haruto couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. He had managed to save them, gain a valuable skill, and avoid a deadly confrontation. But the tension between him and Robert remained—a fragile truce that could break at any moment.

[Quest Complete!

Reward: Skill – Absolute Strike

Grants a 100% critical strike chance on the next three attacks within a single combat encounter. Usable 3 times in a battle].

Haruto felt the surge of power as the new skill was added to his abilities. It was a small victory in a world filled with danger, but it was a victory nonetheless.

But as he walked away from the dungeon, leading the rescued players to safety, Haruto couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the last he’d see of Robert Stein—or the power struggles within the Stein family.

End of Chapter.