When Rex first saw the human known as D, he was more like a wild man.
In a sense, this was only natural.
Considering D had been at the research facility longer than Rex and had gone without food for half a year, it wasn’t likely he’d received grooming or a haircut.
Despite his disheveled appearance, D’s masculinity was still unmistakable.
Had Rex been a woman, she might have fallen for him at first sight.
However, Rex was a normal heterosexual male with a tendency to want to hide in corners whenever he encountered a group of people, a characteristic typical of a loner.
Thus, the moment D barged through the door demanding bread, all Rex could do was nod his head in agreement.
“Hmm…”
Duke brought the bread to his mouth.
After six months without food, his saliva glands began to work furiously.
Though he wanted to devour the bread in one bite, maintaining the concept of an awe-inspiring knight, he suppressed his hunger with transcendent willpower and began to eat in a dignified manner.
“Hmm…”
While inwardly his thoughts were shouting in celebration, like ‘So glad to see you after two hundred years’ or ‘This is the best meal I’ve had in six months,’ outwardly he remained a dignified knight.
As Duke slowly ate, Rex checked his level.
Not through the system, but by using the world’s emotion magic.
Together with clairvoyance and telepathy, emotion magic formed the basic repertoire of all cadets.
The calculation wasn’t a simple matter of seeing a number pop up with a ringing sound, but rather involved mental arithmetic based on millennia-old standards involving magical energy discharge and the weight of existence felt from the soul.
Of course, it wasn’t a challenging magic for Rex, the top of his academy class and the youngest graduate.
“The level is… 33? Quite impressive.”
It was the level of a superior knight in any average fiefdom.
However, Rex didn’t fully trust this emotion magic.
After all, over the course of thousands of years, methods to deceive it had been developed.
Thus, for Rex, this magic was merely an alibi, nothing more, nothing less.
Primarily it served as a precaution against any future suspicion of “how did you know the level?” and to fully conceal his own interface abilities.
“Let’s proceed to the main point.”
Having established justification using emotion magic, Rex immediately used the possession bonus.
“Inspect.”
This was what he called it, differentiating it from mere emotion.
When Rex used the Inspect skill, a translucent window displayed Duke’s details.
===========
Name: Duke I. Erwick
Age: 247
Race: Human
Level: 33(?)
[Combat Stats]——
Intellect: 34(?)
Technique: 38(?)
Spirit: 34(?)
Strength: 40(?)
[Command Stats]——
Potential: A
Charisma: A
Leadership: C
Politics: C
Appeal: A
[Dispositions]——
– <Loyalty(Deactivated)>, <Noble A>, <Passion A>, <Unyielding S>, <Madness S+>
[Relations]——
– Friendly
==================
Rex immediately focused on the question marks behind the levels and stats.
“Same as the Dean.”
Even that old man of the academy had exhibited similar traits.
While occasionally people who could deceive even the interface existed, he wasn’t particularly flustered.
After all, there were ways to conduct an inspection in such cases.
“It’s unnecessary to worry about that right now.”
Rex estimated Duke’s real level around the 60s, which was the sixth tier.
Seeing how remodeled goblins were unable to resist turning into meat lumps, it was clear.
“Impossible that a tier 7 would be in this laboratory.”
Starting from tier 7, they were practically dragons.
Naturally, such a being wouldn’t stay locked up without going insane.
“Assuming the level is approximately 65…”
Continuing through Duke’s profile, Rex checked his abilities.
Then he came across a word that couldn’t be overlooked.
<Madness S+>
“??????”
A value he’d never come across in all his time playing Hell Online.
In the game, even the hero known as the mustached mass murderer had only rated an S.
“S+? What the…”
Contrary to popular belief, Madness doesn’t indicate someone who simply giggles while dismembering people.
Madness rather represents a disposition indicating just how far someone is willing to act outside of common sense to achieve their goal, and thus to what degree his spirit has been corrupted.
It can be obtained either congenitally or through external factors, but one thing was clear.
“Guarantee of mental issues.”
It was also a red flag indicating someone with whom one would be better off not associating.
Rex’s face turned ashen.
The realization that his roommate had become an unimaginable madman and the fact they had exchanged notes were hard to believe.
“Weren’t the letters normal?”
Rex came up with a few speculations about Duke’s situation.
The most plausible one was that half a year of starvation had caused him to lose his mind.
Indeed, his other traits <Noble A>, <Passion A>, and <Unyielding S> supported this conjecture.
“Could he have been destined to become a Demon King of this world?”
The story became clearer in the mind of Rex.
Prior to meeting Rex, Duke, amidst the world’s injustice, must have gradually lost his humanity.
While his traits Noble, Passion, and Unyielding kept him enduring, such resilience could only hold so long against six months of starvation.
But as expected, his madness eventually erupted…
“The reason he escaped from the lab and became a Demon King.”
The rough outline of a light novel formed in his mind.
Estimating Duke’s situation roughly this way, Rex attempted to address him.
“Uh…”
“Your honorable name is…”
He attempted to speak.
But the moment he parted his lips, his voice wouldn’t come out.
Rex’s jaw started trembling.
Originally burdened with an inferiority complex for being born a commoner, he had also developed social withdrawal symptoms in the academy.
Added to that, the betrayal by his peers and the mayor who hired him resulted in distrust towards humans.
And when he thought about it, he had never spoken to goblins, only engaging in inner turmoil.
All these accumulated factors resulted in…
“Uuh… too scary to speak…”
Extreme social phobia.
To put it differently, Rex suffered from <social anxiety, panic disorder, mild depression, etc., a full set of mental illnesses>.
Rex’s eyes darted about as he took out a piece of paper.
Drawing charcoal lines on it to form sentences, he extended a trembling hand with the paper towards Duke who was eating with dignity.
“Look… please…”
Duke brushed off the bread crumbs and glanced at the note.
[Name…]
Duke smiled upon seeing merely this word.
“Knowingly feigning ignorance, huh?”
Duke was fully aware of Rex’s abilities.
By now, he must have read his true name and level.
However, pretending not to notice, he nodded his head and introduced himself.
“I am Duke Erwick.”
Rex nodded and handed over another note.
[Rex. Surname – X]
“Mr. Rex, then.”
Nods again.
Rex scribbled another word on the almost empty piece of paper.
[Request]
“Of course.”
Confused, Rex decided to write instead on the wall with charcoal.
[You haven’t even said what the request is…]
Before he could finish, Duke spoke.
“I would gladly accept any request from my benefactor.”
To which, Rex hesitated but eventually wrote a response.
[How about you, will you sign a temporary contract with me?]
Duke almost burst out laughing upon seeing this.
It reminded him of some magic girl show with a white mascot creature offering a contract.
Naturally, given Rex’s apparent honesty, he assumed it wasn’t scam.
“At once, let’s establish the oath.”
Duke knelt down where he was.
*
“Guuuueek!”
A support team of goblins met their doom with a frog-like croak.
They had come in response to the commotion from Rex’s cell but were swept away like leaves in front of Duke the moment they reached the site.
“This corridor is impassable.”
Duke, guarding Rex’s hallway, single-handedly massacred the support team.
As Duke went on his rampage against the support team, Rex observed from his solitary confinement, watching the events unfold on the screen.
“Wow…”
This wasn’t the first time Rex had seen a hero fight.
He’d been through similar experiences while gaming. Not exactly a new revelation for him.
However, Duke’s spree was an artistic masterpiece.
Rex wasn’t knowledgeable about magic or martial arts.
But the absolute precision of Duke’s combat was evident to his eyes.
The sword never missed, and there were no unnecessary steps.
Spells that were occasionally cast precisely targeted the critical points, using only the minimal amount of energy needed.
If the refinement of restraint was to be defined through combat actions, then Duke’s combat style was its epitome.
“The level might be uncertain, but the skill is truly genuine…”
Rex was filled with admiration for Duke’s performance.
And this admiration was Duke’s intended effect.
‘This is my first battle here; I need to make a clear impression.’
To ensure Rex couldn’t ignore him, Duke ruthlessly wiped out the support team under meticulous planning.
Crunch.
Duke grabbed an axe out of thin air from a goblin and broke his neck with an elbow in one swift action.
Then he halted incoming arrows with telekinesis and redirected them back at the archers.
“Retreat! Retreat now!!”
Faced with a single hero, the support team’s reaction was to desperately flee.
But Duke offered them no such escape.
Creeeeeaaaak.
As he extended his hand, ominous noises began emanating from the ceiling above.
BOOM!
The ceiling collapsed, completely blocking the escape route.
Realizing they had nowhere to retreat to, the support team turned around in terror.
Clomp-clomp.
Death, clad in a human form, was approaching them methodically, eliminating them one by one.
The panic spread through the whole squadron.
“AAAHH! Open up! GAAAAHH!”
The support team, overwhelmed by fear, was annihilated by Duke one by one.
As Rex watched this scene on the screen, he couldn’t help but clap in appreciation.
“Kya… satisfying.”
For those involved, it must have been a scene of terror. To Rex, who had suffered at their hands for the last two months, this was the utmost refreshment.
Of course, even remotely watching made it a little scary, but it was overwhelmingly satisfying.
Just as Rex was admiring Duke’s prowess, having wiped out the support team, Duke returned to Rex’s solitary confinement.
“Are there any further instructions?”
Rex conjured a translucent keyboard into thin air and began typing.
Tatatata…
Ding!
[Please open this door first.]
The text appeared in Duke’s mind.
Simultaneously, a translucent arrow appeared, indicating where to go.
Duke nodded and followed the arrow.
A door with a red perimeter came into Duke’s field of vision.
It was Rex’s neighboring cell.
“Understood.”
Duke easily tore the door apart with telekinesis.
Rex quickly slipped out of his confinement and walked toward the open space.
‘A…’
It was just a precaution to check if A was in the room.
However, upon entry, what greeted Rex were the messages and notes from the past fortnight that hadn’t even been read by their intended recipient.
Thinking about the friend whose face, voice, and name he didn’t know, Rex felt a sense of desolation.
As he thought this, Duke pointed to a corner.
Rex’s eyes widened following the direction of Duke’s finger.
It was a shoe.
Rex carefully picked it up, asking Duke.
“A… Could this be… A’s?”
“That’s highly possible.”
D- Duke also knew about the existence of A.
For he, too, had communicated with A occasionally through Rex as a conduit.
R- Rex and D- Duke’s eyes met.
Their objective was clear.
“Duke. Let’s get out of here.”
With a firm resolution, Rex’s tongue no longer faltered.
Duke also supported this resolution.
“Duke. I have a favor to ask.”
Following Rex’s instructions, Duke stepped out onto the floor they were on.
However…
[…Shouldn’t I keep instructing from my room?]
Only three seconds after stepping out, Rex was already making a beeline back to his solitary cell.
Seeing his determination last but three seconds, Duke barely managed to contain his laughter.
“I see. Always like this, huh.”
But Duke understood how to handle someone like Rex.
“Will that be alright?”
[What do you mean?]
“There’s only one corridor now, but once we descend, guards that I might have missed will appear. If they come your way, I might not be able to protect you.”
The reply came a little late.
[I’ll follow. Keep some distance.]
Even as the two were making their way…
“But…”
[Shouldn’t I continue giving instructions from my room?]
Just three seconds after stepping out, Rex was already rushing back to his solitary confinement.
Seeing his resolution dissolve in under three seconds, Duke barely stifled a laugh.
“I see. This is the kind of person you are.”
However, Duke understood how to deal with Rex.
“Is everything alright?”
[What do you mean?]
“When there’s only this corridor now, but once we descend, guards I may have missed will appear. If they come your way, I might not be able to protect you.”
The reply came a little later.
[I’ll follow. Keep some distance.]
