But if I choose Belsus…….
I immediately became serious. Because choosing Belsus carries greater danger than simply being a beggar.
Belsus isn’t just a beggar—he’s a wanted criminal who’s been chased by the Royal Knights for 20 years.
‘He survived well despite having low stats from not being able to train properly—that’s all thanks to his unique ability.’
Even at the game’s starting point, Belsus is being chased by knights.
It means Belsus is the only character who can reach a death ending within minutes of starting the game.
‘Getting past this early stage is the key.’
Belsus experiences a crisis where he could die within 1 second of starting. No, it’s fair to say he starts while already being chased.
That opponent is Kaline, the Royal Knight—another playable character.
Belsus and Kaline have a bitter relationship. It’s not simply because Kaline, as a Royal Knight, is chasing Belsus under royal orders.
Kaline’s unique ability is ‘Predation.’
If he kills a Hunter, he can absorb all their levels and experience points.
Kaline discovered that the wanted criminal Belsus is a Hunter and harbored the ambition to devour all his talent.
For this reason, in the original work, if you select Kaline, Belsus becomes an extra who dies in the early stages.
But if you select Belsus instead, Belsus kills Kaline after resisting and survives.
‘One of the two must die. By each other’s hands.’
In scenarios where you select a character other than these two, Belsus dies. It means Belsus is a character with lower specs than Kaline.
“……”
I recalled the explanation I saw earlier.
[The possessor can share and receive the selected character’s unique ability.]
I’ll find Belsus first and spirit him away before Kaline comes chasing.
Because I can also use Belsus’s unique ability.
*
When I came out of the farm, I was standing in a damp back alley with no people around.
A musty slum crawling with rats, in shabby attire. No doubt about it. This is Belsus’s starting location.
‘Belsus should be nearby too.’
Of course, so is Kaline, who came to kill Belsus.
There was no time. I immediately tested Belsus’s unique ability.
Belsus’s ability is ‘Reading.’ Five times a day, for about 1 second each time. He can read an opponent’s thoughts.
One second isn’t a long time, but if you observe people well and time it right, it’s possible to steal the thoughts you want.
Moreover, since it activates in a range, you can receive all the thoughts of people within range.
‘So it should also be useful for finding people.’
Until now, Belsus only used this ability to survive.
And usually, he used it to check whether he was hated by the other person.
Anyway, if you ask whether you can actually find people by reading thoughts, it’s surprisingly easy. Because the thoughts heard through Reading are heard in that person’s voice.
‘Because I know Belsus’s game voice.’
Plus, the people in this slum don’t have complex thoughts. Their voices are also lethargic and drained of energy.
{…….}
{I’m hungry…….}
{It’s hot and humid…….}
{How long have I been starving……?}
Among these, picking out a game character’s thoughts would be very easy.
I deliberately limped slightly with one perfectly fine leg and walked slowly. In this place, someone walking properly would stand out more.
While walking through the dirty alley, I activated the Reading ability. Countless people’s thoughts flowed in for 1 second each.
{I’m hungry…….}
Then I stopped dead in my tracks.
‘……That voice was Belsus.’
Belsus is the last bloodline bearing the resentment of the old royal family, who crawls up desperately from the bottom without losing his upright spirit after enduring thousands of humiliations.
He finally topples the current king who wields tyranny, restores the old dynasty, and afterwards succeeds in conquering the Tower to become the most benevolent and powerful king in history.
Such a great bastard—.
‘Can only think about being hungry!’
I turned my steps and arrived where the sound came from.
A place where two people were slumped against the wall. A small-framed beggar was lying down using a large beggar’s leg as a pillow.
Let’s say a mountain spirit asks from above my head. Is this small beggar yours, or is this large beggar yours?
I answer without a second’s hesitation. The large beggar is mine.
Belsus had covered his head with a musty-smelling ragged hood and was letting some stranger sleep using his leg as a pillow. It was perfect camouflage.
‘……Though it’s probably an actual situation rather than camouflage.’
I stood keeping a slight distance and activated the Reading ability for the third time.
One second—nearby thoughts rushed in.
{……Found him.}
{There he is. The big one is Belsus, right? Just like the game.}
Suddenly, along with Kaline’s voice, another voice was heard almost overlapping.
I concentrated all my nerves and barely distinguished the two voices.
The low, turbid voice with killing intent was Kaline.
And the other one was an unfamiliar voice…….
‘Was what I just heard real?’
Even after hearing it, I doubted my ears—no, my head. That voice definitely said ‘game.’
Depending on whether thoughts are heard faintly or clearly, you can even estimate the distance from me. And if multiple voices were heard at once within range, you can also gauge their positions by the volume of those voices.
Kaline’s and that voice were heard at almost the same volume.
‘There’s a high probability the two are together.’
I swallowed a sigh down my throat. In case sighing here might draw someone’s attention.
That much tension also consumed my entire body.
It was a possibility I hadn’t bothered to consider until now.
‘The possibility that I’m not the only possessor.’
When I chose one of the nine origin characters, the possibility that possessors were also attached to each of the remaining eight characters…… that is.
‘Crazy system. You didn’t say anything about this!’
Let’s think for a moment. I possessed here as a farmer, and just when I thought it was the start of a healing life, the system told me to participate in the Tower Challenger Finals. When I asked what that meant, what did the system say?
[The 1st ranked Druid should have possessed, but you possessed instead. This is an error.]
The foreshadowing was already there.
Besides the 1st ranked Druid, several people were trying to possess. In that process, something got tangled and an error occurred where one person possessed as me instead.
Druid is a combat class.
‘But I, a lifestyle class, possessed wrongly……’
It became very likely that all the other possessors are combat users. They might even be 1st place rankers in those classes. Just like me.
Thinking this far, I bit my lip hard.
‘Later. I’ll think about it later.’
The possessors of unknown number aren’t right next to me right now. I just need to watch only one person—the bastard presumed to be Kaline’s partner.
Securing Belsus’s safety comes first.
I calmly steadied my mind and used the Reading ability once more.
This makes it the third ability activation.
{I have no doubt. No doubt that I can’t hit Belsus. I am the reincarnation of Jumong himself.}
Just 1 second, but I just heard important information from that possessor.
‘What, this bastard spouting nonsense……’
Right. That bastard possessed as a combat class, so he must be confident. He probably doesn’t even know I exist. Seeing him chuckling about Jumong or whatever.
‘His class must be Archer.’
Of all things, a long-range sniper. It would be a disaster no matter what class came, but among them, an archer is more serious. I furrowed my brow.
‘I had a feeling…… but as expected, it’s impossible. For Belsus and me to kill Kaline.’
Even just 2 vs 1 has slim odds, and there’s an archer behind Kaline?
At best, we can flee. I can’t even guarantee we can succeed in fleeing. The archer could just hide somewhere unseen and shoot Belsus.
“……”
I recalled the explanation I saw earlier.
[The possessor can share and receive the selected character’s unique ability.]
In other words, the Archer also shares and uses Kaline’s overpowered ability ‘Predation.’
He might help Kaline use the Predation ability on Belsus, or since he even has the same ability himself, he might devour Belsus on his own.
From the Archer’s perspective, there would be no obstacles at all. No need to hide himself, no bothersome elements. Because Belsus doesn’t have the power to threaten Kaline.
But I must prevent Belsus from dying while also not exposing my existence. Because the fact that other users don’t know of my existence is my only weapon.
‘……Right. The users don’t know of my existence.’
Kaline and even the Archer don’t know I’m attached to Belsus. They probably can’t guess at all.
And what’s even more chilling.
The voice in the third Reading is significantly clearer than the second Reading.
‘Too…… close.’
It was a voice that sounded almost right next to me.
The thought that Kaline is drawing his sword and approaching, combined with the thought that the Archer is hiding somewhere watching this way, made my palms sweat.
In reality, I was just a slave to the company, but after possessing here, I could immediately pull weeds and plant and cultivate seeds of plants I’d never seen before.
Then for other rankers, being able to use their weapons without even one practice session would be normal.
‘He’ll definitely hit. The Archer will, with an arrow, Belsus.’
My hands and feet trembled with tension.
The Archer’s arrow must be aimed at Belsus. Right now, in the time it takes to draw one breath, Belsus’s body could be pierced through.
Let’s hurry. I stepped a bit closer in front of Belsus.
Belsus was slumped almost like he was dead. As if trying to use minimal energy. He didn’t seem to care about me either.
But if I take any more action than this, Belsus will try to Read my thoughts to determine if I’m a threat.
That exact timing is what I must match.
In that brief 1-second moment when Belsus Reads me, I must think one thought in my head to induce Belsus to read my mind.
‘Belsus. There’s a sniper targeting you.’
If I think this, Belsus will immediately jump up.
……No.
I don’t know if Belsus has the strength to flee.
Can Belsus, who’s been starving for a whole week and has no strength, dodge a flying arrow?
I needed one more line to give Belsus even more motivation. One line to make Belsus squeeze out even the strength he doesn’t have and get up and run right now.
‘A provocative word? A threat? Scaring him? Lying?’
“……”
After brief agonizing, I decided what to say to Belsus.
Even after deciding, I felt fear.
I don’t know if it’ll go well. The Archer’s existence wasn’t in the game. Already the thought that I can’t see ahead makes me feel helpless and afraid.
But.
‘Even if mind games don’t suit my aptitude and gambling isn’t my taste.’
I must trust my judgment. Because my life depends on it.
I lightly kicked the end of Belsus’s leg with my foot.
“Hey, this is my spot.”
Flinch—the dirty cloth covering Belsus’s mouth and chin moved.
‘Right now.’
I met Belsus’s eyes, turbid like a drying mud puddle. Then I made my thoughts ring clearly in my head.
{Belsus. There’s a sniper chasing me. Please save me.}
……Light returned to the eyes that had been unfocused like a dead fish.
Belsus jumped up. The bastard scooped me up in one swift motion.
*Thunk!* An arrow flew like lightning and stuck in the spot where Belsus had been.
But Belsus had already significantly left that spot.
It was an unbelievably fast speed. Belsus kicked off the ground, raising a storm-like wind at an unseasonable time in the quiet alley.
I muttered quietly.
“As expected, you’re an unparalleled sucker in this world.”
Belsus doesn’t know who I am. He doesn’t know whether I’m someone who will harm him or not. He doesn’t know whether I’m in a position to repay him or not.
Yet without hesitation, he stepped forward, picked me up, and fled. From the sniper.
Even though I said the sniper was targeting him, with speed and strength he absolutely shouldn’t be able to display.
‘A bastard who helps others unconditionally to the point of seeming sick. A bastard who’s had his money and bread stolen hundreds of times with this build, who’s been beaten up countless times because he couldn’t bring himself to punch back at fellow beggars.’
This was the character I chose to try making into an emperor.
Our eyes met in the rushing wind. The bastard had a surprised face from hearing my muttering. But his feet didn’t stop.
Fourth Reading activation.
{This doesn’t make sense, how can someone starving to death be that fast?}
{Damn it, he couldn’t have gone far.}
The Archer’s and Kaline’s thoughts flowed into me in order.
And another voice too.
{What did this boy say to me……?}
Without waiting any longer, I snapped my fingers with a *snap!* My and Belsus’s bodies disappeared.
[Moving to the farm.]
[Guests: 1 person]
This is where it truly begins.
