[Ending the game.]
[Starting experience calculation.]
[Chun Ji-min's bond level is 2.]
[Acquired 1 bonus point for reaching bond level 2.]
[Yang Jung-min's bond level is 3.]
[Acquired 3 bonus points for reaching bond level 3.]
[Choi Sun-mi's bond level is 6.]
[Acquired 14 bonus points for reaching bond level 6.]
[Level up.]
[Acquired 19 points.]
[Reaching level 30 allows you to choose the starting point of some creative works.]
Returning to reality from the 'Vampire Detective' world, I sat on the sofa chair and immediately stopped the game to read through the logs.
"Phew... It took almost a month to reach level 30."
I hadn't done anything special. It was just a cycle of eating, sleeping, and... well, "doing it." The "doing it" part, of course, refers to sex.
"The vampire's... wasn't as great as I thought it would be."
The inside of a vampire was cold. Still, since there was some lubrication and it was tight, it was better than a sex toy. I think I'd enjoy it occasionally as a treat.
"Bond levels, huh."
Currently, the characters with the highest bond levels are Hera and Choi Sun-mi. Honestly, I still don't get it. It doesn't seem like bond levels increase just from having sex. It's just that they give bonus points, which is nice.
"Do they enjoy sex more if their bond level is higher?"
Bond levels aren't a measure of affection or liking. Currently, Moon Ji-hyuk's bond level is 5. Moon Ji-hyuk is trying hard to forget me in his daily life. Yet, his bond level is still 5. Once a bond level increases, it never decreases.
I thought about bond levels for a moment, then shifted my focus to my level. I don't need to figure out bond levels right now.
"Level 30. Being able to choose a starting point... means I can start earlier or later than the original story."
This is a significant advantage. Knowing what will happen in the future, I can prepare more easily before the original story begins and gain benefits.
=====
[Name: Seong Eugene]
[Level: 30]
[Stats]
[Strength: 21]
[Stamina: 21]
[Agility: 22]
[Intelligence: 12]
[Vitality: 24]
[Available Points: 77]
=====
"I should raise my Yeongcheon Style level. Who knows? If the Yeongcheon Ryu level increases... I might awaken mana."
My mind is currently filled with thoughts about Yeongcheon Style. The lightning and shadows shown by Jin Woo-sung at the Yeongcheon Sword Hall. Those images won't leave my mind.
"Should I raise my vitality stat? Lately, I feel like I've been lacking in energy."
=====
[Name: Seong Eugene]
[Level: 30]
[Stats]
[Strength: 21]
[Stamina: 21]
[Agility: 22]
[Intelligence: 12]
[Vitality: 30]
[Available Points: 30]
=====
"Ah, now I feel like I can live again."
In 'Vampire Detective,' all I did was have sex. Wake up in the morning, have sex. Eat lunch, have sex. Dinner was outdoor sex.
"I ejaculated 30 times a day."
If I ejaculated more than 5 times in a row, even I would get tired. If I didn't have the Complete Recovery skill, ejaculating 30 times a day would have been impossible. I probably would have died from overexertion before seeing the ending of 'Vampire Detective.'
"I want to raise my vitality stat to 50... how many points do I need?"
[10 points are required to raise the Vitality stat.]
[Do you want to raise the Vitality stat?]
"10 points just to raise Vitality? Tch."
I shook my head. I turned my eyes away from the stat window. If I kept looking, I might impulsively raise other stats. I'm saving points to raise my Yeongcheon Style level. I only raised the Vitality stat because it's absolutely necessary.
"What new creative works are available this time?"
I looked at the selectable creative works with anticipation.
- Justin's Sword (Manga)
"This is something I read in elementary school. It's about a talking sword."
It's a nostalgic manga. When a friend brought manga to school, I borrowed and read it. It was fun, but my current goal is mana awakening. A talking sword? Who cares.
- The Greatest Sex Tournament (AV)
I almost selected it just from the title.
This is an AV where 7 AV actresses compete to determine who has the best... equipment.
"Only A-list AV actresses appear. Damn!"
I'll check it out later when I'm bored.
- The Fallen Demon Lord (Novel)
"This is a martial arts novel I read a while ago."
It's about a demon lord who conquers the martial world but is defeated by the King of Hell and cursed to reincarnate in another martial world. The curse forces the reincarnated demon lord to do good deeds.
"Wait, there's a spirit medicine in this."
A spirit medicine that increases internal energy just by consuming it!
If I steal and consume the spirit medicine meant for the protagonist...
"Calm down. There's a line in the novel that says if an ordinary person consumes the spirit medicine, they won't gain internal energy but will live a long, healthy life."
And if I bring the spirit medicine to reality, its effects will definitely diminish.
"But this is worth a try. The Fallen Demon Lord. I'll keep it in mind."
- Black Life (Novel, Game)
Black Life is a fantasy zombie apocalypse story. The novel came first, followed by the game.
"The novel completely flopped, but the mobile game was popular for a while."
I played the game too, but not for long. The game didn't have a set story. It was just about killing zombies or monsters and collecting cute female characters with pretty illustrations. At the time, it was a fairly fresh mobile game, so it was popular for about a month. After that, it crashed.
"The game and novel are completely different, but they're in the same category? So, what's the content of the creative work?"
I was curious, but there was no reason to dive into this creative work.
- The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated in a Count's Family (Novel)
"It's been a while. A friend recommended it to me in middle school."
It was a total of 10 volumes, and I enjoyed it.
The plot follows Dan San-woo, a plum blossom swordsman from the Hwasan Sect, who reincarnates as the second son of a count's family in a fantasy world and establishes the Hwasan Sect.
It was a growth-type harem novel with overpowered characters. I remember there were 5 heroines. It's been so long that I don't remember the characters' names well.
"What was it? In the end, he marries all 5 heroines... Hmm, I don't remember much. Was there a setting where the Magic Tower controlled the economy?"
A shiver ran down my spine.
"Hell Yeah!"
I jumped up from the sofa and shouted.
In "The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated in a Count's Family," there's a condition called "Mana Insensitivity." It's a congenital condition where one cannot sense mana.
However, the Magic Tower solved this problem by creating a "Mana Awakening Potion." Simply drinking it allows one to sense mana.
"I remember this clearly. At the time, I thought that even without abilities, just awakening mana would allow me to become a hunter."
With this, I might be able to awaken mana too.
"Even if the effect diminishes in reality... if I drink 2 or 3 bottles in a row...! There's a possibility!"
I suppressed my growing excitement.
I have too little information about "The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated in a Count's Family," abbreviated as "Baekhwan." My vague memories only recall a few impressive settings, and I can't even remember the protagonist's name properly.
"It's okay. I can just read the novel again."
I immediately went online and searched for "Baekhwan."
Search results popped up.
"...What? Why is it so unpopular?"
Most netizen reviews called it a trash novel. I remember enjoying it.
"Netizens' analysis... there isn't any."
Since it's unpopular, there's no reason for anyone to analyze it.
Well, it doesn't matter.
I can just meet the author directly, pay for the setting book, or ask for advice.
***
I couldn't get the setting book for "Baekhwan."
The author died in a traffic accident 3 years ago, and according to the author's older brother, the author deleted the setting book themselves.
I heard that after publishing "Baekhwan," the author quit writing, saying they had no talent.
"Found it. An analysis post about 'Baekhwan.'"
It was a post from 5 years ago. After scouring various novel-related sites, I found an analysis post about "Baekhwan" in an old portal site's cafe.
Even if "Baekhwan" is unpopular, the fact that it was published in 10 volumes means it had some fans.
"56 analysis posts."
Of course, I also re-read "Baekhwan" and analyzed it. However, it was difficult to do an in-depth analysis.
"Now that I look at it, it's so boring."
I can't understand why I enjoyed it so much in the past.
"It's frustrating to the point of wanting to die."
The protagonist was a pushover and a fool. He meddled in things, talking about justice and morality. Moreover, he was incredibly dense in romance. Even when someone clearly showed interest, he couldn't tell. It was so hypocritical it was almost disgusting.
"He's at a level where if you just stick it in, he'd moan and like it, so why doesn't he get it?"
Considering the atmosphere at the time, it's not entirely incomprehensible. Back then, such protagonists were the trend. Also, this is an all-ages novel, and the author was in middle or high school when it was published.
"...Well, fine. Since he's a pushover, he'll be easy to use."
After finishing my analysis of "Baekhwan," I made a perfect plan.
"Just make money. If you have money, the Magic Tower will sell anything."
The Magic Tower in "Baekhwan" was more like a corporation. If you had money, they didn't care about your status. There's even a setting where you can buy titles with money.
"Then let's start. As long as I don't start as a slave, it's fine."
[You have selected "The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated in a Count's Family."]
[Avatar is being created.]
[There are 3 available avatar settings to choose from.]
"Three options. I'm glad I can choose."
[1. Eugene Tykers
-31 years old. Slave.
-Former mercenary who became a slave after raping a village girl and being caught by guards.
-Lost his left eye fighting the guards.
-Made a contract with a demon in prison.]
[2. Eugene Pruckus
-15 years old. Noble.
-Third son and youngest of the Pruckus family.
-Son of Haruel Delisik.
-Skilled with his hands.
-Has a congenital heart condition.]
[3. Eugene James
-27 years old. Mercenary.
-Leader of the Gojin Go Mercenary Group.
-Excellent strategist.
-No conscience.]
I scanned the three avatars.
"No need to think deeply. Eugene Pruckus. I can't believe I'll be the protagonist's younger brother."
The Pruckus Count family.
This is the main setting of the novel. The protagonist, who died in the martial world, reincarnates as the second son of the count's family.
"This... my plan might go even better than I thought."
In the original story, the protagonist pushes aside the eldest son and becomes the official heir. This is due to his talent and abilities in swordsmanship. Later, he becomes an aura master at a young age and is revered as a hero, so there's no way he wouldn't become the heir.
"I'll take over the count's family. And I'll take all the heroines too. Hehe..."
I'll use him like Moon Ji-hyuk. No, in some ways, it might be easier to use him than Moon Ji-hyuk. After all, I'm the protagonist's younger brother.
"I love it!"
[You can choose the starting point of the original story.]
[Default: 1 year before, 3 years before, 1 year after, 2 years after.]
"I can really choose the starting point! Things are going smoothly."
First, I'll exclude the starting points after the original story begins.
To swallow the count's family, I need to build a foundation before the protagonist grows.
"1 year before seems just right..."
3 years before isn't a bad choice either. More time means more things I can do. I pondered.
Then something flashed through my mind.
"Wait, if it's 3 years before... Hehehe. The timing is just perfect!"
I chose 3 years before.
I'll do everything I can. I'll take everything I can get.
[Starting the game.]
***
I woke up in a large bed.
It was a luxurious room. Decorations and high-end furniture were placed here and there on the walls. A chandelier on the ceiling lit up the interior. The room felt excessively large.
"It's bigger than the Yeongcheon Sword Hall's private training room."
Next to the bed was a table with a kettle and paper.
As I sat up, I habitually reached for my smartphone. It was next to the pillow.
"It's here after all."
It was an item that didn't quite fit the world's setting. Just in case, I tried opening the internet, but it didn't connect.
Then I belatedly realized my hands were small. My skin was so pale it looked like it had been powdered.
"...Was Eugene Pruckus' setting 15 years old? But my hands are too small for that."
***
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