The Golden Sun of Arcadia
Golden rays of Arcadia's sun sliced into Arion's room, waking him up with every trace of pain and exhaustion washed away. He felt pure energy coursing through his veins, like he had downed ten cups of coffee at once. Beside him, Leora and Kalin slept peacefully, Kalin's light snoring producing a strange melody that sounded like two kittens fighting. Arion smiled. "At least they're safe. As for me... I'm no longer that idiot Malakai's slave. The life of a 'Lord of Kingdoms' begins now... with figuring out how to feed us first."
After a quick breakfast of bread and cheese brought by Elian, Arion set out. "Today's plan: sell the wolf meat, then join the Adventurers' Guild. No time to rest when your purse is empty."
---
Arcadia: City of Heroes... and Fools
Arion wore a plain brown cloak Elian had given him, hiding his features and making him look like a shady character from a cheap novel. Arcadia's streets were far from the village he once knew—this was a human beehive buzzing with life. He saw knights clad in shining armor radiating real auras of power, and mages flicking colorful sparks from their hands as if celebrating something grand.
"These are the real professionals," Arion thought. "Knights with auras boosting their strength, mages fueled by mana. As for magic knights, they're as rare as honesty in politics."
A devilish glint flashed in Arion's eyes. "I'm not a magic knight, but the system lets me mix skills. If I swing a sword with a bit of fire, these idiots might just buy it. Appearance... sometimes it's worth more than actual power."
Ding~
[Skill Crafter – Creation Mode]
"I want an aura," Arion thought eagerly. "A completely fake one. A visual trick that costs nothing and does nothing. Just a cheap light show."
[Analyzing requested skill: Fake Boastful Aura]
Proposed description: Creates a faint visual glow around the user. Has absolutely no effect. Zero power, zero protection—just looks. Its size shifts with the user's emotions (especially pride, anger, or deep fear), making it more convincing to idiots.
Expected rank: F (comically useless).
Mana cost: 10 (to activate).
Cooldown: None.
Arion smashed the "Create" button, mumbling, "Please, you cursed system, approve this nonsense!"
[...Success!]
Ding~
[Skill created: Fake Boastful Aura (Rank F)]
"It worked!" Arion screamed inwardly. "An aura that does absolutely nothing but makes me look important! What gloriously stupid genius! Appearance is everything in this world!"
---
Selling the Meat: Bargain Ends in Laughs (At Arion's Expense)
Arion headed to the meat market and spotted a butcher built like a bear. He approached like a shadow.
"I have meat for sale."
The butcher lifted his massive head. "And what have you got, ghost?"
Fshoo~
Arion revealed 4 kilograms of Greater Shadow Wolf meat. The butcher's eyes widened. "Greater Shadow Wolf? That's rare! But... tough as stone. Useless for roasting."
"Of course I know that," Arion replied coldly, faking confidence as he activated Fake Boastful Aura. A faint glow surrounded him. "This meat is for potent potions and rare recipes. It's valuable to those who understand... and I don't deal with people who don't." Please buy this crap!
The butcher squinted at the odd aura. "Hmm... I'll give you 80 copper."
"Eighty?!" Arion snapped, while inside his head screamed, "Is that good? I hope I don't look like an idiot!" He snapped louder, "The blonde at the last guild offered more for smaller wolf meat! You trying to cheat me?" (Total lie, but it sounded good.)
The aura flared slightly with his fake confidence. The butcher stepped back. "But it's tough!"
"But it's rare!" Arion shot back, remembering Malakai and how he'd crush him one day, fueling the aura's glow. "If you're not interested, I'll take it to the city mage. He'll pay its true worth."
The butcher licked his lips. "Fine, fine! 100 copper. Final offer."
"Deal," Arion said, hiding a grin under his cloak. "Yes! Fooled him! 100 copper! I'm a genius! That blonde would've robbed me blind!"
[Pouch: 100 copper]
After Arion left, the butcher burst out laughing. "What a lucky fool! Sold it for 100 copper? This meat will brew potions worth at least 500! That weird aura of his screams nothing but insanity. What a day!"
---
Adventurers' Guild: Where Legendary Misunderstandings Begin
After securing a modest inn for his siblings, Arion marched to the Adventurers' Guild. The place teemed with heroes and glory seekers. Behind the front desk stood a new receptionist named Serena, with short red hair and bright blue eyes brimming with enthusiasm.
"How can I help you?" she asked with a cheerful smile.
"I'd like to register," Arion said in his deepest, fakest voice.
Fshoooo~
He unleashed the Fake Boastful Aura at maximum swagger, surrounding himself with a faint human flame.
Serena's eyes widened. "Welcome to Arcadia's Guild! Do you have any recommendations?"
"My experience is my recommendation." Arion said coldly.
"Of course! What's your class, sir? Knight? Mage?"
"I wield sword and fire."
"A magic knight!" Serena gasped. "I've never seen a magic knight with an aura like this!"
At that moment, a huge knight named Robert passed by. He looked at Arion's aura with disdain and then curiosity. "This aura... looks fake, but it's unsettling. What is this nonsense?"
"Sir Robert," Serena said nervously, "he's a new adventurer."
"New, with that aura?" Robert scoffed. "Either he's insanely strong or just insane."
"You may start with a D-rank quest, sir," Serena said.
"No." Arion cut her off. Inside, he screamed, "D-rank? After everything I've been through? No way! I have to prove myself!" Out loud, he said, "Give me a B-rank quest."
Serena gasped. "B-rank?! But that's for seasoned adventurers!"
"Don't waste my time." Arion said, his heart pounding in his chest.
"If you fail, you'll be the city's joke," Robert warned with a mocking grin.
"I won't fail," Arion said, pouring every ounce of bravado into his worthless aura that now glowed brighter.
"My god!" whispered a nearby adventurer. "His aura says: 'Get close and I'll turn you to ashes!'"
"Alright..." Serena stammered, "B-rank quest: eliminate five forest wolves—"
Before she could finish, the unexpected happened.
Ding~
A massive system window popped up, visible only to Arion.
[New Quest: Defeat Gorf the Bully]
Reward: Random magic skill upgrade.
Failure: Nothing.
The shock made Arion blurt out, "WHAT?!"
Everyone froze. Serena interpreted his outburst as outrage at the mission's simplicity. "Oh my! Do you think this mission insults you?" Her eyes gleamed with a reckless idea. "You're right! You deserve a bigger challenge! I'll give you an A-rank quest!"
"WHAT?!" Robert barked this time. "Serena, are you insane?!"
Arion wanted to scream, "NO! I'm weak! It's just a trick!" But he saw the awe and fear in everyone's eyes. If he backed down now, he'd look like a clown. "Damn this system and my stupid show-off plan!"
"Fine," Arion said hoarsely, trying to hide the tremor in his voice. "I accept."
Serena handed him the paper, eyes sparkling.
[A-rank Quest: Bring back a Sabertooth Bloom]
Description: A flower growing on the head of a Sabertooth Beast (Level 20–25), a semi-transparent, deadly creature.
Reward: 1,000 copper, and an elixir that boosts one stat.
Arion stared at the description. "A Sabertooth Beast? I'm screwed. All this because of one stupid shout. This is the price of boasting!"
He left the guild, leaving behind hushed murmurs of "The mad magic knight you don't want to anger."