The Tutorial Boss

The moment I entered, I looked at the mage who jumped in shock.

“Y-you are?!”

‘Same reaction.’

The wide eyes, the involuntary step back—exactly the same as in the game.

‘His level seems about the same too….’

At this level—

‘It’s doable.’

Having gone through countless retries and replays, I knew this mage’s patterns completely.

If this were still a game, I could defeat him with my eyes closed.

‘Careful.’

But I moved cautiously.

This wasn’t a game.

This was reality.

A thug’s punch—something that would’ve just shown “[10 damage!]” in a game—had already made my nose bleed.

This mage was far stronger.

Instead of a nosebleed, my brains could get blown out.

“W-why would someone like you….”

I carefully composed myself and spoke with a stern expression.

“Do I need to answer someone like you?”

“!!!”

The mage’s eyes widened, mana gathering in them instantly.

I swung my chain at him.

Slash!

“Ugh!”

“Don’t even think about peeking at me with those sly eyes. I’m in a very bad mood right now.”

“S-sorry.”

The ability he tried to use was mana detection.

Even though I interrupted it, he must’ve seen a glimpse.

In a game, a line like this would appear:

[H-how does he have this much mana…?!]

Anyway, this made the mage misunderstand me.

“A-are you… a high-ranking mage?”

A misunderstanding only possible because he was a mage himself.

“Of course.”

I lifted the chain.

“How else do you think I’m handling this?”

“!!!”

His trembling intensified.

Pitifully shaking.

‘But he’ll stab me the moment he sees an opening.’

A criminal, expelled from the Magic Tower, living in the slums.

Afraid now—but opportunistic.

‘Deceive him, then strike.’

That was my optimal route.

“W-why would someone like you come to such a humble place….”

I cut him off.

“I came to judge your sins.”

“S-sins…?”

“Yes.”

I stepped forward, dragging the chain.

He stepped back in fear, knocking over potions and books.

The floor flooded with mana-infused liquids.

‘Right about now…’

In the game, he’d say:

[Did the Magic Tower send someone to kill me?!]

Cornered, he dropped to his knees.

“P-please spare me!”

“Why should I?”

“I-I haven’t done anything since being exiled! It’s a misunderstanding!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes!”

Thinking he was convincing me, he continued.

“I-I’m here to prevent criminals from misusing magic! I have no intention of opposing the Magic Tower!”

The Magic Tower strictly prohibits crimes using magic.

Which means—

If magic isn’t used, crimes are often ignored.

But if their authority is challenged?

‘You and your entire family get erased.’

Even famous families.

Burned and wiped from history.

That was the Magic Tower.

And he was an exiled mage from it.

So of course—

He feared me.

Even though it was all a misunderstanding.

“Really? But that’s not why I’m here.”

“…What?”

I leaned in and whispered.

“I simply hate exiles like myself.”

“!!!!!!!”

His eyes widened even more.

“Butcher Margan….”

“Oh? You know me?”

‘Good. The settings are the same.’

Margan—a notorious exiled mage who slaughtered his overseer.

He had mistaken me for him.

Perfect.

“Now then.”

I tapped him.

“I’m going to kill you. What do you think?”

“P-please….”

“Don’t want to die?”

He nodded instantly.

“Then give me what I want.”

“Y-yes! Anything! Just spare me!”

“Good.”

This was just a threat.

I couldn’t get anything otherwise.

“A mana-absorbing artifact. The best one. Preferably a belt.”

“Y-yes!”

The mage hurriedly searched the room.

‘Interesting.’

If my acting had been off, this wouldn’t work.

‘Am I that good at acting?’

…Oh right.

I’m wearing a mask.

‘…It should be about time.’

As he moved to the corner, I recalled the pattern.

The reason players fail to get rewards.

He suddenly attacks.

‘Neck first.’

I raised the chain.

‘Now.’

Fwoooooosh—

Piiiiiing!

The room froze instantly.

Ice arrows shot toward me.

They melted upon touching the chain.

But the chill remained.

‘As expected….’

Even my heart felt cold.

Magic was unknown territory.

Even if weakened.

Even if I knew the pattern.

Could I really handle it?

‘…I will.’

If I fail, I die.

No retries.

This is reality.

I moved ahead of the next pattern.

‘Next—both sides.’

Piiiiiing!

Arrows from both sides.

I deflected them with precise movement.

Crash!

An artifact shattered.

I exhaled lightly and asked:

“What are you doing?”

“S-sorry!”

He slammed his head down.

Convincing.

But I wasn’t fooled.

“Typical exile behavior.”

Crash!

He threw a potion.

Toxic smoke filled the room.

[Poison is invading your body.]

The room filled with cursed smoke.

The mage, now wearing a mask, glared madly.

“No matter who you are—this is my domain!!”

“Air’s a bit stuffy.”

Already expected.

[Resisted poison.]

I tapped my mask.

“Nice mask. Keeps blood out too.”

“Damn it!”

He took out another vial.

Red liquid.

Blood magic.

“Twist!!!”

Crash!

Blood turned into mana.

A forbidden technique.

“I told you.”

I raised the chain.

“This is pointless.”

Whoosh!

Before it completed—

I shattered the spell.

“!”

The chain wrapped around his neck.

Like a snake.

“Ugh…!”

He grabbed it.

A mistake.

His face turned pale.

“Cough…!”

The chain drained his mana.

For him—

A cursed artifact.

“R-release….”

‘Good thing I have this.’

As long as I stop his spells early—

Easy.

If he were a proper mage, this would be harder.

But he wasn’t.

I pulled him closer.

“H-how do you have this much mana….”

I said nothing.

“How are you enduring….”

Tighten.

I choked him.

He fainted.

“Tch.”

I dropped him.

“You’d be dead without this.”

A trash character needs good items.

Even then—still bad.

“Now then.”

I rubbed my hands.

“Time for rewards.”

I searched the room.

“Event clear yet?”

[Event Clear!]

[You cleared Raon Rigbelto’s tutorial event.]

[Boss ‘Nameless Mage’ defeated. Contribution: S]

[All rewards unlocked.]

[Search the room freely!]

“…Nothing else?”

[…]

Yeah. Thought so.

I searched everything.

Potions. Items.

Then—

‘Found it.’

Smash!

A bottle of blood.

13 — Girl

A 13-year-old girl’s blood.

Disgusting.

‘Should I kill him?’

Killing wasn’t required.

But leaving him alive…

Problem later.

I hesitated.

‘…Tie him first.’

I bound him tightly.

Then took my reward.

[Hungry Belt]

Absorbs mana and strengthens the body.

[Mana -1]

Simple.

Weak.

Trash item for most.

‘But not for me.’

Click.

Equipped.

I looked at the mage.

‘What should I do with him….’

Then—

I felt it.

Instinct.

I stepped back.

BOOOOOOM!!!

The wall exploded.

A hole opened.

Someone walked in.

My eyes widened.

“Found you.”

…Why are you here?