[Gained rewards: Strength +10, Agility +10, Charm +2, Moonlit Physique (Lv. 1)]
[Moonlit Physique (Lv. 1): +15% agility and reflexes, +20% night vision, +10% stamina regeneration during night or moonlit conditions.]
As soon as the system finished the prompt, Liam felt something change within him. He even felt the accumulated fatigue lessen quite a bit.
'Finally, completed this damn quest.'
Liam thought, taking a long breath to calm himself down. Due to the penalty of failure, he had to complete this absurd quest even if he didn't want to.
After all, he couldn't just abandon the cheat he finally got, could he?
'But at least I managed to gain something in return.'
He thought, feeling the illusion of strength coursing through his veins.
'If I complete a few more quests like this, maybe I won't need to hide in the future.'
He thought, feeling hope ignite in his heart.
After all, he wasn't from this world but had transmigrated a few days ago as Liam Cromwell, the only son of Duke Cromwell.
Unfortunately, he belatedly realized that he was actually in the world of a novel he had read—The Return of the Emperor.
It was the story of the protagonist, Adrian, the fallen heir of a ruined empire, whose sole goal was to revive it and become Emperor.
As for him, he was just the cannon-fodder son of Duke Cromwell, who died along with his family when the Duke failed to usurp the royal throne in a coup.
Honestly, in the novel, he wasn't even mentioned by name. It was merely stated that Duke Cromwell was executed along with his entire family once the original protagonist, Adrian, stopped him.
Basically, if he didn't do anything, his days were numbered.
'System, show me my status panel.'
Liam asked in his mind when a transparent panel appeared in his vision that only he could see.
—
[Name: Liam Cromwell]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 19]
[Title(s): None]
[Affiliation: House of Cromwell (Duke's Heir)]
[Alignment: Chaotic Neutral]
[Class: None]
[Trait – Moonlit Physique (Lv. 1)]
[Attributes:]
Strength: 16
Agility: 15
Endurance: 6
Intelligence: 8
Charm: 11
Mana: 0
[Skills:]
[Basic Swordsmanship] – Lv. 2
[Noble Etiquette] – Lv. 1
[Horse Riding] – Lv. 2
[System: Unstoppable]
[Quest Completion: 1/3]
—
'Hmm… my strength has increased beyond the normal threshold. Maybe now I can try to awaken my mana core?'
Liam thought with a little smile, seeing 16 points of strength on his status panel and the new trait he had gotten.
After all, from his test, he knew that 10 points was the general attribute of a normal healthy person in this world. And to awaken a mana core, a person had to have a stronger body than that, since there was a risk of dying during the process.
That's why Duke Cromwell never allowed him to awaken rashly but asked him to increase his strength through training.
But the previous body was too lazy to do so and was hence hailed as useless by everyone until his death.
"Hey, Liam… why are you smiling like that? A-Are you alright?"
While Liam was busy with his thoughts, Fiora's words brought his attention back as he slowly looked at the girl next to him.
Fiora Greymont, the youngest daughter of Count Henry Greymont. She was a childhood acquaintance of Liam Cromwell.
She was one of the female leads of the novel The Return of The Emperor. Unfortunately, since the novel was about hegemony and war, the protagonist Adrian didn't really care about girls that much.
Still, with her full blond hair cascading over her shoulder, blue mesmerizing eyes, and voluptuous figure in her wedding gown, she looked quite beautiful.
"You can get out now!"
But did Liam care? Of course not.
If not for her asking his help to initiate an unstoppable quest that he had to complete, he wouldn't have helped her.
In fact, in the original novel, she fled the marriage and met Adrian on the run, thereby causing conflict between him and Kaelen Duskbane.
He remembered that he hated this girl while reading that novel since she always brought problems for the protagonist one way or another.
So, there was no way he was going to keep her now.
"Excuse me?"
However, hearing him, Fiora blinked her eyes as she didn't quite understand what he said.
"I mean, now that I have completed what you wanted, it is time for you to leave. Oh, and don't forget to give me the elemental crystal you mentioned."
Liam said with a clear look, not wanting to forfeit the reward he was supposed to get according to their agreement.
"Are you… Kidding with me?"
Hearing him once again, Fiora scrunched her nose with wide eyes as if she couldn't believe he was spouting nonsense.
'Wasn't he the one insisting on taking me to his mansion? Now, why does he want me to leave?'
Fiora couldn't help but get angry at his antics. Looking at that innocent face of Liam waiting for her to complete the deal and leave, she almost wanted to punch him in the face.
'If I could use my mana, I'd show you who you're messing with.'
She thought, feeling that she still couldn't regulate her mana. She didn't know where this guy got that drug that could neutralize her power so effectively without her knowledge.
"What are you doing? Fast… give me my crystal and you can go."
Liam saw Fiora still frozen in surprise and asked again, waking her up.
"You…"
"Young Master, Lord Edward and Madam Emma have arrived."
Just when Fiora was about to get angry, the previous maid hurriedly entered the room, warning Liam. However, it seemed she was a step late, as Liam saw two figures directly entering right after.
"What the fuck did you do?"
As soon as Duke Edward entered the room, he immediately released his aura at full force, blasting it toward Liam in fury.
"Swish!"
"Ugh!"
The attack was unexpected. Liam suddenly felt weak all over, dread flooding his body as if he were drowning under a heavy tide.