HPDBC Chapter 324
Chapter 324
Chapter 324
A stunning offer from Teron: 100,000 gold just for signing a contract.
And Teron wasn’t done yet.
“A three-year contract, automatically terminated upon graduation, four days of work per week...”
A personal chef and servants, tutors for any subject I wanted, vacations to any destination during breaks, bonuses, equal status to him, the right to refuse commands... all these luxurious perks poured from Teron’s mouth.
“Even after graduation, the same benefits apply. If you choose to stay with me, I’ll triple all these rewards.”
As if what he’d listed wasn’t enough already—triple the benefits?
Honestly, with conditions like that, I’d consider becoming his pet if he asked.
“Oh, and you’re welcome to bring along your little pets. I can’t promise them the same treatment, but... I’ll see that they’re given at least a knight’s status.”
Pets. He was talking about Luna and Rezé.
Teron wasn’t exactly fond of them. Yet he was willing to accommodate both of them as well.
It showed not only his boldness but also how badly he wanted me.
“Keke, isn’t this a bit much? To invest so heavily in a mere student... aren’t you going a little overboard?”
“It’s fine. You’re worth it, Zero. Don’t worry about money. I could dismantle a couple pillars of my family estate if needed.”
Teron smiled with a friendly expression.
A smile that seemed to say, ‘Once those pillars are gone, you’ll be expected to replace them.’
“If there’s anything else you want, just say the word. I’ll do my best to provide it.”
Well, could you defeat the final boss for me?
—If I said that, he’d probably agree without hesitation.
Teron wanted me that much.
“Don’t you have any requests? Well, it doesn’t matter. Just tell me if anything comes to mind. What matters right now is...”
Teron leaned forward slightly. His chair creaked ominously.
“Whether you’ll stand under me, or become my enemy. That’s all I care about.”
“Keke, it’s such a generous offer that I’d like a few days to think...”
“Very well, I suppose you’d need time. I’ll give you a minute.”
With that, Teron pulled out a pocket watch.
How exactly did “a few days” translate to one minute?
But even a minute was something he granted only because it was me. Had it been anyone else, he wouldn’t have waited a second for a response.
Teron was showing me yet another form of... consideration.
Tick-tock.
The second hand of the pocket watch echoed through the underground chamber.
In the dim light of a single glowstone, I could see it.
The hint of nervousness in Teron’s eyes.
‘Teron’s never made an offer like this before.’
Kidnapping someone after midterm grades were posted? That never happened in the game.
Offering this kind of absurd reward? That was new, too.
A bit of calculation was in order. One minute might not be much, but it was enough.
‘After all, I’ve faced countless choices like this playing this cursed game.’
Situations where you had to choose the right path within a time limit—sometimes as short as ten seconds.
Compared to that, a whole minute was generous.
Closing my eyes to focus, countless puzzle pieces began falling into place in my mind.
‘Could I clear the game if I used Teron and his family’s power to grow stronger?’
Taking over the first-year class with Teron’s help.
Coaxing Alex, Raymon, Yuridia, and Victoria into forming my primary party.
There might be some issues with Rodelin, but in the end, she’d likely join too.@@@@
‘She’d probably value saving the continent above all else.’
And if I recruited Teron, he wouldn’t be the only one joining my secondary party.
Daike, his loyal hunting dog, would follow as well.
Me, Luna, Rezé, Teron, and Daike?
There’d be no party more powerful than that.
‘With Teron’s backing, securing support from the Vyuern family would make early growth much easier.’
Equipment, experience, connections, skills...
I might even get my hands on a potion better than the one we got this time.
Of course, there were concerns.
But if Teron could guarantee just a few things, or rather, if he could guarantee ‘that one thing,’ I might consider joining him.
After a brief moment of thought, I reached my conclusion.
“My choice is...”
Scratch, scratch.
“So, I’ll...”
Scratch, scratch.
“...?”
Teron’s brow furrowed.
It was only natural; our critical moment was being interrupted.
Our gazes turned to Daike. But he was doing nothing at all.
“Even if it goes against your family’s wishes?”
The hand Teron had extended began to tremble.
The Vyuern family. His greatest source of strength, yet also his biggest weakness.
Sure, you could argue that all noble children were bound to their families, but...
‘Rodelin and Yuridia are different.’
Teron would never be free of his family. Even if—
Even if he died.
Perhaps he understood this as well, for Teron’s lips began to tremble, pale.
“That... might be a bit difficult. But I’ll do my best. It’s not as though your goal is to destroy my family, is it?”
“True. But there will be times when we clash. Can you support me then? If you could simply convey my opinion to Duke Zeppelin...” (TL Note: Changed from Jepherin to Zeppelin)
“...No, that’s impossible.”
“I see. Then I’m afraid I must decline your offer.”
There were multiple reasons I turned down Teron’s offer, but two stood out.
First, I couldn’t control someone bound to his family.
Teron was practically a puppet of his father, Duke Zeppelin.
If I helped Teron take control of the academy, his family’s demands would soon come crashing down on me, and I’d end up being pulled along until graduation.
‘He says he’s giving me the right to refuse, but that’s hardly absolute.’
There were countless items and fortuitous events I needed to secure outside the academy, and I couldn’t afford to be shackled by Teron.
Any allies gained from a random party arrangement were meaningless.
This was the first reason I was about 30% inclined to reject his offer.
And the second reason—the one that made up the remaining 70%.
‘The likelihood of a bad ending is just too high.’
In the game, becoming Teron’s subordinate was relatively easy.
Though the specifics varied with affection, timing, growth, and quests, one thing remained consistent.
‘A bad ending.’
And not just any bad ending—the worst kind: death.
‘Once Teron’s contract with a demon is exposed, those supporting him die in the aftermath.’
Though the story had diverged significantly by now, I wasn’t about to bet my life on an uncertain future.
Besides, Teron was the boss that closed out Chapter 2.
In this game, bosses might change depending on the story, but that only made me more determined to keep the storyline stable.
‘I have no desire to face a boss I don’t know, with unknown gimmicks and attack patterns.’
Meanwhile, I had Teron’s strategies and weaknesses perfectly memorized.
There was no reason to take a risk.
“...”
Perhaps stunned by the rejection, Teron stood there, hand extended, looking dazed.
‘If this were a game, I might have taken that hand...’
But this was reality.
No matter how tempting Teron was, I couldn’t risk my life for him.
“Lord Teron...!”
Daike, who had tossed Rezé aside, rushed to Teron’s side.
I quickly made my way to Rezé, who was still suspended in the air.
Since I’d rejected Teron’s offer, she was now a precious party member of mine.
Or rather, someone I’d need to put to work. That was the more accurate term.
Which meant I couldn’t afford for her to get hurt.
“Eep!”
I caught Rezé safely.
It turned out to be a princess-carry position, though the one embarrassed by it was Rezé, not me.
“Keke, are you alright?”
“P-please put me down...”
She covered her face with her hands, but her bright red ears gave her away.
“I’ll set you down if you promise to be a loyal doormat from now on.”
“W-what! A doormat! That’s... that’s too much!”
Oh, so it’s fine when you try to make me a doormat?
Such impudence. She ought to be sentenced to thirty minutes of being carried like this.
I was enjoying teasing Rezé, watching her squirm and avoid my gaze, when suddenly she froze.
“A-actually... is that... is that okay?”
Following her gaze, I turned my head.
In the dim basement, a figure stood, glaring menacingly from the opposite side.
It was Teron’s hunting dog, Daike, with a fierce look in his eyes.
–TL Notes–
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /InsanityTheGame
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt