Became the final boss in the game

Episode 4
The wyverns fall down in droves.

‘Who is it?’

In the meantime, a mysterious figure stands there.

Perhaps to avoid being recognized or because they shouldn’t be recognized, they are cloaked in mana, covering their entire body, including their face.

This makes it hard to lower their guard.

‘They probably aren’t an enemy since they saved me… but…’

Covering their entire body with mana likely means this person has some sort of issue with their identity.Even though they saved me, I can’t afford to relax right now.

“Don’t let your guard down. There’s no guarantee they’re not an enemy.”

The vice-captain spoke to the knights waiting behind, telling them to stay alert and tightened his grip on his sword, ready to respond to any potential danger.

His attention was fully on the mysterious figure.

“Lower your sword. It would be rude to the one who saved us.”

At that moment, a voice came from inside the carriage.

The door opened, and a woman stepped out.

“Princess! It’s dangerous! Please get inside!”

The 3rd Princess of the Canary Kingdom, Aris Bell Canaryan.

“There’s no difference between inside and outside.”

Aris said coldly as she blocked the vice-captain’s way.

“Without the commander, no one can stop this knight.”

“That’s…”

It’s true.

With the current forces, there’s no way they can stop this knight.

“Whether you stay or go, it won’t change anything. Isn’t that right?”

“Ugh…”

“Then step aside.”

“…Yes.”

At Aris’s command, the vice-captain lowered his sword and stepped back.

She then slowly walked toward the mysterious knight.

“Princess, even so, approaching him is dangerous…”

“I said step aside.”

The vice-captain hesitated and took a step back in front of her determined stance.

“First, I should thank you. For saving me…”

Just as the princess was about to bow respectfully,

A wyvern near her moved.

‘Is it still alive?’

With a roar, the wyvern shot flames toward the princess.

“Princess!!”

The vice-captain rushed forward, but the distance was too great to stop it.

‘Damn it…!’

At that moment, the mysterious knight moved in front of the princess,

Blocking the flames with his back.

The knight didn’t even flinch despite taking the fireball head-on.

It was a truly incredible display of mana.

‘The mana barrier was so strong that there wasn’t even a tremor.’

Judging by the mana alone, this knight might surpass even the commander.

The vice-captain, awestruck, looked at the knight holding the princess.

“…”

Surprisingly, the princess remained calm.

She wasn’t panicking or trembling, even though she had just nearly been killed by the wyvern’s flames.

‘Hmm, she has an Adam’s apple. Is he a man?’

Aris observed quietly and remained calm, more so than anyone else around her.

‘His skin looks youthful, so he’s likely in his early twenties.’

When he blocked the wyvern’s flames, the mysterious knight’s mana was slightly disturbed, revealing his jaw and neck for a moment.

From that, Aris could tell he was a man around her age.

‘Is there any knight this skilled at this age?’

She couldn’t think of anyone.

A knight this skilled would surely be well-known.

‘Is he hiding his face because he’s from the underworld, or…?’

While Aris was lost in thought, the man suddenly glanced to the left.

He then took his hands off the princess and stepped back, staring at her for a brief moment before disappearing in an instant.

“Wait, if you go now…!”

Before Aris could finish, the man was already out of sight.

“I still haven’t properly thanked him…”

She regretted not having the chance to thank him, but more than that, she felt the loss of such a talent slipping away.

‘A man like a bolt from the blue…’

Aris stared at the spot where the man had disappeared, feeling a deep sense of regret.

Then she noticed something unexpected.

“This button…”

The Button of the Garam Academy Uniform.

The fact that it’s here, lying on the ground…

‘Could he be a student at Garam Academy, like me?’

When I returned, Reaper was looking at me with eyes full of emotion.

‘What’s going on with him?’

His gaze is so overwhelming.

What should I call that look?

It’s like he’s looking at someone who saved his life.

But it’s really uncomfortable.

“As expected, Master.”

While I was thinking that, Reaper spoke in a voice full of admiration.

“Even though you changed your body and lost all your abilities, your meticulous mana control is… impressive.”

…What is he saying?

“In the past, you said something to Yodala.”

“Plans are meant to change in real situations.”

I don’t remember saying that, but it sounds like something Jeyraon would say.

“I thought that was just to comfort Yodalla. That not following the plan was just an excuse from losers—people who couldn’t see the bigger picture.”

I don’t really get what he’s saying.

What point is he trying to make?

“But I was wrong. The foolish one was me. I was so obsessed with perfection that I thought I was perfect.”

He looks like he’s about to cry.

It’s that classic look right before tears of emotion.

‘What is he even doing?’

I didn’t do anything.

I just let Reaper control my body.

I literally did nothing.

So why is he so emotional about this?

“The more I think about it, the more I’m amazed. You didn’t show your face directly, but instead, you subtly revealed your jaw and neck, preventing suspicion and creating curiosity. It’s a perfect plan.”

Did I reveal my jaw?

“The most amazing thing is the delicate mana control when you ignored my puppet technique and lifted your head. Despite being new to handling mana, you completely neutralized my puppet technique… Amazing.”

I didn’t neutralize anything.

I just let Reaper’s puppet technique control me…

‘Wait, maybe it was when…?’

When I hugged the princess and took the wyvern’s fireball on my back, I must’ve unconsciously looked toward the fireball.

‘Based on Reaper’s words, the original plan was to reveal my face to the princess. But when I turned my head, my jaw and neck were exposed instead.’

‘That makes sense.’

This is my theory, but it seems like a pretty solid one.

‘But how did I neutralize Reaper’s technique… Oh.’

I’m such an idiot.

‘My mental resistance. It’s EX-rank, right?’

If I wanted to, I could resist.

I must’ve unconsciously resisted a little while dodging the fireball, which affected my body.

“However, there’s one question. You purposely didn’t show your face to avoid suspicion and added mystery to your relationship with the princess. It’s a great plan… but…”

Just as I was thinking about it,

Reaper looked at me with suspicion in his eyes.

“How do you plan to reveal to the princess that you’re the one who saved her?”

It’s hard to tell who someone is just by seeing their jaw.

Unless the princess is a master of the martial arts or has exceptional observation skills, she wouldn’t have recognized me.

‘Reaper can’t act within the academy, so revealing myself with my powers again is not an option.’

Just like Reaper said, there’s no easy way to let the princess know that I saved her today.

What should I say to convince Reaper?

“You must have prepared a natural way to reveal your identity to her, right? My poor mind can’t think of how you’d do that…”

Reaper’s eyes suddenly widened.

“The button…”

Reaper’s gaze was fixed on the top button of my uniform near my neck.

‘It fell off.’

It must’ve fallen when I was fighting the wyverns earlier.

‘If I go like this, I’ll get a penalty for improper uniform.’

I guess I’ll need to ask Reaper to bring me a new button.

“Of course. That’s the method!”

As I was thinking this,

Reaper trembled with a look of deep admiration, almost like he was in awe.

“I understand now. Yes, I understand everything.”

Suddenly, Reaper knelt and bowed his head.

“The personality of the 3rd Princess, her current situation, the absence of her commander, and the fiery temper of that commander… all of these things were considered when you planned this.”

It’s getting more and more complicated.

Is there any situation where this phrase fits better than right now?

‘…I don’t care anymore.’

I decided not to think about it. It seemed better for my mental health.

“Then, it would be best to delay your entry.”

Delaying the entry means he’ll go prepare a new button for me.

I definitely need a new button.

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

I responded and walked inside the carriage.

“Then, Master, I’ll take my leave here.”

‘…Huh?’

Reaper suddenly said this 20 minutes away from the checkpoint of the capital, where Garam Academy is located.

“Be careful.”

Before I could stop him, he disappeared.

‘…What is he doing now?’

I know it’s a good time for him to leave.

The capital is filled with monsters, and there’s a high chance of getting caught, so leaving now is smart.

I’m not surprised that Reaper disappeared; I’m surprised he left without preparing a new button for me!

‘Did he not know there are dress code penalties at Garam Academy?’

It’s just a button, but he should know better.

Seriously, what was he thinking?

‘Ugh.’

Why did he even suggest delaying entry if he wasn’t going to help with the button?

‘At Garam Academy, getting penalty points erased is ridiculously hard…’

Starting with penalty points on my first day is just frustrating.

‘Sigh.’

Well, what can I do?

It’s already done.

‘…I’ll just have to deal with it.’

It’s tough, but it’s not impossible to make up for it.

If I work hard, I can fix it. I tried to stay positive as I made my way to the entry checkpoint.

After slowly moving through the line for 20 minutes, it was finally my turn.

“Please show your pass.”

I took out the admission letter from my bag.

Just as I was about to hand it to the examiner, someone interrupted.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

A large man appeared from behind the examiner, walking toward me.

‘Is that… Lionel, the leader of the Lion Knight Order?’

He was at least 2 meters tall, with a long scar on his right cheek and a massive sword as big as his body.

It’s definitely him, the leader of the 7th Knight Order of the 3rd Princess, Aris—the Lion Knight Order, Lionel.

“I just need to check something.”

“Sir, even if you’re the head of the Knight Order of the Kingdom of Kanarian, you can’t interrupt the entry inspection…”

“Heh, I just need a moment.”

Lionel ignored the examiner’s objections and pushed his way toward me, stopping right in front of me.

He stared at me for a few seconds and then smiled.

“Sorry, but can you spare me a moment?”

“Huh? Why suddenly…”

“Our lady asked me to return something to you.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the collar of my uniform where the button had fallen off.
“…Ah.”

Only then did I understand what was happening.