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The Lion King Terodamas was born with exceptional abilities. A robust physique, a sharp mind capable of utilizing that physique efficiently, and even his characteristic skills. Terodamas was what you’d call a chosen one, seemingly blessed by the gods with every talent imaginable.

As the undeniable next heir to the throne, people always flocked to him, never hesitating to say that his talents would shine and make him a great king who would further glorify the kingdom. Terodamas, fully aware of his abilities, carried himself with confidence, always dignified, and grew into a man who never backed down.

Not even a month after his coming-of-age ceremony, his kingdom was invaded by another, marking the end of a peaceful era as the entire nation began to burn in the flames of war. The kingdom, long accustomed to peace, was ill-prepared for the sudden war, and the king, once praised as a saint, had no military talent and suffered defeat after defeat.

A month into the war, the enemy army finally reached the outskirts of the kingdom’s capital. In this desperate situation, the ministers waited only for the king’s decision. As the enemy’s blades drew closer, Terodamas, who had been biding his time, finally made his move and drew his sword.

This was the beginning of a legendary counterattack. Leading his soldiers, Terodamas fought valiantly against the enemy, utilizing all his talents to defeat them and claim his first victory. The morale, which had been at rock bottom, began to burn fiercely thanks to the noble prince who spared no effort.

They continued their winning streak, advancing under Terodamas’ leadership. Eventually, they reclaimed all their lost territory and didn’t stop there. Terodamas invaded the enemy kingdom, toppling it and bringing it under his control.

Witnessing the enemy king’s humiliating surrender, Terodamas felt a deep emotion fill his heart. It was a primal feeling rooted deep within him—a sense of conquest.

For someone who had always easily obtained everything with his innate talents, the enemy kingdom, won through life-and-death struggles, offered him a new emotion: the satisfaction and sense of achievement known as conquest.

After ascending the throne, Terodamas couldn’t forget that feeling and devoted himself entirely to conquest. His talents and luck seemed boundless, and he wrote an undefeated myth until only one kingdom remained.

But, never having known defeat, he became arrogant. His abilities made him insolent, and he knew only himself.

He was unruly.

A lone wolf.

All these terms described Terodamas, who, transformed into a warmonger neglecting his ministers and people, was eventually betrayed and lost everything.

This was the truth about the Lion King Terodamas, a tale not recorded in history books.

***

Gilbert rode his horse eastward, leaving the Obitus Territory. Terodamas’ journal was hidden in a secluded place half a day’s ride from Obitus.

Originally, one would have to combine clues from minstrels’ songs and remnants in Obitus to pinpoint the location, but the descriptions were vague, often leading newbies to waste time here.

Many would circle the same area with mini-maps or world maps open, but Gilbert wasn’t one of them. Even though the game system didn’t include mini-maps or world maps, he could find locations based on general directions.

However, in reality, unlike the game where terrain remained unchanged, the landscape could shift, leaving him slightly worried.

But his worries were unfounded as familiar landmarks came into view. An ancient tree, its age hard to guess, stood at the entrance to a valley.

Finally, he had arrived.

Gilbert sighed in relief at the unchanged scenery.

Reaching this place meant the first condition was practically met. The tricky part of this sub-quest was that the clues were convoluted, with the final clue pinpointing this location.

The final clue was a cryptic line describing the place, making it common for early Tactical Combat players to search the entire Obitus region for similar terrain.

But with the game having been out for a long time, even if people tried to hide information, someone always leaked it. Newbies often skipped the tedious information search and looked for answers directly, so scouring the entire region for this ancient tree was no longer necessary.

Community guides for newbies described this location but didn’t recommend heading straight here.

The Tactical Combat world was set in a medieval era, with feudal lords ruling territories. While the territories and their surroundings were guarded by soldiers or the lord’s private troops, outside these areas, bandits and thieves ran rampant, and pirates plundered at sea.

Early in Tactical Combat, the focus was on the academy, making encounters with bandits rare. However, progressing through sub-quests often required leaving the territory, leading to frequent battles with bandits.

This was why newbie guides suggested going here later.

“What brings an academy cadet here?”

As soon as Gilbert tied his horse to the ancient tree, people began to appear. He calmly counted the suddenly appearing bandits, expecting this.

There were about fifteen of them. Depending on the game’s difficulty, the bandits’ stamina and numbers varied, but fifteen was the number that always appeared at the highest difficulty after he had rotted away.

“With a face like that, you must be some noble’s son… Thinking about the ransom makes my heart race.”

“Boss! Don’t forget to give us a big cut this time!”

“Hey, kid. Didn’t I tell you not to call me boss?”

A dozen rough-looking men, each wielding a sword, approached unmistakably as bandits. Gilbert watched them and spoke.

“Bandits who were once mercenaries sure talk a lot. Who said I’d be caught easily?”

“…What are you, kid?”

“I have no name to give to bandits.”

This was part of a common chain quest. It was typical for members of a renowned mercenary group, unable to endure noble tyranny, to turn to banditry.

Progressing through the Lion King’s Mana Meditation Technique quest would lead to encountering bandits near the hidden journal. Failing to subdue them meant never obtaining the Lion King’s Mana Meditation Technique.

This was a one-versus-many battle, and newbies, still clumsy in combat, were advised not to waste their highest-grade Mana Meditation Technique on suddenly appearing bandits.

Conversely, subduing them unlocked a chain quest to clear their grievances and recruit them as subordinates—a decent quest.

“I tried to be nice, but since you’re provoking me, I think I’ll have to cut off a limb to make you come to your senses. Right?”

“Chirping like a mouse, not a bandit.”

“That bastard, cut his tongue and chop off his limbs! These types only learn when you stomp on them!”

But Gilbert had no intention of recruiting them. While it was true that turning from mercenaries to bandits had its sad reasons, their crimes didn’t vanish.

They might have disguised themselves as bandits, but seeing their murderous intent, Gilbert couldn’t let them off.

In the game, they were mercenaries turned bandits who kidnapped innocent people for human trafficking. Giving them leeway was unnecessary.

Gilbert lightly gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

This was his first time killing someone here, but that was only in this world.

He had no intention of showing mercy to enemies who drew their swords on him.

It was the only way he could survive the horrors of war.

As the bandits entered his range, his eyes gleamed, and his sword was drawn in an instant.

Swish!

The sharp blade glinted in the sunlight, red blood painted the sky, and a severed arm flew through the air.

This was the horrific result of a swift draw, born from 90 Physical Ability Stat and 70 Combat Power.

 

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