The Munchkin Disciple Wants To Stop Being Obsessed Over

4 – Daphne’s Test (1)

Permanent death in case of quest failure.

At first I thought I had seen wrong, so I tried rubbing my eyes, but regrettably, I saw it correctly.

‘Not just death, but what’s permanent death?’

It seems like it’s saying not to waste time thinking about returning to reality, even if you die.

Sounds about right.

While I’ve seen many quests with death penalties during gameplay, I’ve never seen a phrase like ‘permanent death’ before.

‘Just stay calm. If you pass the test, you survive, right?’

An unexpected notification had arrived, initially rubbing me the wrong way.

But after a little while, I was able to quell the boiling anger within me.

Thinking about it, I was relieved to get the notification.

If not, I wouldn’t have known not only that Daphne planned to test me, but also that I could die.

‘Let’s think positively.’

And so, I made a promise to myself.

No matter what Daphne wanted from me, I would surely meet those expectations.

What kind of test could it be that you die upon failure? I still wondered.

But it should be nothing more than a challenge for a ten-year-old kid like me.

There’s no way someone like me, who’s played the game for more than 10,000 hours with a mature mindset, won’t pass the exam.

‘The important thing is not breaking the spirit.’

Such thoughts filled me as the door suddenly opened.

“You’re actually up.”

Upon lifting my head, Daphne, hands on her hips, was looking down at me.

‘Wow…’

Seeing Daphne in a different mood than the day before, I automatically admired her.

Her platinum-blonde hair tied in a ponytail.

The slender neckline naturally revealed.

Even the green apron that she wore over a white dress.

Clearly, she was beautiful. What else could it be? It felt like looking at her was awakening a younger male’s instinct.

“What are you looking at so closely?”

I must have stared too intently.

Apparently aware of my gaze, Daphne asked me, rather bluntly, with a slightly displeased expression.

Did she take offence? If so, as one who has to impress Daphne, I’m in trouble.

“Er… I was just surprised. Because it’s the first time, actually.”

“First time for what?”

“Seeing someone as beautiful as you, Daphne.”

So, I intentionally gave an exaggerated smile.

‘Being young can be handy sometimes.’

Just being able to utter such words casually.

It’s always been like that. There’s never been a woman in the world who hates being complimented for being beautiful.

“…Stop with these pointless words and go sit down over there.”

But apparently, not this woman.

Despite my flattering words, Daphne simply signaled towards the table in the living room, turned around, and dismissed my compliment.

‘It was a critical strike…’

Having been disappointed by the unexpectedly lukewarm reaction, I obediently took a seat at the table while Daphne disappeared somewhere.

‘But what on earth is this smell?’

Sitting there, I was pricked by a smell akin to that of a sewer.

I wondered whether it was due to the countryside or an old house.

I wasn’t sure what the answer was, but I suspected it would take me quite some time to get used to this smell.

‘Anyway, it seems like the smell is getting worse…’

What on earth is that smell?

Surrounded by an inexplicable sense of unease, I started to look around.

Although I thought it was an old house, the interior was surprisingly tidy.

I looked from the ceiling to the floor wondering if there might be a smell of rotting wood.

There was no sign of that, and it seemed to be very well maintained.

‘Thump.’

As I was lost in thought, I heard something being placed on the table.

‘Could it be…’

The odor was getting stronger. My head turned reflexively towards the table.

In front of me, there were a bowl full of black soup and a tray of unidentifiable food.

‘What on earth was put in this?’

Even upon closer inspection, it was beyond my ability to guess.

Especially, the dish in the bowl resembled the black sludge I’d seen in my first haunted place.

A doubt arose naturally. Could it be that the dead body of the monster I handled yesterday was put in here?

The large black chunks floating on the surface of the sludge created a horrendous atmosphere.

And if that was all, it would’ve been alright.

But the stench rising gently from the bowl compelled me to do something.

Like poking my nose with the fork in front of me, just to block the stench.

‘What is this now?’

Next to the sludge, there was some grotesque, ash-like sponge food, but no way to identify it from just by its appearance.

‘Daphne, what are these dishes?’

‘It’s breakfast.’

In this world. Does that mean these are really edible?

‘Uh… What are the names of these dishes? These are food items I’m seeing for the first time…’

‘Stew and a sandwich.’

What a shocking answer. I thought it was black sludge, and it turns out to be stew.

Even more so, apparently the ashy sponge is a sandwich.

Upon closer inspection, something akin to lettuce seems to be buried underneath the ash.

‘You should get lots of nutrients at your age. So, I put some thought into it.’

To my eyes too, she seemed to have put a lot of thought into it. Making a sandwich and stew like this.

This has far surpassed the realm of cooking.

‘I swear. This is alchemy.’

Otherwise, there would be no way for a sandwich and stew to have such colors. Nor to have a stench like a boiling sewer.

“So.”

No. Don’t do it.

“Eat.”

I had fervently hoped otherwise.

Daphne commanded me with a peculiarly excited expression.

****

The taste of the black sludge stew and ash colour sandwich was utterly terrible, needless to say.

The stew was as hard to swallow as fermented canary, and the sandwich tasted like a mix of spoiled tofu and cigarette ash.

“I had eaten… erm… well…”

Yet, I managed to eat all the food without leaving anything behind, and even successfully laid down the spoon with a strained smile.

My stomach rumbled, and I desperately wanted to go to the restroom, but I had no choice.

The reason was simple – I thought eating all this dreadful food was Daphne’s test.

“You eat better than I thought…”

Daphne was looking at me, her face hinting surprise.

‘You find it surprising too, don’t you?’

Seeing her reaction, it seemed right. Even if it was a test she had prepared, she probably couldn’t imagine I would eat all this terrible food.

…Or so I thought.

Daphne’s answer, however, was merciless, shattering my expectations entirely.

“Next time, I’ll give you more.”

“Pardon?”

“I didn’t know you’d eat this much. I didn’t prepare a lot because you’re petite…”

Daphne softened her voice, looking slightly disappointed.

‘So, the test wasn’t about eating all these disgusting dishes?’

Something was undoubtedly going wrong. There was no other explanation for the quest completion notification not reaching me yet.

“Of course, I’m not sure if there will be a next time.”

“Could you please…”

“I’ve not decided yet. Whether I’ll kill you or keep you.”

‘Did she mean death by her hands if I failed?’

I tried to deny it all I could, but it seemed incredibly likely.

‘Still, she is quite a woman.’

A sense of psychopathy emanated from her, feeding me revolting food as if it was no big deal at all.

“…How can I survive?”

“Just prove.”

“Prove what…”

“First of all, convince me that no matter what happens, you won’t cause a disaster.”

Tap, tap. Daphne kept beating the table with her index finger as she spoke.

“Secondly, prove your worth to me, so much so that it outweighs the inconvenience of keeping you around. Then, I’ll let you live.”

“…”

“By the way, if you’re kept by me, you’ll be able to learn things you can’t learn anywhere else in this world.”

“Things that can’t be learned anywhere else…”

It seemed that Daphne was implying that she would teach me things such as swordsmanship and magic if I passed the test.

“How do I prove myself?”

This was exactly what I wanted.

I intentionally asked, with a gleam in my eyes.

“…You’ve got a good look in your eyes.”

Daphne looked at me suspiciously for a few seconds, then continued speaking.

“I’ll give you a chance. A chance to prove your worth.”

“A chance?”

“Yes. Everything’s ready.”

Saying this, she stood up from her seat and snapped her fingers.

Was it magic? The empty dishes that had been on the table vanished as if they were a lie, with the sound of Daphne snapping her fingers.

“Let’s go outside first. Follow me.”

As she turned and walked out, I followed, amazed at the magic she used in her daily life.

I had no idea what kind of test she had prepared.

But right after eating food that seemed to be directly imported from hell, I felt like I could do anything.

*****

Daphne started walking without a word once we were outside, and I followed her.

‘She’s walking, alright.’

In fact, she’d long surpassed just walking.

Naturally. Our initial spot was a log house in the middle of the deep forest.

There was no path on the route Daphne was taking.

Just a bumpy, steep terrain continuously unfolding before me.

“Huff… Huff…”

It was indeed a tough path. Especially for my young body. Naturally, I couldn’t help but get worn out.

‘When is this walk going to end?’

Unlike me, Daphne seemed to be lightly strolling in a park, which roused emotions within me.

No wonder. Daphne, who told me to follow, had been walking for not one or two, but five whole hours.

‘If it didn’t involve life or death…’

I’d have laid down and given up a long time ago.

“We’re here.”

As my legs staggered and I paused to lower my head and catch my breath, I heard the sweet voice I had been waiting for.

“Huff… Huff…”

When I looked up, the scene had changed.

The seemingly endless forest trail ended at a cliff with an open view, and Daphne was looking at the landscape below.

“Wow…”

As I reached Daphne’s side, I had to marvel at the same view she was looking at, opening and closing my mouth in awe.

The view that unfolded before my sight was that beautiful.

A stunningly large lake, exhibiting mystical colors.

Beyond, the horizon was filled with blue trees.

And the alert window floating in the air.

[Hidden Quest ‘Daphne’s Test (1)’ has been completed.]

[Please select your rewards.]

[1. All stats +10]

[2. Deceiver of Heaven (lv.1)]

[3. Starlight (Lv.1)]

‘Amazing…!’

The selection of rewards unfolding before my eyes was more incredible than expected.

*****

Daphne and I were sitting side by side at the edge of the cliff, savoring the momentary wind.

“Quite impressive. I thought you’d run away in the middle.”

“It’s because I have to survive.”

“I have to survive, huh… I quite like that answer.”

With her elegant platinum hair fluttering in the wind, Daphne answered with her eyes closed.

“Is this proof enough?”

“To some extent.”

“To some extent, you say… So you mean, I still have something to prove?”

“Yes. It was just a hike, wasn’t it? I haven’t even shown you what I’ve prepared yet.”

Just a hike, he says. My legs are still shaking.

“Well, you’re quite impressive for a child.”

“I was quite desperate, you know…”

“I know. That’s why I’m trying to reward you.”

At the mention of a reward, my ears pricked up instinctively, and my head turned to the side.

Perhaps she found my reaction cute. Daphne grinned and adjusted her position to look at me.

“Now, sit facing me.”

“…?”

“Now, I’m going to teach you how to cloak yourself with mana.”

“Mana?”

Surprised by the drastic proposition, I adjusted my posture and asked.

“Yes. I’m only going to tell you once, so listen carefully and make sure it’s yours. If not…”

“…?”

“You’ll never get the chance to prove yourself to me.”

Daphne spoke as if it had nothing to do with her.

Upon hearing her words, I immediately came to my senses.

What Daphne was saying was that if I failed to learn what she was teaching now, I would die in the upcoming test.

****

Magic is a miracle achieved through trade with Heaven.

The user pays mana to Heaven.

In return for the mana, Heaven allows the user a miracle corresponding to the mana.

“This is the basis of all magic, and even wrapping mana around one’s body can be considered a type of magic.

By paying a price in mana to heaven, a miracle occurs in the physical body.

‘It actually works.’

My body became incredibly light, filled with a strength incomparable to before.

I’ve managed to absorb Daphne’s teachings and succeed in faintly imbuing my body with mana through transactions with heaven.

‘You’ve got talent.’

As if surprised by my success, Daphne murmured with a startled expression.

‘I feel like I can do anything.’

I responded with a sincere and bright smile.

‘Maybe I’m some sort of unrealistic, overpowered character?’

I was able to handle mana, and in just an hour.

I was ecstatic. Daphne, who had fed me black broth and ash sandwiches, even seemed angelic.

‘You have to be able to do anything. Otherwise, you’ll die.’

‘What?’

‘Can I see your hand for a moment? I have something to give you.’

What could she be giving me this time?

At her sweet words, I greedily extended both hands, and Daphne hung a bracelet on each of my wrists.

‘What is this?’

‘It’s an artifact.’

Upon hearing Daphne’s response, I covered my mouth with my hand out of extreme surprise.

In the game, even the lowest-ranked artifacts were extremely hard and expensive to get, unlike typical gear.

‘Thank y…huh?’

A notification of a hidden quest ‘Daphne’s Trial (2)’ arrived just as I was expressing my joy.

While reading this, I sensed something was off.

‘Daphne, my arms and legs suddenly feel heavy.’

‘Of course, they do. Those bracelets are artifacts I created for that purpose. Well, I didn’t make them super heavy, but I guess it’s enough to burden you.’

As Daphne had said, a heavy sensation was felt in my arms and legs, like having a couple of thick books hanging on them.

And more importantly.

‘Is the mana that was wrapped around my body scattering because of this artifact?’

‘Yes, that’s right. There is a spell on the bracelet that restricts the wearer’s use of mana.’

I was shocked. She taught me how to handle mana, then shackled me with an artifact that restricted it. What was she thinking?

‘That doesn’t mean you can’t use mana at all. You can operate a small amount of mana that doesn’t trigger the restricting spell.’

‘But with that small amount of mana, you can’t manifest a normal spell. Because I made it that way.’

‘But that doesn’t mean there’s no way to manifest a spell.’

I didn’t understand what she was saying.

Amid my confusion, Daphne slowly approached me.

‘Trick heaven. Then you can cast a spell with much less mana than normally needed.’

Daphne, who had now reached my side, finished her sentence with a sly smile.

‘So…'”

I lifted my right foot.

“Trick it once. Then you can survive.”

I whispered this, kicking my abdomen.

“Ugh···!”

Suddenly, I was struggling to breathe due to the abrupt abdominal pain.

But there was a bigger problem than the pain.

‘Am I flying?’

I was flying in the sky…

No, I was falling rapidly towards the lake below the cliff.