Chapitre 8: Chapter 8
Leon returned to his tiny apartment, tossing the duffel bag onto his couch. "System," he said, rubbing his temples. "How the hell am I supposed to lug all this stuff around?"
[Inventory function . Items can be stored and retrieved at will. Command: 'Store' to place an item into the system inventory. Command: 'Retrieve' to bring it back.]
Leon froze for a second. "You're telling me... I didn't need to drag this thing all the way here?" He sighed, shaking his head, and started testing it out.
"Store," he said, touching the rifle. It vanished in a shimmer of light. His eyes widened. "Okay, that's... neat."
He quickly went through the rest of his supplies. Salt? Stored. Sleeping bag? Stored. Everything else? Gone in seconds, leaving his apartment nearly empty.
"Well, that makes life easier," Leon muttered. "Guess I'm ready now."
[Transporting!]
Before he could brace himself, the floor vanished beneath his feet. Light and sound swirled around him in a chaotic storm, pulling him forward like a ragdoll. His body felt weightless, his stomach twisting as the familiar comfort of his apartment disappeared entirely.
Leon's stomach lurched as the world around him twisted and blurred. Just as quickly, the sensation of gravity slammed back into him, nearly sending him sprawling face-first onto the cobblestones.
The first thing that hit him was the noise—people talking, carts rumbling by, the constant clink of metal on metal. The second was the smell: a mix of wet hay, sweat, and something savory roasting on an open flame.
"Ugh." Leon groaned as he hit the cobblestones hard, his mind spinning. What the hell just happened? He pushed himself up, his hands scraping against the rough stones, and looked around, heart racing. He was in... a medieval town? Stone buildings, narrow streets, people shouting in a bustling market. The air smelled of wet hay and roasting meat.
A notification popped up in front of him.
[Welcome to Caldora, a minor city on the edge of the PearlDrake Empire. Population: 3,200.]
[Objective: Integrate into the local community.]
[Tip: Gaining influence here will help expand your reach in the region.]
Leon stared at the screen for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the people moving around him. Most of them wore worn tunics or simple cloaks, carrying baskets of vegetables or pushing carts.
A few guards in chainmail stood watch by a nearby gate, looking bored as they half-heartedly scanned the crowd.
"Right," Leon muttered, stepping out of the way of a man pulling a squeaky cart. "Not the worst place I could've landed. At least it's not some creepy forest or a haunted battlefield. I can deal with this."
He shifted the weight of his rifle on his back, but the stares didn't stop. People glanced at him—his strange clothes, the weapon slung over his shoulder, his awkward gait. A few whispers reached his ears.
"Who's that? A mercenary?" "Look at the gear on his back—what is that, some kind of new weapon?" "Probably a traveler from the south."
Leon kept his eyes on the ground as he moved, trying not to draw too much attention. "Alright, System," he muttered under his breath. "What now? I can't just stroll in and declare myself the new king."
The System's voice echoed in his mind.
[Suggested Approach: Gain the trust of the locals by offering unique services or solving important problems. As you explore, opportunities to increase your influence will arise.]
"So I'm a medieval handyman now."
Leon took a deep breath, scanning the bustling marketplace again. He couldn't just wander around doing favors for random villagers. No, he needed a plan. Something bigger. Something that would get him in control of this town.
He overheard a couple of merchants nearby talking. One of them mentioned the local lord.
"Did you hear? Lord Rallen's daughter is supposed to be coming to the market today," one said.
"Really? That's unusual. Wonder what she's buying. I heard she's a bit... difficult," the other replied, laughing quietly.
Leon's eyes narrowed. The lord's daughter... That was it. If he could get close to her, somehow ingratiate himself with the lord—he might have a direct line to power.
"KEHKEKE~"
The whispers around him continued.
"Who's that guy? Some kind of mercenary?"
"Maybe he's here for the lord's daughter... heard she's looking for a bodyguard."
Leon smirked to himself. Bodyguard, huh? The idea was starting to form in his mind. If he could get in with the lord's family, he'd be in a perfect position to take control. He'd earn their trust, manipulate them if necessary—then, when the time was right, he'd take the whole damn city.
The crowd parted for a moment, and that's when he saw her.
She was being escorted by two large guards, but that wasn't what caught Leon's attention. It was her. The lord's daughter.
She was... massive. Like, beyond massive. Her face was flushed, but not in a flattering way. It was like someone had taken an ordinary woman and blown her up, both in body and in every aspect of her features. She had an abundance of rolls spilling out from under her dress. Her cheeks were stuffed, and her eyes were wide and somewhat vacant.
She wasn't just overweight—she was huge. And her presence felt... underwhelming. Nothing about her screamed "noble" or "important." She was, frankly, a disaster in every sense of the word.
Leon blinked. His plan had just hit a massive snag.
"Isn't she... supposed to be beautiful?" he muttered under his breath, trying not to stare too hard.
The guards watched him with wary eyes as they led her through the marketplace. She was laughing, but it was an awkward, almost forced sound. It didn't take long for Leon to realize this wasn't the picture-perfect noblewoman he'd been expecting.
She was more like a truck—one that could isekai anyone in her path.
His mind raced. Well, this complicates things.
Still, an opportunity was an opportunity. He could adapt. Maybe she had connections, influence, or something he could use. He wasn't going to back down now—he just had to think on his feet.
As he took a step forward, a voice called out to him, sharp and demanding.
"Hey, you there!"
Leon turned quickly. A guard was approaching, his eyes narrowed. The crowd had grown quiet, and for a split second, it felt like everything was on the line.
"Are you here to serve the lady?" the guard asked, pointing at the daughter, who was now making her way down the street.
Leon held his breath, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah," he said, trying to mask his surprise. "I think I might be."
The guard stared at him for a long moment, then slowly nodded, as if sizing him up.
"Then you'd better be ready for anything. She's... special."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone