Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]
Chapter 7: Four Minutes until death

Chapter 7: Four Minutes until death

The morning sun bathed House Valerius in a warm golden glow. It was a beautiful and Peaceful day too.

Kai stood in the center of his bedroom and stared at the travel bag resting on his bed. Inside were only a few changes of clothes, basic toiletries, several dried rations, a waterskin, and the Imperial invitation carefully tucked into a leather folder. That was all.

He smiled to himself.

"I’ve really become the kind of protagonist who travels with one backpack."

No sooner had he spoken than the familiar blue window appeared.

[Daily Reminder]

[Time Remaining Until Imperial Academy Entrance Examination: 29 Days, 17 Hours, 42 Minutes.]

Kai stretched lazily.

"Right. No more procrastinating."

"Time to become an adventurer!"

He picked up the bag and slung it over one shoulder before walking out of his room.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, he stopped. Every servant in the manor was waiting for him. Even the elderly gardener stood among them, still wearing his muddy gloves.

The young maid who had mistaken him for a heavenly visitor smiled brightly.

"Good morning, Young Master."

Kai chuckled.

"Good morning."

Edmund stepped forward. Breakfast had already been prepared. A simple meal of fresh bread, eggs, soup, and tea. It was not extravagant. House Valerius no longer had the wealth for that. Yet it somehow felt warmer than any luxurious banquet Kai had ever attended in his previous life. Not that he attended much anyways.

As everyone gathered around the dining table, Kai noticed something unusual. Nobody ate. Instead they quietly watched him.

"What?"

The youngest servant scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"We’re just happy."

Kai blinked.

"Happy?"

"That we get to see you smile."

The room became quiet. Edmund lowered his teacup.

"For many years this house forgot what joy looked like."

Kai looked down at the steaming tea before him. The original Kai had truly lived a lonely life. He lifted the cup.

"Then let’s make sure this house never forgets again."

Everyone smiled. Even the usually expressionless gardener let out a quiet laugh.

After breakfast, Edmund disappeared briefly before returning with a small leather pouch. It looked old but well cared for. He placed it into Kai’s hands.

"Young Master."

Kai frowned.

"What’s this?"

"The remaining savings of House Valerius."

Kai immediately tried handing it back.

"I can’t take this."

Edmund gently pushed his hand away.

"You must."

"If I take it, what will everyone here live on?"

The old butler smiled.

"This old servant has already spoken with everyone."

The other servants nodded. The young maid stepped forward.

"We’ve found temporary work in the city. The gardener already received an offer from another estate. We’ll manage."

Kai looked from one face to another. None of them appeared worried. Instead they seemed excited. Hope had returned to the manor.

Edmund spoke again.

"Money hidden inside a drawer cannot restore House Valerius."

He closed Kai’s fingers around the pouch.

"But your future can."

Kai lowered his head. For several seconds he could not find the words. Finally he nodded.

"I’ll accept it. But only as an investment."

Everyone looked puzzled. Kai smiled.

"When House Valerius rises again, I’ll repay every single one of you."

The servants laughed. Not because they doubted him. Because for the first time they believed it was possible.

Before leaving the estate, Kai quietly made his way toward the rear gardens. Nature had reclaimed much of the area. Wildflowers grew between broken stone paths. Old trees stretched their branches over forgotten corners. Hidden beneath the largest oak stood two simple graves. There were no grand statues or marble monuments. Only weathered stone tablets.

Kai knelt before them. One belonged to his father. The other to his mother. He had inherited the memories. Fragments of laughter during happier days. His mother’s gentle lullabies. His father’s patient sword lessons. Then darkness. Political schemes. False accusations. House Valerius’s decline. Both had died believing their son would never escape the hatred surrounding him.

Kai carefully brushed away the fallen leaves covering the gravestones.

"I never met either of you. But I inherited your son’s life."

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead. Kai bowed his head.

"I don’t know who destroyed this family. I don’t know why House Valerius became everyone’s target. But I will find out."

His silver-blue eyes grew determined.

"I’ll restore this family. I’ll clear your names. And when people speak of House Valerius again, they won’t remember tragedy. They’ll remember greatness."

The silence that followed felt strangely comforting. Almost as though someone had heard his promise. He stood, brushed the dust from his knees, and turned toward the manor one final time.

The servants had gathered near the entrance. Waiting. Edmund smiled warmly.

"Ready, Young Master?"

Kai returned the smile.

"Ready."

The enormous gates of House Valerius slowly opened. This time not to welcome an army, but to see their young master off. Kai stepped beyond them. One step. Then another. He paused briefly and looked back.

Edmund and the servants stood together, waving.

"We’ll be waiting!"

"Come home safely, Young Master!"

"Don’t skip your meals!"

"If anyone bullies you, write to us!"

Kai laughed.

"I’ll do my best."

He raised a hand in farewell. Then he faced the road ahead. For eighteen years Kai Valerius had lived as a prisoner inside those walls. Today he walked away from them by his own choice. Not as a broken noble waiting for death. Not as the monster everyone feared. But as Kai Valerius. A young man determined to rewrite the fate of an entire world.

Less than an hour later, the towering walls of the Imperial Capital came into view. Kai had seen this city countless times while playing Eternal Genesis. But seeing it with his own eyes was breathtaking. Massive white walls stretched toward the horizon. Countless banners fluttered proudly from watchtowers. Above the city, enormous flying beasts carried merchants and cargo between districts. Magic-powered carriages glided along broad stone roads without horses. People of every race filled the streets. Humans. Elves with elegant pointed ears. Stocky dwarves carrying freshly forged weapons. Beastkin chatting excitedly as they shopped. Even robed mages floated small books behind them using magic.

Kai slowly turned in a circle.

"It’s alive."

Unlike the game, this world breathed. Children laughed. Street musicians played cheerful melodies. The aroma of fresh bread drifted through the air. Blacksmiths hammered glowing metal. Adventurers bargained loudly over quest rewards. Everywhere he looked there was life. A genuine smile spread across Kai’s face.

"I’m really here."

Just then a familiar silver glow spread across his vision. His Arcane Eye activated on its own. Information windows appeared above nearby objects.

[Iron Sword. Quality: Below Average. Durability: 41%.]

Another appeared above a fruit stall.

[Mana Apple. Freshness: Excellent. Current Price exceeds market value by 16%.]

Kai couldn’t help laughing.

"This skill is going to make bargaining impossible."

The system answered immediately.

[Host may choose to deactivate Arcane Eye at any time.]

"Where’s the fun in that?"

He continued walking, fascinated by the endless stream of information.

Suddenly a loud chime rang out. The cheerful atmosphere vanished. A crimson window erupted before his eyes. Its sharp edges pulsed like an alarm.

[EMERGENCY WORLD QUEST DETECTED]

Kai stopped walking. People behind him nearly bumped into him before moving around the suddenly motionless young noble.

Another window appeared.

[Nearby Child in Mortal Danger.]

Then a timer.

03:59

It immediately began counting down.

03:58

03:57

Kai’s relaxed smile disappeared.

"System."

[Emergency Quest confirmed. Failure will result in the death of an innocent child.]

A third window unfolded. A glowing map appeared before him. One point flashed bright red. Only a few streets away. An alley hidden between two warehouses. His Arcane Eye synchronized with the map. The alley became highlighted in brilliant silver.

[Target Located.]

Kai didn’t hesitate. He tightened the strap of his travel bag. Then he ran.

The peaceful crowd erupted into confusion.

"Eh? Someone’s running!"

"What happened?"

Kai weaved effortlessly through the busy streets. He slipped between merchants. Leapt over stacked crates. Apologized as he squeezed past a vegetable cart.

"Sorry!"

The elderly vendor blinked.

"Such a polite young man."

Several girls watching from a nearby café stared in disbelief.

"Wasn’t that the beautiful noble from House Valerius? He runs surprisingly fast."

Kai ignored every curious gaze. His attention remained fixed on the timer.

03:11

Too slow. He had to move faster. The Arcane Eye continuously highlighted the quickest route. Left. Across the bridge. Through a narrow market street. Right again. He followed without questioning it. Every second mattered.

Kai turned the final corner. The cheerful sounds of the marketplace disappeared almost instantly. The narrow alley ahead was eerily quiet. Broken barrels. Discarded crates. Rotting wooden boxes. The smell of damp stone lingered in the air.

Then a frightened sob. Kai immediately froze. A little girl no older than seven was backed against the alley wall, clutching a worn stuffed rabbit. Three rough-looking men surrounded her. Each wore worn leather armor. Each carried a weapon.

The largest grabbed the girl’s wrist.

"Stop struggling. We’ll make good money off you."

The little girl shook her head desperately.

"I want my mama..."

One of the men sighed impatiently.

"Keep crying. No one comes down this alley."

Kai’s eyes narrowed. His Arcane Eye activated automatically. Three blue windows appeared.

[Human. Level: 18. Occupation: Mercenary. Status: Wanted Criminal. Crimes: Child trafficking. Kidnapping. Assault. Threat Level: High.]

The second window appeared.

[Human. Level: 16. Wanted in three provinces. Known associate of the Black Fang Slave Network.]

The third.

[Human. Level: 19. Armed. Multiple homicide records confirmed.]

Kai’s expression hardened.

"So they’re slavers."

The system responded.

[Affirmative. Probability of child surviving without Host intervention: 0.8%.]

Kai slowly stepped into the alley. His boots echoed against the stone. The three men turned simultaneously. The tallest frowned.

"Who are you?"

Kai calmly adjusted the strap of his bag.

"I could ask you the same thing."

The scarred man spat on the ground.

"Mind your own business."

Kai looked at the trembling little girl. Then back at the men.

"I was planning to."

A brief silence followed. Kai’s silver-blue eyes became ice cold.

"Until I saw your business."

The three traffickers exchanged amused glances. Then they laughed. The leader rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Pretty boy. You’ve got courage."

His smile slowly widened.

"But courage gets people killed."

Kai took one measured step forward. His Arcane Eye analyzed every inch of the alley. Every loose stone. Every unstable barrel. Every broken crate. Every movement of the three men. He had never fought before. Not truly. But he did not need to overpower them. He only needed to outthink them.

The timer continued to tick.

02:41

Kai exhaled slowly.