Chapter 12 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

The Difference Between a Cannon Fodder and the Protagonist

 

 

"Oh, I remember now. Jimmy wrote down part of it somewhere…" Ge Yan exclaimed, reaching into his pockets with urgency.

 

Since his rebirth, Jimmy had grown exceptionally cautious, refusing to leave anything of importance at the inn. Every piece of information he jotted down stayed on him at all times. Fearful that Rex would uncover his secrets, Jimmy had avoided even thinking about his plans altogether.

 

Jimmy had hidden the notes meticulously. Had Ge Yan not seen them in his soul state, he wouldn't have found the pocket sewn into the lining of Jimmy's sleeve—a hidden compartment, just large enough to hold a few slips of paper. All of Jimmy's scheming efforts were, in the end, about to benefit them.

 

Handing the notes to Rex, Ge Yan spoke with hopeful anticipation. "Everything Jimmy knew from his previous life is recorded here, including some information about Tris Town and the Tasha Forest. You might want to take a look and see if it's valuable."

 

Rex unfolded the crumpled notes, revealing line after line of densely packed text, each entry marked with dates from three months ago—the time of Jimmy's rebirth. Each line noted an event and its approximate occurrence. But one line stood out, marked prominently: the second entry.

 

This particular note was about the Tasha Forest.

 

Rex's stern, sharp features grew even more intense as he read. His eyes flashed dangerously, a gaze that sent a chill down one's spine, the kind that warned of impending bloodshed. Ge Yan was all too familiar with it.

 

"Is it useful?" Ge Yan couldn't discern Rex's thoughts.

 

Rex folded the notes and pushed them back into Ge Yan's hands before heading toward the door. Just as he reached it, he paused, turning back to see Ge Yan watching him expectantly. With a slight frown, Rex seemed about to say something, but after a second's hesitation, he changed his mind. "Stay by my side and don't speak out of turn," he said.

 

Ge Yan's eyes lit up, and he nodded quickly, pledging silently to keep his mouth shut. He followed Rex out.

 

The sun blazed outside—it was noon—and the tavern's main hall bustled with activity, packed with patrons, mostly mercenaries seated in small groups, eating and chatting as loudly as if they were at a marketplace. A few servers moved deftly among the tables, serving food with practiced efficiency.

 

As soon as they sat down, a young waiter appeared, ready to take their order.

 

Rex ordered a simple meal, but it was far from meager: bread, meat, and wine.

 

Having once eaten bread at a shady inn, Ge Yan was wary, assuming it would be the same here. He had no interest in the bread but was more curious about the meat and wine. The waiter returned quickly with their food, and the mingled aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meat took Ge Yan by surprise. He took a bite, and it was nothing like the hard loaves he'd had before—this was fragrant, soft, and delicious.

 

However, the meat was a bit disappointing. Likely prepared to satisfy the mercenaries' taste for hearty, unrefined food, it wasn't bad, but for someone who'd had better, it wasn't impressive either. Only the wine earned his approval—a fruit wine reportedly brewed from the special, spiritual fruits.

 

Ge Yan was halfway through a bottle of wine when he remembered their purpose. He was just about to ask Rex something when a low voice from a nearby table caught his attention. The speakers were close enough that he could overhear bits of their conversation.

 

"Strange day, isn't it? I get why the Black Wolf Mercenary Corps would be here looking for someone, but the Raven Corps, too? There's got to be more going on. Care to enlighten a brother?" one voice murmured.

 

"You're asking the right person," replied the other, equally hushed. "Just keep it to yourself, yeah?"

 

"Of course, just between us. I won't breathe a word."

 

"Well, I heard a few young masters from Black Wolf went missing, and yes, they're looking for them, but that's just a side matter. The real reason's Tasha Forest. Word is, a sacred beast's been spotted there."

 

"No way—a sacred beast? That's huge!"

 

"Shh! I told you to keep it down! If word spreads, imagine how many people would swarm Tasha Forest. The entrance would be packed shut, and we'd never get our shot. It's happened plenty of times before."

 

"Good point."

 

Ge Yan bit into his meat, suddenly feeling a flash of recognition. A moment later, he remembered: this was exactly what Jimmy had written in the second entry. This was Jimmy's next plan—to steal away Rex's destined opportunity. That sacred beast in the rumor was meant to be Rex's.

 

If this world were a typical power-advancement novel, then anything rare or extraordinary would surely belong to the protagonist. Fate, like the author's pen, ensured that no matter what setbacks occurred, the protagonist would always attain what was meant to be his. That's just how it goes.

 

Ge Yan looked at Rex, who seemed completely unfazed. The resilience of a true protagonist was something to marvel at. Despite having knowledge of his future destiny, Rex could maintain a calm composure, something even Ge Yan, an outsider, found hard to do. Maybe this was the real difference between a cannon fodder* and the protagonist.

 

[T/N: The term "cannon fodder" refers to characters who are introduced primarily to serve as obstacles or enemies for the protagonists. These characters often lack depth, development, or backstory and are typically expendable within the narrative.]

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter

 

❧ Join Bella Novels' Newsletter by clicking here ↫ and
receive an email for each New Update -͙✧˖*°࿐