Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 116: Final Farewell & The Shadow Djinn

"And it was your persistence to make a difference that sparked this monumental change in the community," Elysia said with admiration in her voice.

Lord Chadrick nodded in agreement, his guards sharing his approving smile. "Haxks... won't you consider staying in Dusthaven and becoming my personal attendant?" He asked upon resting his hand on the boy's shoulder.

The guards exchanged surprised glances.

"Sir Fraunce, my trusted adviser, is about to retire," the lord explained, his tone serious yet hopeful. "Would you be interested in being tutored by him until you can take his place? I couldn't bear the regret of letting such a promising youth slip through my fingers."

Daisuke lowered his gaze, contemplating the man's proposal for a brief moment before he spoke. "As you mentioned, it's only a matter of time before the village's prosperity transforms it into a town, or even a large city. And that rapid growth will undoubtedly attract the attention of other kingdoms."

Lord Chadrick's gaze narrowed at the mention of that.

"And I have a feeling Lunarel will be too tied up with other pressing matters to offer any real aid," Daisuke continued ominously, recalling the peculiar arrangement he had made with the kingdom's princess.

"Right now, my priority is to acquire the power to defend myself and those around me. So, while I truly appreciate your offer, I won't be able to accept it."

The man allowed a rueful smile, his grip on Daisuke's shoulder tightening slightly. "It's tough to give up on someone as smart and resourceful as you, but as a fellow man, I have to respect your decision."

Daisuke allowed a cool smile. "Maybe you should consider Elysia for the role," he suggested openly. "She's pretty clever and resourceful—quite the looker, too," he said with a wink.

Lord Chadrick stumbled back at the bold suggestion, his graceful disposition crumbling like a breaking dam. Elysia cleared her throat as she stepped forward, battling against the treacherous blush attempting to creep into her cheek.

Without a word, the woman crouched in front of the boy, who stood a mere 125 centimeters tall, and held his confident gaze. However, his perfectly schooled mask couldn't fool her sharp feminine intuition. "I know it's incredibly stressful and frustrating right now," she whispered, ensuring only he could hear. "But if you keep forging ahead, I'm almost certain that the right answers and paths will reveal themselves when you need them most.

All you need to do is keep moving forward and you'll know exactly what it is that you need to do. Mistakes are also a part of life, so don't allow them to be a burden—use them as a source of nutrients to grow even stronger."

Daisuke's eyes quivered, the woman's words shaking the concrete walls he had erected around himself. As she spoke, he could clearly remember what both his virtual and biological parents had said to him—their words of wisdom resonated with Elysia's, rekindling the same emotions within the depths of his soul.

Daisuke took a calming breath. When creating a program, he already had a clear vision of the end result. All that remained was to write a string of code with the proper formulas to fulfill the requirements. It was easy and straightforward—once you knew how to code, of course.

However, adulting was an entirely different ballgame, and his social awkwardness certainly wasn't doing him any favors. Life had so many variables, a daunting labyrinth that left him feeling anxious and out of control.

Unlike coding, where he had a clear vision of the end result and the formulas to get there, he faced the uncertainty of life without a roadmap. Yet, unlike code, he had the freedom to make mistakes along the way.