156: The Third Main Episode [1]
[Retrieving information about the player-bound artifact, ‘Dragon Heart’.]
[Basic Info]
Name: Dragon Heart
Type: Special Equipment (Bound)
Grade: High
Attributes: -
Stats: All stats +1
Equip Requirements: [Genius of Mana Sensitivity] and Mana, Willpower stat of 10 or more.
Special Effects:- Increases the grade of magic auto-correction by 1.
- Greatly improves proficiency with magic that uses Dfragon Language and significantly reduces magic calculation time.
————————————
Shocking effects.
The effects were so overwhelming that I nearly lost myself, but I managed to hold myself.
Even though I’m lying in a hospital bed, if I didn’t feel proud of the rapid increase in my stats, I’d have to look back if I have qualification as a gamer.
I don’t know for sure, but if I looked in the mirror, my grin would probably be stretching to the ear.
But right now, that’s not important.
“Let’s take a look slowly”
The most straightforward displayed part is the stats.
All stats, excluding luck and charm, have increased by 1.
You can say this is shocking.
Naturally, not all high-grade artifacts boast this kind of performance. Sometimes there are high-grade artifacts comparable to highest-grade artifacts, and it’s safe to say that the [Dragon Heart] belongs in that category.
'A permanent increase in stats is something you can immediately feel, especially when it comes to physical strength and the replenishment of frequently used mana. Willpower is no different.’
Physical strength will contribute to swordsmanship, while magic will have a direct influence on both swordsmanship and magic. This will be a solid foundation for my future growth.
Since I’m already checking, I decided to review all my stats and the status screen.
With my thoughts organized, the status screen appeared in midair.
[Basic Info]
Name: Nox von Reinhaver
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Race: Human
Primary Element: Darkness
Achievements: None
[Traits]
Positive: [Genius of Swordsmanship and Combat] / [Genius of Mana Sensitivity] / [Insight] / [Master of Memorization] / [Iron Mentality] / [Genius of Acting]
Neutral: [Manifestation of Darkness]
Negative: [Terminal Illness] / [Prone to Minor Illnesses] / [Cold Limbs] / [Possession]
[Stats]
Physical strength: 9.1 (+2)
Mana: 14.3 (+2)
Luck: 10
Willpower: 14.8 (+1)
Charm: 27.1
[Skills]
Active Skills: [Genius Time+] / [Advanced Dark Family Swordsmanship] / [Southern Swordsmanship] / [Ignition] / [Basic Arkheim Empire Swordsmanship] / [Material Transformation] / [Dark Spear] / [Limit Break] / [Mana Conversion] / [Basic Moonlight Sword] / [Light’s Step]
*Due to the [Terminal Illness] trait, the player’s remaining lifespan is 91 days.
————————————
Seeing my steadily growing stats stirs up some emotions.
Though my physical strength hasn’t surpassed 10 yet, the other stats are at a satisfying level.
I can say that I’ve never grown this quickly in any previous playthrough.
“Especially mana and willpower are at absurd levels… Over 14 ? I’ve had to use my strength a lot recently, so my lifespan has shortened, but that’s inevitable… High risk, high reward. That’s the Nox von Reinhaver I’m developing”
Anyway.
Looking at my stats, which before I realize are getting closer to 15, my heart can’t help but race.
One of the key turning points in base stats is when each stat reaches 15.
Every time a stat hits increments of 5, the character experiences a period of rapid growth, and I’m just about to hit that.
I look forward to my future growth.
“huu… Not bad.”
Sure enough, acquiring good artifacts always brings joy to a gamer.
I shifted my gaze to the next screen.
This time, it was the enhanced skill.
'Next is the improvement in magic proficiency using Dragon Language and the permanent rank-up in [Magic Auto-Correction].’
This is another absurd boost as well.
I’ll have a chance to explain the improvement in magic proficiency with Dragon Language later, but even just the fact that I can properly learn Dragon Magic, I can say it’s already perfect.
However, there was an unexpected gain elsewhere.
“[Magic Auto-Correction] permanently ranked up by 1 grade… This is a special effect I’ve never seen in the game.”
It’s a trait that turned out to be a good variable.
I quickly called out the traits window.
[Displaying detailed info on the passive skill 'Magic Auto-Correction’]
————————————
[Passive Skill]
Name: Magic Auto-Correction
Grade: High
Attribute: None
Effect: Automatically boosts the power and effectiveness of all magic-related skills up to advanced level.
————————————
Ranked up by 1 grade, the automatic adjustment, which only applied to intermediate and lower skills before, also works on advanced skills now.
This fact is a very big deal.
Previously, it was more beneficial to use multiple intermediate skills, but now the efficiency of using advanced magic has greatly improved.
In the long term, there will definitely be moments where intermediate magic alone won’t be enough to overcome the situation.
When that happens, this skill will be a huge help.
“The main episode is coming soon too…”
'I’m so screwed.’
In the end, the conclusion always circles back to this.
Still, as expected. I think.
Well, I’ve got to figure it out somehow. What else can I do?
If I’ve got the Dragon Heart?
Then the next step is to master the Dragon’s Breathing Technique.
The first step is opening the three pathways and raising my realm.
Astrid was standing in the academy’s secret training hall, staring straight at me.
Her usual lazy expression, but when it comes to magic, her ruthlessness is carved more clearly in my mind than ever.
Astrid looked at my body and said,
“You’re not dead, huh?”
“Fortunately, yes.”
I shrugged and calmly said. Astrid didn’t even take a glance at me and immediately prepared for the next step.
Completely changing my breathing from the root.
“You know about the three magic organs, right? The pathways for circulating magic.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Spin them all at once. Try circulating them simultaneously.”
“…Right now? I only just got the Dragon Heart yesterday. There’s no way I can do something like that this quickly.”
I was so taken aback that I asked again. Even in the game, they didn’t throw the breathing technique lessons at you the very next day.
Why do things never go the way I imagined…?
“Can’t do it? Then I won’t teach you.”
At Astrid’s words, I quickly corrected myself.
“…I’ll do it. In return, please show me a demonstration, and I’ll follow along.”
Learning comes first, no matter what.
Astrid is more reckless than I expected, but I didn’t have a choice. I told her I’d do it, and asked her to show me how.
No matter how you look at it, does it make sense to master a training method that’s just a script, all by yourself?
Step, step.
Astrid von Kaliud dragged her feet and approached me as if it was tiresome.
Then she extended her hand to me while slightly tilting her head.
Next, she waved her hand once.
“What are you doing? Not gonna take it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You wanted a demonstration, right? This is the fastest way.”
Still half dubious, I took Astrid’s hand. Then, suddenly, she pulled me into her chest and hugged me.
I felt her warm, unique scent, mixed with the scent of baked madeleines. Maybe it was her fire attribute? I even found it comforting.
'I wondered if dragons smell like reptiles, but it seems not’
As I satisfy one of my curiosity, I focused on what she was doing.
A few minutes passed.
I quietly traced the flow of magic I could feel moving from her.
As I thought, she had a plan all along.
'Astrid pulled me close for this. The best way to feel magic circulation is through physical contact after all.’
Astrid’s method was right.
The reason she told me to take off my shirt earlier, you can say it was for this as well.
As expected from a dragon, her circulation technique was very unique.
'Basically, most dull or average mages can only circulate magic up to the upper dantian in the head. Next is the middle dantian, located in the heart area, which can only be controlled by mid-level mages or more’
Where’s the last one?
Naturally, it’s the lower dantian.
Located about two fingers below the belly button.
When this opens, the door to the mental world will be open.
This world is different depending on the individuality of knight or mage.
If I follow her lessons properly, I should be able to open this lower dantian soon.
It’ll also pave the way for a new path.
'Besides, I wonder what Nox’s mental world looks like?’
Condition to open the lower dantian. It’s by moving to the mental world.
A virtual space that manifests according to one’s will.
So, if the lower dantian opens in Nox’s current body?
Will it be a manifestation of my will or an ignition of Nox’s talent as a character?
This made me curious, but unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to immediately solve it.
“You haven’t opened the lower dantian yet.”
“… Who wouldn’t? Have you ever seen anyone master the Dragon’s Breath technique in a day?”
“Nope.”
“…”
To Astrid’s confident reply, I let out a small sigh and stepped away from her embrace.
Then, looking directly into her calm eyes, I said
“There’s a faint flow of magic in the lower dantian, though.”
“Barely, like a rat’s tail.”
“In any case, it’s just a matter of time.”
I added with some emphasis,
“I’ll master the Dragon’s Breath, so please formally accept me as Astrid-nim disciple. There’s still a lot I want to learn from you.”
“Emmmm… There’s no other choice, Noah did ask me after all. It’s annoying, but I’ll help a little. In return, there’s one condition you have to keep it.”
This time, Astrid looked at me with a serious expression.
Her voice had a gloomy tone as she spoke. Somehow, I could sense a fraction of Astrid’s past from her words.
“Never lie to me. As long as you keep that promise, I’ll accept you as my disciple.”
Why was she asking that.
In fact I already know.
But I’ll save that explanation for later.
There will definitely be a time to talk about it someday.
Therefore.
“Of course.”
I just shrugged as I continued calmly
“I have no reason to lie to you.”
————————————
It’s been about a month since Astrid started teaching me.
And as my lifespan steadily dwindled, finally the beginning of the main episode was approaching.
It all started with Professor Fritzel from the [Joint Martial Arts] class.
“Eee… so, you’ll be participating in a martial arts practical session in a few days. Eee… safety is the top priority, and Eldain’s also consider this event extremely important, so any rash actions or decisions will be forb… eee.. be careful of any rash actions or decisions.“
"Oh my, it’s already that time, huh?”
Eleanor, sitting next to me, rested her chin on her hand as she spoke.
I replied nonchalantly, “It seems so” but
In fact, internally, my thoughts were completely different.
'The [Joint Martial Arts] practical session. Main Episode 3 is finally here. This one won’t be easy either.’
After surviving the Paimon episode, also known as the Newbie Crusher, and the Gambling House episode, we’ve now reached the third Merchant Group Collapse episode. To put it simply, it’s famous for its hellish difficulty.
The previous episodes weren’t easy, and this one won’t be either.
Even so, we’ve had a lot of time to prepare, I guess you could say that’s fortunate.
It’s true that there are plenty of variables to worry about, but it’s fine if we manage them well. Maybe, things will go smoothly without any major incidents.
Either way, hunting demons is the element you can’t omit in Inner Lunatic, and should I call it luck that there are fewer concerns from relationship-building major points in this episode?
…Or so I thought, until about two hours after class ended.
That hopeful expectation that I wouldn’t need to build any more relationships was quickly shattered.
Thanks to none other than Eleanor, the main heroine of Chapter 3.
Eleanor De Rivalin.
It was because she summoned me.
Some might ask,
No, if it’s Eleanor’s request,
Wouldn’t it be fine even if you don’t go?
But I’d have to ask in return.
Because…
'the one she summoned wasn’t me, but Shane.’
Shane.
My alter ego, the one Eleanor de Rivalin bound to herself by giving him her mother’s keepsake.
For some reason, Eleanor called for Shane.
And the reason was…
"Please protect me during the [Joint Martial Arts] practical session.”
She wanted me to protect her.
In the corner of a cafe run by the Rivalin Merchant Group.
For a brief moment, I couldn’t help but look surprised.
Why?
Eleanor shouldn’t know that there’s a force planning to attack her.
'That wasn’t in the original story. So why?’
Why
What exactly tipped her off to the danger she’s in?
I need to review it quickly. before the apple mint tea on the table went cold.
Inner Lunatic’s Chapter 3. The main episode’s upcoming flows and its plot.
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