4 months earlier - Surface - Kingdom of Silvia - Capital City of Aren
[Myla]
Just now, I can't believe my eyes. The shopkeeper shows me several dark affinity items. There are even legendary dark affinity tomes.
If I can have it I will be able to learn some dark affinity spells.
There is a big catch. The church. They are the most powerful institution in this country. Even more powerful than the royal family. They are also highly influential that their beliefs can stretch throughout the continent.
Also, learning dark affinity spells will raise my chance of acquiring the title of [Child of Darkness]. I have to be careful.
From the books I have read, those who acquire that title are easily detected by Templar Knights or clergies, thus they are hunted. I even hear they are either burnt at the stakes or killed once captured.
If that's the case perhaps I should just leave society and go somewhere where the church has no influence. I've heard south is a good place.
There is also a chance I can slip undetected if I learn 2 or 3 since I don't even have the child of darkness title. But to think of it, the condition in acquiring this title is unknown.
However, for now, I want to ask what this man has in mind. Does he intend to sell it to me? He is quite the guy to be showing this to me. After all, dark affinity items are banned throughout countries where the church has influence. Silvia is one of them.
If caught, both of us will be in trouble.
However, seeing the shopkeeper, he seems nervous. Is this probably his first time?
"What do you ask of me to do with this?" I ask.
"I'll give this to you for free. However, I have one condition."
All of these for free? I think about it for a while but I eventually agreed. "Alright, if it's within my ability."
"Yes, just tell no one I gave you this. It's a promise, okay?"
Just that? Seeing all of these in front of me makes me doubt him. This seems too good to be true.
I guess I shall speak my mind. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone but how will you benefit if you give all of these for me for free?"
His voice seems timid and nervous. "It will really help me big time. You see some smuggled goods by accident made their way into our shop. I intend to report it at first but I figured I don't want to get investigated by the church. Disposing of them is also risky since this place is teeming with believers and Templar Knights. If they find this out in my possession, my business permit can get revoked. And that's the least of my concern."
I see, I finally understand where he is coming from. Judging from his actions and his lowered body temperature, his worry is sincere.
I then check each of the pieces of equipment. One is a dark velvet red with high-quality leather.
[Night Robe (Rare):
Requirement: Level 55
+Allows the user to conceal themselves
+Dark Affinity skills are 20% more effective
+35 Stamina
+HP and MP recovery is increased by 10% ]
I can already tell this is no ordinary item that can be bought on the market. With these characteristics, it must be a high-tier item in this world.
The next is a steel iron cache with a dark red gem affixed on it. It also seems impressive.
[Vampiric Cache (Rare)
Requirement: Level 50; Spatial Affinity
+ Inferior Spatial Bag
+ 20 Defense
+ 40% EXP for Vampires]
Inferior spatial bag? Will I be able to use items using this item?
Regardless, this cache seems perfect for me because of my compatibility. Perhaps I shall use this and try to store all of the items in this cache.
I can also get some EXP boost, huh?
All that is left on the stall is a ring and some tomes.
[Blood Ring (Uncommon)
+10 Wisdom
+20% MP reduction for dark affinity skills]
Inspecting each tome, they also look very powerful as well. Most are dark affinity tomes though there are 2 spatial affinity tomes.
Seriously?! Does this guy know how valuable this is?
Spatial skills go under the category of dark affinity. Though spatial magic is even rarer than dark skills. There are no (Common) spatial skills. Even most Templar Knights who are used in hunting dark magic users never get to see one. Even a dark user seeking spatial magic will spend fortunes just to acquire one.
For now, I'll take everything I can.
I then tried equipping the Vampiric Cache. It seems comfortable as I put it on. Not to mention, it looks pretty cool as well.
[+Inferior Spatial Bag Skill Acquired!]
For now, I will have to use this skill and store all the dark affinity items into the Spatial Bag. This skill only allows me to store items in limited space, however, it's more than enough.
It seems I can also equip the Night Robe but I can't walk with this around the city, thus I have to store it somewhere for now.
Using [Inferior Spatial Bag] skill, a dark portal opens up in mid-air. We are both surprised when it comes up. However, I quickly calm down since I always see this stuff in the movies.
I then store everything into it, which amuses me since I do not need to carry my load everywhere I go. This is very convenient I wonder why this has to get banned from the church.
Regardless, luckily I did not acquire the Child of Darkness title. Maybe there's more to it than just acquiring some dark affinity skills.
I then bow to the shopkeeper and give him my most sincere thanks.
The shopkeeper chuckles nervously. "Ah well, no, no, it's all yours but promise me to never rat me out."
"I promise with my life."
"Well, I believe you since vampires are an honorable race right?" He smiles sheepishly.
"Anyway sir, do you have any idea who might have brought it here?"
"No clue, but it might be from the underworld smugglers."
Underworld smugglers? The shopkeeper explains that they smuggle dark affinity items through various countries. Passing through the borders and gates undetected also means they can use spatial magic.
Spatial magic is useful for smuggling it seems.
However, they are only present in countries influenced by churches since their value has skyrocketed due to demand from dark users. The more influence church has on that country the more valuable their smuggled goods are.
Dark users can't perform dark rituals after all without the necessary items.
After saying my last thanks, the shopkeeper lends me a grey robe. It only has inferior stats but I need it to hide the cache.
Even he is so desperate to hand me a grey robe for free.
[Grey Robe (Common)
+5 Wisdom ]
Regardless, I think I owe this person. I'll find a way to pay him back later.
Going outside I met up with the trio. They then muse seeing my new attire. "Cool, you look like a real vampire now Myla," Mike says aloud.
Sena nods excitedly. "You know those secretive characters from the movies? You have that mysterious air around you."
Simon only smiles.
I chuckle. "Thank you guys for waiting for me."
"Of course, we are friends aren't we?" Mike says.
Simon then takes our attention by clearing his throat. "Guys, I think we need to return soon. We have stayed in here for too long."
Oh crap! We forgot that they will depart today. I took too much time conversing with the shopkeeper.
Hearing what he just said, we then hurry to the barracks.
To our disappointment, the barracks are empty. The caravan has already left and the ones left are the castle guards and some knights. There are no signs of my classmates anywhere.
Now then, what shall we do?
With the others almost giving up, Sena then stands. "Guys we can't give up?"
"Sena, do you have a plan?"
Sena then nods with a determined look. She aims her arm on the ground and casts her skills. "Hemmy, come forth from my summoning."
A giant red fox emerges from the ground.
The Knights and Guards are taken aback. Me included. However, I'm impressed that Sena can summon monsters.
[Hemmy (Uncommon)
Red Wood Fox
Level: 15 ]
Everyone is then mounting on its back. I am the only one who is left standing. I guess I have to join as well and ride on it.
We then gallop away at fast speed. We are amused since this creature is better than the horse.
With the foxes' long stride, we can cross leave the capital just for 30 minutes. Though we did cause some chaos on the streets. Thankfully we made our way through.
"Sena is that your skill?"
Sena explains. "My system title is Nature Tamer. My unique skill allows me to tame, name and summon monsters."
I see, that's pretty handy. Though this monster looks pretty low-level. I also wonder about their levels.
As I remember, Alfred's friends have been calling them the weak trio. Regardless, I'll offer anything I can to help them.
Afterward, we then take some rest since Sena can only summon the creature for 3 hours every day.
We then roam around the forest to hunt food for our journey.
Since this forest has boars around level 15, hunting them was easy for the team. They even make sure that I don't have to do anything.
These guys are all too kind.
To let some time pass, I sit down with the trio while looking at the map.
The Holy Light Church Kingdom is close to our destination. I even wonder which god they are worshipping.
"Hey, Simon, who does the church worship?"
"Well, they don't have one god but plenty. They worship a hierarchy of gods. The one they regard as the highest god is Molervus, the god of light and the one who created everything. There is also a lower realm god that exists in this world that they worship."
"A god that exists here?"
I wonder who that person is.
"Yes, his name is the Grand Light OverLord, Jerome, the Saint Lord. He is the most powerful light user in this world according to my research."
"Who else do you know?"
"Hmmm, I hear there are a total of four Overlords of Munren..."
Simon explains that this realm is called Munren. There are four Overlords who exist. They are worshipped and feared by the inhabitants. They have the power to destroy countries if they want to. Luckily, they seem uninterested in worldly affairs.
One is the OverLord of Monsters, Kaveris, the Chaotic Beast of the West. He is revered by criminals and murderers but feared by the common people. Out of all the Overlords, he is the most problematic since he toys with human lives.
Another one is the Overlord Queen, Melanie, the Vanquisher of South. She is revered by the southern inhabitants thus they go into conflict with the northerners who are believers of the Holy Light Doctrine. Though she has been silent and there is no news of her. Some rumors say she has gone into slumber.
Lastly, the Lord of the Infinite Dungeon, Sagus, the Ancient Strongest Sorcerer of the East. Unlike the rest, he has the fewest worshippers since he got sealed in the dungeon after offending some demon lords. Though there is some evil cult following him.
Regardless, they are quite powerful individuals that their capabilities might be hard for us to comprehend.