After consuming Elena's elixir, I trained for another week.
Just when I thought I was getting pretty strong.
I opened my status window to check my status.
__________________
[Basic Info]
Name: Nox von Reinhafer
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Race: Human
Primary Element: Darkness
Achievements: None
[Traits].
Positives: [Genius with Swords and Martial Arts] / [Genius with Mana Sensitivity] / [Insightful] / [Master of Memorization] / [Steel Mentality] / [Master of Acting]]
Neutral: [Manifestation of Darkness]
Negative: [Time Limit] / [Weakling] / [Crippling Chill] / [Possession]
[Stats].
Physique: 6.1 (+1)
MP: 9 (+1)
Luck: 10
Willpower: 11.1
Charm: 26
[Hidden Stats]
Dexterity (Uncultivated): 7
[Skills] – Active Skills: [Time of Genius] / [Shadow Family Intermediate Swordsmanship] / [Southern Swordsmanship] / [Ignition] / [Transmutation]]
*The player's remaining lifespan is 150 days based on the [Time Limit] talent.
__________________
[Conditions: Sub-Quests Completed (10/10)]
[Tutorial – You have cleared "Need Help?"]
[Status will be updated with the tutorial reward].
[You'll see additional itemized stats].
I was pretty happy with my stats and achievements.
My initially abysmal Physique is nowhere to be found, and it's up to a pretty decent level.
It's enough that I shouldn't have any problems entering the Academy right now.
Also.
[Reaching 10 in the Magic stat will unlock the talent 'Mana Sensitivity Genius'].
Mana Sensitivity Genius, the core of the magic tree and the ultimate talent, has also successfully bloomed. The requirement to unlock it is Mana 10.
With my existing Mana stat of 9, plus the stats from the Black Brimstone Ring, I was able to safely fulfill this requirement.
At this point, I feel a new sense of accomplishment.
...How long did it take me to reach this point?
Between my daily training and wandering around the mansion in my spare time.
[Do you need anything?] {Nox}
[Hmm… No, Young Master Nox?!]
[I asked if you needed anything, don't make me say it twice].
I go around looking for people in distress.
[I hear you've lost the ring you wore when you married your wife four years younger. I'll find it for you].
[Hic…!]
[I'll find it and bring it back].
I've helped other servants with similar cases of lost property.
Each of them reacted with horror, and Rona's suspicious glances followed.
If it weren't for the acting talent, I would have failed to complete the subquest.
That would have slowed my growth even more.
However.
After working to the bone, I succeeded in blooming both of my genius traits.
A strange sense of satisfaction rose in me, making my whole body tired.
'But now's not the time to relax.'
I'm well aware of the dangers of the talent [Time Limit].
The most dangerous is the inability to raise your Physique stat above a cap of 15.
While others are capped at 30, I'm stuck at 15. This means I have to watch other units overtake me.
Eventually, if I don't take advantage of the two Blossoming Genius traits soon, I will gradually start to fall behind them.
After all, survival in Inner Lunatic begins and ends with Physique and MP.
"Whatever, there's nothing too bad to think about. It's true that I've gained a lot from this and that."
Apart from that, I don't feel too bad about my development. In fact, I think there are more positives.
Speaking of which, let me recap.
First of all, in terms of swordsmanship, [Dark Family Beginner Swordsmanship] has been upgraded to Intermediate.
Apparently, my daily sword training has paid off.
In addition, I have a genius talent, so my growth rate was unrivaled. I don't want to compare, but even compared to the children of other vassals, the difference was obvious.
Almost twenty times more…?
I suddenly realized how unearthly the [geniuses] in this world were. They're able to reach places that mortals could never reach through hard work.
And with much less effort.
It's a shame, but what can you do?
That's the way this world is, and it was no different in the original work.
Except I'm the one dying.
Haha. Shit.
I've gotten sidetracked, but anyway, there have been developments in other areas besides the sword. Most importantly, mana.
I was able to practice magic for the rest of the period without paying attention to Theo, since it was determined that I could handle mana anyway.
The result: two new skills.
"Oooh, congratulations Young Master, so… my salary is a little low this month…!"
Ignoring Rona's comment, I continued to explain.
The first is [Ignite], which creates a flame.
It's not the most dangerous of the attribute spells to learn first, but I didn't really have a choice.
Why?
Because I have a nasty trait called [Crippling Chill]. {1}
As I've explained before, this will undoubtedly render me disabled if I go to a cold place like a glacier field.
So I need to know how to make fire to survive.
'Not only that, but there's a lot you can do if you have access to the Fire skill. You can hunt game and roast meat. Cook wild mushrooms and vegetables.'
You can't always carry flint and other materials to make a fire.
In a world with magic, it makes sense to pick the most efficient one first, so I learned fire magic first.
The other one, which you may not be familiar with, is [Transmutation].
Transmutation is simply the type change of mana into a desired type.
For example, I manipulate darkness as my primary element, and I can transform it into the form of fire. I could use it to transform into water, or any other form.
This contributes to all later magical formulas, and is a skill that can shake one's roots if the foundation is weak.
It is said that mastery of this skill is the beginning of magic.
I don't think I need to explain myself.
'I'm still at a beginner's level, but ... is still pretty good enough.'
Oddly enough, no one who enters Eldain has mastered this level of magic before entering the academy. It was only natural since they couldn't even handle mana before they reached adulthood.
Even those who do manage to master it are usually terrible at it.
To put it simply, the [Type Change] I mastered is not something you can learn by reading a book alone. {2}
For some people, it's a process that takes almost a year.
But the genius trait gave me a type change in two days.
Insane.
I did it, but it's still crazy.
Is this balanced?
I don't know who made this game, but I want to see their face.
…Seriously.
'Cause there's a lot I'd like to ask him.'
No, I don't want to punch him, ever....
With a small thought, I let the flames in my hand permeate the sword in my other hand. This is another accomplishment.
To imbue a sword with magical power.{3}
This is only possible because my sword is a Stormbringer.
Normally, I'd just use my mana to instantly strengthen my sword and slash.
But this damned sword was born to absorb mana. It devoures my mana and uses it as it pleases.
As I grow, the sword continues to grow with me. Not just when I use mana, but semi-permanently.
This was quite an accomplishment. It means that I can be effective against other enemies without having to equip a bunch of other gear.
So, I concluded.
Let's just, you know, spread the mana around.
There's no other sword that's as destructive as this one, as long as I use it in moderation so it doesn't drain my vitality.
I'd rather carry another sword, but I can't give up on Stormbringer. Or something like that.
I'd rather have my lifespan reduced by two or three days.
I'd rather lose two or three days of life. I'm talking about a one-day cut. No, an hour would be fine.
Damn it.
"Master, I'm glad to see you're making progress. All the hard work has paid off."
Zitri says cheerfully.
She's been watching my magic and swordsmanship for days, and she's the one who recognizes my progress the most.
It's reassuring in more ways than one to have a maid like her follow me to the Academy.
I nodded and took the water she offered.
"Of course."
I sheathed my sword and cleared my throat to catch my breath, and this time Rona spoke again.
"By the way, if you get in at this time, you'll be reunited with Lady Talia again! I'm sure you'll be happy, lol, so I'm going to need my paycheck...."
"...."
"…Senior, may I ask who Young Master Talia is, since your face has taken on a shade of color?"
When Zitri realized the seriousness of my change in expression and asked Rona, she placed her hand on her waist and replied.
"Alas~ Master Nox's fiancée. Well, it's still unofficial, but rumors have already spread like wildfire among the butlers and maids...."
"...what?"
Wait, shit.
What the fuck did I hear?
"Rona, tell me that story again."
I asked, feeling dizzy. But Rona has a nonchalant look on her face, one of those "what's the big deal?" looks.
I can't help but want to punch her in the face.
Rona crosses her arms.
"Um… I was just telling you that Young Lady Talia and the Master are getting engaged, and it's not like everyone knows about it...."
"That's the problem, I didn't know!"
I blurted out.
What kind of bullshit is this?
Who was this person who was going to stick a knife in my heart in the future?
Without a second thought, it was Talia von Steiner.
And she's engaged to who, to whom?
And why did all the other assholes know about it but me?
"Aww, even you're embarrassed. Are you that happy?"
"If you mention Talia one more time, you won't get paid. Not this month, not next month."
"...."
Rona was silent.
Then a girl from the workshop who'd heard the ruckus rushed over and grabbed my shoulders.
She was drunk, and her breath reeked of alcohol.
Whoa… Hold on.
I'm going to go crazy, but I have to put up with it somehow....
"Young Maaaassster…!?! When did you cheat on me? I was waiting for you to confess first...."
It's like Rona has become two people.
Sometimes I think Elena is a bit more over the top than Rona.
Like… now?
"Ah, haha… Nox-nim, I'm sorry, I must have gotten distracted and had a drink…. I think I snuck it out of the Reinhafer family's liquor warehouse. Hmm, let's see… It says 'Rivalin Family Specialty Cognac'? Is it expensive…?"
"Hah… Put it in front of me."
Grine would pay for it.
"And get this girl to sober up, and you get some rest, too, you've got dark circles under your eyes like you're about to die."
Not that it's any of my business, but Mei's face is serious.
She nods with a serious look on her face.
"…..Was it that bad...."
I can tell by the way her vibrant orange hair has turned gray.
A situation with no answers. But you know what's the most unanswerable?
In a week, I would be enrolled at Eldain.
Not anyone else, but me!
Me!
Also, what does this mean....
It means the first main story.
It meant that the [entrance exam] would begin.
* * *
{Emma POV}
A troubled girl's voice came from the Steiner family mansion.
"Hmmmmmm~ What do you think, Emma, do I look okay?"
"I've seen that outfit at least twenty times…?"
It was the Steiner family's honor that was in shambles.
Talia's room was no different.
"I mean, I think this outfit is okay… and that one isn't too bad either… Oh, right! What about accessories?!"
Emma's face was set in a stern expression of exasperation.
Her dark circles had already reached her cheeks.
"It's been hours… days… and we're still a week away from admissions...!
No matter how much she was looking forward to her reunion with Nox.
This is too much.
Aren't you supposed to see each other briefly on the first day, move into your dorms, and start wearing your uniforms the next day?
And she's worried about that one brief moment?
It was enough to make her wonder where Talia's brain went wrong.
But Emma's worries didn't end there.
'The head of the family, Leo von Steiner, is furious at what kind of a bastard made his daughter like this, he sent her off to the Reinhaber family for a marriage contract… No matter how stupid the daughter is, that's the case…!!'
The father and daughter worked in pairs to put Emma through her penance.
Emma pressed her temples and looked at Talia, who had already changed into her next set of clothes. Her empty, hollow eyes spoke volumes.
"I'm guessing something with ruffles, right?"
"Oh, yeah...."
"Emma, you just answered out of boredom!"
Oh, this is haunting me again.
You sassy little brat!
Emma couldn't help but look at her outfit again.
That's right. It's her own fault for succumbing to the power of capitalism....
If only for the sake of my healthy parents back home…!
Tears blinded Emma.
{1} : first time it's been refered to as "handicap" but I'm going to keep as is
{2} : Type Change is the Spell and Transmutation is the category
{3} : MP is the stat, Mana is the manipulated particle, Magical Power is your juice