Chapter 39
Pain. A very easy method of learning. Damaging, of course, but easy and fast. I'm one example of that. I've been through so much pain that it wouldn't be wrong to call me an M now. I'm not!
The thing about pain is, that it's a double-edged sword. There were many chances of one going crazy or if the pain would be too much, the heart itself would stop by going into cardiac arrest.
So this isn't best for everyone. I have seen even those with great mental health and amazing physiques losing themselves to pain.
[Then what makes you think she can take it?]
'Because she will have me.'
"You called for me, lord brother?" Seraphina entered my room and asked timidly. Ahh, she's so cute, just like a rabbit.
[That would make you the big bad wolf]
'Shut up. I didn't mean it like that.' I'm not a lolicon. Besides, she's not a loli. She's literally thirteen. And in the novel, it only takes her four years to become the second-strongest villain. Second to the demon king.
And all of that is only possible because of her one unique characteristic. Pain. Her title in the novel was, 'The Girl Who Suffered'.
That literally means that she had to suffer a lot throughout the novel but also her pain ended up making her strong. The more she suffers, the more she becomes strong.
"Yes, I did. Oh, small and cute sister of mine." I replied in the same manner as an aristocrat. She was shocked at my reply and forgot to say anything about it.
"Come here." I held her by her small hand and brought her to the seat opposite me. She sat down without much resistance and I began.
"I know that you are still a child and you shouldn't be bothered by things like training and such." I softened the field before I continued, "But let's face it, the crown prince or the other imperial princes won't let you grow and no one else would care."
[And then you relayed the harsh reality to her]
'She may be a child but she's smart. She will understand the hidden meaning behind it.'
"Then… Then is the lord brother offering me strength." She asked after a while, but there was no timidity this time.
[…]
[Wipe that smirk off your face]
I can't. She's amazing. She is too good to let her rot like a villain to be killed. Even if she ends up becoming a villain, I will turn her into the best villain and not a second-grade one like in the novel.
"Haha. Little Seri is smart indeed." I said while I patted her head. She squirmed a bit which I assumed was because of her sensitivity.
"Now," I spoke while I sat back down, "Do you know what I need from you?" She contemplated my question for a few minutes before she spoke, "I know it is not loyalty."
"Exactly," I agreed with her a hundred percent. If I wanted loyalty, I would hire a demon. They don't lie which makes them more loyal than anyone. Rule number 7, never expect loyalty from a human.
[Which would make Rose a unique case]
'I can be wrong sometimes but I don't expect it.'
"Then what is it?" She asked again, now her nervous demeanor and timid behavior nowhere to be seen. She was doing a good job hiding them.
"Just as an ally. For you to be of use to me, you need to be useful. I will make you useful, and when needed, I will use you, and you in turn can make use of me."
A mutual transaction. Besides, there is another reason why I want Seraphina to be my ally. However, that reason is related to someone else.
For a while, no reply came. She had processed my words the moment she heard them but she was having a hard time contemplating about it.
However, a drowning man grasps even a thin straw. She knew what her fate would be if she continued as is. The question of the hour was, whether or not she would bet on me.
"Very well, lord brother." She replied shortly after, her golden eyes burning with determination. Good. She was going to need that.
"Then come with me," I said and started heading deeper inside my chambers. We didn't have much time since I had to leave in two days for the academy so I will have to do this very quickly.
[Are you sure about this?]
Allison asked, probably doubting my decision. 'Just be ready to transfer what she can't handle to me.' I instructed her and prepared the penta enhancement array.
That's right. Seraphina needs pain to grow stronger. And what better method than this one?
"Now sister, tell me. What is it that you want in this life?" I asked abruptly. She might not be comfortable with telling me her goal but I was just trying to remind her. She didn't have to tell me.
"I… I want to see my mother whenever I want." She replied after quite some time. Although she wasn't comfortable telling me, she still said it.
"Good." I nodded and continued, "Then keep her in mind all the time. You will need it." I said before guiding her to the middle of the array.
The first step was useless to me now. Even if I initiate it again, I won't see any difference in my growth. It would still hurt though.
"Say, yes," I asked her to enter my party which she did.
[Seraphina von Deus Lux is now your party member]
After I received the notification, I stepped outside of the array and braced myself. "Brace yourself, sister. You will now feel a hell of pain." I also instructed her to do the same.
She was very nervous about my words and actions so far. She should be though because what is about to come, I have never attempted it on someone other than me.
'Activate it.' I asked Allison to begin and just at that moment, a tremendous pain assaulted both of us.
"Kugh." "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!" A scream that even though I was in very much pain, still reached and tore through my eardrums.
The scream obviously belonged to Seraphina. The last time I used the shield to block all of this but this time there was no need to because the shield was there in the first place to contain the effects of elemental integration.
This time there was no shield to block her cries. I never wondered before if this room was soundproofed or not.
But under this constant and tremendous pain, it's my last concern right now.
[Your party member, Seraphina von Deus Lux is now level 22]
[Your party member, Seraphina von Deus Lux is now level 41]
[Your party member, Seraphina von Deus Lux is now level 69]
[…]
[…]
[…]
A periodic increase kept on happening. If my focus wouldn't have been on that, I doubt I would have been able to pay attention to anything under this much pain.
If my guess was correct, more than eighty percent of pain was being transferred to me which would also mean that Seraphina's growth won't be beyond at most D rank.
=====
[Your party member, Seraphina von Deus Lux is now level 149]
At some point, everything stopped at this notification. The pain suddenly stopped. I felt fuzzy. Like I was spinning for almost an hour and had suddenly stopped. In other words, my mind was still spinning.
'What happened?' I inquired from the only person I could, Allison.
[Person might not be the correct word]
'What happened?' I reminded her to stay on the subject.
[The process ended]
[You both passed out]
'For how long?' I asked the important question.
[Seven hours]
My eyes opened wide. What the hell did she mean? The process of the penta enhancement array ended in just five hours. How is that possible?
[She must have absorbed it faster]
'Even I take seven days minimum. Me!'
[Then maybe it's her unique ability to convert pain to power]
Under the circumstances, it does seem like the only possibility.
Her level stopped at 149 which would mean that she has reached the peak of D rank. I wonder if it would have been more had she not reached her growth block for a breakthrough.
[Only one way to find out]
She's right. No use making simple speculations here. If I want answers, I will have to find them myself.
But maybe after a brief break.
======
My break ended when the door of the door was opened by Rose. She cautiously entered the darkened room on her tiptoes.
"You know, it's rude to enter someone's room like that. Especially a man's. What if I was naked?" I asked which caused her to yelp and jump back.
"Relax," I said as I stood up and saw her panicking a bit, "I'm not going to eat you."
[You won't?]
'I won't.'
[Are you sure?]
'You're seriously getting on my nerves.'
[What are you going to do about it?]
'Nothing.' It's not like I can do anything about her. It's actually her I need to worry about. Who's to say she won't slap me with another ridiculous title?
[Then you better watch your tone]
'Yes, yes, Your Majesty.'
[Ohhh, kinky]
"Are you feeling all right, Your Highness?" Rose asked once she had calmed down a bit. I simply nodded and turned my attention to the still-unconscious Seraphina.
'What's her status?' I asked Allison.
[All vitals are normal]
[She's just exhausted]
That was a relief. I was half afraid that she would end up with brain damage due to the pain.
[She's fine]
[She's stronger than she looks]
Then we have gained ourselves a winner.
[You were half expecting it wouldn't work did you?]
'I don't play with lives.' From my analysis of the novel, I was about ninety percent sure that she would endure it. That is why I took almost all of the pain which I now realize could have been the reason why the process ended so soon.
======
"How are you feeling?" I asked Seri as I handed her a glass of milk. She stared at me because of my choice of drink but I simply sipped out of my own glass with a straight stare back into her eyes.
Milk is delicious.
"Ahem," She coughed and replied, "Better now, lord brother. A night's rest was enough."
"Very well. Now you know what you need to do right?" I asked, moving on the further agendas. "Yes, lord brother."
Okay. First order of business. "My name is Adrian and you will call me so, Seri. Understood?"
My tone was assertive and if my expression was any indication, she would understand it well enough.
"Yes, brother." She replied. That's better. "You need more work on that."
"Anyway, I need you to first consolidate yourself with your newfound strength and try to break through to C rank in three months."
"We don't have much time and we will have to move very quickly. Understood?"
The reason for my hastiness was simple. A very worrying information had been brought to my attention from Allison which would throw a wedge in my growth plan so I would have to slightly change my plans and hasten this process.
"Yes, brother." She replied as she finished her glass of milk.
"Your Highness." Just as Seri had finished, Max approached me and informed me, "Lady Alicia wishes to urgently see you."
He hadn't even finished when Alicia barged in and came straight to me, "Adrian, hurry. I need your help."
Alicia hadn't talked to me much but not once had she called me by my name.
"What's the problem?" I asked as she grabbed me and started going out. Her grip is surprisingly strong.
"A patient of mine is dying and I don't know what is wrong with him." She hurriedly informed me as she was dragging me towards the palace gate.
At the mention of a patient, I also stopped lagging and sped up after her.