Back in the concentration camp, Graham closed his eyes in meditation, and suddenly, a wondrous world unfolded before him...
He perceived various tiny colored balls of light, all looking at him curiously. It was evident that these tiny lights were friendly.
Graham understood that these were lesser spirits, the best companions for mages in the world.
With the assistance of these lesser spirits, he could condense magical energy, making spellcasting more effortless.
While he was not proficient in advanced magic, even by simply gathering mana corresponding to specific attributes still granted him considerable power.
In his battle with the cannibalistic giant, the ogre, Graham had already confirmed this.
Moreover, since he now has a connection with lesser spirits, with their help, creating custom spells would become easier.
As a mage, all Graham needed to do was convey his thoughts to the lesser spirits, and they would automatically form the desired effects, this was magic.
The battle with the giant had greatly benefited Graham.
Not only did his awakening progress increase, but he also discovered a highly advantageous fact...
The ability to Plunder was far from simple.
Just look at the well-defined muscles beneath his clothing now, all the result of plundering the most advantageous attributes from his targets and converting them into his own strength!
Of course, the method of plunder was through defeating opponents.
After a brief rest, Graham faced a new adversary, and he would not back down.
...
On the other side, the funeral in the Mathers family had begun.
It was the funeral of a woman known as Roswaal J. Mathers, a duchess.
Nobles from the Lugnika Kingdom gathered to pay their respects, and it was also an opportunity for the new Roswaal to make an appearance.
Among them stood a handsome young man with black hair, silently observing the coffin of Roswaal J. Mathers.
His name was Wilhelm van Astrea, widely known as the 'Sword Demon'.
This lady, Duchess Roswaal, had spent time with him and even expressed her feelings toward him.
However, Wilhelm fell in love with the current Sword Saint, an exceptional woman who had captured his heart, rejecting the duchess's advances.
Unexpectedly, the woman who had left a deep impression on Wilhelm was now gone.
Although he knew that the Mathers family's leaders had short lifespans, losing someone familiar still weighed heavily on Wilhelm.
"Heh, so this is the famous Sword Demon, I presume? Your presence here is most welcome," said the new Roswaal.
Wilhelm, briefly taken aback, looked at the young lord, a handsome youth, and replied confidently, "I wouldn't dare claim the title of Sword Demon. After all, we were friends. But her sudden passing is truly saddening. My condolences, young lord."
Roswaal studied Wilhelm, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
In truth, Roswaal admired Wilhelm greatly. He had even considered being with him while inhabiting a female body... [T/N: Nah, I'd take back-shots... The inner Kenjaku is strong in this one]
Yet, Wilhelm had chosen the Sword Saint of the Astrea family, leaving Roswaal feeling incredibly frustrated.
Seeing the composed Wilhelm, Roswaal's smile turned eerie as he slowly departed.
'What will become of Wilhelm without his beloved Sword Saint I wonder? It's bound to be quite interesting~' Roswaal mused.
Having lived so long, Roswaal's mind had twisted, especially after falling for Wilhelm but being unable to have him.
Wilhelm remained unaware that the greatest calamity of his life was about to strike.
Roswaal desperately wanted to witness the Sword Demon's anguish after losing his love!
Roswaal too, yearned for someone to understand him, his weakness had cost him his beloved mentor, the Witch of Greed, Echidna. Now, his sole purpose was finding a chance to resurrect her.
But seeing Wilhelm and the Sword Saint's happiness, Roswaal decided to let fate take its course. No need to get his own hands dirty...
...
** Back to the Vollachia Empire, Sword Slave Island **
Unbeknownst to him, Graham has successfully won ten battles and gained an independent 'room'. Now, he has the opportunity to practice his magic and deepen his communication with the lesser spirits undisturbed. [T/N: am I tweaking or it was supposed to be 20??]
After ten battles, his awakening progress has reached 3.5%, which may be modest, but it was still better than nothing. The greatest gain is in mana, the total amount of magical power, which has now doubled.
Previously, wielding a great sword left him exhausted after just one strike. Now, he can use it three times without losing strength. Additionally, after defeating opponents, he can recover half of his stamina. Gradually, he grows stronger with each battle.
Of course, he has also suffered injuries. Due to being inexperienced in combat, it was simply inevitable. Fortunately, he also has the assistance of water spirits. These gentle beings can slowly heal wounds by condensing magical energy, allowing him to keep fighting without setbacks.
Regardless of the enemy ahead, Graham won't retreat. His understanding comes from watching many anime in his past life. He knows that all tragedies in the world stem from insufficient abilities. To control his destiny, there was only one viable path, to become stronger.
...
[T/N: though not what I bargained for, at this point, I'm all but used to this system... I still hope we get to see our Mystic Eyes of Death Perception at 100% progress. I mean, from the beginning he already had the requirements to awaken it without any system due to being so close to death thanks to his butler, but meh..]