WARNING
You have killed a guardian. As punishment, you will no longer receive experience points, lose access to your skills, and have 90% of your stats sealed for an indefinite amount of time.
I saw an unpleasant message when I woke up, and then I remembered how I suddenly lost consciousness after killing the colossal owl that came out of nowhere. The owl in question was still sprawled lifelessly on the ground, ice forming around its corpse from the sheer temperature of the now frozen desert.
The owl – Ultima I think was its name – was no pushover so I had to go all out, and the result was a realm of frost. Ice spans as far as the eyes could see and deeper than one could ever imagine. Unfortunately, it seems I won’t be making such scenery again anytime soon. The warning aside, I could feel the drop in my strength. I truly became weaker.
To verify the truth, I called for my status screen. I mentally clicked expand to check my current stats and skills. To my surprise however – more like rage – I couldn’t access the skill information. “...”
BASIC INFORMATION
NAME
Lucina
RACE
Devil
TITLE
The Glacial Empress
LEVEL
70*
CHARACTER STATS
HEALTH
100%
MANA
100%
CONDITION
[Healthy], [Sealed]
STRENGTH
26(+8)
AGILITY
33(+10)
VITALITY
30
MAGIC
91(+127)
SPECIAL
36
RESISTANCE
71
[EXPAND]
“Tsk,” I wonder who made the system. Why in hell should I be punished when the so-called guardian was the one who attacked me first?! This is bullshit! Maybe the system isn’t mine, but my level, my skills, my power; everything is the product of my own efforts, not anyone else’s! No one, and I mean no one, has the right to take them away from me!
As much as I wanted to scream my lungs out, I knew it wouldn’t help me so I forcefully calmed myself down. Luckily I was experienced in keeping my emotions in check. It only took me a few seconds to stabilize myself. The anger was still there of course, but it wouldn’t distract me from the more important things.
Now let’s see... I still benefit from the equipment bonus so I think my gears are still soul bound to me. The question is – can I still use their active skills?
To test, I grabbed the swords which I dropped when I fainted, and then swung the sword on my left hand while channeling the skill I wished to use. An arc of transparent energy shot out in response, the space around it twisting as it sailed through the air. I also channeled the skill on the other sword and I successfully teleported for a short distance. Good, looks like I can still use both [Reality Slash] and [Abyss Walk].
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
I did the same for the other active skills except for [Judgment Light] since I didn’t have a target. As for [Healing Light], I simply sliced a finger off and let the skill do its job. Even if it failed, the finger would regenerate on its own due to my race.
After that I tried the skills I had before; those I often used at least. And from my little experiments I found out I could use most of them to some extent. It was clearly harder, but I could make them work somehow since I knew how they operate. I didn’t need a skill to visualize an element. I didn’t need a skill to manipulate magical energy. I didn’t need a skill to cast spells. Only the [Trait] types were unusable. They’re like esper abilities. Regardless of a person’s knowledge, he can’t use one if he doesn’t have one.
Last on the list was my interspatial ring. And I’m happy to say that it still works as intended. Sure, it was harder to examine what was inside due to having a lesser mana pool. But overall it was still the same.
“I can still get my daily dose of abyss apple,” I sighed in relief as I pulled out one of the said fruits. The heart shaped apple vanished as quickly as it appeared, and with it a chunk of the negative emotion in my heart.
“Yosh,” finally in a decent mood, I took a random sword from my interspatial ring. I dropped it shortly and used the direction where the pommel was pointing as my guide. “So that’s where Hayato went.” I stored the weapon back afterward.
BASIC INFORMATION
NAME
Twisted Thorn
RANK
Legendary
SPECIAL EFFECT(S)
+Ignores defense below legendary class
+Passive Skill [Unholy Might]
+Passive Skill [Grim Touch]
DURABILITY
947/1500
DESCRIPTION
A cursed sword used by Fiore to kill her sister and become an elder of the Dryads. Fiore later threw it away in Dread Lands.
I’ve never gotten lost with this technique. Yeah, I may take a few detours every now and then, but in the end I always reach my destination. I’m positive I’ll find my friend. I better hurry it up though.
I walked towards the monster’s corpse while staring at the sky. “The sun is already down. Hayato will kill me if I stay here any longer.”
I held back my hatred towards the owl that caused the loss of my power, and stored its body into the ring as I activated [Godspeed] to catch up to a certain someone.
I wasn’t afraid of the enemies I might encounter. My current level was low, but fighting those stronger than me has always been my specialty. I wouldn’t lose so easily, and I could always run away if things get a little too tough. Besides, I have cheat-like gears in my arsenal. The equipment bonus alone puts me at around the early or mid 100s in terms of raw power. Add the skills and I doubt anyone below level 300 would be a challenge to me.
Rather than fear or worry, I’m more frustrated and annoyed. But life goes on. Unless I get the chance, I’ll have these emotions stay at the back of my mind. And unfortunately for the real culprit behind my seal, I remember my grudges well.
“Okay, enough of that – think positively!” And like that, I searched for Hayato. I met aggressive monsters along the way, but what bothered me the most was the fact that two sun downs went by before I found a trace of who I was looking for.
By the time I reunited with Hayato, the guy had the same expression as my father when I broke an old bonsai tree. It only got worse when I told him about my little ‘level issue’. But I could feel genuine worry from him so instead of looking down like a kicked puppy, I smiled the entire time and got scolded because of it.
“Hey, are you listening?!”
“I am, father. I know my mistake and I’m willing to receive punishment.” I not-so-seriously said.
“Oh, will you now?” He asked, his lips curving into a wicked smile. “Very well, I’ll give you one. I hope you won’t regret this later.”
“A-Actually, I was just joking. Punishment is so old school, who does that nowadays? We’re people of the modern era! We only discipline the naughtiest of the naughty. Am I naughty? Nope, I’m just a poor old boy!”
“I think you’re naughty enough,” he said as he cracked his knuckles, and then his fingers began wriggling in a very strange and dangerous way.
Seeing him approach with a nasty expression, I stepped back. “I-I’m warning you, I’ll retaliate!”
My threat fell unto deaf ears. I could only watch as the friend I consider a family did the unspeakable to my body...
“AAAAAHHH!”
“Shtaph!” don’t stretch my cheeks any further! I’m not a rubber band! You’ll disfigure my face forever!
...
“Leave, get out of my sight before I kill you where you stand,” I threatened the bastard in white and red yukata as I held the unconscious Hayato in my arms. I wanted to freeze the prince of the fox demons, but the supernatural world was already in a delicate state. Now wouldn’t be a good time to harm a royalty. “I said leave, Kyoya!”
“Are you really going to fight me for that guy?” Kyoya asked with a blank face instead of his trademark grin. “We’re special, Kaguya. You’re special. That human doesn’t have the right to stay with you.”
“And who gave you the right to decide who has the right to stay with me?” I scowled at the most annoying fox in the world. “I am not a doll, Kyoya. I can decide for myself. And I’m telling you now, I enjoy being with him so get lost!”
He looked straight into my eyes for a while and sighed. “Fine, I’ll be a good boy and leave. But do remember that you can’t stay in the mundane world forever. You’re the one and only daughter of the Eternal Witch of Frost and the Grand Elder of the Onmyōji Council. You’re destined for greatness on the other side. There’s no place for a weak human in the future that awaits you. For your sake, throw him out of your life before you grow too attached. It will only hurt you.”
His body was engulfed by flames, and then in the next second he disappeared. With him finally gone, I turned to check on my friend. I already cancelled whatever illusion the damned fox placed on him, but his face was still pale.
He would no doubt recover with time. But having him suffer any longer, especially with me being the cause of his pain, wasn’t acceptable. Heaving a sigh, I closed my eyes and relied on a talent I didn’t wish to reveal until I was sure I had everything perfected. Only mother knows about this, but I don’t really have much of a choice do I? Haaa, I guess this is my punishment for getting Hayato involved.
Let’s just hope he doesn’t wake up until I’m done... okay, here goes! “Kono kawa no nagareru ga gotuku. Odayaka ni neiro ga kikoeru. Fuku kaze ga hoho o nadete yuku. Natsukashii omoide ga nijimu. Haruka naru sora wa. Mune o saku yo ni-”
...
“It’s Yume to Hazakura,” I nearly stumbled when something I wanted to forget was mentioned.
“Hmm, what was that?” Is that an anime or a manga? A fantasy novel maybe?
“Yume to Hazakura,” who told you to repeat it?! “That’s the name of the song you were singing when we first met.”
With no way out, I fell on all fours yelling “why did you have to remind me?!”
I don’t sing! I can’t sing! I never sang! What you heard was a part of Kyoya's illusion!
“Why are you acting like- don’t tell me you don’t have confidence in your voice.”
Yes, I don’t. “Haaa, I sound like damn a potato...” Now let’s move on to a different topic.