"Please? Please? Pretty please?"

[Now what?]

Aiven stiffened hearing the dreaded words and swaying his gaze away from the pleading eyes and sweetened voice of Delica. Before he knows it, she has her hands clasped tightly around his and she has been making that cooing tone as if trying to baby him into submission.

"Come on, little Aiven, it's just a small request, no biggie!" He has all the conviction by now to say "no", but there was the unquestionable steel in her eyes telling him the threat that mask under her 'small request'.

Whenever she says that, he always got a bad premonition about it. By her definition, small, was always relative.

When he tried to move away, her grasp went to him arms, "please?" One word and it's enough to make him sweat.

"..." *sigh.

"Yey! Okay, soooo could we work on these blueprints," Delica rummaged over his scattered journals which he has been quietly studying just a few minutes ago.

With enough force to deplete half his health, she smacked a handfull of pleated parchments on his chest.

"Uguhaa, str, tone it down." he coughed heavily with the innocent papers already pressing against his ribcage.

She tilted her head as if not catching his words, then her eyes lighted again as her focus zoom in at the scattered papers, forgetting again how her fist were now as heavy as battering rams simply from their status. She still has problems moderating her movements with so much levels stacking on her new body. One of the setback of not growing accustomed to ones class up.

"Ouuh, I want these, these and these...uh," she snatched one of his charcoals and started scribbling, "maybe you could do this...nee?"

Hayts, another encounter like these and his [Pain Resistance] would reach the next tier.

Just a moment ago, he was trying to level up his pattermaker job skills by trying to capture different clothing styles that he had observed in this world. He didn't know that his little hobby of drawing, could be this useful. Before, he used drafting skill to tone his magic circle construct. Very helpful when a small skewered line could cause an implosion. Just imagine the mess...and the waste! That one time at the gardenhouse was enough to bankrupt him within three lifetimes!

So far his [Clothes Template] has been increasing with each design. It shows the same function as a status window, but only with the rune data linked to Aiven's status as a tailoring class. Same as a tab window when browsing the internet.

But there seems to be a time limit on his [Clothes Template]. After recreating the design, the hovering 3D template of clothes on top of the [Command Window] would disappear within three minutes. He has no idea what's the use of it and aside from looking pretty, it does nothing at all.

He might be clueless at tailoring, but if there's one thing he knows about the crafters, it was that blueprints were everything. It could be called Recipe by one class or Formula by another, all in all, it was the basis for every items that any crafter could create in their crafting skills. For tailoring, it looks like to be [Templates] and he has no idea how to use one.

There were also a lot of system errors. When he tried copying one of Delica's clothes and the error appeared, he asked for the clothes and tried to appraise it. Obviously, the [Wuthering Cloak] has a [Seal] attached to it with the words 'Lineart" emblozened in gold with a flush of curls on the letter 'l'. Other words also came to view when he tried to other clothes,'Madam Coutiere', 'Emperor's Clothes', etc.

He tried to ask around, and Delica simply shot him her typical what-era-did-you-came-from look for not knowing those reknowned artisans and she marched in again at her long lectures of all the 'up and about' on the fashion industry of the upper echeleons of the society. As expected, he didn't get any of it.

What he did noticed though was that, he can't copy designs that has [Artisan's Seal] on it.

So copyright infringement was very active in this world, huh.

So rather using the templates and see the designs blur into nothingness, he tried honing his drafting skills in paper. But when Delica saw one of his sketches, the one he used to fool around with, her eyes twinkled and she was on his heels in a second.

"Perfect! Oh my, Master would be pleased!" Apparently, her being in exclamation points has already been her default after she got resurrected. Her enthusiasm leads them to the present.

What they were both holding were the sketches he had made from his old world memories. And all of them happened to be maid customes.

"A real servant personnel is what Master is lacking! How can she rule the world without servants? Guehuehue, I can't wait to see Ulna on these!"

Black cut, low vest accenturating the chest, with white laces and dress that fell to the ankles. Choker, with high collars and black vest coattails over skimpy ballooning skirts. High heeled boots, and the infamous knee-high socks.

He sighed, it's troublesome. Really troublesome. But he did needed to practice his craft. And since getting customers seems farther and farther in his reach, he has to look for better alternative to have his experiments *cough ahem, practice on.

Undead has the same body type, so wouldn't it be fine? While thinking about the possibility of making clothes for Delica's familiars and possibly turning a horde of maid cosplaying Undead in the future, a voice suddenly bellowed from the forest.

"Yo, morning!" Simos appeared from the woods. He was in full equipment. He was wearing the normal leather vests and extra metals strapped on his shoulder and elbow. His gait was heavy with his boots and sheens all covered by iron while his helmet was securely tucked under his arm.

Aiven could see his hair was drenched in sweat even if his face was cleared of any fatigue. His hair in particular. They dyed Simos' hair yesterday with one of his inking dyes, it must have flopped since the color turned to dirty gold instead. This world also have no concept of hair dyeing since all beautification can be done by magic, really helpful in their case since no one would suspect Simos natural color.

They have to fix that later.

"What's up?"

"Morning dear brother, how's the patrol?" Delica greeted, peering over her familiars that was already emerging from behind.

Simos looked back his shoulder. Beside him was Mieu looking fresh with healthy color on her cheeks and the white dress still giving her the innocent aura of a young girl. She was actively chatting with one of Delica's generals, Ulna, as the Beastial patiently retell to the little girl the history of the Demihumans that can be found on the farthest north of Frear.

With a few commands from Simos that came as afterthoughts, Simos' unit settled down. There must be about a dozen of familiars on his heels that were already looking approvingly over Mieu who also greeted them in a curtsy. She's turning to be more polite as time passes.

They must have come after their morning patrol.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The forest has lost its menacing atmosphere lend by last night and was now the normal luscious green and fae. The blessings of the Goddess Freyra of Earth and Seasonal Fall, gave the Valley an abnormal boost of growth.

Greener, bigger, wider...a forest in steroids.

Hunting was not a problem. With the manabeast's excessive size and weight, the beasts' movements were slow. The defense could pose an issue but with a powerhouse like Simos and his team of Undead, its like there were no scales or fortified furs in the first place.

All of Delica's familiars has now been recovered. 

Openly interacting with a group of Undead would have raised a commotion if there were passerbys but their camp was actually quite secure. Instead of taking the High Road, their party went inside the Fellen Valley and made their way while following the River upstream. The valley was in the middle of the Borderlands, so the Arvalar, or any of the Kingdoms of Man, has no hold on these lands. And since they do have the extra hands and eyes, they use some of the familiars as surveillance about two kilometers in radius. Nothing and no one would be near them without them knowing it first.

Still, Aiven could feel their dissatisfaction from their more-than-nornal stiffness and their roundabout gazes as if not knowing where to settle their eyes on. It's like their will was trying to rebel against Simos' command to stand by.

Argh, why can't they just sleep inside their soul gems!?

Delica's Familiars, having a soul of their own could manifest themselves at their own will (with only 13% of their full stats compared to a formal summoning from their Summoner).

It was actually meant to be used when the Summoner was in dire emergencies but these idiots would just pop up even for the smallest of tasks.

Advantage through number alone would have been useful but when you were trying to have a low profile, it was amazingly fatal.

And having more than a hundred familiars was truly hard to manage. They have so many people on hand, that the Undeads were starting to get anxious at not being useful for their masters.

"We traced the bandit's lair. The routes seems reliable," Simos took out some parchments, "they have some letters, merchant routes, travelling logs, inventories. But nothing useful so far."

Ah, now Aiven was really smiling. Give it to Simos to rake in all the evil-doers in a three-mile-radius.

He had always suspected Simos to be afflicted with hero-complex. But then again, Aiven remembered their adventures and his eyes rested on the blade hanging on Simos' waist, the hilt already contouring on the shape of his palm, showing how many times the boy had wielded the steel. It's not hard to guess how they got the information.

Hero complex? Nah, Simos could easily turn ugly in zero point second if you press the right buttons. And he definitely does not want to be near when that happens.

Also the bandit subjugation keeps the bloodthirst of the familiars at bay. Important, since they have to stop threatening to shred every incoming caravans that passed by.

Every morning, Simos would scout the area with few of the higher levelled Undead assigned for the day. The other half would already be scatered in the Fellen valley levelling and hunting materials while the remaining ones were in their constant post.

The last time he checked, Simos was almost half-dead yesterday when he was training with Tarsus, the metal attributed Dwarven. Even his near past exhaustion state Simos would still proudly tell him how he could already master the use of drawing magic essences while in combat.

Simos would be balancing his earth and fire elements to maintain the magma affinity in his body, the second circle of magic that infuses two different elements. If he could infuse another earth element (making it on the third circle) on his magma affinity, then he'll be able to use metal.

Aiven had to admit, with the rate Simos was going he might passed the before they could even step foot to the Black Kingdom.

If that happened, Simos would be the first person he knows who has raised that tier without any class!

Which actually breaks Simos everytime he thinks about it. So to forget, he trains even more and ends up speeding up his levelling process which inevitebly gets him more depressed. The cycle was really pitiable.

Aiven took note of the report from Simos and they started having their normal one-sided conversation. Taking it as her cue, Delica dismissed her familiars and took Mieu out for a walk. She was eyeing him, obviously making sure he won't forget about his 'promise'.

And he don't even know how to use his class! Argh, whatever. He'll research later.

According to Simos, the lair seems to be an underground mining shaft just a few boulders from the mouth of the Fellen Valley. A lucky find when Simos shadowed a group of bandits out from the Fellen Forest.

Normally, ore mines should be narrowed with tracks and barracked walls hanged with fae lights but the whole place was actually refurbished and restocked with all the needed living necessities. Once you passed the initial entrance, the path would widen to a huge warehouse.

Pretty high-end for some low class bandits. They must be part of an organization, and if there's one thing he knows about the underground guilds, it was their greed for information.

Okay, it;s decided. They're going to raid the lair. They just need to make some preparations.

It's really such a loss that bandits would tend to leave tax collectors, royal messengers and ambassadors alone. A typical behavior since they don't want to make the kingdom their enemeies, or they would be wiped out over night.

The rest of the day was spend on Mieu's actual training. Delica would handle the general knowledge, ethics, culture and magic, Simos was for combat and survival, warfare. While Aiven took what's left. (what is left?...well actually there's Babel and the runes, and science, I guess specifically chemistry, physics, math, etc.)

Aiven has no idea what Delica has been scheming lately but he would often times hear her muttering about world domination and conquering various flags.

He doesn't get why [Babel] would translate her language to that of an otaku, but everytime he saw Delica drooling as she watch over Mieu, he can't help but feel pity for the demon lord.

When he tried asking why Mieu needed to learn about dining etiquettes, social customs and pleasantriess, Delica raised her voice and just told him that Mieu was the Demon Lord, a royalty that would lead armies and kingdoms into ruins. It was only normal that she would need to act like a Queen.

Simos on the other hand, was taking it slow. They would be seen playing chess and war stimulations in a form of games. Their combat practices was nothing more than body strengthening exercises, stretching, running laps and meditation while keeping certain stances. It's still early to say if she has talent for swords.

With her affinity locked only to the holy elements, it was hard for Simos to make a working training method for Mieu. The holy element seems to love her and she could manipulate the elemental to her will as easy as breathing. When they had their sparring practice on the second day, Mieu just need to blast the volunteered Undeads with a ball of holy light and they'll get pulverize at one hit. Afterwards, there's a new intensity of admiration and respect emanating from the familiars.

As for Aiven, he could see that Mieu has difficulty at theories, but she excel at application. It would be better to focus on giving her examples and hands-on exercises. Still need to look after her progress. She has already the basic understanding of this world's structure, and could already identify runes and linked them to words. She could copy basic illustrations and was able to grasp the concept of numbers and basic arithmetic.

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Notes:

ELEMENTAL MAGIC AFFINITY:

Shows the range of magic that can be cast by a mana-user.

FIRST Circle:

[Earth]

[Water]

[Fire]

[Air]

SECOND Circle:

[]: Required elements [Earth][Fire]

[]: Required elements [Earth][Water]

[]: Required elements [Water][Air]

[]: Required elements [Earth][Air]

THIRD Circle:

[<>]: Required elements [Earth][]

[<>]: Required elements [Water][]

[<>]: Required elements [Fire][]

FOURTH Circle

[<<>>]: Required elements [Earth][<>]

[<<>>]: Required elements [Earth][<>]

[<<>>]: Required elements [Air][<>]

FIFTH Circle

[-Dry Weather-]: Required elements [Earth][<<>>] and/or [Earth]x5

[-Wet Weather-] : Required elements [Water][<<>>] and/or [Water]x5

[-Cold Weather-]: Required elements [Air][<<>>] and/or [Air]x5

[-Hot Weather-]: Required elements [Fire][<<>>] and/or [Fire]x5

EIGHTH Circle:

[-Meteor-]: Required elements [<>][<<>>]

AETHER MAGIC AFFINITY:

Dark

Shadow

Demised

Death

Light

Holy

Divine

Life

 Void

For example if we take...

Simos with his affinity of

[Earth] - [Fire] - [Air]

The best combination any human-born could ask for. In therory, these are all the other affinity magic he could use (if he could maxed out his stats to do so):

[]: [Earth][Fire]

[]: [Earth][Air]

[<>]: [Earth][]

[<<>>]: [Earth][<>]

[<>]: [Fire][]

[<<>>]: [Air][<>]

[-Hot Weather-]: [[[[[Fire]]]]]

[-Meteor-]: [<>][<<>>]

As of this chapter he could only use:

[Earth] - [[Earth]] - [Fire] - [[Fire]] - [Air] - []

This gives him the title: Second Circle of Sudrine Fire, Second of Austrine Earth; a First of Nordrine Wind and Hringra

If he wanted, he could be transferred to any of the three Training Grounds located at the City Fortresses and since he has the blessing of one of the Ancients, he would also have a recommendation in the Elrhondir Kingdom.

Only those who carry the blood of Arvalar Regalia (or if you are a Summoned Hero) could use all four affinity at the same time.

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