I know this might come as a surprise (or maybe not, with how many dropped stories rrl had) but I would like to announce that I would be dropping this story. I had been starting my law studies so you might have noticed the random updates and drop on the quality of my works.
So before the plot suffered, I am finishing their story right now. I had planned to rewrite this fiction but I am forcing the story and if I continue, I might hate myself and stop writing all together.
Before I stop, I want to let my readers know how it ended. So here are my story notes.
It's been two years. Thank you so much, everyone, and for giving me the venue to share my story.
If you don't want to read the summary, then don't scroll down. Thank you.
Chapter 46 Summary
Mother Cleo was a retired Saintess, her body took too much damaged from the demon war that her title was nothing but ornamental. She owned the orphanage and other similar orphanages across the land of man. During her reminiscence, she mentioned how the Hero Yuusha had told stories of snakelike harem-collecting male horses that Cleo had dedicated herself to protect beautiful maidens from those sort of evil. She kept eyeing Simos like a hawk, to the utter despair of the boy. Aiven also hated the Yuusha for her successful brainwashing of the once-pure Saintess.
Melfius also put a word or two at the discussion mentioning about him being her 9th son out of her nine children, so she was really craving to dote on a girl she could doll-up with. Even her grandchildren were males, making her think that she would be forever cursed to be surrounded by males. That is why she wanted to always be in the healing presence of feminine charms.
During this, she kept sarcastically attacking Simos. It got to the point that Simos' being a virgin was revealed to the unbelieving cheer of the Saintess and she somehow forgave Simos (which he doesn't know what for). It was not from lack of effort or invitations though (Simos had always been popular). But having a lineage linked to the gods, his house had been protective to the point of being suffocating on who he should spend his time, or nights, with.
Even now, despite his charming friendliness, that could easily be mistaken as flirting, he couldn't afford to be loose or build a harem, as the Saintess bluntly put it. Leaving a trail of blood is already unwise, leaving a trail of babies (genetically blessed by the gods) would be equally more so.
Their talk continued. This time it was about how Mieu and Aiven had been volunteering at her orphanage. Then when the priest noticed Mieu healing a bruise from one of the children, the orphanage became a sort of a hospital. Which is good for PR and leveled Mieu greatly.
After that, Mother Cleo had been trying to convert Mieu to be her apprentice which had caused the boys to sweat. The Saintess was surrounded by the demon lordling, a doll-lich, and undeads. But the woman was still clueless. They could only deduce it to the fact that all of them were fellow Trusted and envoys of the Hero Yuusha, so no animosity can be detected from them to their fellow Trusted. This proved to be a great veil against the people under the command of the hero before which were powerful allies of the man. Still, they didn't reveal their quest since they don't know how deep the hero’s rebellion was to her comrades.
Still, Simos was still whining about Aiven's oversight and not telling him about their encounter with the Saintess. He even commented on how good Aiven was at ignoring or pushing aside anything that he doesn't like that it could even be called a talent. Aiven only shrugged and answered that it was his defense mechanism.
While trying to convince them of taking Mieu under her wing, Mother Cleo mentioned about the current power struggle. After the war, the dead were mostly tolled to the middle ranks. It meant that the tier gap among the people of Frear had drastically widened, creating a power vacuum. From the highest few of ninth, eight and seventh tiers, then a splatter in between, with the next majority bulk on the second, first and base tiers. This shift could only lead to one thing...anarchy.
After their get together, they decided to tour the Town. It's Cuboid's hometown so she guided the party. They also heard news about the bandits getting scarce (which is good with the famine) a dragon (just a rumor), and about the cursed tavern that is being subjugated by a fool-hardy group of adventurers.
Mother Cleo tagged along and said that the fool-hardy, always being defeated, adventurers were led by her student, Arman. Apparently, Arman was the son of the mayor of Fellen. There was a notice to vacate the cursed tavern. It was off limits, and that no one should attempt to subjugate it without the expressed authorization from the guild and the mayor. Right now, it was being subjugated by Arman's group who has been at it for weeks now. They have information that a tortured ghost was haunting the grounds.
Aiven's party looked at each other meaningfully. They had found the tavern they were looking for.
And true to their suspicion, the tavern was Cuboid's old place. It was rumored that there was a disaster at the tavern and no one said anyone survived. Cuboid also mentioned that the subjugation was putting a strain on the people that the mayor even seeks help from her mercenary group for talented people to help his son. The fact that another band of warriors would be sent within three days was noted by Aiven.
Chapter 47 Summary
The last of their itinerary was the orphanage. Simos was introduced along with Cuboid with her following attendants. Was then accidentally (actually it was staged) known that Cuboid was part of the nobility. Then gave food (the expired ones...but it's still fine, there's a one week allotted before it smells). The clergy was ecstatic and provided help to them. Aiven's cooking became more prominent.
Aiven left the charity case to Maou with Delica (in doll form) and Simos for the background check (he's also been running around looking for an assassin that could grant Simos a class....being a Master Classless hits his pride, hard), and Aiven proceeded to find some tailoring shop to ask for training. He found one but was completely chased away, saying that he was lacking something when it was actually his 'cursed infamy' that causes the shop's people to be disdainful towards Aiven, but he still went back.
Aiven was admitted after his fifth try but failed the test. The initiation quest was to finish five coin purse in thirty minutes. His needlework is too advanced that his coin purse gets ridden with stitches, it won't even open. He was using the normal method (the one on Earth) before, just one stitch at a time. But the actual Tailoring Crafters uses a command spell for [Craft], and the materials would float in the air, and the needle and shears would start to move on their own until it finishes an item. When Aiven used his [Craft], the levels for [needlework] [cut] and others are not in sync and the result is a mess. If he used the manual method, it took so much time, he could only finish two.
The end appraisal of his test was a total failure and was then said that there is no way the fates will give him a Tailoring class, so he might as well give up.
Unbeknownst to them, almost all of the assistant's tailoring skills were only at 1st-tier, he actually outranks the assistant tailor who is giving them the lecture.
Aiven just scrapped it off, he already has the class and the manual method works for him so it's not a loss.
Before he left, he saw one of those looming machines. In a last attempt to get something out of the establishment, he offered for the loom, saying that it was for a maester friend of his. When they asked for a proof of his tailoring friend, Aiven took out a handkerchief that he once gifted to Mieu. It had one of the rune laceworks he was experimenting with. It had already stripped its negative effects and is now imbued with a holy aura, courtesy of being exposed from the radiance of the demon lordling that could rival that the radiations from a nuclear.
On the [seal] was the words 'Silk Button'. When the owner saw the handkerchief, she was too stunned and awestruck by the piece that she decided to relent and offer the right price for the loom. She even told Aiven where the loom was discovered, which happened to be in a dungeon near Runsaer.
When he left, the Shop-owner looked at the identical coin purses (everything should have been the same) and was caught off guard when she saw the ones made by Aiven (she doesn't know it was his, though).
The two coin purses have a locking mechanism they haven't seen before. And it was well-done. The stitches were so thin, there are hardly any seams to be seen and when she said [open]. The purse opened (voice-activated) and found that it has a capacity thrice that of a normal coin purse. It would have been a great piece, if only...there wasn't any curse. When the shop-owner opened the purse, it equipped itself to her and her luck became negative. Also, undead and magic beast encounter increased. It took a year before the curse waned with the help of an exorcist.
The next day after authenticating their guild cards (only for Remus, Ainee, and Mieu), they went to the town hall to find Arman. They had the letter of recommendation from Mother Cleo and some people from the Ulfr's mercenary group that would help. Arman was of a muscle-head type and quickly got along with Simos after they sparred. They settled the plan for the subjugation.
Afterwards, they went to the forest again and continued Mieu's second-day Training. Simos discussed the mana usage and the status contract. Aiven’s weird perspective and his insistence on calling it a status screen was also called out.
Mieu showed her full status to Simos, he panicked and scolding her, with flushed face, that no one should see her status, even her closest of aids. He wanted to say about the 'lover's pact' in terms of showing the personal contract between souls but stopped himself, justifying that she was too young to be exposed to such talks. Aiven saw Simos staring blankly at the riverbank and asked what was wrong. But Simos continued on his daze while confessing what happened. In a slip of a tongue, he said that it was beautiful...Aiven doesn't know what part could a status screen can be called beautiful, but he took it as one of the Frearian's sentiments that he would never be able to understand (relationship flag?)
They also released Delica from the gemstone when they were sure it was safe. And they talked about the plan for the subjugation. During this, she mentioned how reckless Aiven to treat her babies rudely. He then said that they were still weak so it can't be helped. Finding something was not right, she asked how he even thought of them as weak and Aiven said that it was from his [Arcane Analysis].
Delica became bewildered then curled down in laughter. She clarified the use of Arcane Analysis, that it only analyzes the status of the soul gem and not the status of the undead (Aiven used [Arcane Analysis] because it's less of a hassle, compared to its higher version [Status Analysis] therefore, less mana spend). Unfortunately, this caused him to only have a thorough status analysis of the undead soul gem, which was an item, instead of the whole status of the undead (the soul gem was likened to a heart, and the mushy muscle has less defense than the whole body).
Apparently 3rd class is equal to a 3 Tier Undead. He fought a champion class undead and lived. He fainted.
Delica left him to sleep and traced the dark circles under her friend's eyes.
What Aiven didn't know though was that he messed up the skill acquisition for all the tailors in the whole Frear. With his overall level, he shouldn't be able to enchant clothes with rune scripts and mana stones yet, let alone design his own template, but since his appraisal and scribe skills were too unorthodox, he was able to acquire the necessary requisites to open the skill trees for those jobs. And those jobs were the best fit to destroy any soul gems of any undead. It could be said that by the way of his level grinding was the best specialization towards being a Skill Master against undead.
With this much skills, he could be called a prodigy only seen once in every one thousand years. But of course, he doesn’t know that.
Chapter 48: Side Story
The story of Cuboid's little sister.
The Quest of the Marbled Fruit would lead to the old cave. The scenario is for the bearer to be beaten every day by her abusive drunkard of a father. But just before she would be hit, an adventurer would come in and help her and she would give the green marbled item that never fails to bear fruits. The quest bearer would stash it every morning in her pockets as the tree always stood in their backyard.
It was going fine, even if she's alone and her older sister was gone far away. For her, it was still fine because a lot of people are helping her every day. But the beating never stops. And there are times that no adventurer came. But still, the fact that a lot of people are willing to help her is enough to make her continue working in the tavern.
That is until one day. The busy tavern opened once more and the girl waits patiently as the place gets filled. Delighted she saw some adventurers at the table. The look of adventurer would irritate her father and lash out at her. Everything goes to its scenario. And she was filled with hope when an adventurer stepped out and was walking towards her. She was happy. This is it, the little girl though.
But the adventurer only looked down on her. Grabbed her hair and took out the pin that keeps in its place. Her long brown hair fell and hides her bewildered expression. Then her father struck her. The back of the adventurer as it went back to the table came to her view.
The man was greeted with a cheer and everyone was giving her a pity look or amusement. Her father started kicking her and for some reason, it was more painful than before, there are more tears, more screaming, more begging. But the adventurers only continued cheering.
That's when she broke her fate. And caused destruction in her wake. The tavern became a cursed place, where everyone who enters dies.
Chapter 49: Summary
Aiven's party came and found the distortion of a mana quest.
Logistics and traps were made which was successful. Their party made it appeared as if the trap was sprung by the malevolent spirit but it was actually their intent to separate from the group to look for the source of the distortion. The party left behind was busy fending off sentient roots. On their end, they used the doll lich to warp the negative effects into a cluster of miasma, then Simos used Mieu's dormant [Labyrinths' Core] to suck the distorted manaline dry, showing the real body of Cuboid's sister. They also saved the mayor's son in the process. This made the partial [Labyrinth’s core] to be tainted but was now fully functional.
They helped purify the girl, with Mieu's help and she was back with no memories of what happened. The little sister is already in her teens and was also shocked to see Arman. Apparently, Arman had tried to stem off anyone who wanted to harm Elina (Cuboid's sister) since he was smitten with her.
Back to the town, there was a reunion between the sisters. Mieu's minion's increased by one since the younger sister pledged her loyalty to the demon lord after saving her.
These kinds of quests should not have existed, unfortunately, the cataclysm that happened half a century ago caused a rift on the Manaline and fates has been messed with. This caused more dangerous and twisted quests to appear. Even if it propels the inhabitants of Frear to accelerated growth, the end results are for quest bearers to be tied to a fate they have no hand in. That's why Elvens hates the Demons with a vengeance because they blamed their appearance for the disruption to the manalines.
Mieu was kinda sad to hear this. However, Delica also mentioned that there is a theory that the manaline, when it follows the 500 year Diem Era of Peace, would try to straighten the fates. The possibility that the Marbled Fruit Quest's destructive behavior that led to its end was preordained by the manaline is a possibility, so the world order would neutralize.
They said their goodbyes to the Town, leaving Cuboid to handle the bandits. And Mother Cleo hang onto Mieu as if her heart would break from the parting. Seeing such an unpolished gem of an apprentice was tormenting. She was only appeased by the fact that Mieu was too young to summon her own status contract so they promised to meet again in the future. She warned the party about the consequences if anything happened to their 'little sister', and left the threat unfinished.
Cuboid looked after her sister and made plans for the younger sister to adopt her. Aiven left communication scrolls and taught Cuboid how to fix her face paints so she would continue looking human.
Cuboid would act as a sacrificial bait. If anyone sought her out to them, at least they would have a clue who is targeting them. Also, the whole town and the bandits became her protection. So far only the head priest, mayor and mayor's son and head of bandits knows her identity as a noble, but clueless that she was a fake and an undead.
After they've left, Cuboid sat down with Maco and the Town Mayor, Colbern. He doesn't look like a statesman and was closer to the stocky built of his son.
The history of Fellen was that it was a former garrison of the Exine but was abandoned during the man's retreat. Colbern took it upon himself to establish a haven between the new Kingdom of Runsaer and the shrunken Exine City-Fortress, but the town had always retained their neutrality. Their unique position came about with the silent understanding that no military troop from either of the camp can come trudging on his town, but in return, they also cannot build their own. However, there is a growing disturbance in the land of man. Cuboid, then introduced Maco as the Chief Captain of her mercenary group. They were still nameless and not under the radar of any faction. They wanted to sell their services to the mayor.
She convinced the mayor that all patterns of history had spoken that after the great victory over the Demons, man would always crash within themselves. And no treaty or oaths would spare their strategic position from the greedy eyes of the kingdoms. Neutrality would never be the answer, but autonomy. She said that it was only a failsafe, in case war is upon them, the mercenary group would be the swords and shield of his people. In return, the Fellen Town would be the mercenary (and unknown to the mayor, the bandit's) main headquarters and would maintain their independence. The mayor saw no bad ends on his dealing with this and accepted. It was only a precautionary step. He had always known that his people would be collateral if the war would ensue. Since the town had always been in the middle, once they preferred one Kingdom to another, it might spark a civil unrest and could topple the peace he had maintained. With the unknown future, all mercenary groups had been snatched by the lords either from Alvalar and Runsaer. And no sane glory-hoarding mercenary would bet on a losing side. The words of Cuboid coiled on his mind like a honey, promising the neutrality he had always maintained. The plan of autonomy became more and more appealing, especially now that the banditry had significantly lessened and their economy had never been this flourishing.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
This is the start of the kingdom building side project of Cuboid.
Chapter 50: Summary
On their way to Runsaer they found a sand sail stranded almost in midair between the valley. It fit perfectly that the front was stuck at one end, while the back was on the other end. It looked like a bridge that connects the two cliffs.
They met an eccentric blacksmith while exploring the sand sail. She introduced herself as Sera, a wandering blacksmith who wants to create all types of the weapon.
She tagged along to explore the bridge. During the fight, she noticed how Aiven was using needles and that his job is a tailor.
In a surge of excitement, Sera then proposed her wares for Aiven to choose from. As it turned out, all blacksmiths know how to make needles.
But Sera, the blacksmith, had been searching to globe for different weapons. The weirder it was, the more she got excited. She found a blueprint for a special type rapier called needle. [Rapier: Finishing Needle,] but when Swashbucklers tried to equip it, none was accepted, except for Aiven.
Aiven scathingly remarked that she seemed to be too happy to get rid of the rapier, and she answered that it was since having someone to wield her creations is more satisfying.
They heard news of Tournament on Runsaer from Sera and some dark news on the coming civil war. Now that the Demon War ended, the four fortresses are trying to reclaim the lands they have lost and they were looking towards the other two kingdoms and beastial plains.
As they go to the deeper bowels of the sand sail, Sera explained the Vast Lahar Desert at the middle of the continent. Some parts of the desert have sands so fine, it flows like water. That is where the sand sails were used. Sand sails were all crafted from the Trissine City-Fortress.
They explored a little, fought some undead. Aiven was praised by Sera since he was an expert at killing Undead (well, he had a lot of practice.)
Sera had a smithy on the Kingdom and said they could visit her anytime.
Chapter 51: Summary
Later that night Aiven and Sera talked about crafting. Got into a heated debate with Aiven and he was left speechless since Sera told him that he is not a craftsman.
Then Sera asked him, his specialty, and he answered that it was female clothing. She then asked who’s the most important girl in his life is. He can't answer but on his mind flashed the image of Delica. Knowing that he was thinking of someone, she prodded him of what if he'll make the best clothing for that person, what would it look like?
He still can't answer. And was left with a lot of designs not enough for his taste.
The next day, Sera left to continue her journey. She was looking for a volcano to use as a furnace for her next secret project.
When she left, the three continued to their destination.
A day before they reached the Runsaer, most of all Delica's familiars was placed in the black box. Leaving only the skull unit for Cuboid and the seafolk undead at the lake of Hawl's Den.
In an awkward moment, Delica asked if it is possible she could try the paints and dyes to look human again.
Aiven was a little confused but agreed. He prepared a bath with the right coloring and herbs to preserve the body and some incense to ward off the miasma. After Delica took a bath, her skin became rosy pink instead of gray.
Tenderly, Aiven proceeded to apply colors to her face. It was done with so much careful consideration and gentleness that it took him thrice as much to make it right.
When it was finished, Delica looked like a normal girl again but Aiven was not happy. After completing the makeover, he got the status for a sub-class [Undertaker] with the title [Bone-Laced Mortician] for learning and taking care of dead bodies for the past months.
Job Title: "Bone-Laced Mortician" [Undertaker]
Skill Set I: Re:Exume Corpse
Skill Set II: Corpse Painting
Skill Set III: Bone Reconstruction
Delica was ecstatic but when she got the look on Aiven, she got depressed. They talked about Aiven's problem. His hatred for undead. And that right now, Delica was an undead so was she also part of that hatred? They had a private talk especially about Aiven looking at Delica as if the lich he is conversing with is not her. She used the allegory a caterpillar turning to a cocoon, but instead of a butterfly, it was a moth, and the person can't accept it and kept the cocoon and never cared for the moth until it faded.
Aiven kept holding on to the shell of Delica, and regarded the one in front of him as something that took her away.
The conversation ended without any conclusion and they both had a strained relationship afterward. The next time Aiven saw Delica, she had peeled a new skin and not a drop of color was left on her body.
Chapter 52: Summary
Insert a small intro to the place. Discuss Arcana, the existence of the Alices, and about the crime rate of the place that it looked like one part of the kingdom is a slum, while the other part is filled with majestic houses (thieves in rags, and thieves under the corrupt).
Delica was energetic as usual. Aiven and Delica have forced conversation every now and then and Simos had no idea what to do.
The triplets undead were making a ruckus.
They also had their [Summoning Request] to be accomplished at the Runsaer Kingdom. Originally, a slaver offered a twin to the Canary. But when they were born, they were conjoined triplets. According to the laws, there was no precedent what to do. Not to breach the contract, the slaver separated the children. Having a golden luck tiger lineage was a stroke of fortune the slaver haven't anticipated so he pushed through with the arrangement. All three could have survived but all of them would be missing some hands or feet. But because, of their value, the slaver cut the third child and gave the parts to the other two so they'll look like a normal child.
The slaver now bought a peerage under the Runsaer so he was now a baron. What the triplets want is for him to be dead. (You could buy earldom, barony and other small titles at the kingdom at the right price).
They decided to kill him in the most legal way. There was a tournament that the baron would be participating. If Simos killed him during a match, then it won't be a problem. Aiven also volunteered fight to make their odds greater but was brutally shut down. There was no way they could get away if Aiven had stripped his opponents naked during any match.
They continued gathering info. They tracked the baron and as they walked into a shop the baron was frequenting, they accidentally bumped into him causing a disturbance. In the chaos, Aiven applied [first aid] even if the baron was not injured. When the Baron found out that they have the protection from a Saintess, he backed away. But now, they got the physical characteristic of the Baron. (they got the physical analysis of the baron, so fighting him won't be a problem anymore)
They find out that the High King of Exine, Asdale would be attending as a guest of the Arcana.
The group settled on a fancy inn, using their gold. They have a letter of introduction from the Mayor of Fellen Town, since they did solve the Cursed Tavern incident and still holding the recommendation from Mother Cleo.
Their credits were also above suspicion. Aiven had been determined on this since he knew that with a fountain of holiness and golden boy on his side, there would be no end of limelight shining on his party. He can't keep the two from being popular.
One of the familiars that learned make-up from Aiven contacted them. She was Linea, another one of the Skull unit (a lot of the familiars that looked similar to humans came from the Skull unit). She was now in Cessine and carrying one of the customized identity rings, and was training as a maid under the Lion Golds. She is also in contact with the adventurers Sain (who was originally undead familiar Vomer) and Danira (undead familiar Hyoid) who is now taking quests under their pseudonym.
Linea, Vomer, and Hyoid were to spy on the Lions and Regalias and give any details about the emblem that called Simos as a hero candidate. So far, they now knew that the emblem was named 'Eudine.' Emblem renounced their houses, so it'll be hard to know more about him. The title of Canary Gold was also vested to the Lion Golds and their uncle Dalen had bestowed it to a sub-branch of his house. It seemed that he was angered and even went on a rampage when they found the empty vaults of the Sila-ir.
They received news that Desme (undead familiar Cuboid) had successfully taken Elina as her ward and the engagement of her and the mayor's son, Arman, is proceeding smoothly.
As usual, Aiven got reports of debt and tax collectors routes from the bandits. Bandits continued to only target the corrupt (killing bad people is less hassle than good ones, there would be fewer people looking after them).
Also, the bandits haven't found anything that could link their group to the fall of the Oreindr house. Though from the collected rumors, Aiven is now being called a devil's spawn, and the Canary Sibling has been elevated to great reputation that their story is now being sung by barbs throughout the Arvalar Kingdom. The story goes like a tragic gothic play where two innocent siblings were lured by a cunning villain. The villain abducted the beautiful sister and forced her to be his lover. In his failure, the sister committed suicide. The brave peerless brother, in his attempt to rescue her, came too late. In an act of perverted evilness, the villain turned the beautiful sister into an undead and forced her to fight her brother. In the end, it caused the tear-jerking death of the brother but a goddess heard his plea for salvation and he was benevolently granted a second chance in life. ‘Til now, the brother, with the blessing of the goddess, was still heroically chasing the villain.
Unfortunately, there was a great hint of incest going on that it is disturbing. Simos can’t help but laugh it off, the absurdity of the story was too much that he almost rolled over laughing in some parts. And the deity would often change depending on which gods the bard believed in.
Aiven blanked out for days after hearing the story and would often mutter curses everytime something or someone reminds him of the story.
Other major events
-Tournament. Simos fought and won with no problem. However if his opponents were on his own level, he would be struggling, but if it’s a tier or two higher, he could keep up. This is because he had been used to fighting two or three-tier opponents from their undead army. He would be expecting too high from his opponents that he would often miscalculate and would drag the fight. This could also be due to his inexperience in battle. Also, it would be disastrous for any of his opponents to base Simos’ strength on his status level since he had the Blood of Hringra on his veins, deity of scale and justice. It was only through fighting with the undead and bandits did Simos found out about a weird quirk of his blessings. If his opponent was a sinner, his stats would be buffed abnormally. His status was too much of a hero that it’s ironic that he is on the side of the demons.
-Aiven continued his training in Runsaer, finds a Senyor Damask Cross that'll find his method advance and teach him tailoring. [Craft] is the beginner's way of making items, but the individual commands could be polished for a master to customize their signature works.
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Additional Side Story 1:
Senyor Damask had seen the runecrafted kerchiefs by Aiven and was interested into the point that he was willing to take Aiven as his apprentice.
The senior tailor showed him how to use Spindle Gears. He started with the basic equipment of Spindle Gears which looked like a spinning wheel with a simple spindle. It is used to draw in the raw materials and spun it into a thread. It also imbued the resulted yarn or thread with the user's mana, once the user was adept in its use. On Damask's case, he could already create a thread from pure mana. The older tailor gave one to Aiven, and would be charged to his fees.
He also discussed the difference between combat-based, magic-based and job-based mages, in terms of compatibility of items.
On the combat and magic based mana-user, the mana is produced from inside their body and flows outside to interact to the mana in the physical world. However, for combat-based the interaction stopped on their body either strengthening or adding elements into a certain spell move, while the magic-based could go further and influence the environment itself. (The appeal of combat-based is that it is faster to level compared to the magic-based, since changing the world order is more difficult than changing one's body). The flow of mana was outward.
The job-based was the exact opposite. Job-based mages would take in the mana from the environment by luring it with their own, and silently work its way towards their crafted items. The flow of mana was inward.
That is why all mana-users could only use their magic on the crafts from job-based mages.
And in effect, these caused for the three classes of mages unable to equip any items not specified to their type, since each item was designed to accommodate the flow of mana of the specific class of the user.
Continuing with the lecture, what Aiven had from Fellen is called a loom gear, the next tier version of the spindle. It was in fact used in weaving cloth and considered the blandest, boring gear for a tailor's weaving. The resulting design is simple and repetitive.
The one Damask had is called Dobby Loom Gear. It uses the faeries called dobbies to manipulate the wefts and warps of the weaving, to create an infinite number of designs with only the imagination to limit the sophistication of the template. (Weft is the horizontal, warp is the vertical threads on a textile structure)
The older tailor had contracted with three dobbies, and he made a demonstration to his apprentice. The dobby is a small white rotund creature that had the feather-like antennae of silk moths as their ears, and the same huge dark eyes that expanded to the side of their scalp, and their wings were furred with soft bristles. They seem to hate Aiven. The black history of his crafting was felt by the poor creatures that they don't want get close to him
Damask then took a stool and from his inventory, he took out one large beam of metallic contraption with two large wheels at both ends. He placed it on his lap and with a few twists and turns on the equipment, it expanded. The wheels are now floating on his sides as if he was riding a chariot, the right wheel visibly smaller than the other, and the beam had turned to a frame. The dobbies were hovering above him in an excited tittering.
He asked Aiven not to disclose anything, as each tailor had their own customized loom gears. He might not be the only tailor that contracted faeries, but there was still something called trade secrets.
The moment he agreed, Damask pulled out a thin narrow rectangular piece of wood that has holes in it. He passes it on to Aiven. He asked what does the boy sees, and Aiven almost answered that it looked like a plank ridden with termite holes, but changed his mind and said that he doesn't know.
Damask, understandingly, explained that it's called an algorithm template, and is used to automate the design of the woven textile. It changes the pattern of the wefts of the textile to create the desired design.
At the word algorithm, Aiven was suddenly taken aback and made the tailor repeat the word again and again. Irritated, Damask flashed him a condescending look and continued on his demonstration. Multiple sheets of algorithm templates separated to form like a fan on his right side. The dobbies started arranging the sheets on the instructions of Damask, and he would make a tapping motion as if he was using a typewriter at the sheets, and the holes would correspondingly rearrange.
When he was satisfied, he placed his hand on the larger wheel at his side and started spinning. The sheets would slide and be inputted to the beam frames individually with a clockwork accuracy while the dobbies make sure that each movement of the weft was smooth, and Damask would use the smaller wheel below the panned-out algorithm sheets to move the shuttle across the textile to insert the warp threads, at each interval of the wefts.
Watching the whole process, Aiven paled and his hands started itching to do something. The spectacle was jarring a memory in his mind. Something dangerously monumental that he forgot to breathe.
Algorithm. Computing. Formula and calculations.
These are punch cards.
The algorithm templates were this world version of punch cards. There was someone called Babbage. But this was something simpler, much more older. It was at the back-end of his mind but couldn't identify it. All he knows is that punch cards are used for programming.
Right in front of him is the stepping stone of developing computers.
The realization was too shocking that he collapsed to his knees. Aiven was instantly humbled. He can't help but berate the past him who kept belittling his tailoring job before and was now immensely stupified at the possibility of creating his own personal computer.
On that innocent afternoon, Damask found himself with an apprentice who was so dedicated he could almost taste the migraine of having a loom fanatic in his midst.
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-Aiven was also successful in creating a lace pattern that looks like a magic circle and also functions as one. The laced circles were weaved from different spellthreads and it bypasses the level limit in creating rune scroll circles which could only go to three tiers. He then let Mieu purify it and sold it to Runsaer. It was a success. The name of 'Silk Button' was starting to get attention. He triggered another job class, [Haberdasher].
Title: "Haberdasher" [Merchant]
Skill Set I: Trade
Skill Set II: Bluff
Skill Set III: Open Lock/Disable Device
Skill Set IV: Sleight of Hand
-Aiven took out the loom and tried to create [Magic Carpet]. He first took out the cursed carriage and using the loom, took the miasma and weaved them into threads. It was actually used to weave the mana from the user but he was able to direct it from other sources. He got another title [Loom Mechanic]. He then used it to loom a cursed carpet that would fly and dumped its passengers to a cliff. He almost died but was heroically saved by Simos, in a princes's carry.
Job Title: "Loom Mechanic" [Weaver]
Skill Set I: Spell Thread
Skill Set IV: Seidr Webbing
Skill Set VIII: Spindle Gear
-Delica was also able to roam free from time to time. Undead familiars are common on necromancers, and she was posing as one who was on an errand for her master. There was no communication between them. Aiven was getting worried, not knowing where she had been going at the dark alleys of Runsaer. She let the doll and the black box with the undead army to Mieu to mask them. But during these time, he would tinker with the doll she'd left behind and repair it whenever he can.
-Delica then found a teacher for her. A shrunken head that talks that she kept on her belt. She was heavily interrogated by Aiven and Delica only pouted in the grievance. The shrunken head was a chatterbox from hell. It kept talking and so Aiven sewed it mouth. On one discussion the shrunken head, Witch Thirty, was worried since Delica was too young when she was turned and asked her new master if her maidenhood was still intact. Aiven was still recovering when Delica said that it was long broken from a horse. Aiven almost collapsed. And Simos, Mieu, and Delica both looked at him, confused. Horseback riding could tear a maidenhood, which was a common knowledge.
-Simos was training for the tournament. And a throng of tittering women was starting to gather around him. They also tried to vehemently target Aiven, in his guise as Ainee, but when they heard that he was his 'sister', they stopped and acted all nice. Aiven told Simos his plan for the dungeon.
-There was a break from the tournament and Simos suggested they took the dungeon Aiven mentioned. It was the dungeon where the tailoring looms can be found.
-After their preparation, they went to the dungeon. Aiven wanted to go alone since it's a personal quest, but the group decided that they should stick together.
-They fought, explore. At the boss chamber they met Anansi at an old dungeon (ancient monster spider) then Aiven got possessed by her. He ended up with a Kaneki-like black extra six limbs on his lower spine. Could now equip eight darners simultaneously). [Slit tongue, earrings, and now extra limbs...he's starting to look like non-human--a delinquent non-human, lol)
-Maou uses the partial Labyrinth's Core and claimed the dungeon as theirs. [A dungeon filled with beautiful undead maids...?]. Lamina and her unit became a dungeon master.
-Find a lot of discarded spindles hoarded by Anansi. The spider parasite was named Nancy and they get well together with the shrunken head. Nancy likes to eat the threads personally loomed by Aiven, especially those filled with curses and miasma.
-Contacts that Blacksmith Sera, and devised to recreate a Spindle Gears: Bobbin Gear, then Vanity Gear, then Overlock Gear. She went crazy in recreating those. Have fun.
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Spindle Gears: circular gauntlet-like equipped (the circular gear only covers the hand and wrist but the equipment extends up to his arm. The Gears also rolls up and down to his arm when reloading) it acts like a gun.
Evolution of Spindle Gear
1. Bobbin Gear - releases needles and threads
2. Vanity Gear - could infuse elemental attacks but never earth affinity magic [rock beats scissors] (could only be equipped with [Seamstress] Job Title)
3. Overlock Gear - adding more power and smoother release of needles and threads. Also makes it possible to load wires (mithril wires, Hexweave, Frostweave, etc. (could only be equipped with [Weaver] Job Title)
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-During the preliminary finals of the tournament. Before Simos could fight the Baron, the man died from his previous fight. Finding no more reason to continue, he wanted to quit, but his opponent continued to bait and mock him. It didn’t affect him much but since it was just another match, he conceded.
-However, the opponent was strong and Simos was gravely hurt. He would have died if not for Aiven, Mieu and Delica rushing on the stage to save him. This revealed the lich who stole the imprisoned witch. No other choice, Delica acted as if she was trying to wreak havoc at Runsaer. They were able to flee once again.
-But Aiven was on death's door. On the last bout of his strength, he had used a newly opened combat skill exclusive to Blade Clothier class, which was [Re:Animate Templates] which gave life to his craft. The doll used by Delica was turned to a sentient doll that protected him and dragged him to safety.
-In an instant, they were back to being hunted. Delica also announced that Ilium’s group was also unsummoned, meaning that the ones, who were monitoring them, after knowing of their appearance at Runsaer, also successfully hunted them with personnel too powerful for them to fend off. The monitoring group was only keeping an eye on Ilium’s group in their mission to see if the Hero Yuusha would contact them. Still, the dragon undead's group was able to contact the Dwarven Kingdom on their quest to find the Serpentine Arch. On the North, Ilium was known as the demon lord, and Coccyx and Ischium were known as Aiven and Delica.
-Knowing that in the records of Frear, Aiven was finally dead, the same way as Simos. The siblings decided to erase the memory of the unconscious Aiven. They know that Aiven had suffered a lot because of them. He had thinned, became depressed, sleep-deprived, and overworked that they feared he would kill himself from exhaustion. They decided that the life of being hunted with them would only cause him unending pain.
-Simos also reached out to Delica, hinting of what Aiven felt for her. Delica only nodded. She knew. But what she felt for Aiven was only as a friend. It might have bloomed into more but death had already cut it. The lingering feeling of affection of her shadow would only remain as such. It was clear that the only reason she even felt it was due to them being connected in this quest. Without that, it'll only bore nothing.
-Mieu understood and sealed Nancy. The parasite kept blurting out curses but was shut by Mieu's seal.
-On a dream, Delica and Aiven were talking. Before they wiped out his memory and let him go, free from their fate, she wanted to say farewell. Aiven was only staring at Delica and said that he understands. Rational, always worrying, Aiven knew why they decided to leave him. But she should know that he would forever hate her for doing this.
-Delica kissed him on his cheek and put him on an oblivious sleep.
[End of Book 1]