After placing the [Calming Pill] on a table, Cedric tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair.
He is planning how to appease Yuma and make him continue killing demons in the Crystal Cube world to level up. He needs Yuma to quickly get up from his slump, so the plan he prepared must give a quick result.
Cedric prepared several plans and continuously discarded them. At last, he contemplated between sending a psychologist from Earth to the Crystal Cube world, or simply fed him with [Calming Pill] and hoping for the best - With both options being equally bad.
If he chooses to send a psychologist, not only will it cost at least 200 GP. With 100 for Visa and another 100 to send the psychologist to the Crystal Cube world. Furthermore, the success rate will depend on how good the psychologist he took from Earth is.
If he chooses to let him be, Yuma might be in a slump for a long time even after eating the pill. That will delay the speed of his increase in strength. Cedric is afraid if that does happen, the demon king might be born before Yuma got the power to fight him.
That’s when he suddenly recalled his promises to give Yuma a reward after he joined the fight against that demon chicken.
‘Maybe I should simply buy some items that could help Yuma fight against the demon. Perhaps after he finds himself capable of fighting against the demons, his condition might’ve changed for the better.’
Although Cedric himself felt doubtful regarding this plan. This plan sounded better and much more reliable than the other plans he has thought of.
“Hey, System. Recommend me an item I could send to Yuma as a reward.” Cedric asked the System for advice before adding, “It’ll be better if the item you recommended is a weapon that can be used by Yuma now. While also being of use during the fight against the demon king later.”
[Based on your requirement, it is recommended to purchase Level 2 Consumable Divine Item, Fire Sword.]
Cedric searched the item the System has mentioned and checked its description.
[Level 2 Consumable Divine Item, Fire Sword.
Cost: 75 GP
Details: Slightly increase the power of fire element power and the user’s affinity to flames. Contain three usage of Level 2 Fire Slash.]
Cedric’s eyes widened after he read the descriptions. “For something that can only be used three times, this sword is too darn expensive! Furthermore it’s a level 2 item and Yuma couldn’t have used it.”
“Are you trying to rip me off?!” Although every expensive item the System has sold him before turned out to be pretty useful. But, he couldn’t see what made the [Fire Sword] worth that much.
[Of course not. Please read the details written on the ‘Fire Sword’ carefully.]
“Huh?” After the System mentioned it, Cedric realized something. “Is the effect of slightly increasing fire element power and user’s affinity to flames a permanent one?”
[Correct. The boost in fire element power and affinity is a permanent one. Furthermore, the passive isn’t limited by level, although it will be significantly weakened when used by someone below level 2.]
“Ohhhh!” Cedric nodded and purchased it.
Holding the sword that’s worth 75 GP on his hand, Cedric prepared to continue his conversation with Yuma.
He sent his mental power to Yuma’s room in the Crystal Cube world and saw him blankly staring at the ceiling of his room while laying on his bed.
Previously, Yuma has gotten pretty tired and bored after complaining without hearing any response from Cedric. So, he simply stared at the ceiling in a daze.
While he was in a daze, Yuma saw a screen appear in front of him.
[I’ve just finished checking the battle with that demon.]
That is of course a nonsensical excuse Cedric has concocted to explain why he ignored Yuma. Cedric is afraid Yuma might get triggered otherwise.
Seeing Yuma has focused on the text he sent, Cedric sent another sentence to Yuma’s Basic System Screen.
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[Although your heart has been clutched by fear, you succeeded in fighting against your fear and kept on observing the battle between human and demon. You have also succeeded in awakening a blessed power and taking the first step toward your status as a hero.]
[I shall grant you a Divine weapon befitting a hero and a pill to help you get accustomed with your newly awakened power.]
While reading the words Cedric has prepared after burning most of his brain cells. Yuma tried to stand up from his bed, when he heard a clanging sound on a nearby floor.
Turning his head toward the source, he saw a half meter short sword lying above the floor. Next to the sword, a small dark colored pill rolled toward the sword’s handle.
Yuma walked towards the pill and wiped the dust attached to it. After seeing no dust on it, he grabbed the sword and muttered. “What is this pill? Also, what is the effect of the sword? There is no way the reward from a god is a normal sword, right?”
Cedric has long prepared and easily answered Yuma’s question.
[The pill is called Calming Pill. It can help you calm down and enter a state of meditation. Meanwhile, that sword is called Fire Sword. It can boost the power of fire elements and also contains three powerful attacks that can be used once you reach level 2.]
Yuma grabbed the hilt of the sword and tried waving it around clumsily.
He repeatedly swung it and only stopped when he almost cut off his toes while doing a downward slashing motion.
Placing the sword on his bed while still gripping the hilt with one hand. Yuma picked the pill and placed it near his eyes to take a closer look.
‘Will I fall ill after eating the pill? According to the noises, that pill shouldn’t have fallen to the floor for a long time. So, the five minute rule still works, right?’ He placed the pill in his mouth and swallowed it.
From the pill, Yuma could feel a cool sensation spreading throughout his body. The cool sensation makes him feel refreshed as he begins to see the trouble he has experienced from a third person perspective.
Due to the new way of observing his recent experience, Yuma could feel his fear toward the demonic chicken began to lessen.
After the cool feeling began to subside, he once again felt the familiar sense of warmth he felt when awakening his power for the first time.
This time, Yuma could feel himself gaining understanding on how to handle and control the warmth flow so it won’t go out of control.
‘Is this the effect of the [Calming Pill] bestowed by the god?’ Yuma is awed by the effect of the pill that helps him feel relaxed and control the blessed power he awakened a week ago.
It’s not like he hasn’t tried to control his blessed power during the one week journey. Nevertheless, he still failed to do so even after following Rumina’s advice.
Yet, the simple pill actually helped him to do it.
***
Inside the Divine Space. Cedric saw Yuma swallow the Calming Pill and felt relieved after seeing the change in Yuma’s expression. Yuma who initially looks extremely stressed has finally relaxed thanks to the help of [Calming Pill].
So, Cedric proceeds to prepare for his next plan.
Previously, the System has said there are more than one demons in the Crystal Cube world. So, now that Yuma’s condition has stabilized, he decided to do a check around the human’s territory.
After spending a whole day roughly checking the human territories with his mental power, he found dozens of creatures that had mutated due to NE.
They range from land animals like boar, rabbits, bears, and others. To birds that fly high in the air and fishes that swim in the river. Honestly, Cedric is curious just how wide the range of creatures that can be contaminated by NE are.
Among the demons he found, Cedric saw most of them are actually still at mid or upper level 0. Only a pair of bear and a crocodile has reached the peak level 0.
Tapping his finger on his armrest, Cedric felt those weak demons might be a suitable target to help Yuma regain his confidence and fight against his trauma.
Although those demons are much weaker and greatly differ from the chicken. But they’re still demons, so they should be of help right?
Cedric memorized the locations of those demons and compared their strength and location.
At last, he decided for a rabbit-like animal to be Yuma’s target for his first real battle. That rabbit is only at Mid Level 0, which is similar to Yuma’s current strength. If he brought even a single ally, he should be able to kill it easily.
He used the [Divine Intervention:Word] and sent a message to Yuma who has just woke up from the best sleep in his life.
[Hello there, it seems you have a good nap just now.]
“Mmhmm… what’s it now?”Yuma who’s still half awake, replied to Cedric while stretching his body and yawning.
[I need you to gather allies and start killing demons to raise your power.]
Yuma frowned, “I already said it’s impossible for me to fight against something as strong as that chicken.”
[Don’t worry, this time, the target demon is much weaker than that chicken. It’s only a rabbit at Mid Level 0, which is the level you’re at. Right now, you already have a divine weapon. So with some ally, you should be able to kill it easily.]
Yuma fell into thought while summoning flames on his hand. At last, he replied, “Alright.”
Cedric sighed in relief when he heard Yuma agreed.
[That demon has built its nest in a hill around a hundred kilometers Northwest from Winter City.]
Yuma nodded and exited his room. He walked towards the palace’s throne room to seek an audience with Lacius.
The wait doesn’t last long as Lacius quickly told the guard to allow Yuma to enter.
After explaining the reason for his visit, Lacius gave Yuma two horses, several rations, and gold coins as his travel expenses. He also sent Alan and Rumina as Yuma’s travel companion.
Watching Yuma left the palace together with Alan and Rumina who has reached upper level 0 after the battle against that chicken. Cedric felt the battle against that rabbit is already guaranteed to be won.
After two day’s travel, the three of them finally arrived at the rabbit demon’s location.
Just like what Cedric has expected. The fight almost went perfectly and Yuma’s level has almost risen to upper level 0.
There is only a small hiccup where the rabbit is actually too ferocious and has heavily injured the horse Yuma and Alan rode. But other than that, everything went exceptionally well.
‘Things finally took a better turn.’ Cedric thought while informing Yuma of another weak demon’s location.