Chapter 5.5 Three Month Investment

“First you need to get the Concentration stat, only after gettin’ it then you’ll need to acquire the Meditation skill. Sink in the dark as you meditate, you’ll then notice some flickerin’ blue lights. Those are the shit called mana. Fiddle a bit with your mana pores and the mana threads that connect them, trust me you’ll know when you see it. Try to control the flow as well as the output. Find the core of your mana, the brightest ball-like thingy inside your body.  Somehow I got the Mana manipulation and arcane mastery from that, took more than 14 hours I think. And that depends on your talent, okay? Get it?”

 For the hundredth time, June tiredly explained how he got at least 5 masteries in one go. He was starting to get displeased with the constant repetition. Next time he noted to himself not to blurt out his skillset to anyone anymore.

“Wait! I still have questions! So when-” (Dora)

“Ugh! I can’t explain it! Ok?! Just do what I’ve told ya. All you makin’ me tired. I haven’t recovered that much yet you know” June lied, gritting his teeth and touching his fake injury from his body to get away from the barrage of questions hurled at his direction. He grabbed one of the unbound status plates used to access the Noble’s ward, bit his thumb and smeared his blood on the badge an inch from the table edge. It was required to bind with one of these to live here. He sighed as he heard more questions on how to get the masteries.

“You haven’t explained how you got the Ki mastery Oi!” Ragnar’s voice was heard though the entire racket. June stood up lazily while promising himself to answer one last time.

“It was by accident that I discovered those yellow acupuncture points. I was tracing the blue mana threads and coincidentally found those golden flickers you guys called Ki. All of you don’t have to strain yourself by forcing to master it as soon as possible.” June continued ceaseless before anyone else can butt in

“The prompt specifically said that we won’t be able to control Ki yet in our current level so forget about it at the moment and focus on acquiring the mana skills. I am still tired and weak so I will not be entertaining any more questions for today. Now, if y’all excuse me, I’m going to take a walk and probably go flirt with some noble ladies of our lovely neighborhood”

“I’ll come with!” pale excitedly squealed as he stood up as well. June was only joking, never assuming they’ll believe him as he planned to visit the lesser archives of Thessascus to read.

As both of them was about to walk out the door, an ethereal voice made itself known to the whole room. It was enchantingly beautiful to the ears that even the Goddess Freiiah herself will vomit blood out of sheer jealousy just by hearing it. All of us were astonished as the voice came from Mordred, our swordswoman. We never knew one with such an amazing voice would be so shy to even speak. Heck, we even thought she was a mute. If I have a voice like that, I would never shut up at all.

“Wait! Mordred don’t want to be indebted to anyone. Since you are helping Mordred master skills, Mordred would want to repay in kind. I have an ability called killing Intent” the girl mused lightly. She continued to speak which still baffled us unawares, while she converse in an angled perspective of herself. She must have chosen the blessed trait of enchanted voice, yet some part of June guessed it highly unlikely.

“-Mordred has to focus emotions of extreme intent fused with the release of her arcane aura. Requirements, Concentration stat and mana manipulation. Target a specific person lest you want to affect the area around you. Radius and pressure depends on power of intent and the mana released, maybe battle experience and level as well.” After that the swordswoman never spoke again. So she already got quite a few of the skills herself, impressive if i say so myself.

“An intimidation skill, how powerful would this be if instead of mana, we use Ki. In theory, this may strengthen melee attacks! The pressure may even immobilize the enemies while we gain advantage in a fight. This may even work with even a powerful foe.” Said Ragnar obsessively

“I see, so intent pressure can be applied in this world as well. Back in Earth, my old master can force the pressure of his intent that sometimes rendered me stunned, unable to neither move nor breathe. I know most you guys picked the Blessed Trait of increased sense control yeah? It might be useful in detecting this killing intent, makes ambushing us very difficult. Not many know of this but all sentient creatures possess this characteristic, some can’t control it and most is unaware of its existence. Some who harbor hatred exudes this in miniscule amounts even if they themselves aren’t aware. Very useful indeed” (June)

June weigh the odds of staying to practice said skill, or leave for the archives. The feeling of leaving won yet as he was about to leave, the group began declaring some of the skills they learned. It would be such a wasted opportunity if he waltz away early and missed the exchange of information made out of goodwill and trust.

“I learnt the hand to hand combat mastery and I think training is another way of increasing our stats besides leveling. But acquiring stats using this method is hard and may require the biggest chunk of our time. I heard that stat training has a cap as well. You can train for a while but later it would not anymore procure stats unless you level up and trained some more which by then will repeat the cycle.” (Sunny)

“Hooo~ thanks Sunny. I’ll go next.”

I acquired the silent step skill. I think the requirements are to move without an ounce of noise for hmm how many hours was it? Ah yes. Maybe more than 23 hours. Your steps should not make a whisper of a sound. The notification box said that at higher level, it may evolve to the Stealth skill. Pity for those who acquired the Stealth blessed trait as it was quite easy to get this skill. They wasted a trait slot for nothing” (Gloomy)

“Cool! Teach me that one 'kay?, might be useful in stealing the treasures in the palace vaults hehe~ oh! I have a skill as well called Prediction. Though I do not know how I got it, probably from guessing different scenarios every time we get in a pickle. June! Teach me those elementary runic arts as well. The king may have mentioned in passing that it was necessary in my path to become a sexy magic caster.” (Dora)

“About that, one of my sources made it slipped that the Treasury Vaults of the royal palace as well as the hidden wealth chambers of the noble houses and important establishments are magically locked by rune magic encryptions like a computer code technology of encrypted data which uses passwords. In this world it is impossible to take the treasures with this type of security even for master thieves-” (Gloomy)

“Yeah I know of this as well! The ancient language that runic magic uses is already a dead language here. It was lost thousands of years ago. By now, no one knows how the vaults even work. They only know that the password can be opened and changed at will of the owner but not even they know of the mechanisms and the how-to’s. Even then, there are traps hidden with the device which activates when the vault is fiddled with by thieves” (June)

“Don’t you plebians worry, the traps are arcane in nature made by rune magic as well. Speaking of runes, I heard of such person who stole the ship’s rune magic blue prints and can understand how they work. Pity i heard he's a conniving bitch who got himself mana poisoned. I believed this man may know in time how the mechanisms of the vault operates” Pandora whispered while eyeing Kira

Villainous laughter was made evident on the faces of the two conspirators as they eventually eyed June like a tasty treat. The man himself forgot how this conversation turned for the worse as they made plans to steal nobles’ riches. It was true that he somehow had the means. June guessed it was his fault as he was the first to steal one of the Kingdom’s secret in the first place. it was a secret that his skill can read runes. it may have other purposes as well but he cannot decrypt those properties for now.

Talk about Bad influence!

Dora and Gloomy made their own world, cooperating in finding out more so that they may procure the capital to satiate their interests and ambition. It was only appropriate for the two to conspire since the other descended are already in the move.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The High-humans are building connections left and right. They planned on making guilds and recruitment are early in motion. Hordes of players are securing tools and food source while parties are leaving the capital in droves, hunting monsters along the way. The conversation adjusted to the problem of scheduling the raiding of our party as others are securing hunting spots for themselves everywhere. June however suggested the opposite idea.

“We will wait” Two faces of confusion and five looks of disapproval was declared by his teammates. June explained further as he once again sat down his chair.

“We don’t have to do what the majority of the descended are doing at the moment. We still have time aplenty. I’m sure you guys know how difficult it is to level up in this world. Listen up peeps, I have thought of a plan, and trust me it is a good one”

June smiled as he got their utmost and undivided attention. Whenever he said he has a plan, they understood that it would be beneficial. If others besides this person declare such a thing they would immediately turn and leave. But this guy, for them, is not just another guy.

“The capital is very huge, and it will take us atleast half a day just to secure weapons, armors, potions, provisions, tents and tools for an adventure that may last for a week. Trust me when I say this. It will not be beneficial to explore and be back in the city day by day, imagine the time wasted travelling. I believe the other adventurers noticed this so they will be planning to hunt for maybe a week, or as long as their food lasts. Now, even if they do this, the probability of leveling up once per day is impossible. Calculate how many monsters are needed and how much time would be wasted fighting one. Add the number of hours resting, the travel time and distance, and the level diference-”

“Most of them are still level one with a few that is already in the second level so by calculating all that crap, approximately 3 months give or take would be needed to bridge the fifth level” (Dora)

“-Thanks Dora. Now since we are a bit higher in level than the rest, if we fight for hunting spots, we would be at a disadvantage because the nearer the land from a city, the weaker the creature so our levels won’t increase one bit. We need to travel to distant lands just to find stronger opponents. It may take us a few months of travel time as well.” Faces of understanding surfaced from the party as June continued talking

“Now, what I’m suggesting is that we level our skills first, train for stats, comb the library for information, secure gold and build connections. If it is okay with all of you I would like to assign tasks for you to follow.”

“Seems interesting, go on.” (Faye)

“All of us will enter physical, magical and skill training first than hunting outside. At night, we will read archive scrolls or meditate. No one would be left behind. All of us will grow stronger together if it’s okay with all of you.

Pandora, you will help the king as well as the nobles in any way you can while training your skills in magic. Increase your connections and reputation. You must acquire their secrets and other information regarding the kingdom. Advise the king on issues pertaining to better leadership and make him consult me in war strategies if you can. Gather info on the Grand knight and the elites of this kingdom as well as the location of their treasury, yes fine, we would steal some gold if the need arises. I will cooperate and lend you my skills in hacking runic codes when the time is ripe. Then, ask an elite which can be trusted to train our melee fighters, it would be better if the Grand Knight herself accepts to teach us. Ask the king for a master in Alchemy and Apothecary to teach us as well.”

“Cake” (Dora)

“Gloomy will roam the commoners ward and the Bazaar. Gather as much info as you can. Get the merchant class if you like and monitor the thieves’ guild. If you are able to be accepted in their ranks, get all the skills even I they’re not important. You must build a solid information network. Find the black market as well and try to control it in any way you can. It must be done in a year. In your spare time, train your battle skills.”

“That would be easy as well” (Kira)

“Mordred, Ragnar and sunny will enlist for the mercenary guild. In your spare time level up your second professions so that when we hunt, we would be ready. We would set out and be gone for a month. The location is yet unknown and it depends on what information Dora can provide us with.”

“Okay”

“Pale would enter the churches to be an intern for the priests. At your spare time visit the library. Faye will enter the Rangers Hunting Guild.”

“What would you be doing?” (Dora)

“For the first three months, I plan to waste on training my stats and skills as well as to read scrolls in the archives, maybe even visit the gladiators’ pit in the Thessascean Arena. It would take an entire year for the others to reach the fifteenth level and another year to level till twenty and acquire the first profession. So the remaining seven months is just to apprentice for a master blacksmith and a master tailor. I would provide Gloomy with weapons and armors while Dora provides elixirs. You all may set out after three months with stats comparable to level 30 after training, that I’m sure. I might even help you in finding hidden classes in the archive scrolls. I would set out with all of you after a year towards the deeper parts of the south. Sounds like a plan?” June finished with high hopes.

“I like it” (Pale)

“…” *nods* (Mordred)

“Fun!” (Sunny)

“There is an Arena here?!” (Ragnar)

“Fine with us” Faye and Gloomy

“That was my plan all along, hmph.” Dora gloated

It was late in the afternoon and the Crimson Manor was devoid of its masters. The servants of the house were curious as to why their owners chose to lock themselves in their room to sleep. They were tasked not to disturbed their superiors and bade them not to make dinner for them unless told otherwise. Some of them ridiculed such outsiders without the blood of a noble as it was undermining to serve others of equal stature of a commoner. They only answer their calls because the king ordered them to and not on their free will with the exception of the red princess. She was considered an outsider but she still has the blood of royalty.

It was starting to get darker while the sun sets in the horizon, filling the skies with an orange-violet hue. It was an enamoring sight as countless posts of glowing crystals brighten up the lively city of Heinguard. All of the people of this kingdom were embraced with happiness, safety and contentment. Except maybe the household of the Crimson Manor.

The servant are discussing and editing petition forms regarding their masters to the king. Disdain seemingly apparent in their faces as they mock how derived of etiquette their masters were. They even forgot to do their duties to the household and chose to ransack the supply room for their own pleasures. However, their festivities were abruptly put on hold as Killing intent were felt in all corners of the place.

It gave them a chill only a grave can bestow as their skin shivered and pierced with thousands of needles. All around their bodies were shrouded with an uncomfortable feeling like hundreds of spiders crawling from their skins. They labored a breath and some even fainted due to the pressure. The horror and anguish they felt provided them with dread and paramount fear.

It was at that moment that the servants swore eternal allegiance to the High humans in their Manor. They treat them with respect that they will not even show towards their king. They executed all orders given to them without banter. The fear was engraved in their souls and will remain till they die. For they suffered for three days without even going to sleep for they were scared of nightmares awaiting them in their rest. Stories and whispers are spread throughout the ward that demons roam the Crimson Manor. Sometimes a crazy, maniacal laughter of a delirious woman can be heard at night as pained screams of men reverberates often inside.

In time, the nobles learned to avoid Dora’s property like the plague.

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