"Ugh!"
"This year feels so bland. Last year, monsters came swarming out from the entrance, so I thought this time they'd bring double the numbers! But instead, they seem to have halved them? What boldness!"
July 1st.
Just like last year, I successfully defended against the monster outbreak that occurred in the Nightmarish Forest. Naturally, it was a one-person defense. The trick I used was the same as the dimensional portal bug I exploited last year. A bug that will never be fixed is something you have to keep milking for all it's worth!
I was worried that the monsters might have learned from their past experience, but my fears were unfounded. Not a single monster survived the last outbreak, so it seems no information made it back to them. However, their leader, who resides beyond the dimension, might have gotten a bad feeling about this and decided to send half the usual number this time.
As a result, my level was nicely adjusted to a worthy 70. Meanwhile, the limit-break bonuses that were given every ten levels up to level 60 had vanished. It was quite a juicy source of wisdom points, so I was a bit disappointed.
On the other hand, I invested all the extra stats I gained from leveling up into my magical power. This year, I had been exceedingly busy managing my territory and planning conquest wars, so it had been quite a while since I properly viewed my stats window.
After all, there were many factors to account for, like the magical power gained from practicing the bug and the magic defense acquired through training with Isabel. I was filled with anticipation.
[Jared – Lv. 70]
[Strength: 110]
[Endurance: 100]
[Magical Power: 5729]
[Wisdom: 360]
[Agility: 90]
[Charisma: 305]
[Physical Defense: 180]
[Magical Defense: 787]
[Remaining Stats: 0]
"Wait, is this magical defense for real?"
A satisfied smile spread across my face. My magical defense was nearing 800. If I were to compare my magical defense metrics according to the system of <Paradiso>, it would look something like this:
If magical defense is 200, immunity to class 1 magic.
If magical defense is 400, immunity to class 2 magic.
If magical defense is 800, immunity to class 3 magic.
This means it was not a full 100% immunity but around 98%. Still, since I could cover the remaining 2% with shields or other defensive stances, it practically felt like immunity. Unless I got ambushed with magic in a situation I hadn’t prepared for!
Thus, my body now possessed enough resistance to disregard even class 3 magic. In that regard, my lack of physical defense felt regrettable. But one cannot be satisfied with everything. I resolved to compensate for this through artifacts and such.
"Ugh, ugh..."
At that moment, one ogre that still clung to life managed to lift its head. With a fierce glare directed at me, it muttered fluently in the language of the Nas continent, "Lord Agrat will surely have my vengeance... ugh."
The ogre stuck out its tongue and breathed its last. Agrat. That name wasn't unfamiliar. However, the connection between the current situation and that name felt very undesirable.
"Agrat is likely related to the Kako sect of the dark cult."
The dark cult isn’t a single entity. There are various sects within it, like the Umbra sect and the Kako sect. If the Umbra sect is based in the northern parts of the Nas continent, the Kako sect holds sway in the southwest.
What they have in common is their allegiance to the dark cult and their role as pawns for the Demon King's army until the Holy Demon War erupted. In simpler terms, they prepare the ground for the Demon King's arrival in this world.
"Why is the name of someone connected to the Kako sect coming from an ogre's mouth?"
It seems I’d entered a questioning phase. From Kaiquel and the Red Queen to today's events! There were quite a few troubling problems appearing one after another.
Whether the ogre intended this or if it was a last desperate truth it spat out before dying, I couldn’t tell. But recognizing that there was a connection between this outbreak and the Kako sect was already a start; it was the first clue to my deduction.
Just as with the Umbra sect, I felt I needed to conduct a thorough investigation concerning the Kako sect.
The next morning.
To check if the automated production process was running smoothly, I headed to the spacious processing room located in the basement of the lord's mansion. Normally, I would have gone alone, but today I had company. It was Isabel. Since the processing room wasn’t a confidential facility, I didn’t decline her request to join me.
Without my steady oversight, none of the production processes here would work properly. Thus, there was no worry about other tasks getting in the way. After inspecting the place thoroughly for about an hour, I turned to Isabel, who had a satisfied expression.
"Were you that eager to see this?"
"Yeah, you always create more than what I can imagine, right? And since this space holds that dream, I wanted to see it at least once."
"Now your wish has come true?"
"Well, it was a small wish, I guess?"
"So how's your shaman training going?"
"I've mastered up to tier 3 shaman magic. However, mastering tier 4 shaman magic, which is known as the devil’s gap, isn’t easy at all. It’s really tough."
Isabel frowned. Her sharp achievements in shaman magic were indeed welcomed, but one thing bothered me — the dark and sinister characteristics that were inherent in the shaman magic itself.
When I first met Isabel, she was quite chatty and generally in good spirits. But ever since she gained her new body and began seriously practicing shaman magic, she spoke less. Instead, there were moments when a killing intent would flicker in her gaze.
It didn’t seem like she harbored any real intent to kill, but rather an unconscious change brought about by the nature of shaman magic. The only times she smiled or engaged in friendly conversation were with me and Hayes. Even the mansion's servants seemed frightened of her. They would cry and plead just to avoid entering her room.
"Don’t rush it too much. Tier 3 shaman magic is enough. You could live your life using just that."
"I’m not practicing shaman magic just to survive. There’s a fate tied to me that has continued since my past life."
"Why don’t you ever tell me about that past?"
“Honestly, the less you know, the better. It’s true. I’m not just trying to draw your interest."
Isabel always withheld talking about her past life. Though she never explicitly explained it, I had some sense of what it involved. Looking down toward the southern tip of the Nas continent, there’s a state that fervently follows the Radius sect, overshadowing even the Kingdom of Cinders — the Transylvania Holy Empire.
This empire prohibits anything related to the darkness. Not only academia but they wouldn’t allow even names that symbolize darkness in any form. Whether it’s business names, place names, or even people and city names — they reject anything associated with that.
But the truth is, they harbor an irredeemable sin in their pursuit of sanctity, which is the ‘Massacre of Shaman.’ Sixty-five years ago, around the same time Isabel turned into an evil spirit, the emperor of the Transylvania Empire was seeking a scapegoat to regain his crumbling rule.
Until that time, the empire’s shamans were core forces who firmly held up studies and research. However, the emperor took issue with the dark properties of shaman magic and initiated the massacre, marking the start of the ‘Transylvania Massacre.’ All the innocent shamans were slaughtered, and even their families were executed.
I suspected that Isabel was either a shaman who perished during that time or a child of one. Though she concealed it, she might carry a deep grudge within her. Of course, that was merely conjecture; there was no solid evidence.
"Alright, let's set that aside. Is your magical power management okay?”
"It’s too tight for excessive use, but if I manage my expenditure carefully, I can hold out in a prolonged battle. I’m fine."
To personally confirm her words, I scanned Isabel's condition with my spiritual eye.
[Isabel – Lv. 75]
[Strength: 29]
[Endurance: 41]
[Magical Power: 401]
[Wisdom: 108]
[Agility: 19]
[Charisma: 54]
[Physical Defense: 10]
[Magical Defense: 33]
[Special Traits: Mark of Despair S / Painful Healing S / Berserk C]
[General Traits: Anger, Love, Jealousy]
"The Painful Healing trait has jumped from A to S, and the accumulated damage triggering a mental breakdown in the Berserk trait is already C grade?"
Isabel's growth was sharper than I had expected. Painful Healing is a debuff that significantly reduces the opponent's recovery ability as the shaman damage stacks up. At first, it doesn’t show much, but as the debuffs accumulate, it becomes apparent with a recovery ability drop that feels as harsh as bone pain.
It’s difficult to awaken new special traits, and even more challenging to elevate them, yet Isabel had acquired two S-grade traits and an additional one at C in just a few months. My eye for her potential hadn't been mistaken.
"We’ll be going to tackle a dungeon soon. It requires far more focus than the last tomb of Mahart the Third."
"Really? Where to?"
Isabel’s face lit up with curiosity, which brought back memories of an innocent child.
"The Refuge of the Demon Kin."
"Oh! I’ve heard of that before. Back in my time with the evil spirits."
"Seriously?"
I wondered if she meant dead people. Sure enough, Isabel confirmed, "Yes, dead people! A number of them died and simultaneously turned into restless spirits there."
"That’s not exactly good news. Of course, we won’t end up like them."
"Anyway! I’ll study hard. I’ve heard enough about that place to sink in my ears. This time, I’ll make sure to earn my keep."
"Sounds good."
"I'll head up first. I was feeling down, but thank you for giving me a good look around."
"Alright, I’ll be taking a quick look at a few things."
I walked Isabel to the door and locked the basement door once more.
Ronnella potion herb production device.
High-grade magical potion production device.
Jared mine production device.
Magical stone lighting final crafting process.
Video device final crafting process.
All five products were busily being manufactured. This automated production process was a unique privilege that only I could benefit from. Of course, it wasn’t free; I spent vast amounts of magical stones and gold coins during the construction process.
Thanks to the automated production, my crafting level consistently increased. If a bit more time passes, I’ll reach a level where I can produce ‘High-grade’ magical potions. Also, the speed of Ronnella potion herb production is expected to increase by more than threefold as I was about to hit the top crafting level of 100.
"Let’s see..."
My eyes, busily scanning around, stopped at the video device section. Recently, I had revealed the Umbra scandal and accomplished many feats by suppressing Pthalyn and Jess through the use of the video device. The military had already begun utilizing video devices for reconnaissance purposes widely.
Naturally, as it was something only I could produce, there was no fear of external technology leaks.
"How about using it for cultural purposes as well?"
Suddenly, a great idea popped into my mind. The video device could serve both as a recording camera and a beam projector. In other words, as long as there were suitable objects for screen purposes, showing videos would be possible. Just as I had screened videos of Pthalyn in the royal castle of the Kingdom of Cinders before.
"Yes! The keyword is cinema! It’s all about cultural life!"
Snap! I snapped my fingers, excitedly.
The cultural content that seemed to be lacking in my territory was about to be filled!