Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Twenty-Fourth Fragment, Carpediem
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The seal was released. Judah flipped the pouch with its opening facing up and shook it out onto his palm. Something tumbled out with a small thud.
'A ring!'
As he set the pouch aside, what came into view was a ring carved entirely from what looked like a single piece of obsidian. It was made of multifaceted surfaces like scales, with no decorations whatsoever, but the inky sheen that flowed across it held a magnetic allure that drew the eye deeper the longer one looked. The inside was smooth like a normal ring, meant for slipping onto a finger, and on that surface were engraved countless indecipherable letters. As Judah picked it up and examined it from all angles, a message appeared before his eyes stating that it was saved at the current point in time.
[Acquired the Twenty-Fourth Fragment - Carpediem.]
[Saving resurrection point based on current location and time.]
[Consumed save points have been restored.]
Judah looked at the auto-save message before dismissing it and focusing back on the ring. The jet-black ring seemed to emanate a friendly energy, as if welcoming him.
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[Name: Twenty-Fourth Fragment - Carpediem]
[Rank: Legend]
[Equipment: Ring]
[Effects]
Vitality +3, Magic Resistance +3, Charm +3
Vitality and Mana Recovery Speed +250%
[Description]
The final piece among the fragments of Perlnen's heart. It looks carved from a mineral, but this is the heart itself. The heart fragment was magically processed, then shaped and polished into a ring. The ring possesses the power to seduce others and even dominate them. The bestowed authorities are 「Charm」 and 「Domination」.
'If you don't want to die, you'd better behave yourself. Artemisia.'
'Oh, you? Me? That won't happen. Even if it did, we'd just destroy each other. How foolish.' - From a conversation between the 4th Lord and the 7th Lord.
-Subjugation (Active): You can permanently turn up to five defeated enemies into allies.
└Absolute Obedience: The subjugated cannot harm their master.
└Usage Condition 1: Must inflict wounds equivalent to unavoidable defeat or win in combat. Can also be used if the opponent acknowledges defeat.
└Usage Condition 2: Success rate increases if your total stats are higher than the opponent's; failure is possible if lower.
└Usage Condition 3: However, if the target has specific traits, skills, or items, subjugation is impossible, and all subjugation and hypnosis effects are released if they die and resurrect.
-Hypnosis (Active): Once per defeated enemy, you can twist their common sense or compel specific actions. However, it may be dispelled if the target's magic resistance is high or if they realize something is wrong and resist.
-Doppelganger (Active): Unleash the fragment's power to summon a subjugated NPC. The summoned NPC appears fully equipped and acts as a sort of clone. It vanishes if it strays too far from the Player or takes lethal damage. Upon vanishing, its memories and experiences are absorbed by the original, but it cannot be summoned if the original is within a certain distance.
(Max summons: 1, shares a fixed amount of mana after summoning)
-Charm (Passive): Easier to gain favor from others than normal. Of course, this varies by personal taste and may have no effect.
-Magic Defense (Passive): The mystical power within the heart reduces magic damage inflicted on the user.
-Resistance Boost (Passive): Increases resistance to various attributes such as fire, cold, poison, and curses.
-Twenty-Fourth of Perlnen's Twenty-Four Hearts (Passive): The power of the final heart among the twenty-four is "Subjugation" and "Charm."
-Inheritance (Passive): Collect all 24 artifacts made from Perlnen's heart to inherit the power of the Demon King Perlnen.
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Wow—
As expected. Judah stuck out his tongue at the exclamation that burst out unbidden. The hologram window floating before him displayed the fragment's abilities exactly as they were. Just wearing this one ring boosted his total stats by 9 points. Considering there were only three accessories among the twenty-four fragments... this was an enormous number. The maximum ability one could raise with items was 99 (S), though some special items could go up to 100 (SS). And the fragments were among those special items. In other words, as long as he collected the remaining fragments in time, raising even his deficient potential stats beyond that would be a piece of cake.
'?'
Judah's eyes clouded with doubt as his gaze shifted from the item's effects and description to the skills.
The incredible stat boost of 9 points total matched his memory perfectly, but some skill effects were completely different from what he remembered. He wasn't sure if it was because the game had become reality or if Cyan had meddled somehow.
He remembered adding the <Subjugation> skill. But he had no recollection of adding the <Hypnosis> and [Absolute Obedience] sub-effects below it. They seemed like they could enable some dangerous actions, but the conditions for use were tricky at present.
Still, they were worth fulfilling those conditions for. No, more than worth it—they overflowed with value. Using Subjugation meant he could create up to five utterly trustworthy companions in this world, which was essential for Judah, who had been betrayed left and right.
'Well, now that I've become Judah, things will change a lot, so I probably won't get betrayed anymore.'
Even so, better safe than sorry. Especially now that <Hypnosis> and [Absolute Obedience] had been added... the chances of that happening were drastically reduced. Just seeing the word "hypnosis," though, brought nothing but lecherous thoughts to mind. Limited to once per target, but the ability to make someone do whatever he wanted was undeniably appealing.
'I wonder if my conscience would let me...'
And the <Doppelganger> below that was originally a skill to summon a companion waiting at an inn when one fell in battle. It seemed to work similarly here by summoning allies, but he'd have to test it himself to grasp the details.
Either way, he breathed a sigh of relief that the fragment's overpowered abilities hadn't changed much. Without further hesitation, Judah slipped the ring onto the index finger of his left hand and perched on the edge of the bed. He turned his finger this way and that under the room's light, smiling in satisfaction.
Now, it really was time to leave this Serenia Castle.
+ + +
He woke in the morning and, as usual, ate breakfast with Tia before going for a walk and returning. A carriage was parked in front of the house. Upon checking, it was a butler sent by Kaseun. He said they needed to head to the mansion immediately and told him to get in the carriage. Tia seemed to have guessed what was up, poking Judah in the side with a grin.
It looked like they were holding his coming-of-age ceremony. When he arrived at the mansion by carriage, a crowd had gathered in the garden. The librarian Asem, East Gate Guard Captain Charles and other soldiers, the temple paladin Seron... everyone he'd built some rapport with had somehow found out and assembled.
Even Lord Chapelin Piercen was there, glass in hand. They all celebrated Judah's fifteenth birthday, performed the coming-of-age rite, declared him an adult now, and made him drink a glass each.
The first alcohol he'd tasted in this world since arriving was incredibly sweet and delicious. He accepted a glass from each person and drank, but whether due to the ring's effect or his Player trait, he stayed at a pleasantly tipsy state without going overboard. Seeing Judah not get drunk, the crowd burst into laughter, calling him a natural-born drinker.
He'd thought a coming-of-age ceremony would involve something special, but it was nothing much.
Just a day laden with meaning. Judah thanked Kaseun. He'd thought he wouldn't cry, but as they faced each other and talked, tears flowed unbidden.
Without his help, he might have lived truly harsh, miserable days. Because Kaseun had his back, no one dared treat Judah poorly, and he'd known no want.
Thanks to Kaseun becoming his master and teaching him so much, he'd gained his current strength and met Tia. He'd obtained so much he couldn't have alone, all thanks to Kaseun's aid.
Kaseun pulled the tearful Judah into a tight embrace. Until sunset, everyone enjoyed drinks, beverages, and delicious food. As people began heading home one by one, the lord and Kaseun called Judah over and gave him a gift.
The gift, prepared together by the two, was a suit of clothing made from Black Wolf hide.
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[Name: "Black Wolf Leather Armor Set" Infused with the Magic of Regeneration and Balance, of Dignity]
[Rank: Precious _ Luxury]
[Equipment: Top, Bottom, Shoes, Belt]
[Durability: 20/20]
[Defense: 45]
[Effects]
Agility +2, Charm +2
[Description]
Clothing commissioned by Silver Sword owner "Kaseun Savarak" and "Chadelin Piercen" to celebrate Judah Arshel's coming-of-age. Top, bottom, and shoes form a set.
-Black Wolf Hide (Passive): Made from Black Wolf leather resistant to physical and magical attacks. Exceptional quality, further enhanced by magical processing.
-Craftsman's Touch (Passive): Crafted by master artisans and skilled magic engineers. You'll look not like a rough adventurer or mercenary, but like a dignified young noble. Artisan secrets and magecraft knowledge combine for coolness in summer and warmth in winter.
-Silent Steps (Passive): Reduces detection chance and footstep noise when walking or running in non-safe zones like forests or battlefields.
-Code 前: Infused with the Magic of Regeneration and Balance
└Durability recovery +1 per hour, adjusts size to fit body.
-Code 後: of Dignity
└Purification - Repels odors and filth.
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Judah felt elated by the unexpected gift. After receiving it and chatting a bit more, he returned home. Both he and Tia were pleasantly tipsy from the alcohol. Without a word from either, they collapsed onto the sofa the moment they entered.
They giggled and chatted, slipping into an amorous mood where they kissed and spent a passionate time together. Even after their love-filled union ended, Tia refused to part from Judah even for a moment. In the bath, exhausted in sleep, changing clothes, cooking in the morning—she stayed by his side. He'd planned to leave early, but for her sake, he sat on the sofa with her clinging tightly, showing no intention of letting go.
"Tia, I'm heading out."
"Where to? Leaving today?"
She wrapped her legs and arms around him like she wouldn't let him go. Judah gave a wry smile. Her image hadn't been like this at first—why had she become so adorably childlike?
"No, not leaving right this instant. Just heading to the western forest for some business, quick trip."
"The western forest? Why there? Want me to come?"
Judah pondered her words briefly but shook his head.
"I'll go alone. Back in 3-4 days. And now that I'm an adult, before I... leave this place, I want to get a feel for things on my own. Don't worry too much."
"Judah."
"Yeah."
"Judah."
She kept calling his name like it was something precious. Judah didn't get annoyed. Each time she said it, reluctance welled up in him. Making him sad too.
"Judah."
"I'm listening, Tia."
"You can't... not go, right?"
"It's just a trip to the western forest—what's the big deal?"
"No, I know. You're leaving. Not to the western forest, but soon, in the next few days, you'll leave this place. Right?"
Judah was at a loss for words.
"......"
"Can't I... come with you?"
Hearing Tia's sad voice, Judah nearly blurted, "Yeah, come along." Human attachments were terrifying. He envied those who could draw lines sharply. For Judah, it was too hard. He hated making others hurt, suffer, sad. But he had to steel himself.
"Tia, remember that conversation we had here a few years ago?"
Tia didn't reply. She just clung to his back. Feeling her warm body heat, Judah felt his strength drain, but he pressed on.
"Back then, you promised to wait for me—remember?"
"No, I don't."
Tia answered quickly. She remembered. Judah silently took her slender, beautiful long fingers resting on his chest. As he fell quiet, she, with her face buried in the nape of his neck, murmured in a whisper-like voice.
"...Actually, I do remember. But because I fell in love with you, more than waiting here, I want to follow you and be together."
"I love you too, not just words—truly."
"I know."
"That's why I can't take you."
"Why? Explain so I can understand."
Judah's expression darkened at her words.
* * *
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Tip19. Players can allocate level-up points to raise stats beyond potential up to a maximum of 99 (S). Item effects can also reach 99, and some special items allow up to 100 (SS).
However, 101~109 (SS), and 110 (SSS) are strictly potential domains, allocatable only via special points earned from achievements.
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========== Afterword ==========
Hmm, no can do, everyone.
Tia has to stay here.
Even coupons won't change that!
And who said genitals? Come out! How could you carry genitals in your pocket for years?!