Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 77
This mansion is truly vast and beautiful. I'm familiar with the sophisticated architecture that comprises it, but they called it Western-style, didn't they? Blended with its unique grandeur, all I can do is marvel. Contractor, you reside in such a splendid place.
"......I'm trying to read, so keep it down. And this isn't my house."
Oh? I distinctly remember hearing a woman I presume is your blood relative call you the family head. Isn't the family head the same as the current head of the house?
Family head or head of the houseboth refer to the master of the clan.
Tamamo had phrased it that way because, back in Japan where she died, people used "head of the house" more often than "family head."
"That's true, but I have no real power."
Hmm, judging by the subtle inflection in your words, that doesn't seem to be the only reason. But fine. I'll let it slide.
Tamamo ended the conversation without pressing further.
Her consideration, after having just flustered me moments ago, was deeply touching.
If only she hadn't added, 'Because I'm a kind and gentle fox,' with that self-praise, the might have lasted a bit longer.
'......I misspoke.'
Even if I was a powerless wastrel family head, this was still Baek Seung-woo's home.
He was born in this house and raised here.
That fact would never change.
So, regardless of my actual authority, it was natural for him to think of this place as home. But not for me.
This was only my second time in this house, and I'd never spent this long in Baek Seung-woo's room before. Lying on the spacious bed he'd shared with someone for half his life was a first for me too.
This wouldn't do.
I am Baek Seung-woo.
According to the setting, this mansion was my home, a place that would one day fall under my control. I knew that in my head, but my heart didn't feel at ease.
Frankly, it wasn't easy to treat a house I'd only just seen for the first time as my own. If it were a place I'd bought with my own money, maybe.
How could I possibly see a mansion clearly lived in by a complete stranger as my home? Maybe that's why, even though my body ached and I was exhausted, sleep wouldn't come.
I passed the time flipping through a ridiculous book I'd taken from the family library: Chronicles of the Elders of the Main House.
A record of all the elders of the clan.
This single book was the reason I'd come all the way here.
'No mention of Tamamo in here, huh. Fox kin like three-tailed or nine-tailed foxes should have their names on the family register, whether direct or collateral line, but hers is missing. Hm, maybe she was alive before the Heavenly Fox Baek Family even existed.'
"Hey, Tamamo. Have you ever heard of the Heavenly Fox Baek Family?"
......
What? No response.
Normally, she'd reply even to my unspoken thoughts.
No answer came.
Is she asleep?
Even after a good amount of time passed, still no reply.
It made me wonder if the bone-crushing pain had caused hallucinations or auditory illusions.
'I've never heard of a ghost sleeping, but if she does, that's fine by me.'
I, a living person, couldn't sleep, so it irked me that this lingering spirit, stuck in a ring and trailing behind me, dared to nap so carefree. But whatevershe was already dead.
I let that part slide generously.
"Alright, now that I'm finally alone. Time to claim that settlement I've been waiting for."
With a flick of my fingers, the Status Window appeared.
From its crystal-clear hue, I tapped the section labeled [Quest], and the window shifted to a faint purple, flooding with information.
[Main Quest 'Life Stone': Cleared]
Rewards
[1. 'Point Shop' Unlocked]
[2. '??? Trait Selection Ticket' x1]
[3. Author's Reply]
The three rewards I'd received.
I checked them in order, starting from the top.
Ding!
A message popped up.
[The 'Point Shop' is now permanently accessible.]
['Point Shop' is your exclusive privilege.]
[All items in the shop can be purchased with 'Points (P)' earned from clearing quests.]
Point Shop
1. [Stat Enhancement]
2. [Trait List]
3. [Skill List]
4. [Equipment List]
The 'Point Shop' consisted of four categories.
I tapped each one in sequence to view the details.
[Stat Enhancement]
1. Stamina Level 1 Enhancement30P
2. Strength Level 1 Enhancement25P
3. Durability Level 1 Enhancement10P
4. Agility Level 1 Enhancement25P
5. Mana Level 1 Enhancement100P
6. Senses Level 1 Enhancement100P
* The price for each stat increases by 5P per level from the previous price.
[Trait List]
* Cannot be purchased through normal means.
[Skill List]
1. Demonic Star-Piercing Sword2,000P
2. Wave of Starlight2,500P
3. Return of a Thousand Flows885P
4. Immovable Mind1,000P
5. Abyssal Heart730P
6. Grand Flame Sword Style477P
113. Sword's Law7P
114. Self-Healing6P
[Equipment List]
1. Holy Sword that Illuminates Starlight5,000P
2. Rosario of Holy Radiance750P
3. White Knight's Sacred Chainmail825P
4. Red Knight's Star Fate Sword370P
5. Yama King's Cloak237P
6. Giant Defect1,755P
69. Dawn Spear12P
70. Ring of Morning Light7P
71. Frayed Handkerchief Embroidered with the Sun1P
What the hell are these?
Why is everything I owned before possession listed here?
I couldn't hide my bewilderment.
Every single item in this so-called shop window was something I'd owned and used before possessing this body. My current mood? Like a son living away for college, discovering his parents posting his old stuff from home on a secondhand marketplace.
And not just any stuffimportant, cherished itemsbeing sold dirt cheap.
Hard to describe, but it felt utterly filthy.
"This is insane."
How much did they loot from my stores?
At this rate, they'd scraped every last speck of dust.
......Or maybe not.
It might be so empty that dust is piling up even more.
"......When I get back, you're really dead."
If you want to live, you'd better research resurrection magic while I'm still in this world. Since all the magic that existed in reality was Eve's creation, it shouldn't be too hard.
I resolved to study funeral rites in advance as I opened the next reward.
Given the state of the first one, this was predictable.
[Checking '??? Trait Draw Ticket.']
[Listing all recorded traits in a catalog.]
[Acquiring one at random from the 11 recorded traits.]
??? Trait Catalog
1. Sword Saint
2. War God
3. Divine Sword
4. Sword Lord
5. Sword Sect
6. Sword Immortal
7. Savior
8. Mental Fortitude
9. Strategist
10. Path of the Heart Sword
11. Heavenly Martial Body
Ha, I knew it.
"All my titles, aliases, and hallmarks."
Shadows I'd cast across nations' media, militaries, and governments.
The sum of my past life's achievements, manifested as traits.
Curiously, vague titles like Sword Dragon that didn't stack up against the others weren't included.
This was purely the pinnacle of my prime, bundled into 'traits.'
Especially Sword Saint, Divine Sword, Sword Lord, Sword Sect, Sword Immortal, and Path of the Heart Sword. Those six.
The ultimate swordsmanship traits every swordsman in this world coveted.
They proved the life I'd lived.
These listed traits were the very essence of Baek Seung-woo's life as a swordsman.
"None of which I can actually use, though."
Each one sounded impressiveand probably wasbut they all required wielding a bladed weapon to take effect.
Traits far beyond what I, crippled by Solar Vein Blockage, could handle. Nam Hwa-yeon might manage, but not me.
To me, those six were pure poison pills.
"No matter what I get, it won't be easy. Better than useless ones, maybe War God or Heavenly Martial Body."
That didn't mean the other five were great.
Trait, War God: Symbolizing my feat of becoming supreme commander at a young age after all the commanders died or aged out.
Considering that, War God likely granted bonuses to tactics, command, and military strategy.
Fine if I planned to start a war right now.
Otherwise, not much use.
The rest were similar situational picks.
Trait, Savior: The common label for heroes who sacrificed themselves to save humanity.
Mental Fortitude: For the demon who swung his sword madly without collapsing, even as comrades died before his eyes.
Strategist, the opposite of War God: For the ruthless commander's atrocities.
Not bad to have, but not sure what good it'd do.
The best one for right now was probably...
"Heavenly Martial Body."
Trait, Heavenly Martial Body.
A body born with heaven-sent martial talent.
A legendary, mythical constitution among martial artists.
And it had been mine.
Sure, I was a cripple now, but once, I'd possessed a body stronger than anyone's.
"Heavenly Martial Body might not cancel Solar Vein Blockage, but it could suppress it."
A heaven-granted body versus a heaven-cursed incurable disease.
If they coexisted in me, it wasn't a vain hope that it might suppress the pain and debuffs.
But this was a draw ticket, not a selection.
My odds of getting Heavenly Martial Body? 1/11.
Abysmally low.
"......"
The moment I thought about the odds, my face hardened.
I didn't know what expression to make in this situation.
If I had to judge good or bad, it leaned good. But the probability was brutal.
Not like a game where I could pay more for extra draws.
Hmm, could I ask what 'Path of the Heart Sword' means?
"Path of the Heart Sword means the path toward the heart sword. Transcending the limits of intent to wield the sw What the hell? Why are you here?!"
Why the sudden shock? Like you've seen a ghost. Oh, because of me?
"Y-Yeah, why are you here right now......!"
I was startled by Tamamo, who had suddenly appeared, floating beside me and peeking at my Status Window.
I hadn't sensed her presence or even her awakening.
For someone with 'S+' senses, even if borrowed from a tool, it was embarrassingly inept.
No, how did she even peek at my Status Window in the first place?
It's absolute personal infono one can see it until you share it voluntarily.
Is the system treating her as a familiar because of our contract? What kind of familiar acts this recklessly?
Hey, Contractor?
"......"
The draw is spinning...... Do you know what this means?
"What?"
To read it precisely: You have used the draw ticket...... Randomly selecting one......
"Stop."
I wanted to yell, I wasn't asking you!, but the words sank deep into my chest.
[You have used the '??? Trait Draw Ticket.']
[Bestowing one trait at random from the 11 traits.]
[The roulette is spinning!]
The roulette wheel with the eleven traits began spinning before my eyes.
I hadn't even pressed itwhy was the draw activating? Then I realized my left pinky had subtly tapped the window.
Tamamo's movement, undetectable even by my heightened senses.
Startled, I'd instinctively thrust my left hand forward.
Whirr, the roulette spun, building my tension. Tamamo, fascinated by the novel roulette, just stared blankly at my pupils.
As if she could see my retinas.
We stared holes into the roulette like that.
[The roulette has stopped.]
[Congratulations! Through the '??? Trait Draw Ticket,' you have acquired the trait Strategist!]
Not the worst, but a runner-up disaster.
Damn it. Might as well have gotten the best.
No, I should've held off, found some luck-boosting item or ritual, and drawn then.
All because someone pretended to sleep and scared me.
Oh my, Strategist. What a cool title. Worth holding my breath for over an hour pretending to sleep. So, care to explain what the trait does?
And Tamamo acted like she had no idea what she'd done.
......Should I just exorcise her?