Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: An Omen
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[Name: Shutora Ignus]
[Age: 14]
[Race: Gandharva]
[Class: Juingong]
[Sub-Class: Knight of Conquest Lv. 2 / Draconian Lv. 1]
[Special Traits: Prince / Knight of Conquest / Draconian]
[Attributes: Life / Wind / Flame]
[Level: 27]
Strength: 86
Intelligence: 65
Agility: 65
Dexterity: 65
Stamina: 65
Endurance: 65
Spirit: 65
Mana: 65
Charm: 45
Bonus Points: 38
The days in the Spider Forest were short. He had almost lost track of the seasons while roaming the Demon Realm, but winter was fast approaching.
Assigned a room in the small shrine, Ingong took his time to review his stats for the first time in a while. It felt strangely like it had been a long time.
‘I feel like I've hoarded a few too many bonus points. Maybe I should stop saving them and start investing again.’
Thanks to investing bonus points in Strength, he had been able to easily subdue Caitlin. What would have happened if he hadn't invested in Strength, trying to save his points? It was only a hypothetical, but he might have lost Caitlin or been overpowered himself.
Ingong had two reasons for saving his bonus points.
First, to prepare for moments when a specific stat was crucial.
Overpowering Caitlin was a perfect example. While raising all his stats was good, keeping the points unspent was better for flexibly handling unexpected situations. He could invest them immediately when needed.
Second, he still hadn't decided which stats were best to invest in.
It was to achieve what you might call maximum efficiency.
Ingong himself was still growing rapidly, and just as with the Sura Divine Fist, he was frequently learning new skills. Because of that, he felt he might regret it if he rashly invested points in any one area.
‘Of course, I might also regret just saving them.’
The time it took to invest points and raise a stat was, at most, around ten seconds.
It was an incredibly short amount of time, but in a real battle where every second counted, it could also be considered far too long.
If he died, everything would be over. To face powerful foes like Gerard or the guardian spirits, Ingong needed to raise his own fundamental capabilities.
‘I'll invest them, leaving just a small reserve.’
Having made up his mind, Ingong invested 7 bonus points each into Agility, Dexterity, Stamina, and Endurance.
Agility and Dexterity were to enhance his specialty, the Sura Divine Fist, while Stamina and Endurance were chosen to literally increase his toughness.
That was 28 points in total, leaving him with 10 bonus points.
Ingong closed his eyes and focused on his body. 7 points was more than a 10% increase over his previous stats. If he concentrated, he could feel the difference.
‘I can't really tell with Stamina and Endurance. Dexterity, either, for that matter.’
Still, the increase in Agility was clearly palpable. The arc of his lightly thrown fist was faster and cleaner than before.
‘I wonder what would happen if I raised my Charm.’
Ingong touched his lips without thinking and chuckled. He pushed aside the adolescent fantasies that popped into his head and opened his skill window.
[King's Knights Lv. 2]
Upon reaching the special Level 25, several of his skills had automatically leveled up.
Among them, the most noteworthy was the King's Knights.
At Level 2, the number of knights he could accept had increased from two to four, and the performance of ‘Call’ had also been enhanced.
[Call: Once every three days, a knight can be summoned.]
The restriction to the knight-captain was gone. He could now use Call on members other than Karak.
‘Though for now, it's just Karma.’
Ingong felt the urge to test it by summoning Karma, but he held back. He had no idea where she was or what she was doing, and the ‘once every three days’ restriction was nothing to take lightly. He couldn't afford to waste a Call when he didn't know what might happen tomorrow.
‘The immediate question is who to recruit as new members.’
The first face that came to mind was, of course, Daphne's.
Although it was a bit ambiguous whether she was under his command or Felicia's, Daphne had already fought alongside him in several battles. Furthermore, her Spirit Blossom and druidic abilities were incredibly helpful. She was a talent he couldn't afford to lose.
‘It's probably impossible, but... I'd love to have Caitlin or Felicia as members.’
Then I could use Call on them, too.
About half the times he'd used Call on Karak had been to escape a crisis. It would be useful for protecting them both—especially Felicia.
‘Maybe I'll bring it up casually later.’
If he was truly aiming to become the Demon King, he would need them under his command.
‘I'll see how things go for now.’
With the King's Knights leveling up, the stat boost effect for its members had also been strengthened, which he could use as a bargaining chip.
Next, Ingong reviewed his combat-related skills, including the Sura Divine Fist.
This time, he could choose where to invest his skill points without much hesitation.
Aura and Arang.
Aura was to increase his amount of aura, and Arang was the only ultimate skill he could freely invest skill points into.
Being the ultimate technique of the Beast Divine Fist, Arang consumed quite a few skill points. After leveling up Aura as well, he was left with an awkward number of skill points. Ingong decided to save them for now.
‘I'll raise the minor ones by grinding, like I've been doing.’
It had been quite effective so far, after all.
Finished with his stat and skill review, Ingong closed all the windows and straightened his posture.
The stories he'd heard from the Final Flame.
The Four Knights of the Apocalypse who would bring about the end times.
‘Conquest.’
The woman with one red eye and one blue.
She hadn't made any particular demands of him. The Final Flame had said it seemed like she actually wanted to be conquered by him.
Ingong thought of her. He remembered her eyes and her voice as she called him her only hope.
One who yearns for destruction.
One who wishes for the end times.
He just couldn't see her that way.
Had he been deceived? Or did she, unlike War, Death, and Famine, truly not desire the end?
The Knight of Death.
He had attacked Green Wind, the guardian spirit of the Anger Plains, and Kaprang, the guardian spirit of the Spider Forest.
Why was he attacking the guardian spirits? What was the connection between attacking the spirits and bringing about the apocalypse?
The method to bring about the end times.
What exactly was the Knight of Death after?
‘Master.’
In the midst of his fruitless contemplation, he heard Green Wind's whisper. When Ingong opened his eyes, he saw Green Wind's smiling face.
“Did you have a nice chat with Kaprang?”
She had been with Kaprang ever since they entered the small shrine.
Green Wind nodded.
“It was fun. Kaprang, the guardian spirit of the Spider Forest, is a very cute and kind child. More importantly, Master, you smell different.”
“Hm?”
Instead of answering his question, Green Wind sniffed the air and pressed her face close to his arm and chest.
“Is it the scent of another nature spirit? No, it's a little different. It's not Kaprang's. Could it be the scent of the Final Flame?”
After tilting her head a few times, she suddenly pulled Ingong into a hug. Hugging was something she did often, but this time was a little different. She didn't just hold him; she kept rubbing her body against his.
“Um, Green Wind?”
“I'm marking you with my scent again. I don't like it when my master smells of another nature spirit.”
With that, Green Wind rubbed her cheek against Ingong's shoulder. Finding the sight more amusing than bewildering, Ingong suppressed a laugh and asked.
“Are you jealous right now?”
“Mm, I think so.”
Felicia would have blushed and denied it, but Green Wind was Green Wind. She readily admitted it and brought her face close to Ingong's. Her long, slender fingers caressed his lips.
“H-Hey?”
“The trace is strongest here. I must erase it.”
Erase it? How was she going to do that?
Green Wind's face drew closer. Ingong stilled as her breath touched his lips. He felt a sensation that was different from the Final Flame's heat—warm, yet cool.
And just at that moment.
“Prince!”
A loud voice accompanied the door swinging open, and Ingong hastily used his power to dematerialize Green Wind. He shot up from his seat to find Karak tilting his head in confusion.
“Hm? Did something happen?”
Ingong sighed at the nonchalant question. Was Karak secretly the protagonist? How could his timing be so perfect?
‘No, is this the effect of my protagonist's plot armor?’
“Prince?”
“No, it's just... I'm feeling a mix of gratitude and anger right now.”
Ingong gave a random answer and sat back down on the bed. Karak grinned and approached him.
“Spoutin' nonsense like that, I guess nothin' much happened.”
“What is it?”
Karak tilted his head again at Ingong's strangely curt question, then stated the reason for his visit.
“The raccoon fella is lookin' for ya, Prince.”
&
“I'm short on materials!”
Amita shouted, hopping up and down on the spot. Ingong glanced at the piles of black dragon remains in Amita's room and asked.
“The black dragon's hide and bones... isn't that enough?”
“Those are the main ingredients! You need a variety of materials to make gear! Do you think shoes are made of just leather?”
To make shoes, you needed not only thread to hold the leather together but also various other components.
Even Ingong's Dragon Scale Greaves were made not just of red dragon scales but also a fair amount of some light, sturdy, unidentified metal.
Karak, who was standing beside Ingong, asked.
“Hm? Ain't the raccoon fella the best blacksmith around? How can you be out of materials?”
At Karak's question, which seemed to subtly prick at Amita's pride, Amita swung their fists around.
“I have them, but your order is too big! I have to forge more than ten new pieces of equipment! This is the first time in my life I've had to handle such a large quantity in such a short time! Since these are masterpieces made by the best blacksmith, I have to pour my heart and soul into each and every one! This isn't a factory! And a full set, no less! A fuuuuull set!”
Unconsciously picturing Amita diligently sewing stitch by stitch, Ingong struggled to hold back his laughter. He said reflexively.
“Thank you.”
Amita covered their face with their tiny hands. Letting out a long sigh, Amita said.
“Forget the thanks. If you want proper gear, go get me the materials. Like you said, I have the main ingredients, so I don't need that much.”
“What kind of materials do ya need? Want us to get 'em from the Demon King's castle?”
Amita shook their head at Karak's question.
“If you go a little further north from here, there's a place called the Lake of the Sun. There... what's with that look on your face?”
“No, it's nothing. Please continue.”
The Lake of the Sun was the presumed location of the lair of Kaltain the Fierce, one of the Elder Dragons. It was the last place he needed to visit before returning to the Demon King's castle, so their destinations happened to align.
Amita furrowed their brow, suspicious of Ingong's response, but only for a moment. They pulled a pipe from somewhere, took a few puffs, and finished speaking.
“Monstrous beasts with bodies of metal roam the Lake of the Sun. They're pretty strong, but it shouldn't be a problem for you guys. Take down a few and bring them back. I'll write down the other materials you need to gather.”
Finished speaking, Amita scribbled a few materials on a piece of paper and handed it to Karak. Karak reflexively read the words on the paper and frowned.
“The letters are too small. And a bit crooked.”
“That's because my hands are small, you dolt.”
“Got it. I understand.”
At Karak's reply, Amita thumped their tail against the floor in frustration, then pounded their chest with their fists.
“Hmph, better to get it over with. Go on. I'll start the prep work.”
“Understood. We'll be back shortly.”
Ingong bowed with a smile and left Amita's room with Karak.
&
“Shutora, you smell different than usual.”