Chapter 69: Snowball (2)
Chapter 69: Snowball (2)
Carla was fast asleep in my arms, her breathing soft and rhythmic.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to follow her lead and catch a few more winks, but… there was something I wanted to check first.
‘Status Window.’
Ding.
======================
【Evil God Cult Executive Slain!】
You have defeated Archbishop Edmerec of Confused Unity!
An incredible achievement that is hard to believe was accomplished during a first dungeon practice!
You are the pride of the Academy and a guest of honor to all the Churches of the Good Gods!
However, do not get too carried away.
Your fame will surely reach the ears of other Evil God Sects.
Furthermore, the price of twisting original fate once again will be significant, for better or for worse.
Ah, regardless, Righteous Light is very pleased that you have once again slain a cultist with your own fangs.
======================
“Whoa.”
I didn't realize defeating Edmerec at this point would be such a massive deal.
I had expected Sun God's Blessing to grow, but the growth of all stats was unexpected. The system was usually quite stingy with stat growth, considering the maximum stat was 30.
Of course, growth doesn't necessarily mean the numerical value increases immediately… but the growth potential has accumulated. And for every single stat, at that.
The last part was something I’d seen back with Pietro.
The bit about killing someone not destined to die here and Confused Unity becoming hostile felt like the system was trying to scare me.
But looking at the big picture, I was definitely moving in a good direction. It wasn't exactly news that Confused Unity wanted me dead, so there was no need to worry too much.
I made a mental note of it and moved to the next notification.
【You have defeated a high-ranking cult executive!】
【Achievement Unlocked! You have acquired the new trait ‘Cultist Hatred.’】
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【Trait: Cultist Hatred (D)】
Not only have you crushed several of the cultists' plans, but you have finally slaughtered a high-ranking executive.
To anyone's eyes, you are a full-fledged hater of cultists!
Of course, the cultists will hate you just as much.
※ This trait can be deactivated.
======================
Cultist Hatred, huh?
It was a trait obtained with a certain probability upon killing someone at the Archbishop level or higher—those considered high-ranking executives. I guess I got lucky and snagged it on the first try.
It was a trait that grew little by little every time you killed many cultists or took down an executive, eventually reaching Rank A.
Since it had a penalty and, like the Shining Lion Dagger, didn't work on monsters, it wasn't a trait you could just use thoughtlessly, but…
Still, it was a good trait to have.
Especially since it could be toggled on and off.
After setting it to deactivated for now, I checked the final notification.
======================
【Sun God's Blessing (B)】
The brightest existence in the heavens. The Master of the Sun shares his radiance with you.
======================
Ah. This was just the rank-up notification for Sun God's Blessing I saw earlier.
Reaching Rank B already was surprising, but since it was just an improved version of an effect I already knew, I skimmed through it.
Now, once I closed this notification, the status window would appear.
Honestly, this was the moment I was most nervous about.
Did it say a trait was given as a dungeon clear reward?
In the original H&A, the practice dungeon was a place that was systematically impossible to "clear."
A clear reward for such a dungeon? And a trait, no less?
I knew I shouldn't expect too much since it was a reward from a lowest-grade dungeon, but…
I couldn't help being curious.
With a pounding heart, I closed the last notification.
Finally, the status window came into view.
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Name: Yandel
Title: Clumsy Treasure Hunter
Basic Stats
Strength: 12
Endurance: 11 -> 12
Agility: 13
Dexterity: 14 -> 15
Magic: 18 -> 19
Traits
Endless Mana (A)
Elemental Affinity (B)
Excellent Memory (B)
Ordinary Weapon Skill (D) NEW!
Lintblum Mana Core (C)
Lower Mage (C)
Sun God's Blessing (B)
Cultist Hatred (D) NEW!
Medicinal Constitution (C) NEW!
======================
As for the stats, the ones that were due for an increase went up.
Endurance, which was my lowest stat; Dexterity, which had leftover growth from the previous Ranking Battle reward; and Magic, which I had been training intensively.
Well, stats naturally become harder to raise the higher they get.
A Magic stat of 18 is roughly the level of an Intermediate Magician, so I felt proud to have raised it by one through pure training and achievements…
But what caught my eye more was the trait window.
“Wait, Weapon Skill increased here?”
I really didn't expect this to go up.
The 'Crude Weapon Technique' trait I’d earned over three years of scuffling with local thugs and mercenaries who tried to backstab me.
After learning magic, I hadn't found much use for it other than improving my general movement.
…Wait, come to think of it, haven't I been getting into quite a few physical scraps?
Even during sparring, I was constantly slashing with my dagger or bashing with my staff, and I’d even finished off Edmerec with a dagger.
My magic skills were growing rapidly, but I still wasn't at a level where I could solve everything with magic alone.
It was a combat style unbefitting a mage, but it had kept me alive, so I couldn't really complain.
Anyway, since the weapon skill trait was such a low rank, it made sense that it would go up.
Tearing my eyes away from the unexpectedly improved weapon skill, I looked down to check the long-awaited clear reward trait.
======================
【Medicinal Constitution (C)】
Your body becomes more receptive to the effects of medicine.
Don't worry, it only selects and amplifies the good stuff!
======================
The text was simple.
Thanks to that, I could understand it instantly despite it being a trait I’d never seen before.
Judging by the name 'Constitution,' it seemed to be a completed trait rather than a growth-type one… but even so, the effect was nothing to scoff at.
A flat 10% increase to the effects of all drugs, no questions asked?
It might not seem like much, but the value would become massive as I progressed.
There's a world of difference between a recovery amount going from 100 to 110 versus 10,000 to 11,000.
And to think this even applied to elixirs.
I was already planning to turn the Bleached Mana Herb—the practice dungeon's hidden piece—into an elixir, so this was perfect timing.
If Righteous Light was a god who worshipped battle, the specialty of Cyclic Life was healing.
I knew that while these non-combat gods had few sealed dungeons, their rewards tended to be more generous compared to traits or items of the same rank.
But there weren't many traits as useful as this.
I mean, such a god-tier trait was hidden in the practice dungeon?
Of course, considering how much the practice dungeon had "helped" Academy students so far, I couldn't be purely happy about it…
But it was fine.
In the end, all I had to do was defeat every Evil God myself.
“…….”
As my thoughts reached that point, my heart grew heavy.
I had tried to look away from this pressure, comforting myself by saying that since I’d seen the ending several times in the game, I’d be fine this time too.
In fact, for the three years before entering the Academy, I had managed to overcome threats using my knowledge of the game and the power of gold.
But that was as far as it went.
Local thugs, faithless mercenaries, and greedy nobles were qualitatively different opponents from the cultists.
The resentment toward this world I thought I’d cast aside. The terror of raw violence. A world that was beginning to deviate from the scenario I knew.
Anxiety instantly began to consume my heart.
This was the real me.
The me that wasn't hiding behind the shell of a 'player' or the bravado of being a 'veteran.'
Someone like me had to defeat not only the Evil Gods who had once destroyed the world but also the mastermind behind it all.
It wouldn't be easy.
Still, it wasn't entirely impossible.
One way or another, it was a fact that I had the system and the knowledge of H&A.
As I was renewing my resolve, I must have unconsciously tightened my grip. Carla's presence in my arms became even more vivid.
A soft yet warm sensation. Her breath tickling my neck and her refreshing scent.
“Ah.”
I felt the anxiety that had tensed my body wash away.
The only person in this world I could trust completely, the woman I had grown attached to.
Carla had become this large within me before I even realized it. Large enough that simply holding her could dispel all my fears.
In fact, the moment I defeated Edmerec and felt that everything was over, hadn't I instinctively thought of Carla?
Realizing this, Carla suddenly looked incredibly lovely.
Without thinking, I leaned down toward her slightly parted, pale pink lips.
Our lips met, and our breaths mingled.
It wasn't a deep tongue kiss, but it was a heavy, lingering one.
Naturally, Carla, who had just fallen asleep, couldn't help but open her eyes.
“Mmm… Master? Did I fall asleep?”
“You did close your eyes for a bit. Are you very tired?”
“No. It’s just been a while since I was held by you, Master… it was so comfortable that I fell asleep without realizing it… hehe.”
Carla gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
Seeing that, something inside me flared up.
“Carla.”
“Yes?”
“Should we go for a round here after all?”
“…Didn't you say we couldn't because everyone would find out, Master?”
That was true.
I must have made a dejected face without realizing it. Carla hesitated for a moment, then her face turned bright red as she pulled the blanket up.
Hiding her mouth behind the covers, she whispered softly.
“But… wouldn't it be okay to just touch under the blanket?”
“Oh.”
That was a very reasonable and seductive compromise.
*
The next morning.
When I came to my senses, Iona was right in front of my eyes.
“Good morning! Good morning! Did you have fun last night?”
“???”
Professor, why are you lying in the same bed as me?