Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Professor's Acquaintances
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Leaving the professor behind as he vanished, promising to fetch some top-shelf wine...
I headed to the courtyard to finally check out the skill I'd just acquired: Aura (B+).
"Kids, just in case, stay back and watch from there, okay?"
"Got it, nya! Go for it, Daddy, nya!"
"You got this, Daddy!"
Buoyed by my daughters' cheers as they sat on the veranda watching me, I activated the skill.
Aura (B+)
Continuously consumes stamina, but all physical abilities greatly increase.
Thump-! Thump-! Thump-!
The pounding of my heart was so loud I could hear it myself.
A golden aura flowed from my body, and I could feel myself growing stronger.
'So this is Aura...?'
I could feel it.
The more fiercely my heart beat under the skill's influence, the stronger my physical abilities became.
In this state, I probably wouldn't even flinch at most attacks, and I bet I could rip through steel plate like paper.
My daughters' excited reactions confirmed just how much stronger I'd gotten.
"Amazing, Daddy, nya! I can feel you've gotten super strong in an instant, nya! Right now, you could probably even tank Lulu's ultimate flame sting, nya!"
"Daddy could probably withstand a shark attack right now!"
"Kids... that doesn't mean you should attack Daddy, okay...?"
"Nya?"
"Huh?"
...Something's off.
It was clearly just innocent praise full of goodwill, but their eyes felt chilling somehow.
In the end, once I gave each of them a snack to munch on, their gazes softened.
Only then could I focus back on the skill.
After messing around in the yard for a while to test it out...
My objective take on Aura? It had nothing to do with alchemy, but 'it doesn't hurt to have it.'
The constant stamina drain while active was a bit concerning at first, but maybe because of Marrow Cleansing, my body was tougher overall?
As long as I didn't force it to overclock, using it for about an hour just left me a little tired, nothing major.
Even if I did crank it up, the steep boost in physical prowess made it plenty usable for short bursts in a pinch.
'Well, it's not like I'll be fighting directly anyway.'
Still...
It was as good as having a trump card for life-or-death situations.
Overall, not a bad skill at all.
"Daddy, nya! You got an awesome skill, nya!"
"Yeah, seems like I lucked out with a better one than expected."
"So, does that mean Daddy's doing the hunting tomorrow?"
"...What brought that on all of a sudden, Arin...?"
"You just learned a new skill, so you must wanna try it out!"
"Uh... no, Daddy's fine..."
"Daddy's battle, nya?! Sounds exciting, nya! Lulu wants to see Daddy looking cool, nya!"
"...In that case, how about Daddy handles hunting tomorrow...?"
"Sounds good, nya! Lulu yields to Daddy, nya!"
"I'm okay with that too! I'm super curious about Daddy's new skill!"
"Haha... yeah... hope tomorrow comes quick."
...Looks like if I wanna look cool for the girls, I need to score a good weapon from the professor.
He said he wanted pasta and steak for dinner tonight, right?
Better whip those up perfectly first, then ask.
That evening...
"Ugh... nya... Lulu's so full, nya..."
"Phew... Arin's stuffed too..."
"How about we hit the hay early tonight?"
"Nya..."
"Goodnight, Daddy..."
Lulu and Arin waddled off to the big bed, bellies bulging from the feast I'd made.
I registered the pasta and steak I'd prepared, then headed to the professor's place.
Something I learned today: ingredients registered in my inventory stay perfectly preserved, like time's stopped on them. Super convenient for eating hot off the stove.
"Maybe stockpile a ton of tower food in here?"
Not for nothing it's an SS+ skill. I marveled again at how amazing my abilities are.
Just three minutes from home, I arrived at the professor's mansion.
"Uh... this the right place?"
...I'd passed by during the day and not noticed.
At night, the professor's house looked like a creepy old mansion straight out of a horror flick.
For a split second, I thought about bailing.
But I couldn't flake on our deal last minute.
I hunted for an intercom or something, but found none, so I pinged the professor for a 1:1 chat.
Professor. I've arrived. Right at the door.
No lock. Just come on in lol.
Isn't it kinda dangerous for a woman living alone to have no locks...?
Said no locks, not no intruder-killing traps?
Ah!
No wonder the mansion felt overly spooky.
My instincts were spot on.
Professor. Sudden stomachache. Can I leave the food at the door and head back?
I even pulled out my secret stash wine for you?
No funny business. Get in here -_-.
Wine’s wine. Same everywhere....
(Take it back...! That last thing...! Con.)
(Con. artist.)
Anyway.
I couldn't withstand the professor's nagging and stepped into the mansion, eerie vibes wafting everywhere.
Heading inside, I soon ran into the professor coming to greet me.
[Scaredy-cat Job Hunt Villain's here?]
"I'm not a scaredy-cat..."
[Sure, sure. Would love to say relax... but my friends are already here. Follow me.]
"I didn't show up too late, did I?"
[Nah. They live nearby, so they got here early. Dining room first.]
"Got it."
Following the professor, we reached the dining room door.
Fit for a mansion—huge door. As I marveled, it slid open on its own like an automatic.
Creeeeak-!
The door to the dining room swung open with an ominous groan.
Inside...
"Oh my. Harin, where'd you snag such a handsome guy? Playing coy, but looks like you've finally woken up to men, huh?"
[Do I look like your little sis? It's not like that!]
"Heh heh... Can't fool this big sis? The way he's glued to you screams he's already trained. You little vixen! Bet you've been sucking and fu—"
[No! It's not like that!!!]
...One woman scanned me up and down.
Then, grinning slyly in a way that didn't match her innocent looks...
She started teasing the professor with crude words.
"Well-toned body... subtle intimidation... You must be a warrior, sir?"
[Rowan's a summoner.]
[And Rowan's shy, so quit scanning him.]
"Ah, truly sorry! Occupational hazard... I'll be careful. My apologies!"
...Another scanned me head to toe.
Asked if I was a warrior, got chewed out by the professor, then the polite tanned blond man greeted me.
"Heh heh... You slut! Heard you live next door? Sneaking over every night for XXX, doing XXX while XXXXXXXXXX...!!!!"
[Haa... Rowan?]
"...Yes?"
[Gonna go subdue that sis. Chat with this gentleman meanwhile?]
"Ah, sure."
[You crazy bitch! Shut that filthy mouth!]
After that, the professor left to wrangle her crude-teasing "sis."
I was stuck alone with the polite blond guy, awkwardness ensuing.
"Uh... Rowan? Sorry for the rudeness earlier. Bad habit from work... Won't happen again. I'm Lee Heon-gyu."
"No worries, really. But if it's not rude... what line of work?"
"Blacksmith."
"Ah, that explains the skin...?"
"Yeah, can't avoid the burns working by fire. Blond hair doesn't help misconceptions..."
"Natural blond?"
"Nah, was black originally. Got a sun-related trait, turned gold... Folks tease me as Golden Sun Blacksmith..."
Chatting a bit...
The blond guy—no, Heon-gyu—was just shaped by his environment and traits.
Super polite and skilled blacksmith.
"If you're free later, visit my forge. Since we're fated, I'll gift you a kitchen knife I made."
"Kitchen knife?"
"Harin-sensei raved about your cooking earlier."
"Oh... not that great... but thanks, I'll take it."
First impression: comic-book golden sun pretty boy, intimidated me.
Can't judge a book by its cover.
Anyway, chatted more with Heon-gyu.
Hardcore pure-love guy, hates NTR.
His wife (mage too) childhood friend.
Tried confessing, got confessed to instead (he says "eaten"), teased eternally.
"Ahaha... you two got close quick...?"
[Rowan, aren't you super shy?]
Seemed a fierce fight happened.
The two women returned, hair messy, looking wrecked.
"Yeah, Heon-gyu's a good guy."
[Well... he's kind despite the looks.]
"Oh, Harin, you know nothing? Shy guy with that face? Adorbs."
[Please, stop with your siscon fantasies around me.]
"Hmm~? Handy for later?"
[Sis. Forgot this is my place?]
"Kidding~! But learn quick, shy girls ain't popular."
[Heon-gyu. Sorry in advance. You're going widower tonight.]
"Ahn~ Heon-gyu~ So scary~! Basement hikikomori spinster's hysterics too much~!"
[You psycho bitch! Who's the basement hikikomori spinster-!!!]
Crashbang-!!!
"Haha, total mess."
"They always brawl like this."
"Gonna take a while... shall we wait in the corner...?"
"Good you're not alone this time. Any preferred knife style?"
"Well..."
Dinner finally started an hour later.
I was grateful once more for my Emerald Cauldron's freshness preservation feature.