Sh?ield
Sh?ield
The talks continued over several days.
The first day's schedule and the friendly sparring were over. Now, for most of the delegation, the only event left was the banquet on the final day.
During the remaining time, I had to spend some with the delegation and Seo-yul while carefully handling the things I needed to do.
'It really is huge, even looking at it again.'
I stood in the middle of a snowfield some distance from the city, examining the sprawled corpse of Aupreut and clicking my tongue.
Its build was comparable to a distant mountain. If I left it like this and snow covered it, someone might actually mistake it for one.
'Still, I managed to thaw it out somehow.'
Aupreut had died instantly, frozen to the marrow by my Azure Sea. On top of that, the manifested trait of thorns had densely filled its insides.
That would have been fine if I'd just killed it and moved on, but from the standpoint of recycling the byproducts, it was a real headache.
'I didn't originally intend to go this far.'
The Azure Sea's manifestation had interwoven with everything, ramping the output far beyond what I expected. Because of that, I'd had to sit here for hours, gently melting it with the Calamity Flame. I'd only just finished.
The result was thankfully a success. At the very least, it had returned to a state where the byproducts could be used.
'Now then, shall we pull it out?'
I leaped up lightly and landed on Aupreut's body. After avoiding the glaring eyes, still wide open in death, I coated the Sky Wing Feather with Aura.
Thud! The Sky Wing Feather shot downward and impaled the outer hide. The hide that had withstood the severe punishment of high-output magic split as easily as tofu.
'Maybe if it were alive. Once it's dead, the corpse is nothing.'
A monster's byproducts are less functional than they were in life. Partly because the constant flow of mana through the body has been cut off, but also because its innate talent gradually collapses upon death.
However, Aupreut was an exception. Its rank was high, its innate talent was distinct, and it hadn't been dead for long.
- Thud, crack...
The feather that split the hide stretched out and burrowed inside. Damaging it too much would make restoration difficult. I used Observation to slice through the flesh with as little damage as possible and pushed forward.
- Squelch, sssss...
It had been a while since my senses synchronized with the Winged Garment. The sensation of cutting through flesh transmitted to me in full detail.
- Thunk!
The feather struck something and stopped.
A round bone encircled the center of the body. A bone with a structure similar to a skull. Even though I'd wrapped it in Aura, its durability was such that I'd only scratched it.
I crammed in more mana. Scrape! The Aura surged forth and pierced the bone in one stroke.
- Shhhh...
A chill reached my fingertips... no, the tip of the feather.
Concentrated cold energy swirled inside the round bone. The thing emitting that chill was a dull blue stone.
'It's a Mana Crystal, no less.'
A 3rd-Rank Alpha—and a Mana Crystal from a monster with the potential to become a legion commander of Bitter Cold, at that. It might even be comparable in value to the Mana Crystal of a 2nd Rank monster.
[That's lucky.]
I wrapped the Mana Crystal thoroughly with the Winged Garment and slowly drew it out. I also didn't forget to patch the bone it had pierced on its way out.
I folded my arms and watched the Mana Crystal, wrapped snugly in the Winged Garment, sway gently.
'Where should I use this?'
The possible uses were endless. I could invest it as a material for armaments or process it appropriately to craft an incredible Artificial Elixir. In the case of a Necromancer, I could melt the Mana Crystal into its corpse and bring out its living performance level.
Since it's a 3rd-Rank Alpha, turning it into an undead would be a struggle, but once completed, no other military force could match it.
'Hmm...'
I tapped my foot lightly.
Boom! A mound of earth shot up beside me. From within it, Aerus poked its head out.
'Hey, can you beat this thing?'
- ?
Aerus, having pulled its head out further, turned its head. Its crimson eyes filled with the image of Aupreut's corpse. Seeing the size, as vast as a mountain, Aerus shook its head left and right.
- Can... not
'Useless little bastard.'
Aerus, noticing the mood, bowed its head. I clicked my tongue and pointed at Aupreut again.
'Not right now. I'm asking if it's possible once you've grown as much as you can.'
Aerus is an undead. A Corpse Doll that's merely a corpse drained of all vitality energy, manipulated by cramming thought residue into it. Naturally, there is no growth. But by applying the Taesan Expansion Ability, the situation changed a little.
'Blossoming from a Withered Tree and Life and Death Judgment.' Expansion abilities with the function of forcibly accelerating growth by cramming in vitality energy. If I applied those not to trees or earth, but to an undead, then even an undead could grow.
Thanks to that, the current Aerus had become far stronger than when I had smashed its head and killed it. Not to the point where it could challenge Aupreut right now, though.
- Grrr...
Aerus turned its head again toward my will thought. After staring intently and scanning Aupreut, Aerus nodded.
- Vic... tory
'You sure? Seems like one smack from its leg and you'd pop.'
- Vic, tory
I had prodded it for no reason; I thought the same. Aerus's potential was a 3rd-Rank Alpha. Aupreut at the time of its death by my hand was also a 3rd-Rank Alpha. The rank was identical, but if they fought, Aerus would probably win.
'Probably a compatibility difference.'
Aupreut was among the largest even for large-type monsters; its possessed mana was both powerful and vast. Just spitting a mana cannon or swinging one leg would likely be enough to wipe out a city.
In fact, didn't it rampage along the coast like that in the original? Of course, in the original, it received various corrections as a legion commander of Bitter Cold, making its practical combat power closer to 2nd Rank.
But regardless of scale, in a one-on-one slaughter battle, Aerus had the advantage. It was a difference in purpose. Aupreut, adept at Anti-Army Combat, and Aerus, adept at Anti-Personnel Combat and Anti-Monster Combat. The purpose I needed right now... was Aerus.
I made my decision.
'Homogenization, Amrak.'
The water energy of the area was drawn in and coiled around my right hand. The blue water energy, containing innate talent, bubbled and boiled before darkening to pitch-black like ink.
I clenched my fist. Crunch! Amrak instantly hardened and froze solid. When I relaxed my strength, it returned to its black liquid state.
Amrak, the unique ability of Aupreut.
It has a few special effects, but its essence is an attribute type.
I released the Winged Garment wrapped around the Mana Crystal. My hand, coated in Amrak, seized the Mana Crystal and pushed the Amrak-imbued energy back into it.
- Wooooong...!
The Mana Crystal emitted a rough resonance. It didn't resist. On the contrary, it greedily absorbed the energy. Since it's Aupreut's own Mana Crystal, the vessel of Amrak, there's no question of compatibility.
'And to this...'
With my empty hand, I caught a blood-red Crystal Orb that dropped from the gaping subspace. A Crystal Orb entrusted to me, containing the remaining power the 10th Iteration left before vanishing. Naturally, that power was the 10th Iteration's unique ability, 'True Blood.'
'I don't need to use all of it. Just take a piece and implant it. Cram the other materials in, and... ah, I could also melt down Aupreut's hide, maybe.'
While reviewing the blueprint I'd drafted beforehand, I turned my head to Aerus. Having not received the reverse-summon command, Aerus still had only its head sticking out of the dirt pile.
'...I'm going to entrust you with something important. But you're weak now, so I'll make you stronger.'
- Grrr?
A monster whose potential, without an army corps or corrections, would have topped out at 3rd-Rank Alpha. Its physical class is superior, and its unique ability is suitable. I'd been training it thoroughly from the moment I subjugated it.
'A strong and sturdy shield.' A shield that could protect its charge without a single scratch, even if a 2nd Rank came charging in.
As my will thought leaked out, Aerus flinched and shook its head. Ignoring it, I focused on the work.
'That said, I can't just discard Aupreut either, so I'll have to make it into an undead, even if it's a bit lacking.' I'd also need to make other preparations. Practice the Calamity Flame and the Azure Sea. I'd also planned to roam the nearby sea with Seo-yul... There was a lot to do.
So much that operating with two bodies wouldn't be enough.
- Trickle...!
Suddenly, a dizzy spell hit the bridge of my nose. Immediately after, blood trickled down my brow and cheeks. I must have overexerted myself pouring Amrak into the Mana Crystal.
Understandable, since I wasn't used to this kind of work. I casually splashed a Purification Magic spell on myself and resumed.
'If I'd met the 4th Iteration before doing this kind of work, it would've been easier.' The 4th Iteration, whose specialty was body manipulation. If only I had learned his techniques and unique ability.
'......'
Of course, there was someone else who was overwhelmingly dominant in this field. The 12th Iteration, the Hybrid Summoner. An iteration whose skill in necromancy and such was beyond reproach, and whom no one dared to follow when it came to composite beasts.
But, honestly, I was afraid of meeting the 12th Iteration.
.
.
.
A dim room. I flopped onto an enormously plush bed, as if to prove it was no ordinary guest bed.
- Sink...
But the sensation supporting my body was beyond any mere bed. A texture as soft and tender as rice cake. Pleasant warmth radiated up, and a sweet scent drifted thickly.
[Happy...]
Held in Ellia's arms, I went completely limp. My face, buried especially deep in her voluptuous chest, felt like it was melting like honey. Intoxicated by the body scent filling my nostrils, I hugged her slender waist tightly.
[I like it...]
"If Ha-yul is happy, I'm happy too."
Ellia giggled and stroked my head.
"You attended the talks, did all that friendly sparring—you worked hard today."
"Mmnn..."
The hand caressing my head slid down to my back and began patting gently. Once, twice, three times... I had no defense against that tender touch on my back. My shoulders twitched and my mouth parted slightly.
"Ungh..."
"That's right, good burp, good boy... Did you eat until you were full?"
"Yeah..."
[The touch brings drowsiness]
[I'm full from drinking milk]
[Being held in her arms makes me languid]
[Sleepy...]
"Yeah, yeah, you're sleepy because you've had your milk, right? Shall we go night-night early?"
I was praised for a mere burp and received a kiss on the cheek. More happy than embarrassed, I buried my face back into her chest as her hand guided my head down.
Ellia, who kissed my hair again, smiled and pulled the blanket up. The blanket covered me completely, held in her arms. Soon, Ellia's body heat and scent began to fill the space under the blanket.
'Happy...'
Soft, warm, cozy, filled only with a good scent, loved, and with a full belly. When I got hungry, I could eat until I was full again. Happiness itself. This place was paradise, heaven.
"Baby, do you have to go out again tomorrow?"
Just as I was steeped in happiness, the blanket lifted slightly. I raised my head a little and peeked open my heavy eyelids. I met eyes with her bright yellow irises.
"...It's not really going out. It's right in front..."
"It's similar to going to work anyway."
"Just... making an undead..."
"You aren't overdoing it, are you?"
Ellia stared intently into my eyes. Even through the blur of the dark room and drowsiness, her bright yellow eyes were vividly clear.
"Yeah, it's okay..."
[It's hard, but I'm okay]
"...But it says it's hard?"
"It's, okay..."
[Truth]
In the end, I couldn't resist the sleepiness, closed my eyes, and buried my face back into her chest.
"It'll be fine later... and... I need to do it now to feel at ease..."
[Precious]
[I love you]
[─......]
My hazy consciousness slowly sank. Amid my fading senses, I felt arms wrapping tightly around my head.
- Thump... Thump... Thump...
Though there was a generous layer of flesh between my ear and her heart, I heard the warm heartbeat perfectly. The more I listened to that sound, the easier the drowsiness came.
"I love you too. And I hope Ha-yul won't be in pain."
[──]
I felt the same. That was precisely why I was diligently making shields.
* * *
- Squeeze...
"Mm..."
Ellia, who had been deep asleep, felt her consciousness surface at the sudden sensation of her chest being groped.
A small hand was kneading the base of her breast. The culprit was obvious. When she lifted her eyelids and looked down into her arms, Lee Ha-yul, who had buried his face in her chest to sleep, had his hand cupping her breast.
- Squish...
His hand tightened. The soft flesh spilled between his firmly gripping fingers.
[Hungry]
"Alright, alright... I get it... just a moment..."
Ellia let out a light, fluttery breath and, with practiced ease, stroked and soothed Lee Ha-yul's head. She was well accustomed to a sleeping Lee Ha-yul whining for food.
"Here... it's milk time..."
The way to soothe him was simple and easy. Ellia loosened her front and pressed Lee Ha-yul's head, guiding him to her chest.