Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Return to the Mansion (1)
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Leaping straight from level 2 to 5, with all the supplementary stats surging in proportion to my level.
It felt like all the hardships I'd endured up to now were being rewarded in a single explosive burst of growth. A thrilling shiver ran through my entire body, stirring intense emotions.
'A bit over three times what it was. The growth rate itself seems similar to the game, at least.'
Of course, this was just a guess based on comparing it to the protagonist's growth stats. Lilith started at level 15 upon joining, after all.
Among the basic ability scores, the one that exploded the most was undoubtedly my maximum magic power.
It had already been nearly 300 back at level 2, but now it skyrocketed to the absurd figure of 855 in one go.
And with that, a cathartic emotion washed over me as memories of past pain and suffering overlapped in my chest.
'...See? My efforts weren't in vain.'
Considering just the last three days, I'd eaten more garlic than even that mountain witch! And that past wasn't for nothing.
That ridiculous maximum magic power of 855 was proof of it.
If I were using Lilith in the actual game, a max magic power like this wouldn't come until around level 30.
Yet here I was, still in single digits at a measly level 5.
Of course, aside from max magic power, the other stats were still perfectly average. But even this one alone meant Lilith was no longer a total pushover.
...Though compared to a normal person, it just meant I had some basic combat ability now—nothing more than a fresh recruit, realistically.
Hey, for the body of an 18-year-old high school girl in reality, reaching new recruit level is pretty damn good.
At this rate, I wouldn't need to bust my ass increasing max magic power in this life either. Just leveling up normally to 30 would put my magic power on par with most great mages.
No more choking down those godawful garlic clumps, ever again.
Of course, growth wasn't limited to just max magic power.
My pathetic HP of 15—which would leave me combat-ineffective after one hit—had risen to a respectable 47.
My miserable attack and defense of 3 and 5 had climbed to usable levels of 12 and 17.
Not quite enough to one-shot a slime yet, but with 2-3 steady hits, I could take one down with plain physical attacks, no magic or skills needed.
For reference, even before regaining my memories, Lilith had caught a slime once.
Slimes multiplying near rural farmhouses after rain was a common occurrence.
That was probably why I was level 2 instead of 1 when I woke up with my memories intact.
Back then, it took whacking it about a dozen times to finally kill one. Now, I was three or four times stronger. Talk about a life-changer.
Truly, life is all about that one big break.
...Of course, excluding standard stats like attack and defense, there were some that had grown in wildly irregular ways.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ✨ Charm: 12 → 40 🍀 Luck: 0 → 1
The growth rates didn't seem that odd at first glance... but the disparity was a bit extreme compared to the others.
Lilith's charm, already in the double digits, shot up to a ridiculous 40 once it tripled like the rest.
Luck, on the other hand, barely crept up by 1 despite three whole levels. Pathetic.
Not that surprising if you recalled Lilith's stats at level 15.
Whether it was intentional by the devs or not, at level 15, Lilith's charm hits a insane ~200.
Even at that point, luck still hadn't broken single digits.
Of course, certain stats exploding while others lagged was normal based on character role and personality.
But experiencing it firsthand as Lilith made it hard to feel good about.
'Can't you grow a little more balanced? Would it kill you?'
Luck especially stung since it directly affected hunting.
Low-luck characters in the game often got messages like "Attack missed!" or "Nothing happened!" during fights.
As an unlucky character, Lilith couldn't escape that curse.
The silver lining? As a support specialist, her high charm compensated for hit rate, and she had a few 100% accuracy signature moves.
The issue was, the growth path I needed now was 180 degrees from the standard game build.
Level her like in Luminor Academy with support magic?
What a joke. That'd just make her perfect for getting used and tossed by Ethan.
'Attack magic is essential, at least to make use of this overflowing mana tank. The rest can come later.'
Even if luck caused a miss or two, I could just cast three or four times to make up for it.
That's why I'd bloated my max magic power to insane levels—and unlocked Triple Casting to boot.
Plus, Lilith had those 100% hit rate skills, as mentioned.
One was the first "enhanced skill" in its tree: Mana Blast.
⚡ SKILL INFO ⚡ Mana Blast Consumes all remaining mana to deliver an ultimate strike to all enemies. Damage proportional to mana spent.
With 100% accuracy Mana Blast alone, the game was basically won. One cast could obliterate monsters up to around level 25.
Of course, after one use, you're mana-dry until recharge—no more blasts or spells—and if another enemy shows up, you're fighting at zero mana. Fatal flaw.
Still, stocking a reliable nuke for emergencies is basic human instinct, right?
Not like I was planning some grand escape from Blackwood Mansion using this spell.
No matter how desperate I was to escape being Ethan's personal maid, I wasn't about to take lives for it.
Just securing it as a last-resort option for if things went south.
'It wouldn't even scratch Harold at full power anyway.'
Best to shelve realistically impossible choices for mental health.
Anyway, next goal for Lilith: Mana Blast. So skill progression had to aim there.
Standard Lilith route would pump durability and support magic, but I'd boldly skip those for attack magic.
No better path in my current situation.
Before allocating points, here's the basic "skill system" formula in Luminor Academy:
⚙ SKILL SYSTEM ⚙ 1. All characters gain 3 skill points per level. 2. Each character has unique 'skill trees.' Initial skills in each tree cost 2 points. 3. Mastering all 3 sub-skills in a tree unlocks an 'enhanced skill' for 5 points. This reveals the next 3 sub-skills.
In short:
To get Mana Blast, first learn 3 sub-skills in the Attack Magic tree (6 points total).
Then spend 5 more for the first enhanced skill: Mana Blast.
Total: 11 points needed.
And my current skill points?
Remaining Skill Points: 10 "Haa..."
No matter how many times I checked, the number didn't budge. A sigh of exasperation slipped out.
Yeah, gathering 10 points at once was an insane feat to begin with.
Still, wishing for just one more felt like pure greed.
For reference, the 2 points in Clean were from the Support Magic tree, useless for Attack Magic's Mana Blast.
'Though back then, nothing was more efficient than Clean, so no choice but to take it.'
Can't cancel Clean now for Mana Blast anyway. Without it, I couldn't have exploded my max magic power like this.
In the end, I spent 6 of my 10 points on the three Attack Magic sub-skills, leaving the regret behind.
⚡ SKILLS ACQUIRED ⚡ Shockwave Mana Arrow Max Magic Power +10
Honestly, that last Max Magic Power boost was one I didn't really want.
But it was mandatory for unlocking Mana Blast.
In the game, it was essential early-game for mana-poor Lilith. For me, with monster-level mana already, it was basically pointless.
I held onto the remaining 4 points. They'd go straight into Mana Blast next level.
With 3 points per level in Luminor Academy, I could spare 2, but they'd probably just go to durability or support anyway, so I held off.
No sense wasting them now and regretting a shortage later.
I'd played protagonist dozens of times—could skill tree blindfolded. But starting as Lilith? First time ever, across past and present lives.
One mistake, no do-overs. Had to judge carefully.
Safer play was best.
'Just getting Shockwave and Mana Arrow is solid progress anyway.'
Good for hunting if needed, and for draining excess mana—Clean alone had limits.
Time to be content with two decent attack skills.
"...Guess it's time to head back."
The view out the window was still bright, so only about a day had passed.
Given the hour, Isabel and Katarina had probably returned to the mansion with the coachman already. But the distance from downtown to the mansion was walkable.
Treat it as rehab training post-"combat ineffective" recovery. Stroll back slowly.
"Up we go."
Grabbing the coin pouch and letter from the dresser, I walked back to Blackwood Mansion before the day ended.
...I realized I'd been out for a full three days about two hours later.