Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Five Days (2)
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"Hm?"
Bran's meditation came to an end just as the sun dipped below the horizon.
"What the fuck."
Bran shot to his feet in a hurry. The surroundings had grown dim. The dusky twilight was blanketing Valkeros.
He'd thought only two or three hours had passed at most, but half the day had vanished in the blink of an eye.
"...Spent it productively, at least."
Still, the results were undeniable.
Now Bran could sense the presence of mana. A portion of those water droplets that had flowed across his skin was circulating through his body.
He had even succeeded in accumulating pure mana—the foundation of the Primordial Flow circulation method—in his heart. It was barely more than birdseed, but zero and one were worlds apart.
The beginning is what matters.
With mana circulation under his belt, the groundwork for his physical build was nearly complete.
High stats backed by pure mana. As long as he steadily grew those two, no obstacle would stand in his way.
The Abyss? Outer gods? They could lick his ass.
"Where the hell did that punk go?"
Bran's eyes narrowed.
Kael was nowhere to be seen. He'd assumed the kid was holed up somewhere nearby, but no matter where he looked, nothing.
Fuck. Hope a wild beast didn't drag him off.
A bad feeling flitted through his mind.
The Red Mountains were crawling with monsters and wild animals that popped out now and then.
No bloodstains in sight for now, but he needed to search. Smarter than usual this time.
"Hoo..."
Might as well put the mana to use now that he had it. It felt similar to the first time he'd used Heavy Strike or Power of the Great Tree.
Bran closed his eyes. The moment he imagined mana flowing through his veins toward his ears—
Acquired new skill 'Sensory Enhancement'!
Sensory Enhancement: Consumes mana to heighten the five senses. Higher proficiency allows simultaneous enhancement of multiple senses.
The change hit instantly.
Like turning up the volume in a movie, the sounds around him amplified.
Pebbles rolling in the wind. A rabbit sprinting in panic. Everything within a hundred-meter radius whispered into his ears.
"Holy shit, it works."
Way easier than expected.
It differed from the game version. There, it just lit up your field of view by burning mana. Here, it boosted various senses, not just hearing—higher utility all around.
High Agility stat. Effect amplified!
Exceptional mana quality. Effect amplified!
It was even synergizing with his other stats.
No wonder everything sounded too clear. Basics are key.
As he chuckled in satisfaction, a faint breath grazed his ear.
"Found you."
Definitely Kael's presence. Not far off.
Following the sound led to a slope. A hidden path in the crevice of a massive boulder. Too narrow and steep for a coward like Kael to climb.
Bran squeezed through the rocks, cursing under his breath.
"Fuck, you scared me."
Kael knelt at the cliff's edge, teetering on the brink like he might fall any second. A chickadee huddled on his tousled hair, chirping away.
"Tweet tweet."
"......"
Yet Kael didn't react. So deep in focus he hadn't noticed Bran arrive.
Whatever he was doing there, left alone, he'd probably stay till tomorrow.
Bran squatted beside him and poked his soft cheek with a finger.
"Hey, you."
"Eek!"
Kael shrieked and recoiled. His butt scooted back, slipping off the cliff.
"Eh?"
Kael's eyes widened. Realizing there was nothing underfoot, his face drained white.
"Gaaah! Help!"
"What an idiot."
Bran grabbed him by the scruff and yanked him back like a prize fish. Kael tumbled behind him, rolling seven times before stopping, gasping for air.
"Hic, huek... Thought I was dead. Thanks..."
"Always causing trouble. How'd you end up way out here?"
"W-Well... I moved spots to feel the mana better and..."
Kael sniffled as he explained. In short, he'd wandered here seeking a better mana spot. Admirable diligence, mishap aside.
"Alright. Any progress?"
"Yeah... Got this far, at least."
Suddenly, Kael raised both hands.
Whoosh!
A bluish glow formed between his childlike fingers. Bran's eyes bulged.
"What."
"B-But it keeps dispersing. Guess I really have no talent..."
Kael mumbled uncertainly. Sure enough, the glow faded seconds later.
But that was beside the point.
Talent? Who cares.
Bran, snapping out of it, spoke up.
"Kael. Congrats on becoming a mage."
"M-Mage? Me?"
"More precisely, you crossed the cutoff to become one. That lump you made? Pure mana crystal."
Bran let out a hollow laugh.
He'd suspected some aptitude, but this was beyond expectations.
Mana circulation divides into three realms.
1. Detection: Sensing the mana that makes up the world.
2. Accumulation: Storing and operating mana within the body.
3. Manifestation: Extracting stored mana to manipulate outside the body.
To learn reinforcement arts, accumulation was mandatory. You needed to wield mana freely inside to use it in combat.
In that sense, Bran's talent wasn't bad. He'd reached accumulation on day one, minuscule as it was.
But manifestation on the first day? No way.
Manifestation was another beast. Flinging fireballs, erecting ice walls—essential for 'magic,' but unreachable without exceptional gifts.
Kael having that gift was pure luck. Bran ruffled his hair.
"Good job anyway, Kael. Our odds of saving the world just went up."
"Ehehe... Dunno what that means, but it's thanks to you, Bran. I just followed the book."
Kael held up the Imperial Basic Mana Circulation Method.
Of course, talent made it possible, but the manual helped. Designed to quickly spot imperial talents.
The clunky Primordial Flow would've just added a few more drops to his heart and stalled. Leo Dorn's necklace probably pitched in too.
"So what's mana actually do?"
"Let's test it. Can you make another lump like before?"
"Yeah, once at least."
"Do it. As far as you can."
Kael did. He extended his hand, and a mana orb appeared three steps away in midair.
"Good. Now infuse it with a blessing."
"B-Blessing?"
"Yeah. Like drizzling syrup on a snack. Think of the orb as the one blessing, not you."
Not certain, but it should work.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Uuum... Got it."
Raweina's prayer flowed from his tiny lips.
The shaky orb was about to lose form and scatter—
Fwaaah!
Morning gold overlaid the blue. Collapse halted. A narrow radius bathed in twilight glow.
Kael's eyes rounded.
"It worked, Bran! It worked!"
"Knew it."
Bran grinned. Spot on.
Same principle as him visualizing game characters to activate skills.
As Bran stepped into the light—
Entered Raweina's Sanctuary.
While in the sanctuary, you receive the effects of Serene Morning's Blessing.
Effects end upon leaving the sanctuary or its dissipation.
His body lightened instantly, translucent windows popping up in sequence.
Identical to the Return Lord's 'Sanctuary' skill. Usable only by characters with manifested mana and sufficient divine power.
Grant blessings beyond line of sight—versatile. Bonus: aided mana control.
"This is just scratching the surface. Endless combos with mana and divine power. Make good use of it."
"Th-Thanks... Mana's amazing."
Kael nodded like a woodpecker. The orb faded soon after—control still raw—but achievement alone was huge.
He could step beyond huddling and praying.
"What about you, Bran? Training go well?"
"Got three drops in my heart. Aphid shit compared to you."
"Eek."
Kael flinched. His own complaints about no talent flashed by—after manifesting, no less.
Rolling his eyes, Kael clenched his fists.
"S-Still, being able to use it is something! It's just the start!"
"Yeah. You're right."
Bran chuckled.
Normally he'd smack the dwarf for mouthing off, but not this time. Facts were facts.
Gazing at the steel tower ablaze in sunset light—and Silien and the Abyss within—Bran murmured.
"Just the beginning."
The most grueling five days of his life began.
Bran and Kael threw themselves into daily mana circulation and applied training.
Time was tight—ten hours a day minimum.
Drawing his longsword, Bran intoned.
"Heavy."
Shuuu. Pure mana flowed into the hilt.
Numerite reacted instantly. The mana-infused blade tipped forward.
Far heavier than expected—Bran gripped with both hands.
"Fuck, this thing's no joke...!"
"B-Bran? You okay?"
Not okay—no breath for reply. At least a hundred kilos.
"Do your thing! I'll... huu, train with this!"
"O-Okay. Hang in there!"
Kael returned to his spot. Bran's bulging forearms were dizzying, but he focused.
"One...! Huu, two!"
Stabilizing, Bran began. Basic swings—downward, horizontal—but the weight made each tough.
Sure enough, messages appeared after a few reps.
Continuing training beyond physical limits. Tenacity of the Weed activates!
Muscle growth rate slightly increased.
Couldn't neglect stats just because he had mana. For his physical build, he needed aggressive base growth.
Thus, training till dusk, then raiding Golden District's eateries for nutrition.
"Oho, the young heroes return! How's the food treating you?"
"Delicious. More steak possible?"
"Hoho, of course. One moment!"
The chef in the sky-high hat boomed with laughter. He returned with double Bran's order—mostly free.
Golden District spots meant gourmet fare. Kael, munching smoked bison roast, suddenly clutched his mouth.
"Hic!"
"What? Bite your tongue?"
"It's... so good... Never dreamed I'd eat like this..."
"Pfft. Making a scene."
Bran shook his head. He got it—mere days ago, such luxury was unthinkable.
Over half the passersby greeted them.
"Swing by my place next!"
"H-Hey, autograph? I was in Golden District then too."
"Ah. I covered the bill here—no charge. Eat up."
Bran's prediction held: no more anonymous hero life in Valkeros.
Annihilators of the notorious Iron-Blood Twins, exposers of Chloe Executive's plot—they ranked just below the lord in fame.
One issue, though...
"Huh? Where's Ilrac? Isn't she with you guys?"
"Yeah, we haven't seen her either."
Bran shrugged at the chef's question.
Ilrac, who'd stormed off mad at being left out, hadn't returned in nearly three days. Even the mercenary guild said she never showed.
Kael sighed.
"Worried... Where'd she go?"
"Hm. Not just sulking."
There had to be a reason. Ilrac wasn't one to ditch loyalties, simple as she was.
Disappearing now, before restoration even started, would be a hassle.
On the fourth morning, Billmorris's letter arrived: gear complete.
"Brats. Sis is back."
Delivered not by postman, but Ilrac herself.
Kael froze at the door.
"I-Ilrac? Where've you been?"
"......Sorry. Sleep one hour, then we go."
Ilrac brushed past into a room. Fresh wounds scarred her body.
She looked exhausted. Half-lidded eyes ready to close forever.
"Those wounds?"
Bran's brow furrowed. Familiar shape—like lightning scars. Edges charred black.
Deeper than the Iron-Blood Twins' scratches that healed in two days.
"Hey. Don't tell me..."
Few things could mark Dragonblood-tough skin like that.
As he opened his mouth—
Whoosh. Ilrac hugged him naturally and flopped onto the bed.
"Just one hour..."
"Mmph."
"Wh-What are you doing?!"
Kael flushed beet red. Utter lack of decorum.
He tried prying Bran free, only to get dragged in as a teddy bear.
"Mmmph! Mmph!"
...Exactly one hour later, Ilrac opened her eyes.