142. The Lord's Arachne

If only I could pull up an object's status window by focusing my eyes on it, just like I do with monsters or people.

I didn't immediately think to use Connection Crown on it. Of course not. My dignity wasn't an infinite resource to burn through.

For now, I just wanted to learn more about the staff's capabilities. Well, mental attacks wouldn't work on me anyway.

'Why do mages use staves anyway?'

'There are three core functions of a wand. The first is amplification.'

Amplification means that if I pour in 10 units of mana, it produces a magical effect equivalent to 12, 15, or even more. Naturally, higher-quality staves amplify more mana.

'But the more it amplifies mana, the rougher the flow gets, making it harder to properly construct spells. A good staff's greatest strength lies above all in its 'assistance' function.'

'Assistance?'

'Yes. It helps build the spell formula and makes refining mana easier. Generally, the longer the staff, the better the efficiency. Why not just make one that's 10 meters long?'

I toyed with that idea for a moment. Apparently, the amplification effect depends on how well rare materials are combined.

'The third one?'

Three functions, but he only mentioned two. What gives?

'You don't really need to know, but... it's corruption.'

Amplification and assistance made immediate sense from the words alone, but corruption? No clue.

'You know mana has properties, right?'

'Yeah, like elemental attacks.'

'Exactly. Some, like the four major elements, are easy to convert properties for. Others, like ether, chaos, light, or darkness, are hard to shift. Corruption makes those changes easier.'

'Oh, so it's super important, right?'

But he skipped explaining it for a reason.

'First off, hardly any staves have that kind of function. Even if you find one worth salvaging... staves with corruption are all garbage in every other performance aspect.'

'Got it. Kinda disappointing.'

'Yeah, so don't worry about it. For now, grip it and try some elemental magic.'

Sounds good. I had Obern open the window. I'd test it gently, but just in case.

Water, earth, or fire could wreck the room, so I'd skip those. Let's go with wind magic.

Through the open window, Wind Fist...

To be honest, among beginner elemental magics, wind had the weakest power. It was great for whipping up sand and leaves to irritate enemies' eyes, but that was it.

Only at mid-tier did it gain real direct combat potential.

But even then, Wind Blade was less effective than hurling a dagger with Transparent Hand.

So I'd always underestimated wind elemental magic.

Suuuuck—

I felt mana sucking out through my tail. Pellelian's instructions: infuse mana into the staff, treating it like an extension of my hand—or tail.

Mana flowed smoothly through the glossy ebony rod, lacquered to perfection. Then, at the spider-shaped silver ornament, it ballooned massively.

A 1.5x amplification makes a decent staff, he'd said. But this was at least 2x. No... 3x?

What kind of amplification efficiency is this...?

Before I could react, the spell completed.

Pellelian's 'Wind Fist'—compress air to punch the target.

But this wasn't fist-sized. More like a wind siege ram.

Originally aimed out the open window into empty air.

KABOOOM!

It shattered the window frame and part of the wall instead.

'Whoa...'

'Hah... hahaha.'

Pellelian laughed in disbelief.

'Snake, welcome to elemental combat magic. Who knew wind— not even fire—could pack this punch. The power of proper gear is unmatched.'

But the staff was bigger than me. Giantification might let me swing it with my tail, but it wasn't snake-friendly.

Someone should make a mini snake staff.

Outside grew noisy. A staffer rushed in, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠asking if we were okay, what happened.

They gawked at the broken window.

"Sorry, magic went haywire. We'll compensate," Obern said, shooing them out.

Frankly, getting kicked out wouldn't be surprising. But Obern's charisma made it stick.

One spell test confirmed the staff's prowess.

'Assistance is above average. Amplification is kingdom-treasure level. Perfect for you.'

'Great. Time to connect, then?'

Next: link with the staff.

I told the terrified Obern to hold it. Connection Crown worked best with direct contact, so I coiled around, draping over the spider ornament.

Focus my mind...

It might fail. Would that just waste dignity? I worried, but luckily...

Ah.

This sensation dwarfed just holding it with my tail earlier. It truly felt like the staff and I were one body.

Mana flowed endlessly, unobstructed. Earlier amplification was about 3x; now, spells might hit 6x, maybe 9x. Not just wind siege ram—wind tank territory.

'Whoa, this is insane.'

'Is it, my lord?'

'Uh... Obern? You hear me?'

Obern, still gripping the staff, could hear my voice. The prior Connection Crown on him hadn't broken.

As long as he held it, we could chat and share skills.

'Ah, because I'm linked to the staff.'

Inanimate objects might require special dignity-fueled use of Connection Crown.

So, what good was linking to the staff?

I couldn't chat with it directly. But I could peer into it.

Like reading someone's status window, lines of text appeared.

And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not just that—the powers dwelling within.

No way, no way.

I relayed what I saw to Pellelian, and he was stunned.

'Hell corruption? It hid that kind of power...'

The eastern horde king meant the demon Baal. Makes sense—explains the curse level.

The staff had top-tier specs but a fatal curse barring normal users.

No wonder I kept tangling with demons.

And apparently, it had innate skills too.

It had Isil's Hellfire skill.

'Hell Magic.' Probably tied to the corruption trait.

Lets users wield otherwise inaccessible hell magic?

With Connection Crown sharing skills, maybe I could too.

But reality exceeded expectations.

Absorb? Not just borrow?

I might wield Hellfire like Isil.

Focusing like with Theft Crown.

Tzzzzz—!

The staff resisted. It spewed dark mana, paling Obern enough to back away.

'That's corrupted mana. You could steal its skills, but not in a day or two.'

But this toxic outpour was problematic.

As I pondered, Isil from the flowerpot approached—vines climbing the staff, binding it over me.

'Ooh!'

Isil absorbed the staff's mana gushing out.

She'd always handled Hellfire easily; this was mere snack.

'Ho, much cooler ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than before.'

'You think?'

Pellelian praised it. Already stylish, now with crystal snake crown and world tree vines? Unique no more—full legendary item.

'Yeah, looks good because the wielder's so dashing.'

'...'

Not me, then.

...Wait.

A brilliant idea flashed.

'Obern, I've got a great idea.'

* * *

"Course registration is this tough?!"

Lania clutched her forehead. Beside her, Amaen smiled faintly.

Unlike her initially cool first impression, Lania matched her age: giggled at trifles, overly minded others' gazes sometimes, ignored them others.

Different from old-soul Amaen.

"We matched schedules pretty well, though."

"First-years have tons of core classes."

Emerald School's headmaster was an archmage, faculty heavy on mages. Not exclusively for mages, of course—scholars abounded, so unavoidable.

Covered liberal arts, sciences, even PE; all mandatory.

Amaen and Lania's Exploration of the Four Elements was core too.

Even non-mages benefited from elemental magic.

Fire, water, earth, wind—the world's building blocks.

Elemental magic covered mana corruption, useful for martial paths too.

Thus, Lania resolved to study hard.

They entered the lecture hall: tiered like an opera theater.

Front too intimidating, back too distant. They took center seats.

Thus, seatmates—and friends now?

"Hey, Lania."

A twin-tailed, bespectacled girl sat beside her, notepad and pen in hand.

"Nemi."

Nemi Laiters, Lania's roommate. Outgoing, well-connected, friends galore.

Dropped formal speech with a marquis's daughter despite rules—her personality shone.

"Mind if I sit?"

"Of course not."

Nemi boldly greeted Amaen. "Amaen Riddle, right? Know me?"

"Um..."

"Rude! Dad wrote killer articles on your dad."

"Ah, Mr. Baumet."

Nemi, daughter of infamous gossip reporter Baumet Laiters. His fame mostly infamy, but she didn't care—aspired to journalism, idolized him.

Her thick notepad brimmed with trivia and gossip.

"Heard anything from the boys' dorm?"

"Like what?"

"The royals enrolling this time."

"Ah..."

"You know nothing. Third prince starts as freshman with us!"

'Emerald students equal—except royals.' Meaning royals superior.

Amaen wondered if the prince would adjust.

"But honestly, more hyped for now than the prince."

"Class?"

"Yeah, that Obern Grimoire's teaching."

The Four Elements prof. But was he special? First time hearing for Lania and Amaen.

"Ugh, unbelievable."

Nemi eyed them oddly.

"Didn't read Dad's articles? Empire-famous genius prof."

"Ah... really?"

"You're a mage hopeful, Amaen, and you don't know this genius?"

Must-know? Amaen thought not, but Nemi's energy silenced him.

Apparently, Baumet wrote tons on Obern. Nemi hyped freshmen, building buzz.

Born journalist.

"And how great he is... well, you'll see."

Nemi grinned, settling in.

Chime rang; class start.

Students sat, eyes on door. No prof yet, but utter silence—no chatter, just staring.

Eerie vibe.

"Something..."

"Shh!"

Nemi hushed Lania.

Footsteps: thud, thud.

Door opened; prof entered.

Obern Grimoire. Blond young genius magus. Elegant, beautiful features. Even staff artistic.

"Haa, smoking hot."

Nemi muttered. Lania agreed.

Glanced at Amaen—pale, mouth agape.

Boy reacting this much?

"S-s..."

Amaen's lips moved. Gaze not on Obern—on the staff.

A small snake with crystal crown clung there.

"...Master?"

Reunion like this?