Training and Sparring (2)
My unique trait **Endowment** is one of the traits that suits my Void Mana attribute exceptionally well.
After designating the target as A, I can choose an attribute B to endow upon it.
This simple yet highly versatile trait has allowed me to wield my own nonexistent mana infinitely.
For example, if I endow the attribute **Pierce**, I could pierce any defense in an instant depending on the mana I use.
It’s like having the **Pierce** trait.
I can only endow one attribute for now because I’m not skilled enough yet, but if I could endow two or more…
I could add **Pierce** and **Bleed**, or **Infection**, or even **Paralysis** to attack.
In addition to that—
A small dot appeared at my fingertips. A black dot. When I stroked my finger, the dot stretched into a long line.
The effect of the **Connection** trait.
I gathered another black dot at my fingertips and shot it like a mana bullet. Instead of a small sphere flying away, a black line trailed behind its path.
Like **Endowment**, I could only turn it into a line for now, but once I mastered it, I might even swallow space itself.
The Void Mana that could originally only take the form of points or spheres has become malleable in various forms thanks to the **Connection** trait.
Originally, the sphere shape was just an enlarged first-dimensional point that distorted nearby space and influenced it in three-dimensional form.
If I apply it, something like this:
I aimed a **dot** at a wooden dummy standing in one corner of the training ground and endowed it with the attribute **Binding**.
Then I fired it. The mana bullet shot in a line, hit the dummy, and wrapped around it as if restraining it.
If it were a rope, it would be an embarrassingly crude binding. No, it wouldn’t even bind properly. It just drew a circle around the dummy without touching it.
But because **Binding** was endowed, once it hit, contact was irrelevant.
Even if it just circled around, the movement would be restricted, leaving me unable to even twitch a finger.
Especially since it was a line rather than a dot, it was the firmest possible. It wouldn’t break unless I cut it with overwhelmingly powerful magic resistance.
That’s why the **Connection** trait is good. Normally, magic already shaped as lines, planes, or three-dimensional forms can only exert its preset power.
Thick-line mana like a mana cannon was designed from the start to be a thick line. It wasn’t created by starting from a point and infinitely connecting it.
But my magic, which takes the form of a line by infinitely connecting a point-like Void Mana, can show binding power and power beyond imagination.
‘Even the Demon King couldn’t do this. No one except me can wield Void Mana like this.’
This was the biggest merit of all.
Even the Demon King couldn’t handle Void Mana three-dimensionally. He could only create a small dot or a very large one.
Otherwise he would just push with overwhelming physical power or use magic-infused martial arts.
That’s why I was startled when I realized my unique traits were being used like this.
No matter how overpowered this is.
When I first noticed, I thought it was similar to facing Sister, but after seeing the trait, even normal condition it was abnormal that I would lose.
Of course, assuming battle sense supports it.
But still, why isn’t this kind of character in the original story? He had a good face; he could have been the male lead.
My body knows nothing about it, so it’s too inconvenient. There must be something.
I have no way to know.
Anyway.
The last **Harmony** is…
The one that seems the most insignificant yet is the most important.
It prevents me from overloading and dying because of these absurd specs, or from failing to control my own power.
In the process of infinitely connecting dots to each other, it literally harmonizes the infinite processing.
There are others, but for now the most important thing is my lifeline.
After all, I trained my traits until I reached the end and climbed back to the surface.
It was quite late, so I immediately called Daisy. Since she came yesterday, today I would treat her to two days’ worth of cuteness.
I wonder if Sister is still here.
After that day, I went down to the basement every day to train my traits. Body training was only enough to slightly increase agility.
As a mage type like me, defeating my knight sister in close combat was difficult anyway. Plus she focused on physical combat with her traits.
Still, her bloodline wasn’t bad, so her physical ability was unexpectedly high. It made me think I was stupid to be jealous.
If she were an Academy graduate—under the knight department—she would be around a high-class knight, but average graduates are only around 60, so considering her bloodline bonus, it was no surprise.
Anyway, with Sister’s help I decided to learn basic swordsmanship.
Before I lost my memories, she said she was more skilled with swords than most knights, and enthusiastically taught me to swing the sword.
She said she could use almost all weapons, not just swords and spears.
Among them she especially loved the spear.
Honestly I wanted to see it once, but since sparring was approaching she hid it saying it was a secret.
I felt a little regretful. I wanted to see it.
Still, I practiced swinging the sword exactly as Sister taught me, hoping to see it next time.
It was strangely fascinating how quickly my body remembered it.
During sparring with the blood golem Sister made, the sword would sometimes swing to unintended places.
Then it would slice the golem cleanly, and Sister said it was because the body’s familiar memory naturally guided the sword path.
Seeing that, Scarlet must have talent too, but how far is Sister? I opened my status window.
+++++
Leticia Tepes
Affinity: 69
Strength ▶ 144
Agility ▶ 157
Constitution ▶ 125
Durability ▶ 142
Mana ▶ 135
+++++
Her stats had risen again.
I scrolled down further. The trait and unique trait windows appeared.
+++++
Traits: **Blood Sovereign**, **Form**, **Knight**
Unique Traits: **All-Round Beauty**, **Nation-Beauty**, **Devotion**, **Weapon Master**
+++++
Since I had taken the title **Head of the Household**, the **Knight** trait had appeared instead. The stats had also risen a bit.
Plus in unique traits, **All-Round Beauty** meaning versatile talent, **Nation-Beauty** with hidden stat ‘charisma’ and 100% skill proficiency correction as a fraudulent trait, and **Weapon Master** which is famous just by its name.
No wonder the Tepes siblings are called the greatest.
In the main story, if he hadn’t just caused trouble, he would have been stronger than any named character because he trained instead of chasing after the prince.
Tch.
Plus **Devotion**. At first glance it looks good, but from my position knowing what happens when Sister meets the prince, my heart was pounding.
Why is such a kind, cute, beautiful Sister acting like that in the main story? Is it because of this? If so, isn’t it obsession or madness instead of devotion?
While clicking my tongue, I continued training.
Anyway, since I have fraudulent traits, I thought I wouldn’t get beaten even without real combat experience.
But I wanted to look cool in front of Sister too.
*
The day of sparring finally came. It had been only a week since I first asked.
I considered doing more training, but even if I did more I doubted it would improve anything.
I had already done everything I could alone. The rest was real combat, but going outside to fight with blood spilling was troublesome.
Ordinary bandits or mountain bandits wouldn’t provide real combat experience, and how could I summon an opponent somewhere?
The most suitable opponent lived in the same house, and going outside was foolish.
And I was here.
At least I wouldn’t be laughed at.
“Everything ready?”
“Sister.”
“I’m always ready.”
“Good. Me too.”
Sister smiled brightly at my answer. Sister was no longer wearing her usual gothic dress but black full-body tights.
Honestly it was so sexy I was aroused. If this weren’t the basement I would have pounced and ravished her.
In contrast I was wearing a plain robe. Because I’m a mage. The length wasn’t especially long. No staff, but I wonder if I’m still a mage.
“What are you looking at?”
“Just… do you normally dress like that?”
Noticing my gaze fixed on her, Sister asked, and I replied with honest admiration and a question.
“Ah… well, I have no choice. I make weapons and armor from blood….”
Sister’s face flushed a little as if she was also embarrassed, and after summarizing her hurried explanation:
Every time we fight she wraps her whole body in blood and creates weapons from it, so no matter what she wears the clothes get soaked and dirty.
And while creating them she made the clothes into a material that completely blocks external impacts or intrusions while allowing free outflow from inside, making blood easy to use. That result is this dedicated combat outfit…
Honestly I would rather just change clothes every time I wear that.
The words were about to spill from my throat, but that’s because I’m a man, and seeing such a beautiful woman like Sister in full-body tights was actually nice.
Sister seemed embarrassed, but she seemed to not want to wear it herself either.
Hmm.
“Sister.”
“Huh…… Why? Noona is a little embarrassed. Is that a shameful question?”
“No, not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“Don’t show that look to other men.”
“….”
Silence.
Sister’s face turned bright red. I thought, can a face that was pale as a corpse turn that red?
She closed her mouth tightly for a moment and stared at me. Finally—
“…Eh, eh? What did you say?”
She acted like she didn’t hear.
After hearing everything, face turned bright red, and she pretended not to hear. That made me infuriated, so I braced my abdomen and said loudly.
“Don’t show that look to other men.”
“Hic.”
Sister flinched as if startled by my voice, and only then realized she couldn’t pretend not to hear. She rolled her eyes.
“…So… why…?”
Normally she would say “Sister is worried about you? Our little brother is so kind.” But now she was acting so embarrassed, and for some reason I felt exhilarated and boldly continued.
“Because I’m jealous.”
“…!”
Sister made the same sound as a boiling teapot without speaking. I wondered if it would burst.
Anyway, since it looked like we would keep talking like this, I took my stance. Sister was still not fully composed, but if I struck first she would regain her senses.
“I’m coming.”
“Huh. …What?”
Bang!
A black dot endowed with **Explosion** shot out. Instead of **Connection**, I created a swarm of black dots in the air and fired them like indiscriminate bullets.
“Ah!”
Only now did Sister look startled. She immediately covered her entire body in blood and raised a shield made of blood to block the explosion.
Immediately after, boom! boom! The black dots hit the shield and exploded, but thanks to the swarm the explosion spread widely, yet before the explosion even finished, a crimson shadow shot out from within with a pop.
“You! Coward!”
“Who’s the one who got distracted?”
Sister spread flickering black shadows like wings, took a stance in the air, and raised a crimson magic spear. It was perfect harmony of the Blood Sovereign trait that controls blood and shadows and the **Form** trait that endows form to mana.
I could follow to some extent, but making armor and spears like that would be difficult. Even if I did, I wouldn’t reach Sister’s completion level.
“Prepare yourself!”
Sister’s expression was clearly irritated. The mana concentrated on the magic spear in her hand wasn’t at a casual level. We were supposed to spar, but it ended up exchanging blows.
I also concentrated a black dot at my fingertips.
Sister took a throwing stance, and I endowed **Nullification** on the black dot.
The dot grew larger until it was bigger than my fist. Sister threw the spear. I also released a black dot from my fingertips.
Bang!
The sound of it exploding—I couldn’t tell if it was from Sister throwing the spear or from my black dot exploding.
But what was certain—
The spear and my black dot met and vanished without a sound, both nullified.
“….”
The only thing Sister was waiting for was me glaring at her in irritation.