Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Unconscious Flag Planting
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⚙ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! ⚙ Witness Prostia! Achievement complete! As the first witness, rewards have been increased! Skill Points +20, Stat Points +20 awarded! ⚙ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! ⚙ Escape from Prostia. You've encountered a being more terrifying than a natural disaster. Simply escaping proves your skill. And you've proven your evasion abilities! Reward: Skill Points +5, Stat Points +30 ⚙ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! ⚙ Survive Prostia. Flee, fight, hide, resurrect... do whatever you must. But she permits nothing. You rejected her rejection. Well done! Reward: Skill Points +5, Stat Points +30 ⚙ SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT! ⚙ Defeat Prostia, Kill Prostia, Put Prostia to Eternal Rest. You've subdued Prostia without unlocking any of those three achievements! An absurd feat. Deemed mythic. Special Reward: All Stats +20, All Skill Points +3 ?? +1 Granted. Wow.
Even better than expected...
I'd gained stat and skill points close to dozens of levels.
Thinking about it, it might be a fair reward.
Even if it was only 30% of her incomplete power without half her strength, I'd subdued the leader of the Eight Demon Kings—one of this world's core forces.
As the gods said, it was no different from saving the world. Anything less would be stingy.
That's why they threw in extra skills as a merit reward.
Anyway, I was dazed.
Just ten-odd minutes ago, I'd been groaning, Aw, fuck. All that suffering for nothing—no reward, no girlfriend to tend my wounds, and my side hurts like hell. Now, I felt great.
"Wh-what's that! Why are you ignoring me all of a sudden!"
"Huh? What?"
Only after hearing Asita's teary voice did I realize I'd been spacing out.
"Sorry."
But was touching her nape earlier okay?
Please let this world overlook accidental contact.
Asita was fidgeting with her body, her face slightly flushed.
She squirmed for a while, oblivious to my gaze, then sighed in relief.
Our eyes met, and she flinched again.
"...Ehehe."
An awkward laugh.
Skin contact had felt good, but now it was a bit strained.
Had she been hiding and watching me this whole time?
"Were you following me by any chance?"
"N-no, not like that! I always come here at this time, in the... mornings, invisible, observing people as a hobby!"
What a creepy hobby for such a pretty face.
At least she seemed mentally and physically healthy. Good.
Mental trauma from her bully friends' betrayal and screams, physical exhaustion from the kidnapping.
Honestly, my biggest worry was what my "touch to climax" skill might do to her after grabbing her hand.
No apparent effect, and she looked fine now. Relieved.
Anyway...
"As I thought before, impressive stealth magic."
100% sincere, no flattery.
One shouldn't be arrogant about their abilities, but too humble is no good either—that's my take.
Objectively, my detection was top-tier.
Sensing the gods' bizarre waves wasn't something anyone could do.
Yet even I had missed Asita's stealth twice.
She lacked confidence in her magic, but she had talent.
Asita was a Prynar Academy student.
I recalled what Gold told me.
Prynar Academy.
Where the world's key figures and prodigies gathered to learn.
Its prestige and influence rivaled any power, backed by ancient history.
According to Gold's subordinate Repelt, enrollment guaranteed lifelong career success, with perfect protection from external threats during studies—no matter the foe: king, emperor, powerhouse, or monster.
Only one qualification: excellence in something.
Talent, wealth, lineage.
Talent broadly defined: magic, swordsmanship, spearmanship, martial arts, even laundry skills.
If it amazed people, anyone had a shot; ordinary folk without? Dream on.
Asita was Milf Village's sole student there.
I figured the girl before me got in on overwhelming looks.
Beauty is a weapon.
I knew that bone-deep.
And Asita knew her beauty's power. Undeniable talent.
But she seemed even more exceptional than I thought.
At least in invisibility magic, she excelled.
Should I ask?
"Asita."
"Y-yes? Wh-what is it?"
Tense tone.
Curious why, but I asked anyway.
"Might be rude, but what got you into Prynar Academy?"
Could sound like "How'd a girl like you get in?" but kind-hearted Asita, calculating side aside, puffed up without offense. Held up three fingers.
"...?"
"Ahem!"
What, grab them?
I reached out; she squealed and backed away.
"Wh-what are you doing! I have a boyfriend! And I'm not easy!!"
"Wasn't it telling me to grab?"
"Hmph! No touching even if you play dumb~"
Hmph. People actually say that.
But glasses-off Asita made it insanely cute. Heart pounding.
Calm down, you old heart.
Hiding my flutter, she explained.
"This means triple."
"Triple?"
"Three exceptional talents recognized for Prynar admission!"
"...Oh."
Vague reaction since I didn't grasp the scale; she narrowed her eyes.
"Outsider, sometimes I wanna punch you."
"Yes. Sorry."
Her glaring fist was adorable, but I didn't show it.
"Three specialties recognized. One you know..."
She paused, staring intently.
I eyed her questioningly; she cleared her throat.
"Weeeell... we're close now, right?"
"Are we?"
"We are!"
Her pout was super cute.
......
Been thinking "cute" nonstop.
True, and stunning, but boyfriend means pet-like affection.
Why the buildup? Puzzled stare; she groaned nervously, then resolved.
"Sooo, since we're close, can I call you by name now?"
"Sure."
That was the big reveal?
Face beet-red, took courage apparently.
"Th-then... Yedre-nim? Yedre? Casual Dre? Which?"
"Whatever's comfortable."
"Come on! Match the mood!"
She patted my shoulder with tiny fists.
Adorable... Ow. Surprisingly strong?
My stats rose a lot, right?
Not brutally painful, and her peach scent hit hard... No loss, total win.
Honestly, thrilled.
Calling by name.
Saved her twice; familiarity up.
Second time chatting closely with a girl in life.
Had girl friends among buddies, but they felt like dudes now. Felt like ages since talking to a woman.
"Then... Dre oppa?"
"......"
Thud.
Heart dropped.
Her dewy eyes and voice blended fantastically... Devastating.
Pounded my rampaging heart.
"What?"
"Uh, oppa?"
"Heard some Outsiders like it."
"Aha..."
Proud! My homeland!
Thanks! Korea!
Probably Korean. Hope so.
"...Just Dre."
"Then Dren!"
If you're doing what you want, why ask me...?
Deadpan nod anyway.
"Fine."
"Ehehe. Dren!"
"......"
"Dren!"
"Yes......"
What.
Embarrassingly good.
Even post-hot sex with Nila wasn't this.
Cooling flushed face, changed topic.
"So, the three talents?"
"Ah~ Off-topic already. Obviously, looks! Biggest factor."
"Hmm."
Bluntly admitting prettiness, no shame.
More likable that way.
Pretty girl whining "I'm ugly" annoys.
Men too, women more.
Why did Sor and crew hate her? Inferiority, probably.
"Second! My dad!"
"Apiz... the branch chief? Relation?"
High noble maybe?
"Call Dad by name casually~ Doesn't care about titles."
Teen calling boss by name before daughter? Sketchy.
Nod vaguely; she continued.
"Dad's super famous here. Counts."
"...Ah."
Thought lineage only; fame/potential too.
Apiz might be bigger deal than thought.
"Last~ My magic skill!"
"Figured. Suited you."
She blinked, squirming surprised.
"Uh...um... th-thanks."
Expected different reaction? Visibly shy. Cute.
Hiding blush, she yelled "Ei!!" then:
"Precisely, not magic skill! Unique constitution! Mana Resonance!"
"Mana Resonance...?"
"Dunno details, but experts say I handle mana manifesting physically more precisely, powerfully."
"...Aha."
Physical manifestation: body hardening skills.
Hence stealth evading my notice.
"Still research subject!"
"Impressive."
Three talents for one spot each; she's exceptional.
Academy sounds lax, but she's the prodigy.
Beauty of a nation-toppler.
Dad: fights Ancient Dragons barehanded.
Constitution: cheat if mastered.
No wonder the envy.
"So, at academy, don't ignore me. Hang out. No downside."
Haven't said I'd go...?
Would be trouble anyway.
"That okay?"
"Huh? What?"
What do you mean what.
Me at that school: ignored, loner habits, solo.
Even then, pretty you with loser me? That's the meaning.
Saying it: she'd brag. Switched words.
"Your boyfriend won't mind?"
"Nah~ He doesn't care."
Dunno.
Jealousy woman's domain? Men's scarier.
Depends on him.
"If you do, I'm grateful."
"Ehehe. Business-like again!"
Hand out. I smiled, took it.
Asita froze.
Looked puzzled; face crimson, trembling.
"...Kyaa?!"
Cute scream, yanked away like shocked, floating briefly.
What...?
My hand that dirty...? Sweaty?
Not hygiene.
She writhed, redder than before.
Like "touch to climax" reaction.
But not using it?
"Th-this... th-this...!"
"Uh, yeah?"
"A-aaaah...!"
Tears leaked from squeezed eyes. Enduring something; skirt crotch darkening wet...
Finally sensed odd wave from her body.
⚙ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚙ Understanding of All Things activated! New skill auto-triggered.
⚙ ANALYSIS ⚙ The mana within her recalls the moment your hand touched hers and is recreating it. ...Summary.
Past: used lewd skill on hand, grabbed hers, triggered. Her mana remembered, recreated on grab.
Why? How?
Detailed explanation below.
⚙ UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THINGS ⚙ Asita has a constitution scholars call Mana Resonance. Innate blessing, but uncontrolled, a curse. Her body is blood and flesh, yet closer to mana—pure atmospheric mana. With enlightenment, she could wield ambient mana freely for near-infinite magic. Her mana is greedy. It recreates anything she liked. Whoa. Cheat.
But comments crushed that.
⚙ WARNING ⚙ She doesn't know her power's danger. Atmospheric mana body means she'll revert to mana and scatter in a decade. ...What.
What bullshit setting.
⚙ SOLUTION ⚙ Prevent her innate mana from resonating and merging with atmosphere. Adjust via body contact, or infuse foreign mana. 📜 NEW QUEST 📜 Help Asita: Nothing or the Heavens?
Aid Asita, whose fate splits between mediocrity and ascension.
📍 Current Resonance Progress: 45%
I stared at the sudden quest, then spoke.
"...Asita."
"H-huh? Y-yes? Pl-please don't look this way right now, I'd appreciate..."
"I want to learn more about Outsiders, so how about regular meetups—not just Milf Village, but Prynar Academy too?"
"H-huh? Y-yes! Dream come true! B-but wait! I'm kinda... ugh...!"
Deal sealed, sorta.
No clue how to proceed... Let go first.
Released; she panted, backing away.
Hot, sweet breaths reached me; groin twitched.
Regret letting go? Her hand was insanely soft.
Anyone would've held on.
And I didn't know.
This would spark what later they called "practice" with Asita...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ What is this feeling.
Flat, whom I truly like, was beside me, yet Yedre kept crossing my mind.
Soon, clan members would fetch me; we'd part. The thought left her restless.
Then, she thought.
Right. I'll go to him.
No other motive.
Just wanted to see his face.