Chapter 102
Chapter 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 101 dont mind the chapter number everything is in order
Chapter Title: Like Father, Like Daughter (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Achievement Unlocked: New Skill Developed!
Rarely, but sometimes during battle, a pet would awaken a new skill.
This was one such case.
[Dismemberment] had combined with Hiyu's sloth attribute to birth an entirely new skill.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Pet's new ability has been unlocked!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Wave of Sloth
Enemies touched by the wave enter a 'harmless' state for a set duration.
If harmlessness exceeds a threshold, they fall asleep immediately!
*Can be stored using one skill slot.
'Performance seems excellent.'
I gazed at Cerberus, who had turned into a large dog and was sleeping soundly.
It definitely looked harmless.
Originally, [Dismemberment] was an incredibly powerful lethal skill.
But the [Wave of Sloth] that Hiyu had just cast felt like a non-lethal suppression technique.
It seemed incredibly useful for subduing enemies without killing them, or for defensive purposes.
I had no idea how high-level opponents it would work on...
But judging by guesswork, it was probably a powerful crowd control skill on par with [Dismemberment]'s destructive power.
'Though thinking about it, it might be a somewhat frightening ability.'
It looked cute on the surface, but in reality, it was a status alteration ability.
Turning an S-rank ranker's main magic beast into a neighborhood stray dog—that level of mutation.
And it wasn't even single-target; it was area-of-effect.
Of course, it wasn't permanent and they'd return to normal after a set time, but getting hit during combat would be extremely fatal.
As those thoughts crossed my mind.
"Kuhahat! I don't know how you did it, but that's some impressive magic!? That beast is basically combat-incapacitated now!"
Professor Sierra's excited voice rang out.
"The winner is... Jeron Airgia!!"
Waaaaah—!
Cheers erupted from the spectator stands all at once, along with murmurs from the cadets.
"Insane. Dante's beast got rendered completely powerless in one shot..."
"That's mutation magic, isn't it? A beast using high-difficulty magic like that?"
"Jeron's beast must be something special...!"
And with that, the match was decided.
An overwhelming result that no one could argue with.
At that moment.
[Papa... did it...]
Hiyu mumbled and then slumped over.
I hurriedly extended shadow tentacles to catch it.
Fortunately, it wasn't unconscious or injured—just asleep.
Somehow, the scene on the arena turned into both beasts collapsed.
Of course, not from an intense fight to exhaustion, but both just peacefully sleeping soundly.
It had been a pretty close call, in its own way.
'Good job, Hiyu.'
I gently stroked each of Hiyu's sleeping heads one by one.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Sudden quest completed. Reward: 'Weapon Enhancement Ticket' acquired!
'Nice.'
I'd gotten the reward.
I inwardly cheered.
At that moment, a wretched sound came from Dante's side.
"Cerberus...! Are you okay...!"
He was checking on the pup... no, Cerberus, with a dazed expression.
Cerberus lay sprawled on the ground, drooling happily in sleep.
When Dante kept shaking it to wake it, it barely opened its eyes...
But instead of rising bravely, it licked Dante's hand.
It even rolled onto its back, belly up, and started acting spoiled toward him.
"...C-Cerberus?!"
Dante panicked, at a loss for what to do.
I felt a bit sorry and approached stealthily.
"That effect isn't permanent. It'll go back to normal soon."
"Ah. I see... That's a relief."
Dante let out a sigh of relief.
Now finally relaxed, he gently scratched the mutated Cerberus's soft belly and indulged its affection.
He even seemed somewhat satisfied.
Then he looked at me.
"...Jeron. An outstanding magic beast and perfect training. Truly impressive."
He nodded as if acknowledging me.
Dante spoke with serious eyes.
"Not just magic, but beast taming too. You definitely have what it takes for S-rank. But I won't give up either. I'll keep honing myself, reclaim S-rank, and one day catch up to your level."
Classic Dante—unyielding will and ambition.
Though his hand was fondly rubbing and kneading Cerberus's soft belly while he spoke, which kinda ruined the mood a bit.
...What was this.
Had he gotten hit by Wave of Sloth too?
"Uh... yeah. I'll cheer you on."
Anyway, it was good that he took it well.
This might even be the better outcome.
If I'd gone with the original plan and unleashed [Magic Blade Slash], I might have seriously injured or even killed Dante's precious beast.
We'd ended it peacefully, without any blood.
'Actually, isn't sloth all about peace...?!'
If everyone was drowsy and lazy, there'd be no fights—made a certain amount of sense.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Match end.
I'd officially risen to 10th in the academy's S-ranks.
And with that, Professor Kate's S-rank promotion achievement quest was finally cleared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Quest completed! Magic Power +3!
The quest reward, which had been a question mark, turned out to be +3 Magic Power—a perfect boon right when I needed it.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
✨ Magic Power: 51 (A-)
My Magic Power had finally stepped into A-rank territory for the first time.
Now, purely on stats, I was undeniably in the upper ranks.
Well, just Magic Power and Agility, and I still lagged behind true top S-ranks...
But considering I'd started with all F-rank trash stats, the growth over the past few months had been tremendous.
'Feels good.'
I descended from the arena quite satisfied.
The moment I did.
"Waaah, Jeron! Congrats on S-rank for real!"
Yuria came running up with Seolbaek in her arms, welcoming me.
"Thanks, Yuria."
"Hehe. I was surprised when you suddenly said beast battle, but... as expected, you had a plan!"
She looked at Hiyu, sleeping around my neck, with admiring eyes.
"Hiyu's ability is amazing too. Kinda similar to Seolbaek-nim in a way."
After that, Artel, Ciel, Karen, Leonhardt, and others came over to offer congratulations.
And.
There was also a gaze watching me from afar.
Professor Kate stood with arms crossed, a faint smile on her lips.
Achieve S-rank before summer break.
She seemed proud of her disciple who'd completed the challenge she'd set, just as promised.
'Professor.'
I gave her a lazy nod.
She chuckled and waved as if to say she got it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hoo."
I returned to my dorm room.
Someone suggested a celebration party, and with my ominous premonition that it'd drain my sloth meter, I bolted right away.
Managed to escape using the excuse that Hiyu needed rest.
Promotion match done, quest cleared, new skill acquired.
Hiyu's debut stage had reaped a huge haul.
I checked the [Weapon Enhancement Ticket] I'd gotten as a quest reward.
It was an item, but like the previous skill enhancement ticket, it was issued via status window rather than physical form.
[Hiyu kid turned out more useful than expected. That spell just now was pretty decent.]
Kerr spoke up.
Tsundere as always, pretending indifference while subtly praising Hiyu.
"Must be thanks to Kerr raising it well."
[Hm? Haven't heard sensible talk from you in ages.]
I flattered her appropriately, then casually slipped in:
"Oh, right, Kerr. By the way, tomorrow you'll have to watch Hiyu all day and rock it to sleep, lululla or whatever."
[......? What are you talking about?]
Kerr asked, puzzled.
"Ahem. Well... I kinda promised Hiyu earlier to convince you. Said you'd lull it all day..."
I scratched my head awkwardly and fiddled with the system window as a distraction.
[Urgh, why'd you go making promises with my body like that on your own!]
Kerr snapped indignantly.
But I didn't respond.
No, I couldn't respond.
Because I'd seen something.
[Fine. At least you have some shame, not daring to open your mouth... Human! Are you listening to me?]
"Kerr."
I stared into empty space, calling her name very seriously.
[Wh-Why are you suddenly calling me like that...]
Kerr faltered a bit.
[...Human, don't tell me you're sulking? I-I mean, you mess up and then sulk...]
But I still didn't reply, my gaze fixed on empty air.
[Agh, fine! Lullaby or rockabye or whatever, I'll do it...! So cheer up already!]
She seemed to misunderstand something and grumbled.
But actually,
I was looking at the options for the floating [Weapon Enhancement Ticket].
A list of eligible enhancement targets had popped up.
I'd figured since I had no weapons, there'd be nothing to enhance yet.
But.
Enhanceable Target: Shadow Cloak
'...Looks like I can enhance you.'
[...Eh?]
For some reason, Kerr was being flagged as an enhanceable target.