Chapter 309
Chapter 309
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 310
Chapter Title: Moon's Blessing
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"I've already bought the trait...
I spent a fortune in points to acquire Moon's Blessing.
Just in case, I checked my body's condition to see if there were any changes in my mana or physique, but nothing seemed different.
I wanted to run some kind of test to confirm if the ability was properly obtained, but I couldn't.
'Well, it's not a full moon anyway. Guess it's unavoidable.'
Now that I've bought the trait, maybe I should tweak the usage conditions for Moon's Blessing.
I activated the Outsider's Benefit and used the 'Ability Condition Change Ticket.'
[Using the 'Ability Condition Change Ticket.']
[Please select the ability whose conditions you wish to change.]
[The efficiency of the change varies depending on the ability's 'rank.']
[Selected 'Moon's Blessing (SS).']
[You can now change the conditions for 'Moon's Blessing (SS).']
"Hmm."
The usage condition for Moon's Blessing is when a 'full moon' rises.
Since a full moon only appears once a month, the trait's effect can only be received once a month as well.
So, what if I change it from 'full moon night' to 'any night with a moon'?
［Full moon night → Night with a moon］
［Confirming changed conditions.］
［Moon's Blessing (SS)］
［Continuous Effect］
► Moon's Embrace
On nights with a moon, receiving moonlight doubles all stats.
"Double...
Considering it lasts all night, double is still a high multiplier, but given my purpose for buying Moon's Blessing, it's a bit lacking.
The reason I bought Moon's Blessing was to gain reliable strength at least once a month.
'...Alright then.'
I tweaked the trait's effect again.
［Full moon night → The closer to a full moon］
［Confirming changed conditions.］
［Moon's Blessing (SS)］
［Continuous Effect］
► Moon's Embrace
On nights with a moon, gain stats based on the visible moon's surface area. Increases from a minimum of 1.7x to 3x.
"This isn't it either."
Three times? Still too low.
It's not just the hidden villains in the world—considering battles with disaster-class demons related to Lee Seo-jun's death, this is woefully insufficient.
Cancel again.
"...Hmm."
I leaned back on the sofa, stroking my chin.
［If only there were a way to fully draw out the core effect of Moon's Blessing while still getting benefits during normal times...
Then, by pure chance, my eyes caught the gift from Han Se-yeon hanging around my neck: the 'Moonstone Pendant.'
Moonstone.
A stone from the moon.
And Moon's Blessing is, as the name implies, a trait that receives the moon's blessing.
So, maybe there's a way to utilize the moonstone...
I modified the conditions again.
Instead of one condition, I added multiple ones and strengthened the restrictions.
"Not sure if this will work."
［Confirming changed conditions.］
［Moon's Blessing (SS)］
［Continuous Effect］
► Moon's Embrace
Gain abilities when receiving the moon's energy.
—When moonstone touches the skin, all stats increase by 40%. Senses sharpen, and learning ability rises by 30%.
—On nights with a moon, receiving moonlight grants abilities.
All recovery and resistance effects increase by 200%.
On full moon nights, all stats quadruple.
However, without receiving moonlight, all stats decrease by 20%.
"...It worked?"
I tried a convoluted workaround, and it succeeded.
On nights without a moon, all stats drop 20%.
But with the moonstone touching my skin, all stats rise 40%.
Since I always wear the Moonstone Pendant, that's a free 20% boost during the day and 40% at night.
And the full moon effect isn't gone either.
On full moon nights, combining with the moonstone effect gives a total 4.4x stat boost.
It's nerfed from the original 5x, but 4.4x under the new conditions is plenty high.
With this, I won't lose to even a typical S-Rank wizard.
The 200% boost to all recovery and resistance effects is nothing to sneeze at either.
And...
"Learning ability +30%."
I like this a lot too.
Not quite on the level of the SSS-Rank 'Genius,' but this should qualify me as a 'prodigy' anywhere.
"Nice, nice."
A more satisfying result than expected.
No point overthinking it further; I doubt I could find better conditions.
[Using the 'Ability Condition Change Ticket.']
['Moon's Blessing (SS)' ability has been changed!]
[Achievement 'Ability Condition Change' unlocked.]
[Reward: 5,000 points acquired.]
"Done."
With this, the trait's effect is changed.
At the same time, messages popped up before my eyes.
['Moon's Embrace' effect active: All stats increased by 40%.]
[No moonlight received: All stats decreased by 20%.]
A net 20% stat increase across the board. It's a significant enough boost that I could feel vitality surging through my body.
I rose from the sofa and slowly walked to the large living room window.
Then, I looked up at the night sky.
A beautiful half-moon greeted me, illuminating the night sky.
An inexplicable sense of reverence washed over me.
Then, another message appeared.
[Moonlight received.]
The 20% decrease vanished, and powerful vitality coursed through my body.
Right now, I'm benefiting fully from the moonstone's 40% effect.
40% is higher than the boost from Battle Frenzy or Unreal's Blessing.
If I activate Battle Frenzy and Unreal's Blessing on top of this, the resulting strength is unimaginable.
"Then...
Next up is testing the other effect: 'learning ability boost.'
30% is a huge number, so it should be noticeable.
I manifested the magic circle for Choi Il-hyun's spell I'd been practicing on and off, 'Space Leap,' on my palm.
Mana surged from my palm, and the magic circle began to form.
I'd always been able to get this far without issue.
The problem came next.
I'd always fail to maintain the formula while inputting precise coordinates.
Vrrr...
The magic circle started trembling. I focused my mind, maintaining the circle while finely inputting the coordinates.
But.
The mana became unstable, and the magic circle vanished.
"...Tch."
Even with 30% learning boost, it's not enough?
Well, even Lee Seo-jun with the Genius trait doesn't master every spell effortlessly, so it's not strange.
"But the issue is...
I didn't feel the learning ability boost at all.
No real difference from my usual training.
"...Is my learning ability too low to notice?"
Someone with 100 learning ability gets +30 from a 30% boost, but someone with 10 only gets +3.
The lack of sensation might mean my base is that low.
"...But I'm not that hopeless of a dunce."
Just as a vague sense of frustration set in.
A jolt like an electric shock hit me, and ideas flooded my mind.
Key points I'd missed in manifesting the magic circle so far.
"...Understanding of space, huh."
I'd been focusing solely on coordinate input in the formula.
Simple reason.
Habit from using 'Rain of Mana,' which inputs coordinates similarly.
But Rain of Mana and Space Leap are entirely different spells.
Rain of Mana is a synergy spell of manifestation and support types, but Space Leap is pure support type.
I'd been treating Space Leap like a 'manifestation synergy' spell.
"...Habits are scary."
Makes sense; I'm still not used to support-type spells.
I manifested the magic circle again.
Focused my mind, and this time, without coordinates. I input formulas and content related to space movement.
I should add coordinates too, but I didn't have the capacity yet.
Vrrr...
Right then, a perfectly completed magic circle formed on my palm.
I stared blankly at it.
"...It worked."
Not perfect form, but enough to activate the spell.
Gulp. I swallowed and placed the magic circle on the floor.
That's when it happened.
Flash!
A blinding light, and the space around me changed.
A sensation of floating hit me.
The background visible to my eyes had changed—no more 'window.'
So this is...
Outside the house window. Midair.
"...Whoa?!"
My body plummeted downward at once.
"Come in, Miss Seo-yoon!"
At the same time, at the Choi family main house.
As Choi Seo-yoon entered, a loud cheer erupted.
Rough-faced men, disciples of the Choi family, bowed their heads to greet her.
Intimidating enough to scare an ordinary person, but Choi Seo-yoon, used to it since childhood, greeted them nonchalantly.
"Where's Dad?"
"The family head stepped out briefly for business with the Han family."
"...Hmm. I see."
Choi Seo-yoon nodded and let it pass.
She might wonder what business they had with the Han family, which dominated the world economy, but the Choi family had deep ties, attending the Han family's traditional event 'Night of the Pioneers' almost every time, so she didn't dwell on it.
Then one disciple spoke up.
"Oh, right, did you enjoy your trip to the Tower of Four Seasons, miss?"
At the question, Choi Seo-yoon recalled her time at the Tower of Four Seasons.
It was a bit different from expectations and full of hardships, but looking back, they were definitely fun memories and experiences.
Choi Seo-yoon smiled faintly.
"Yes, it was fun. A ton."
Seeing her smile, the disciple grinned brightly too.
"Haha, glad to hear it. By the way, was Kim Sun-"
Someone jabbed the disciple in the side.
He turned to see another disciple with a long knife scar on his face glaring fiercely.
"...Ahem. Anyway, glad you returned safely."
Choi Seo-yoon eyed them curiously for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah, I'll head up then."
"Yes, ma'am!"
With that, Choi Seo-yoon returned to her room.
After a week in unfamiliar spaces, entering her room brought a sense of peace.
She flopped onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling before turning on her smart student planner and opening the photo album.
"Wow, took a lot."
Photos in flower fields, at the sea, fireworks, Dreamland, and more beautiful scenes.
Looking at them made her heart warm, as if back there.
Then she found a photo of Kim Sun-woo, taken under the pretense of a group shot.
"Wow, this one's amazing."
Kim Sun-woo gazing pensively at the dark night sea.
He'd always had a mysterious(?) charm as a senior, but the inscrutable gaze made it especially strong here.
The soft lighting on his face against the beautiful night backdrop created a moody atmosphere.
Plus, his long limbs and great proportions really brought it to life.
Practically a life shot.
"Should send it to senior."
Tap tap. She messaged Kim Sun-woo.
Send.
［Photo］
［Senior, this pic turned out great, right?］
［(Curious puppy emoticon)］
Less than 10 seconds later, the 1 disappeared.
Proof Kim Sun-woo had read it.
But after 5, 10, 30 seconds, no reply.
"...He's busy, I guess."
She considered sending more but held back, not wanting to seem pushy.
He'll reply later.
Lying in bed with eyes closed, she suddenly thought of the 'Compass of Connections' buried in the wizard school back mountain.
It was a rare 'relic'-grade item; had she buried it too casually?
"...Wonder how others disposed of theirs?"
Curiosity piqued, she logged into the wizard community and searched.
［Title: Any way to erase just my info from Compass of Connections?］
［Title: Couples, NEVER gift your partner a Compass of Connections. Got stalked with mine.］
［Title: Gave ex a Compass of Connections, we broke up. They blocked me and ghosted... Any way to get it back??］
［Title: My Compass of Connections broke;; Why?］
As expected from a relic with unique effects, all sorts of bizarre stories.
Gifted to lovers and broke up.
Got stalked.
Scrolling, she spotted one about it breaking.
[This morning, my Compass of Connections broke for no reason... Won't work at all, glass shattered. It's a relic—do they break this easily?]
"...Do relics break that easily?"
Choi Seo-yoon pondered briefly before checking comments.
［Comments］
［Anon 1: Shattered? How many registered on your compass?］
1-［OP: 6 people.］
1-［Anon 1: 100% one of those 6 died..］
［Anon 2: Breaks if even one registered person dies. Used one in my guild, know for sure..］
［Anon 3: Above is right. Check on anyone you know］
Choi Seo-yoon scanned and panicked.
The comments were more serious than expected.
Never imagined a relic could break for such a scary reason.
"...What the hell."
She was already on edge from the weird story at the Tower of Four Seasons about Kim Sun-woo senior dying.
Seeing this only added unease.
She turned off the screen and closed her eyes.
Then her smart student planner pinged with a message.
Choi Seo-yoon checked immediately.
［(Thumbs up emoticon)］
From Kim Sun-woo.
Short and simple, but it made her smile faintly.
His profile pic had changed to the one she'd sent.