Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Magic Division and Spirit Magic (4)
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I indulged Rosette's barrage of questions for a moment. Then gave a simple answer.
"I'm not too well-versed in magic, but spirit magic is a different story. That's why I came."
"Fair enough. There are people with high spirit affinity who don't even study magic."
In truth, I could learn magic as a trait if I wanted. But efficiency issues and conflicts with swordsmanship made it something I had no intention of pursuing.
Instead, I gazed at Rosette for a bit. Her outfit was neat as always. A beige wool sweater for the cold outdoor practice. And a pink skirt shorter than her knees.
Rosette's commoner attire looked better to me than the classic noble ladies' outfits.
Eirin, Lillia, or Chloe. Beauties on that level radiated an aura even the boldest man would hesitate to approach.
But Rosette had a more relaxed vibe by comparison. Her style of dress was lighter, more natural, you could say.
In contrast to her pretty ensemble, the witch robe draped over it was several sizes too big. That witchy touch only added to her cuteness.
I felt an odd familiarity toward this Rosette. Probably because the original owner of this body, Julian, had been close to her. Even I, possessing his body, might instinctively feel those emotions.
'Or maybe Julian's tastes ran toward cute girls like this.'
I subtly checked with my inner tyrant. But even a savage guy like him wasn't stirring in a situation like this.
Anyway, following that instinct, I felt like teasing Rosette.
"By the way. Have you gotten used to the magic wand I gave you, Rosette?"
"Of course! I use it perfectly now!"
Rosette proudly showed me her long black magic wand. As expected, it couldn't stay in its original dick shape, so it was modified like I'd seen before.
"Still uncomfortable using the original shape? It's different from the one I gifted you."
"W-Well... that shape is just a bit..."
"Yeah. I get it. Can't be helped if that's how you feel."
When I made a sullen face, Rosette panicked hard.
"S-Sorry. It does feel wrong to alter an artwork you put so much effort into on my whim. If you want, I can change it back to—"
"No need. A gift should suit the user's taste anyway. I already said it was fine last time."
"Yeah... you're right, but..."
"Besides, you seem to have a thing for long, thick black sticks. Like I said before."
It wasn't wrong. She'd lengthened it quite a bit for balance on her flying mount, and widened the girth for better ride comfort.
"You ride that long black stick all the time? Pressing your ass and thighs right up against it?"
"Quit saying creepy old-man stuff! You did this last time too!"
Catching on to my teasing, Rosette puffed her cheeks. I barely resisted pinching them.
Anyway, that was enough teasing. I'd gained some chaos from the light prank, and having Rosette nearby boosted my Spirit Mage trait proficiency too.
As expected of a genius witch, her spirit affinity was exceptional too. My bloodline gave me high spirit affinity as well. We were probably influencing each other positively.
As Rosette and I chatted, the professor in charge of spirit magic practice finally arrived. She was a witch named Olivia.
"Sorry! Took a bit gathering the practice spirits!"
True to witch form, Professor Olivia arrived riding a magic wand from the sky. Once landed, she gossiped endlessly with nearby cadets. She even lit a pipe with a puff.
Worlds apart from Professor Elmair of the Alchemy Department. He'd launched straight into lecture upon arrival.
'His lectures weren't exactly thrilling unless you cared about alchemy proficiency.'
Comparing the plain middle-aged Elmair to Olivia was unfair to her. Emerald long hair, breasts rivaling Lillia's in size. She oozed sex appeal.
Professor Olivia was the classic milf witch archetype. Someone approached her then—a teaching assistant from the Magic Department, it seemed.
After the assistant spoke, her gaze flicked toward me.
"Count Julian is here?"
I heard her call my name.
Spirit magic practice began. The spot, lively with cadets' chatter moments ago, grew even noisier.
Nearby female cadets' voices carried over.
"Which spirit do you see clearest?"
"Sylph for me. You?"
"Gnome. But sylphs are prettier. Jealous..."
Professor Olivia had captured tons of spirits from a magic tree branch near the World Tree's roots. She released them all into the practice field.
"Maybe it's the mincho tea. Spirits look clearer."
"Handing out something this pricey to all of us. Border Count heirs really are different."
"Chit-chat's fun, but pay more attention to the spirits, yeah?"
Cadets communed with spirits matching their affinities. Professor Olivia's voice rang out too.
Teacups dotted the cadets' spots. I'd distributed mincho tea to them all. As the girls said, it sharpened spirit senses nicely. Probably the refreshing blend.
'Spirit magic practice isn't much, huh.'
It hinged on communion with spirits. No need for complex theory.
Sipping mincho tea, I watched cadets chase flying spirits in a frenzy.
Rosette beside me watched too, teacup in hand.
"Hmm. Giving mincho tea to everyone here? Aren't you too nice, Julian?"
"It helps with spirit magic. Just testing it out."
"You don't hand out mincho tea lightly to just anyone! Commoners get the wrong idea. You don't know how it features in the hottest romance novel in the capital right now?"
A novel? I was puzzled. The Demon King's Son didn't cover capital culture.
"Even on opening ceremony day, I almost misunderstood. That novel has a scene where the commoner heroine drinks mincho tea from the noble hero. Of course, I know that's not us!"
Rosette puffed her cheeks—annoyed or what? Come to think of it, I'd served her mincho tea at the atelier that day.
'Is "that meaning" some romantic thing between man and woman? If so, kinda sorry she thought that.'
But serving everyone now cleared any misconceptions.
Mincho tea—pricy luxury for commoners. I'd ordered it via a cafe outside Pantheon for delivery.
Cadets' reactions varied wildly.
Overwhelming gratitude. Shock at noble money games. Or just profit from free fancy tea. True to free-spirited mages, responses differed.
That mix of chaotic emotions spiked the ambient chaos.
[Chaos captured. +123]
[Chaos captured. +75]
[Chaos captured. +32]
...
[Acquired Chaos (652/1000)]
That was exactly why I'd bothered with the mincho tea. Chaos spiked instantly like this.
In this vibe, I'd max it before practice ended.
'Getting on good terms with Magic Department cadets can't hurt. Useful for future quests.'
Investing ahead for the long game. Then Rosette spoke.
"Guess I'll make a contract too."
Instantly, Professor Olivia and all cadets focused on her.
"Rosette's contracting!"
"How many can Rosette handle? What do you think, Prof?"
"Three easy. She's exceptional."
"Prof agrees. Rosette's our department rep."
Most cadets were contracting one spirit. Affinity rose with element understanding, but...
Simultaneous multi-element communion needed raw talent beyond knowledge. Even dual contracts caused huge fuss.
'Wonder about Rosette.'
Blue mana shimmered around her. Contract starting. Moments later, results exceeded Olivia's expectations.
"Contracted all four spirits!"
Genius witch indeed. Four lesser spirits orbited her: salamander, undine, sylph, gnome.
"Rosette!! Pride of our department!!"
Olivia hugged her tight. Cadets pinched her cheeks en masse.
"S-Stop... enough..."
"Four at once—first time since the department started. Spirits must love cute witches like you, huh?"
Rosette flushed at the prof's reaction.
'But not enough chaos from this.'
Everyone knew her skill, so no real shock—just awe.
Soon, eyes turned to me near her.
"Lord Count Julian? Struggling with contracts? I could help. After treating our kids to mincho tea..."
Olivia approached with a sultry voice, grasping my hand lightly.
"Contact with a witch's body... might boost your affinity more?"
Blatant seduction, but cadets didn't bat an eye.
'How free is this vibe.'
Olivia was milf enough to stir my tyrant a tad, but timing mattered. I smiled, declining.
"I'm fine, Professor. I can manage."
"Oh? A martial house heir. Heard you wowed the Alchemy Department. Shall we watch?"
Word of my stone golem had spread. Rival departments shared intel fast.
Anyway, I refocused. Blue mana flared around me like Rosette's.
Flying spirits swarmed me. I closed my eyes briefly.
Spirits whispered. Incomprehensible words filled my head, but instinct understood. I affirmed them all.
'I'll contract you all.'
Opening my eyes, four spirits orbited me, just like Rosette's.
The bustling market-like noise hushed instantly, like when I'd arrived. Olivia broke the silence.
"Contracted all four? Even lesser ones—that's impossible!"
System alerts flooded my view simultaneously.
Apparently, my feat was the true upset compared to Rosette's.
That night.
I summoned a darkness spirit via subquest reward.
The four major spirits—all contracted—upped the summonable darkness spirit's rank. And not just that. The next subquest unlocked simultaneously.
The Ordinary Incubus trait, unlocked via mana stimulation with Uriel. Upgrading it cleared this subquest.
'Tricky activation conditions.'
To invade dreams with it, several prerequisites:
'Implant suggestion during day. Know the target's bedroom. And finally...'
Erect my tyrant right before sleep. No ejaculation allowed.
Two candidates met conditions now: Eirin and Uriel.
But Uriel trained non-stop post-combat grounds access, advancing Lion Heart Sword. Dream invasion would hinder her.
'Eirin's dream it is.'
No moon tonight—perfect for fast proficiency gains. As I decided to act, Eirin entered my room.
"Young master. Here to attend you tonight."