Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Overflowing Vitality (2)
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I decided to hop on Drepelius and make a quick round trip to the kingdom.
'Ah, open-air rides aren't my thing. I don't want the wind whipping my face.'
But the moment I climbed on, I froze.
There was this bizarre structure installed on its back.
"What's this?"
Baron Caron jumped in with an answer.
"His Highness the Prince had it made specially for when he rides Drepelius himself. Cheok Jun-kyung put a lot of thought into it."
"Looks less like a custom seat and more like a full-on moving carriage."
It was like they'd ripped the cabin off a luxury carriage and slapped it right behind the control seat.
When did they make these modifications?
'Gotta bring just Silvret with me.'
Let Canelian and Ceres enjoy some long-overdue family time.
'Drepelius, to the Arcana royal palace.'
-Understood, Master.
'As fast as possible, but keep it stable like we're parked on the ground.'
-H-How is that even possible? What kind of contradiction is that?
'I'm testing your flying skills.'
Thud. Thud.
I could feel the shaking as we took off.
The door was sealed tight—no wind leaking in.
"They lined the interior walls and ceiling with thick, cushy soundproofing material."
"Feels just like we're off on a honeymoon, doesn't it, Silvret?"
"H-Honeymoon...?"
"Reminds me of that time we headed to the Karbalon Mountains, just the two of us. That was fun."
Silvret's face turned beet red.
My favorite elf gets embarrassed way too easily.
She wasn't like this before.
Guess I'd tease my attachment elf to pass the time on the ride.
"Come here, Second Crown Princess."
"S-Second Crown Princess is too much for me. C-Concubine fits better."
"If I say you're Second Crown Princess, you are."
I pulled Silvret into my arms and patted her back.
She's so cute, flailing around not knowing where to put her arms every time I hug her.
Just hug back, that's all she needs to do.
"Silvret, you said large-scale magic circles are your specialty, right?"
"Yes. Urgent combat just doesn't mesh well with elves..."
Large-scale magic circles pack a punch but take time to activate.
'Since I can cast without incantations, I can cover attacks while she preps the big spells.'
Like a rapid-fire machine gun paired with charged cannon blasts.
Perfect match, a match made in heaven.
'Add Canelian tanking up front and Ceres on heals...'
Holy crap.
That's the ideal raid party right there.
'Baron Caron and Cheok Jun-kyung can run a sub-party.'
Can't have other guys in my main party.
Might even need Canelian to bump up her bikini armor's defense if things get dicey.
Plus, mobs that Windeller grabs give me the EXP anyway, so separate parties are more efficient.
'Wonder if Cheok Jun-kyung's buttering up Duke Valliere properly.'
The moment we landed at the palace, I grabbed a barrel of booze and headed straight to the underground cavern.
"Ancestor! Did you do something to Ceres?"
-Huh? I didn't do anything.
"Got it. Drink up."
-Kyaaah!
After handing a barrel bigger than herself to the pint-sized silver-haired loli dragon in polymorphed form,
I rummaged through my treasure vault next to the study.
'Where'd I put it? Shoved it in the corner figuring I'd never need it again... Ah, there it is.'
"Your Highness, are these all artifacts?"
"Sell 'em all, you could buy the Empire. Not that I'd ever sell."
My ironclad rule.
Once an item enters my hands, it never leaves.
Only trades for equal or better stuff.
"This is the one. Saga-rank (C), but perfect for Duchess Ceres."
This item's useless for players.
Full-mana max-level priests just spam heals.
No way I'm a mage slicing my own HP to heal Canelian.
Low-HP classes sharing with tanks would drop dead first.
So I figured it was just a toy... until now.
'Ceres is different.'
Grabbed the staff and rushed back to Elryad Duchy.
Airships take half a day minimum and guzzle mana stones.
Drepelius got us there in no time.
'Ride comfort's still trash, though. Better to use an airship next time. Ugh, motion sickness.'
The second I saw Ceres, I handed her the staff.
"An artifact suited for me?"
"That's right, Duchess Ceres. Here's the deal..."
I explained it step by step.
Ceres, Canelian, Silvret.
All three gaped in shock.
"It uses my vitality to heal others?"
"I've got excess vitality overflowing?"
"Instant wound healing? Never heard of such a thing!"
I explained again to the flustered Ceres.
"Duchess, the Ring of Life has you brimming with vitality right now. Use the excess to heal His Grace the Duke."
"W-Will it really work?"
"Trust my eyes."
Ceres half-doubted but tried for her father.
"H-Heal!"
Embarrassed, she squeezed her eyes shut and activated it. I saw the staff drain her vitality.
Her excess vitality dropped by 1%.
Flash!
"Hngh! S-Son-in-law! Vitality's surging through me!"
The Duke shot up, patting himself down in disbelief.
Canelian covered her mouth with both hands.
"Unbelievable. An artifact like this exists."
"Useful only for Duchess Ceres. Drains your own vitality to heal others."
"Dear, you okay? Can you move your back alright?"
"Feels amazing. Like I could fly!"
"Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness!"
The happy ducal couple warmed my heart.
Over time, her excess vitality refilled.
Just as I predicted.
'Ring of Life and Bloodsucking Priest's Staff are basically a set.'
Wouldn't work without the ring suddenly hitting legendary tier.
How it went legendary—or if it can mythic—is for later.
For now...
"Duchess Ceres, want to test how far you can push this?"
"...Pardon?"
Ceres stared blankly at the staff, still processing, but her eyes lit up at my words.
"Yes. Let's do it right now."
Spirited. I like that.
Discernment Eye hitting C-rank let me see items, objects, mana, and now vitality.
Game terms: I can see character stats.
'Names would be nice too. That's the one downside.'
Anyway, check Canelian's vitality...
'As expected of a Swordmaster. Even at max level, she'd outpace me several times over.'
"Ready. Come at us, Your Highness, Professor!"
"Say so if it hurts or gets dangerous."
"H-Here I gooo..."
Empty training grounds.
Silvret and I prepped attack spells.
'Thunder Chain!'
A light opener.
Boom!
-100
"Coming at yooou..."
Silvret hesitated but finished her magic circle and unleashed it.
A fireball nailed Canelian's gut, flames spreading hot.
-200
My favorite elf—no, high mage prepping for ascension...
"Still fine. You can hit harder."
"Got it."
Boom! Whoosh! Bang! Flash!
Silvret and I kept blasting spells.
Canelian's vitality finally dipped to 66%.
Perfect to test Ceres's heal limit.
"Duchess Ceres."
"Ah, yes! R-Right!"
Ceres snapped out of staring at her sister taking hits and grabbed the staff.
"Heal!"
The blue gem absorbed vitality, glowed red, then flowed to Canelian.
'Exactly. It's pure vitality moving, not mana.'
"Keep going, Duchess."
"Y-Yes! Heal! Heal! Heal! Heal! Heal! Heal!"
Refreshing heal spam shower.
Canelian's vitality climbed fast.
"Canelian? How's it feel?"
"I can feel my body recovering! This is amazing!"
"Your Highness, no issues for Duchess Ceres, right?"
"None. She's not draining her own vitality. Just using the excess overflow."
"Don't worry, Canelian! I feel fine! Heal! Heal! Heal!"
Ceres looked... happy spamming heals.
A vitality I'd never seen from her.
Her mana surge as a kid wrecked her body, leaving her magicless forever.
Her reward circuits might be firing off wildly...
"Ehehehe! Heal! Heal! Take my heals, sis!"
"S-Sis? Your hair! Your eyes?"
"Duchess Ceres's hair and eyes are changing color!"
The golden aura mixed in her hair and eyes faded.
Reverting to her original purple hues.
'Ah, so excess vitality shows like that.'
Ceres.
Excess drained dry, she reverted to purple hair and eyes.
Canelian fully restored.
"Duchess Ceres, remember how your hair looks now. That's after burning all excess vitality."
Ceres checked her hair, took a deep breath.
"So this is what it feels like... to use magic."
It's healing, not magic.
And 100% item cheese...
Best not say that.
"Sis, incredible. With you backing me up, I can fight without worrying about injuries."
"Yeah... Canelian, I feel so weird."
"Duchess, that was amazing. More profound and mystical than any magic I know."
My attachment heroines losing their minds over first-time heals.
"Duchess Ceres, we need your power for the chaos ahead.
As you saw, with you, Canelian fights freely without injury fears."
"Your Highness..."
Tears welled in Duchess Ceres's eyes.
I can't imagine her feelings after a lifetime crippled by childhood mana surge.
"Can I... stand by your side now?"
"We—you, Canelian, Professor Silvret—need your heals."
Tears finally rolled down Ceres's cheeks.
"I'll fight with you. Forever..."
Golden flecks began mixing back into her purple hair and eyes.