Not Mere Luck

"It seems it wasn't just coincidence. Or perhaps your luck is extraordinarily good."

It sounded like sarcasm, but it was praise. The mere fact that the haughty Alter acknowledged someone was astonishing enough.

"Whichever it is, that's your ability too. Your rank is pathetically low, but I have no choice but to admit that fellow's eyes weren't wrong."

"Thank you."

- Thanks my ass! How dare this punk evaluate this body's incarnation...

Tud growled, already having taken a dislike to him, but Vulcan was satisfied. After all, he'd earned recognition from one of the most influential figures in the kingdom—not to mention properly kicking off the main scenario quest.

"It's still too soon to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entrust you with major tasks, but your growth rate is impressive enough for simple missions. But first..."

"...?"

Ignoring him, Alter scanned Vulcan up and down like appraising an object, then snapped his fingers with evident dissatisfaction.

"Let's raise your title first. With such a low rank and status, there'll be almost nothing you can do."

"Pardon?"

A sheet of parchment materialized between Alter and Vulcan, and a document began writing itself automatically. Using his authority as a count, he'd bumped up Vulcan's lowly noble status by one rank.

'Have I already accumulated that much contribution?'

In his haste, Vulcan hadn't checked, but it seemed the contribution from the recent great battle was massive. Even Alter couldn't promote titles for free.

'I was planning to hit the contribution shop... He doesn't give an inch. Tsk.'

Vulcan smacked his lips while sneakily checking his contribution—it was still decent even after the promotion, but not enough for anything meaningful from the shop. His plan to buy items there, sell them at auction, and recoup costs was derailed, but he couldn't blame Alter. This was actually a gain. Titles couldn't be bought with contribution alone.

'With Alter as my backer, no worries.'

Plus, this promotion came with Alter's personal endorsement. Other NPC nobles would hear of it, pegging Vulcan as part of Alter's faction—untouchable regardless of rank. Higher noble ranks yielded more contribution anyway, so recovery wouldn't be hard.

"Thank you."

"No need for thanks. It benefits me too."

Thus, Alter felt zero guilt over burning Vulcan's contribution. Plenty would pay multiples of the cost for this favor. Some users had enough for promotion but stalled—better to leverage a powerful patron for instant political and social clout than creep up and draw envy.

"I considered granting you territory, but you haven't earned that much yet. Maybe for the best. Better to roam, gain experience and rank while growing. Your talent for sniffing out those rats suits that anyway."

Alter had toyed with granting one of his own territories but held back. Contribution fell short for justification, and tying Vulcan down wouldn't help either of them.

Instead, he made an offer to light up Vulcan's eyes.

"Request anything you need anytime. If it's not excessive greed, I'll cooperate fully. Pay the right price, and I'll hand over territory or goods. Contribution or gold—fair exchange."

If Vulcan ponied up enough contribution or cash, Alter would yield his holdings. A solid premise, but wildly tempting. Territories weren't casually sold, even for money—taxes flowed steadily, and only desperate fallen nobles parted with them, at exorbitant prices far exceeding value.

"Then, may I make a request now?"

"Already? Speak."

Vulcan's mind raced. It was premature, no limits on requests, so why waste the chance? He'd rushed here on summons, but meetings with Alter were rare. Recognition secured future access, but face-to-face beat proxies.

"I need spellbooks."

"Spellbooks?"

Alter tilted his head at the unexpected ask, but Vulcan deemed it optimal now.

He'd bought low-circle spells from mage guilds before, but higher circles demanded special quests at mage towers—and even then, as a non-mage, eligibility was iffy.

'High-circle spellbooks? Forget buying them.'

They dropped ultra-rarely from mobs or came via mentor NPCs or tower contribution. For Vulcan's Magic Imprint and Magic Engraving, Alter was his sole high-circle source.

"As you know, I'm a craftsman. Also a Magic Imprinter who enchants gear. To embed principles for superior equipment, I need spellbooks."

"Magic Imprinting? Don't you need spellbooks for that?"

"My skill's special. It doesn't just boost stats or add effects—it imprints entire skills onto gear."

Alter cocked his head. Standard imprinting only mildly boosted stats or added minor abilities.

So Vulcan explained a bit, building trust for cooperation. Alter wouldn't blab.

"Imprint skills? Magic too?"

"Yes. Precisely, embed the principle so anyone can use it with enough mana. Mana cost is higher than true skill use, but versatility is huge."

"Embed principles into gear? Hm. That shield too?"

"Pardon? Ah, yes. Correct."

True to his grand mage status, Alter instantly recognized Vulcan's shield, Unyielding Warrior's Conviction, spotting the telekinesis spell within. It confirmed Vulcan's honesty.

"Intriguing concept. Unsure of limits, but even mid-tier magic imprinted would profit despite drawbacks. Fine. I'll help. That kid'll love it."

"Thank you?"

That kid? Who? Vulcan puzzled, but cooperation was a win.

"Uh, then... price? Any discounts...?"

Price mattered most. Alter's range was key, but unaffordable meant zilch—especially with Vulcan's tight funds.

"Give me a list of needed spellbooks. I'll price and respond."

Alter wouldn't commit blind—Vulcan's needs unknown, not everything handable. Positive, though prices would sting. Vulcan agreed, lips parched.

"Use this meanwhile. Show it at any mage tower for what you want."

"Whoa?!"

- Why fuss over scraps?

Vulcan jolted as Alter casually tossed the badge. Quest reward mentioned "Alter's recognition," but he hadn't expected this.

Grand Mage's Badge—known exclusive to Alter's disciples. Options were stellar, symbolic value immense.

"Didn't I say I recognize you? Just proof, nothing more. It'll ease getting spellbooks or magic items."

"Th-thank you."

"Seems you're set. Time for work. Investigate this place. Strange happenings lately."

"Here...?"

Alter waved, mana letters forming in air.

Prolant. Vulcan knew the name vaguely—no strong impressions. Maybe local monsters? Nothing specific. He'd have to check personally.

'A test?'

Rewards felt off. Main scenarios were famed for riches—massive EXP alone? "Mission Selection Rights" implied distrust. Solve this, earn true trust and pick quests?

'Fine. I'll make him trust me.'

Far from irked, defiance surged. Perfect success to humble Alter.

But Vulcan overlooked something. Why the title bump? Recognition earned, yet a test quest?

"I'll await word. Tell the temple yourself. This qualifies as key intel."

"Yes."

Alter bid farewell before Vulcan pondered. Parallel main quests with temple—his courtesy. He chased demon followers too, no info hoarding.

"And this—I can take it?"

"The soul stones? What for...?"

Instead, Alter claimed them: lizardman and human souls from the battle.

Liberating? No, he'd have done it already. Another use, Vulcan probed.

"If those bastards want 'em, gotta give."

"Pardon?"

"In exchange, I'll track their hideout."

Cryptic, but Vulcan got it: location tracking. Alter planned slipping stones with spells like on comm orbs. Only foes could use them—trace to wipe out.

'Wait, if so...?'

Mind whirring, Vulcan suppressed a grin, halting Alter.

"Hold on! If embedding tracking, give me some?"

"To you?"

"Yes. No guarantee no immortals among them. A few suffice. Grant disposal rights, I'll fish related players."

"Good. Do it."

Nice. Vulcan inwardly cheered. Soul stones useless alone, but bait for traitor players?

'Even at high cost.'

Alter embedded spells, handing two: lizardman and human souls. Lizardman plentiful from battle; humans Vulcan's haul—only two, precious.

"Thank you."

Meeting ended. Alter dismissed Vulcan, resummoned Dorian, chatted, then teleported away sans goodbye.

"Ahem. Vulcan... Viscount? Congrats on the feat. About those lizardman-hunting weapons...?"

The quartermaster NPC found booted Vulcan first.

"Ah, Quartermaster?"

"Please, casual speech."

Now Viscount with battle glory, the NPC was deferential, but Vulcan wouldn't snub him. Supplying gear boosted contribution nicely.

"Got 'em ready. Time crunch—no personal crafting. Here's the plan: blueprints. Delegate to camp smiths."

"Plenty grateful. If effective... no, your design guarantees it. We trust."

Mass production impossible personally. Knight gear alone time sink—not grinding skill rank.

'This'll do.'

Vulcan used blueprint skill for a Dragon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Eye recipe: Lizard Slayer. Lightened for lizard quickswords, tough for power crushes. Picked pre-battle scouting excuse.

"Ooh! Anti-lizardman weapon!! Mass-producing now. Thanks on behalf of Right Wall troops. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Fewer sacrifices now."

Vulcan handed blueprints; quartermaster rallied smiths for production.

Meanwhile, Vulcan skipped Prolant or temple, settling to craft 10 longswords—promised to squadmates.

Bad luck, not all Rare like before, but telekinesis imprinted solid. Outperformed average Lizard Slayers. His work.

"...Huh?"

Blueprints surely netted hefty contribution, yet odd alerts piled it on.

"Glitch?"

- Huh? Didn't you know?

No illusion, bug, or misread. Glancing back revealed why: smiths crafting slayers credited him contribution. Small per, but volume massive. Extras post-supply, constant remakes.

"...Contribution duplicates?"

Slow-copying contribution. Tud's jab aside, Vulcan grinned dopily.

Now Alter's promotion enabled his sidelined plan.