Chapter 50
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 050
Chapter Title: Veterans and Newcomers (5)
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‘Mana’s no problem.’
The mana required to cast Body Sculpting Magic was 100.
Reading the Underground Guide Grimoire had boosted my mana capacity by 50, but it was still short of what I needed.
That wasn’t a real issue, though.
Mana recovered over time.
So what I really needed to focus on were the materials.
‘I need four materials.’
Body Sculpting Magic strengthened an undead’s body.
As such, it required specific components.
Bone, flesh, blood, and heart.
They didn’t have to be literal—they could be equivalents.
For bone, say, an actual bone wasn’t mandatory; a magic tool could substitute.
‘Troll byproducts could cover all four, but that’s a backup plan. Not the best choice.’
Using magic tools as materials yielded better results than plain ones.
Magic tools held mysteries in their own right.
So I planned to save the troll parts for a failed first try and use my top materials for bone, flesh, blood, and heart.
‘Bernard’s fangs for bone. Mana clay for flesh... And the red gem from the werewolf for the heart.’
That left blood.
Regrettably, I had no magic tool equivalent.
Troll blood it was, then.
‘Blood from the troll.’
There was a workaround, technically.
I could use Moisture Magic to gather pure water and treat it as a material.
But it was wildly inefficient. Filling even a basin would take ages.
And there was no guarantee it’d outperform troll blood.
‘Yeah, no matter how I look at it, troll blood beats water.’
A troll’s freakish regeneration.
Broaden your view, and that was mystical too.
Its blood should make fine material.
Freshness was tricky to maintain, but it’d hold until tonight.
‘Ah, if freshness weren’t an issue, I could’ve made a fortune.’
Troll blood was the most valuable byproduct.
Key ingredient for healing potions.
Ideally, I’d drain it dry.
But that was pie in the sky.
No long-term storage.
It’d rot before finding a buyer.
“Sir Bear. Mind scouting for a barrel nearby? I need it for the troll blood.”
I shook off my regrets and turned to Bear.
“I’ll look.”
Bear answered without hesitation.
Then Conall cut in.
“I saw wooden barrels on the cart with the warlocks’ food. I’ll fetch one.”
Conall headed off.
Bear eyed me.
Expecting another task, no doubt.
I happily obliged.
I needed his help anyway.
“Once Sir Conall brings the barrel, I’ll fill it with troll blood. Then wrap it in troll hide to seal out air as much as possible. Mind skinning the troll for that?”
Skinning.
Not knightly work.
I worried Bear might bristle, but he left with a neutral face.
Loyal to a fault.
‘Good. Time for me to make mana clay.’
I planned to cast Body Sculpting Magic tonight.
Had to stockpile mana clay first.
After Conall returned with the barrel,
I tried dumping the wine inside.
Bear and Conall shot it down.
“Lord Heros, tossing fine wine like that? If you must discard it, pour it into our bellies.”
“Sir Bear speaks true.”
They stared at me.
Then took turns guzzling from the huge barrel, hoisting it effortlessly and chugging.
The wine vanished in seconds.
“Impressive...”
I marveled at the knights.
Their tolerance was unreal—a full barrel down, faces unchanged.
After that brief break,
we resumed work.
‘Lucky to have Bear and Conall.’
Couldn’t hang the troll upside down like an animal.
4 meters tall, it weighed a ton.
So we went partial incision.
One lifted arm or leg; the other slit a vein to drain.
Bear and Conall handled it.
I... just made mana clay.
“All set.”
Bear reported soon after.
I kept shaping mana clay, glancing at him.
“Use the hide you prepped to wrap the barrel tight. No gaps.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Bear worked,
I called to Sir Conall.
He had a job too.
“Sir Conall. Load the troll head on the cart.”
The head proved our victory best.
Baron Burch would love it.
Had to take it.
Oh, and battlefield loot: weapons, warlock heads including Terence’s, the blood barrel—plenty to pack.
“Understood.”
Not my employer, yet Conall agreed readily.
We were closer now.
Made sense.
We’d fought together and shared secrets.
‘Might be time to recruit him.’
I shelved the thought.
Later issue.
Rejoin the group first.
Packed everything,
resumed the march.
Soon met the able-bodied who’d fled earlier.
They’d waited nearby.
Reunited, we pushed hard, chasing Baron Burch.
It paid off—we caught up before dusk.
“Oho! Heros! You’re my hero!”
Burch leaped from his carriage, beaming.
“Guess my name really is Heros.”
He roared with laughter.
Finally sobering, he addressed Bear and Conall at my sides.
“You lot too. Hard work. We dodged disaster thanks to you.”
They nodded silently.
Burch praised our win,
then eyed me.
“What of the enemy leader?”
“Over there.”
I pointed to our cart.
He grinned.
“Just the head?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s verify.”
At the cart, Burch spotted the troll head—eyes bulging.
“Wh-what’s this?!”
“Troll head. Enemy summoned it, so we took it down hard. Sir Bear and Sir Conall earned big merits.”
“Heavens...”
Burch gaped at it,
then flashed a huge grin.
“Now I’ve got words for Father-in-Law. ‘How do you beat guys commanding monsters like this?’”
He checked the warlock heads beside it—including Terence’s.
“Fitting end. Warlock fate.”
Sneering heartily,
he turned to me, relieved.
“Heros. You did wonders. Want anything? If I can grant it, name it.”
“Thank you. Nothing for now. The grimoires you gave cover it. Today’s win was thanks to those three.”
I played humble mage.
Burch chuckled heartily.
“Can’t let major service slide.”
Pondered briefly,
then continued.
“At Chester Castle, I’ll detail this to Father-in-Law. Expect big rewards. Plus, I’ll repay you personally. Mull what you’d like.”
Chester Earl—eastern powerhouse.
His rewards would exceed imagination.
Burch’s too?
Worth the grind.
I stifled a grin, bowing to Burch.
“Here’s to more.”
He clapped my shoulder, humming back to his carriage.
I watched him go, then turned to Bear and Conall.
“Alright. Let’s begin.”
Time for new magic.
A bit from camp.
With Bear and Conall’s aid, I hauled Body Sculpting materials here.
Secluded spot—perfect for secrecy.
“Sir Bear, watch the perimeter. You too, Sir Conall.”
Tasked with guard,
I summoned Gilbert.
He hopped out from bushes on one leg—heartbreaking.
‘Gilbert, hang on. I’ll make you a new body.’
Conveyed that,
checked materials last.
Bone, flesh, blood, heart.
All set.
Click.
Barrel lid open—red liquid sloshed.
Prep done.
Positioned Gilbert before the four,
cast Body Sculpting Magic.
‘Here we go!’
Mana drained from me.
Focus now.
I led the process.
One slip could spell trouble.
‘Heart first.’
The red gem drew my focus.
Familiar’s power source—handle with care.
Hummm.
Selected as material, it floated at my will.
Slowly to Gilbert’s chest center.
Simple reason: spread power evenly.
Plus, easier to shield from attacks.
‘Perfect.’
Gem arrived.
I fixed it—mana burst out, enveloping Gilbert.
Gem pulsed red everywhere.
Magic tool integrating—normal reaction.
I waited.
Hummm.
Light faded.
Next phase.
‘Bones after heart.’
Bernard’s fangs.
Chosen.
Crack!
Fangs powdered.
A handful of dust.
Natural step.
Gently guided it to Gilbert.
‘It’s working!’
Dust absorbed into Gilbert.
Body regenerated fast.
Half-ruined form restored swiftly.
Like rewinding time.
And more: bones thickened, bulking him up bigger than before.
Clear message.
Fangs outdid my expectations.
‘Whoa...’
I stared, awestruck.
Mystical whole.
But snapped to.
Not done.
Stay sharp.
‘Flesh next.’
Mana clay’s turn.
Splat!
Pile I’d amassed.
Hauled it onto Gilbert’s torso.
Spread wide, expanding.
Soon clay-covered like a golem doll.
True wonder followed.
Shrrk.
Fully coated,
earthy mana clay lightened, turning skin-like.
Indistinguishable from human.
Barren body sprouted lush hair, body hair.
Earlier awkwardness gone—now truly lifelike.
Handsome black-haired youth with sharp features.
Gilbert’s new look.
‘His living form?’
Prepped finale.
Troll blood remained.
‘Move!’
Barrel blood surged airborne.
Splash!
Bloody mass in air.
I hurled it at Gilbert.
Splatter!
Troll blood soaked him,
wrapping fully.
I envisioned.
Blood flowing in veins.
Blood seeped inward.
Then veins bulged on skin,
color flushing pale flesh.
‘Truly alive.’
No heartbeat, no breath.
But visually, human.
Vivid, eyes-ready-to-open.
Yet still.
Time to wake him.
“Gilbert.”
Eyes opened, fixed on me.
Steady black pupils.
I smiled.
My Gilbert.
“Make a fist.”
Test new body—he clenched both.
Arm muscles rippled.
Movement lifelike too.
That sealed it.
‘Body Sculpting Magic: perfect success.’
Body Sculpting Magic succeeded.