Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Chapter 25: The Day the World Turned Upside Down
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Before leaving the island, I obtained more cores from the Ancient Seal chieftain in a very gentlemanly manner.
-Hey, hey. Seal chieftain? How many more cores do you have? I already know everything, so spit them out quick.
-Eh? Don't you know who I am? Aren't you lot the race that serves the Queen of Fire? Should I summon the Queen again and tattle on you?
-Didn't you just see? I made a contract with the Queen, hugged her, did everything there is to do with her.
-Come on, let's not do that. Aren't we already family? I ate your core, so if we're splitting hairs, aren't I like your child? So give me a few more cores. I'll use them for something really good. Yeah?
Hmm....
Looking back, it doesn't seem all that gentlemanly after all.
Anyway, that's how I secured two additional cores.
With this, the cores I've obtained are one Ancient Wolf core and two Ancient Seal cores.
Eating more cores of the ones I've already consumed wouldn't make sense anyway. So I need to select some of my subordinates and feed them.
When I first got Rigal's core, I planned to wait as long as possible, observe my subordinates' growth and abilities more, then feed it to them. Cores are precious items you can't obtain multiple times.
But the situation has changed now.
Berserkers, Death Worms. And even the Infection Lord.
My subordinates' training growth can't keep up with the speed at which otherworld monsters are appearing.
So I need to feed the extra cores as quickly as possible and power them up, right?
I crossed the sea again with flight magic, pondering the distribution of the cores.
Should I give both types of cores to Meredes after all?
Meredes's physical potential is top-tier.
Even if she just wears low-grade magic armor right now, she could fight evenly against a Knight Expert in mid-grade magic armor.
So if she consumes two cores at once here?
She could immediately aim for Knight Expert, or even beyond, right?
"If we're talking like that, feeding it to Dabi, who's already a Knight Master...."
This is also an exciting prospect. However, Dabi has already fully realized her potential. She might not see much effect even if fed a core.
Conversely, what about feeding it to the weakest, Kyle?
Of course, that would be solid insurance too.
There are more than one or two areas where I rely on Kyle right now. If he dies, a lot of plans would go awry.
Feeding him a core would at least boost his survival rate no matter what incidents pop up ahead.
Of course, beyond this business-like perspective, I have personal favoritism too.
It'd be nice to see Kyle stand tall proudly amid those monster-like guys. We've known each other the longest, so I've grown quite attached.
"No. I can't indulge in favoritism in this situation. This is the last chance. I have to make the most efficient choice."
If I had cores to spare, maybe.
Come to think of it, this ties into the mission from the Queen of Fire too.
-Absorb more Ancient cores. Become a human strong enough to accept me.
-Then you too will obtain what you truly desire.
I don't know how much she knows or guessed to say that.
In any case, if I gain the physical strength to withstand spirit possession by the Fire Spirit King and the Queen of Fire, it would naturally make repelling the otherworld invasion much easier to the end.
"I've already achieved results unimaginable for a first-year regressor...."
I've already accomplished or surpassed most of the early tech tree and routes prepared for this 10th round. In that sense, checking myself with Appraisal Eye....
Race: Human
Current Stealth: S+
Current Strength: D
Current Magic: S+
Current Divine Magic: S
Current Elixir Art: C
Potential Elixir Art: S
Current Spirit Magic: A+
Current Beast Affinity: C
Potential Necromancy: S
Behold this glorious spec sheet.
At this level, it probably doesn't fall short compared to the specs I reached at the end of the 9th round, right?
Of course, I didn't have Appraisal Eye back then, so direct comparison isn't possible.
What's certain is that my physical abilities are incomparably better than in the 9th round.
Bragging about mere D-grade strength? It was definitely E or F before, guaranteed.
Magic has also advanced tremendously through the lich's mana crystal, enabling multi-casting.
That was only A+ at the end of the 9th round, but it's probably jumped to S+ this time.
The peculiar thing is that there are hardly any remaining potential abilities.
This means no further growth is possible through normal means.
"To raise strength here... in other words, physical ability, the only option left is cores, right?"
If I consume the core of the next target, 'Ancient Bear', wouldn't my D-grade strength jump straight to C or even B?
Beast affinity seems to rise the more cores I consume too. Once it maxes out later, maybe I can use it elsewhere?
Like persuading beasts to join the war against the otherworld, for example?
"Nice.... Perfect...."
It's a scenario that feels good just imagining it.
Excluding the fact that the otherworld's spy forces—i.e., their sponsor—are speeding up faster than I expected, this is truly a perfect start....
No, wait.
Come to think of it, can't I speed up from here too?
-So return to the 'Boiling River' and eliminate all the 'Lava Eels' living there. Only then can you contract with me.
-Ugh, that's too hard....
-Hard? Then there's another way. Fight me and win. If you can make me move even a single step from this throne, I'll acknowledge your victory.
This was the conversation I had with the Queen of Fire in the previous 9th round. I got the hint from it to form a quick contract with her this time.
Next is the conversation with the Earth Spirit King Terajik from the 8th round.
-My mission for you is to triple the number of all ogres in the Jairut Mountains. Then I'll contract with you.
-Wait, there's only 2 years left? That's impossible!
-2 years? Deadlines don't matter. Why are you setting a 2-year limit yourself?
-Because the gate opens in 2 years.... No, it's not about 2 years—it's impossible even with 10 years! How can you triple the population in 10 years!
-10 years? Now why 10 years? I said deadlines don't matter, didn't I?
-Maybe not for you, but I can't afford more than 10 years at a time.
-Is that so? Then there's another way. Survive my fist. Then I'll contract.
-Uh.... Can I use magic or divine magic? Or both?
-Neither. Also, you can't wear that armor you guys use.
-Survive bare-handed without magic armor? You think that's possible!?
For reference, the Earth Spirit King Terajik is a purple steel-jade mass over twice the size of the lower-grade rock spirit Rukkar. And it has four arms to boot.
Just in case, I asked Terajik one favor back then.
-Can you show me how you'll attack? How you'll hit me?
Without hesitation, it leaned back, then in an instant unleashed four full-swing punches slicing through the air.
One alone would turn me to mincemeat, let alone four at once.
Naturally, no normal human could survive bare-handed against its full swing x4.
Even a Knight Master like Dabi would be committing suicide. Knights just draw out magic armor's power well; their bodies aren't inherently tough.
That's why I gave up on contracting with the Earth Spirit King.
But considering the effects of the cores I've eaten this time.... Maybe it's possible now?
1. Powerful base anti-magic resistance.
2. Powerful base durability.
3. Powerful cardiopulmonary endurance (stamina)
These are the abilities from the Ancient Seal core. There's a 4th one too, but it's useless, so no need to mention.
Anyway, I can feel my body becoming incredibly sturdy.
Plus, the other beast in sight, the Ancient Bear core, also boosts durability further.
Maybe I can contract with Terajik this time?
I just need to survive one punch from him bare-handed, right?
With that in mind, the next route is decided: the 'Heterorace Alliance' route.
I need to break through here to connect via land route to Dark Mountain where the Ancient Bear lives. Only with a land route can I transport enough honey to fill the mansion.
Plus, I can contract with the wood spirit related to the elves. This one might get more complicated....
Thanks to that, acquiring Arch Wizard Trombone has to be postponed again. Sorry, Trombone sir. Or maybe he'd prefer this?
That old man is probably happily brewing his own liquor in some rural village in another country right now.
So enjoy the peace a bit longer. Until I summon you and work you to the bone, that is.
* * *
The dwarf outpost located on the eastern edge of the Eternal Forest.
This place served as an advance base to block imperial forces from bypassing the forest.
However, the ones directly confronting the empire were ultimately the elves.
Though the dwarves had temporarily allied with the elves, they weren't in a situation extreme enough to risk all-out war with the empire.
"Hmm, not bad booze."
Dwarf Forge Lord Gelri poured potent liquor from a massive wooden mug into his mouth and smacked his beard.
"Humans, what wind blew to make them offer all this? And who's this Claude?"
True to his fame, Gelri had set up a forge even in the outpost for his hobby.
The moment the boozed-up dwarf lord grabbed hammer and tongs with his unbelievably thick arms.
"Long time no see, Lord."
From the shadows opposite the blazing furnace, a man wrapped in bandages suddenly emerged and greeted him.
"Hoh, the sponsor? I think it every time I see you, but you've got skills. How do you pop out from there like that?"
"It's dimensional movement using a linked life as medium. A cheat based on my special attribute 'Shadow'. Of course, even explaining it like this, it's hard to understand easily."
"Yeah. No clue. Want a drink anyway? Can't mistreat the benefactor who brought good gifts."
Gelri picked up the huge barrel beside him with one hand. The sponsor shook his head and slowly walked toward the center of the forge.
"Eating is prohibited here. I'll gratefully decline. But you handle that huge barrel with one hand so easily. It's bigger than you, Lord."
"This? All thanks to the wish you granted."
Setting down the barrel, Gelri flexed his massive forearms over twice the size of a normal dwarf's and grinned.
-You'll grant my wish? Then give me arms that can forge endlessly. My current arms can't make what I want.
Gelri's wish had been simple.
As a result, despite his relatively small stature compared to humans, a dwarf lord with freakishly long and thick arms was born.
In the human world, he'd be shunned as a freak.
But in boisterous dwarf society, this unique appearance drew massive acclaim. Thanks to it, Gelri lived happily as not just lord, but 'Forge Lord'.
"On the flip side, you were so satisfied that I can't expect further distortion, but no matter. What I expect from you, Lord, is in another area. Is the magic armor I requested before completed?"
"Yeah. Over there, done."
Gelri pointed to the enormous magic armor erected in one corner of the forge.
"But why need something that huge? Not dwarf or human size—planning to put it on an ogre or something?"
"No. Thinking of putting an octopus in it."
"Octopus?"
"Ah, poor choice of words. Should've said Horror Lord. Anyway, it needs to be this size for Phiren-nim's body to fit entirely."