Chapter 70 — The Warrior’s Mettle
1
Spirits.
In games, they are often portrayed as enigmatic entities.
Beings with origins and natures distinct from the spirits we and they are familiar with.
They are depicted as born from human emotions, not belonging to a separate spirit realm.
As such, they respond more genuinely to human emotions than anything else.
They are the embodiment of human sentiments.
Thus, they flourish through humans’ intense emotional experiences.
[Feel it.]
[Embrace our power.]
[Be true to yourself.]
[You are us, and we are you.]
Words akin to incantations swirled in Melanie’s mind.
Since deciding to acknowledge the spirits, she had delved into numerous books on the subject.
Many renowned spirit users of past generations had penned autobiographies for future generations.
When you’re honest with your emotions.
When you can push your feelings to their extremes, spirits evolve.
Melanie now found herself in precisely such a situation.
‘I want to obliterate everything, Gnome.’
-I’ll grant you that power.
The rocks that had haphazardly clung to her transformed into smooth iron plates.
She felt the earth spirit Gnome’s power evolve to the next level.
Click-.
Just as unrefined rocks become iron plates capable of deflecting anything, the spirits’ magic enveloping Melanie hardened further.
-Crush it.
“Duck and strike its abdomen!”
Recognition and action occurred simultaneously.
She heard the sound of strength being squeezed out from within the mask.
Muscles that would shatter even seasoned warriors in a single blow.
Melanie’s frame appeared far too fragile to withstand the power erupting from that explosive physique.
The human body is inherently weak, but the spirits’ power and the blessing of oil specially crafted in Ziggurat were added.
Oil that enables overwhelming output for a limited duration.
The target was the guardian.
From Melanie’s diminutive form, power akin to that of a giant burst forth.
[Grrrr-!]
Whoosh-!
She evaded the hook swinging in a wide arc.
A stinging wind chilled the nape of Melanie’s neck.
“Hup-!”
She hadn’t received formal training.
But the spirits were guiding her.
Boom-!
As she planted her foot firmly on the ground, Gnome’s power surged through her.
-Demolish it!
Emerson’s directive was precise.
Melanie launched an uppercut with all her might, channeling the strength she had been nurturing.
A piercing blow struck the guardian’s abdomen.
Boom-!
[Grrrr-!]
It was effective.
She could clearly sense its pain.
Melanie wasn’t content with just this.
The shame of being incapacitated by a single blow, the helplessness of being unable to act, the desire for vengeance to repay the terrible agony she had endured — all these emotions intertwined, fueling her fierce assault.
“Maintain the pressure!”
“Perish-!”
Melanie, having entered the fray, displayed a boldness and ferocity that rendered her usual self unrecognizable.
The overflowing power of spirits erupted from her small frame.
The guardian that had been overwhelming the mages now found itself on the defensive, unable to keep pace.
Emerson could perceive it clearly.
As it sustained physical attacks, its overall defense was diminishing.
Her eyes throbbed, but she couldn’t relent now.
“N-Now magic is effective too… It seems we need to fight by weakening its defense with physical attacks!”
“Kael. I’ll entrust this to you.”
Alano looked at the unscathed Kael.
A prolonged battle wasn’t advisable.
Hastily summoned power tends to burn out faster than anticipated.
There was only one individual who could deliver the decisive blow.
She alone was truly responsible for the party’s offensive capabilities.
Her blue hair rose with the surge of mana.
To vanquish that monstrous guardian, she needed to unleash one powerful, combined strike.
‘Think.’
What magic would Manus have conceived in this situation?
A spell capable of penetrating formidable defenses was crucial.
Magic formulas swirled chaotically in her mind.
Among them, she recalled two spells that could pierce those dense muscles.
3rd-Class magic.
Though it would be her first attempt, it should suffice.
Just as her senior had done, she too should be capable of this feat-.
‘-I’ve witnessed it once.’
Her innate genius manifested.
The latent blood of a family destined for tragedy, hidden until now, awakened.
Crackle-.
Magic circles materialized simultaneously on both hands.
[Double Spread]
[Impello] — [Fulgetra]
Hammer.
She selected magic while envisioning a colossal hammer.
3rd-Class physical magic, Impello.
3rd-Class lightning magic, Fulgetra.
With this combination, she would thoroughly shake both the exterior and interior.
No matter how thick the armor, it couldn’t shield against internal shocks.
Relentless lightning would ravage the enemy’s innards, while the hammer would pave the way.
[Manubia: Marcus]
Surge-.
A metallic taste filled her mouth.
Though it might be dismissed as merely two 3rd-Class spells, the process of deconstructing and recombining them was incredibly complex.
So intricate and demanding that even Alano, hailed as a prodigy, wouldn’t dare attempt it-.
A fusion of magic that could only be achieved with something ‘extraordinary’.
Magic blessed by the world itself poured forth.
“Evade, Melanie-!”
Melanie halted her relentless assault and leaped back.
Perhaps due to overexertion, her knees buckled.
Was it because the enemy before her had suddenly vanished?
The guardian’s movement ceased abruptly.
The lightning hammer didn’t miss that opening and struck with devastating force.
Crash-!
It wasn’t a single blow.
Kael wielded the magic not as a one-time spell, but with the sensation of continuously swinging a hammer.
“I’ll lend my support! Behold the genius magician Pearson’s enhancement magic!”
Pearson’s spell significantly alleviated the strain coursing through her entire body.
This demonstrated why he was considered an indispensable member of the party.
He enabled her to wield magic that should have been exhausted after a single use five or six times in succession.
“-Just a bit more.”
“A little further!”
Emerson shouted with all her might.
Her voice carried an almost demonic power.
Freya Emerson, a figure who garners both resentment and adoration in the game.
Galvanized by her voice, Kael channeled her magic with renewed vigor.
[Grrrr-!]
The acrid smell of burning wood permeated the space.
Hiss-.
The mask composing the demon gradually disintegrated.
Accompanied by an eerie sound, the demon’s body also vanished.
Haa-.
Someone’s deep exhalation broke the silence.
That sigh marked the conclusion of the battle.
As Emerson struggled to remain upright, Anais, who had been unconscious, stirred awake.
“Are you alright?”
“-Yes. Ugh.”
She had narrowly escaped death.
Despite having deployed defensive magic, her memory seemed to have been abruptly severed.
Surveying her surroundings, she observed that everyone had emerged from the battle relatively unscathed.
Grit-.
A surge of frustration welled up within her.
Why was she…
“We would all have perished if not for Emerson. It appears this is our limit with just mages.”
“Is everyone safe?”
“Melanie and Kael performed admirably.”
Alano smiled faintly.
The trusting gaze she cast.
It was directed at others, not Anais.
Anais sighed heavily, “Hoo-.”
‘I’m… weak.’
While they had combined their strength to vanquish the massive demon, she had ignominiously lost consciousness.
Even Melanie, who had initially fallen, had risen to fight, while she had remained incapacitated.
The frustration was overwhelming, yet she couldn’t bring herself to resent her companions.
It was her own weakness at fault.
To catch up with them, she would need to acquire more knowledge and power.
Perhaps she should attempt solo ascents of the tower for a while?
If not that…
“Anais. It’s all over now, so let’s descend.”
“-Okay.”
She observed her companions approaching, their gazes fixed upon her.
Pearson.
Her childhood friend, now in full bloom of his talent, regarded her with eyes brimming with concern.
Anais herself knew better than anyone that it was pure, unalloyed worry.
“Are you alright? We utterly demolished that brute. You’ve been studying so diligently for the end-of-month evaluation lately-.”
“-It’s fine. I’m okay.”
Thank you.
I’m sorry.
Why couldn’t these simple, straightforward words emerge?
To conceal her complex emotions, she deliberately uttered prickly words.
Ignoring the outstretched hand.
Pearson chuckled “Ahaha” and patted her shoulder.
Anais couldn’t bring herself to shrug off that gesture.
“Everyone… was truly impressive.”
Emerson approached and bowed her head deeply.
Alano who had led from the vanguard, Melanie who had exerted monstrous strength, and Kael who had unleashed overwhelming magic.
And Pearson who had supported them all.
It was undoubtedly due to everyone’s collective effort that they had triumphed over that monstrosity.
Melanie, who had staggered over with all her strength depleted, barely managed to speak.
The fact that she had saved someone.
That singular accomplishment filled her with such pride that she felt she could soar to the heavens.
“My entire body aches. I doubt I’ll be able to attend class tomorrow.”
“You were truly phenomenal today, Melanie.”
“Ha, haha-. Thanks.”
Perhaps recalling her frenzied state, Melanie lowered her head deeply.
Her face flushing crimson betrayed her embarrassment.
Pearson gathered the artifacts and mana crystals dropped by the demon, the guardian.
A small ring.
A wand.
And mana crystals.
“This is fascinating. Where did these originate?”
“Th-This. Is it an artifact?”
“Indeed. We can’t appraise them ourselves… So we typically hand them over to the Chairman for sale. The settlement should be processed soon.”
“Wait a moment.”
Emerson seized the wand.
Or more accurately, she snatched it.
Before anyone could interject, she channeled mana and made contact with the wand.
Appraisal.
In this world, appraisal was a skill exclusive to the chosen ones.
When mana and objects fuse, extraordinary phenomena occur.
Utilizing this, special items could be artificially created.
“Appraisal? Are you evaluating it now?”
“Do you understand why the Freya family is so affluent?”
Emerson smiled proudly.
The Freya family.
An institution that had amassed enormous wealth, rivaling even the three great families in terms of financial power.
The reason for that was being revealed here and now.
“Members of our family are born with the innate talent to discern objects. If you hone that ability, you can even perform appraisals like this.”
“Wow-. Then… can you evaluate items suitable for our use as well?”
“Certainly. I’ll be able to identify appropriate ones for each of you. It’s a small price for a life saved… I’ll gladly assist you from now on.”
The group’s expressions brightened considerably.
Items that haven’t been appraised and those that have.
The disparity in value between these two categories was even more pronounced than that between raw stones and cut gems.
With Emerson’s expertise, they would soon find themselves sitting atop a veritable fortune.
Everyone’s gaze shifted to Kael.
She was the sole commoner among them.
Now she too would have the opportunity to accumulate wealth easily.
“That’s wonderful news, Kael. Apart from the funds necessary for exploration, I’ll ensure your share is properly allocated.”
“Th-That’s right. We don’t really have much use for money ourselves.”
“Now you can earn a living through your own efforts.”
Emerson nodded in agreement.
They expressed their willingness to assist Kael wholeheartedly.
Though they could have acted solely for their own benefit, they chose to consider the greater good.
“Of course, we’ll have to retain a portion for ourselves too. Emerson, you’ll take a commission for each appraisal, naturally.”
“Certainly. It’s important to show goodwill, but nothing in this world is entirely free.”
Kael nodded, somewhat dazed by the turn of events.
After a brief conference among the companions, the following rules were established:
- Priority distribution goes to the individual with the highest artifact compatibility.
- Artifacts that no one claims are sold and the proceeds fairly distributed.
- Emerson always receives a 1% commission fee for her appraisal services.
- When equal compatibility arises, the person who has been using similar equipment gets precedence.
That concluded their impromptu meeting.
While they were engaged in discussion, the appraisal of the wand was completed.
Emerson announced the results of her evaluation.
“It possesses a modest mana recovery property. And it enhances the potency of ice magic?”
“Then…”
All eyes turned to Alano.
When it came to ice magic, Alano was the foremost practitioner among them.
However, she declined the wand and addressed the group:
“I didn’t contribute significantly today, so I’m not certain I should receive this. Perhaps Kael should try it as a test case for now?”
“Ah… me?”
“Yes. You possess a special ability, so you’ll benefit from the mana recovery feature.”
It was a truly magnanimous gesture.
Emerson handed the wand to Kael.
She accepted it, still somewhat bewildered.
Though she wouldn’t be able to utilize it during academy classes, it would undoubtedly prove invaluable within the tower.
When she channeled mana while grasping the wand, she felt it resonating.
Though subtle, her mana clearly surged momentarily.
“Remarkable.”
“Congratulations. Now then, let’s make our descent.”
The Emerson rescue operation concluded successfully.
They decided to entrust the matter of Lupera to Manus alone, having no choice but to place their faith in him.
As they watched Emerson chattering animatedly while returning to the dormitory, Alano and Kael contemplated the situation.
With her unique ability, she would surely be an asset in scaling the tower.
But they had yet to realize that rescuing her and welcoming her as a permanent companion were distinct matters.
【Battle Concluded】
『Strength — 2: Ordor』
[Melanie’s spirits have grown stronger by one level.]
[Kael obtained Wand: Slight increase in maximum mana / Ice attribute amplification (minor).]
[Kael, Anais, Alano, and Pearson’s levels have risen.]
[Kael: 33]
[Anais: 32]
[Alano: 37]
[Pearson: 31]
[Emerson has been safely rescued.]
–TL Notes–
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