Chapter 203 - Blessing (3)

Dragon's Blessing.

One of the traits that made Draconic humans such an overpowered race. Unlike Draconic Tongue, though, this blessing could be engraved on members of other races, too.

Even so, I had received it fewer than ten times in the game. You could only unlock it by building up enough affinity with the dragons and then completing a hidden quest.

'If you picked a dwarf, you couldn't even try, since the races were on bad terms.'

Of course, I was a barbarian, not a dwarf, but I had effectively given up on the blessing. The hidden quest's requirements were insane to begin with, and my research had revealed that the quest itself no longer existed in this era.

This was a world 150 years after the game's setting. According to the history books, a hero had already resolved the problem that had plagued the Draconic humans.

'Wait. If I can get this that way, doesn't that mean the others aren't completely out of reach either?'

I organized my thoughts, recalling several hidden pieces that were no longer accessible. Perhaps I could obtain them through other routes.

No, even aside from that, the same principle applied to things the game's systems had made outright impossible.

For example...

"Just so we're clear, you can't choose more than one. As a barbarian, your body wouldn't withstand it."

"What do you mean, my body wouldn't withstand it?"

"Exactly what I said. You'd die."

Hmm. So that wasn't an option.

She seemed willing to try if I really insisted, but I had no intention of being that stubborn. Not when the price was my life.

Apparently, even among the Draconic humans, only a handful besides Mister Dragon had two or more blessings engraved on them. That was how much strain it put on the body.

"So, have you decided? I can give you more time if you want."

"No need. I'll take this one."

I shook my head and grinned. After all, I had made my decision before coming here.

Sea Dragon's Blessing.

That one was obviously out. MP was an important resource, but I never ran short as long as I managed it properly while hunting. It wasn't as if I was a spellcaster. Having just enough for my needs was sufficient.

With that in mind...

Volcanic Dragon's Blessing.

This wasn't bad. Since I had built my skills around their synergies, the performance boost would amount to more than a mere 30%.

But...

"I'll take the Earth Dragon's Blessing."

Ultimately, I decided that raising my stats was better than improving my skills.

The reason was simple. Many of my skills scaled with my stats anyway. A 20% increase in stats would be practically the same as improving those skills by that amount.

"A good choice. You had him in mind, I take it?"

Mister Dragon nodded at my choice. He seemed to think I had chosen it with the Dragonslayer in mind, and I agreed. It wasn't as if I hadn't considered him.

[Silence of the Soul]

This utterly broken Draconic Tongue ability belonging to the Dragonslayer, Ligar Vagos, reduced MP to zero, preventing the use of skills. That was why I had been forced to fight him with nothing but my body.

Still, if you asked whether that was the main reason for my choice, the answer was no.

The Earth Dragon's Blessing had a hidden effect.

'But there's no way they don't know about it... '

I narrowed my eyes at Mister Dragon and the kid. I didn't particularly resent them. They weren't obliged to tell someone of another race that much. Besides, I didn't need that consideration in the first place.

"Then it's settled. I'll leave you to it."

With my decision made, Mister Dragon excused himself, a pleased smile on his face.

"Have a good time with my daughter."

Seriously, why did he have to make it sound so strange?

* * *

After Mister Dragon left, the kid and I talked until nightfall. The main topic was my explorations so far.

"Does it have to be about me?"

"That's best. I told you earlier, didn't I? Words hold power. Since these are the paths you've walked, it makes it easier for me to sense your wavelength."

"If you say so."

It seemed easier than rambling about nothing, so I told her my story, leaving out certain details as I went. I hadn't even been an explorer for a year, but I had more stories than I expected.

Was that why?

"The sun's about to set. Are we still not ready?"

We had talked through meals, and before I knew it, evening had arrived. Was she still not ready to engrave the blessing?

"... Not yet. Your wavelength is strangely difficult to read. Yes, that's it... So hurry up and finish the story."

"Where was I?"

"Doppelgänger Forest. You ran into some other explorers and realized one of them was from the underground city."

I had arrived in broad daylight and spent the entire day talking, bringing us all the way to my recent adventures. Once I finished those, I'd have nothing left to tell.

I was a little worried, but when I admitted that, it fortunately turned out she no longer needed to read my wavelength.

"Hmm, I think that should do it."

"Meaning?"

"Follow me. It's time to engrave the blessing on your body."

Following the kid farther inside, I found a cave concealed behind a thin curtain.

A cave connected to the wall of a building...

'This almost feels like an expedition.'

After a few minutes of walking through the cave, we reached a chamber roughly thirty-three square meters in size. It contained a bed and a few pieces of furniture. A jewel embedded in the ceiling emitted soft light and smoke, lending the space a ritualistic atmosphere.

"Here, lie down."

"The bed's too small for me."

"..."

"I'll just lie on the floor."

I casually lay down on the floor like a proper barbarian. The kid chuckled and began preparing to engrave the blessing on my body.

It didn't take long. It might take the form of a tattoo, but the blessing ultimately depended on the priestess's special ability.

"Where do you want it?"

"How big is it?"

"About this big."

The kid spread her palm wide to show me. It was much smaller than I had expected.

"Does the location matter?"

"No, anywhere is fine. Why?"

"I want it somewhere people won't normally see."

It was another race's blessing, after all. If the barbarians found out before I became chieftain and changed our conservative tribal rules, I'd be in serious trouble.

"... Somewhere people won't see?"

As if something had occurred to her, the kid's eyes naturally drifted to one particular spot. Then she looked uncomfortable.

"Th-that might be a little difficult..."

Following her gaze downward, I nearly fainted in disbelief.

What the fuck? Who would get a tattoo there?

"... I-I could do your butt, at least."

What was she talking about?

"Never mind. Put it here."

I named the spot I had intended from the start.

"The sole of your foot? Oh, I see..."

This world's culture was closer to the West. People wore shoes indoors, so there was rarely any reason to go barefoot.

The kid looked convinced, but then raised a question.

"But couldn't I just make it small and tuck it between your tattoos? I doubt it'd stand out. You said you always wear armor over them, too."

"The shaman would notice."

"Oh, right."

Of course, given the shaman's personality, he probably wouldn't give me grief over it. Still, I wanted to hide it if possible. There was no telling what might happen in the future, and something about the shaman was oddly suspicious.

"All settled, then. Shall we start?"

"Of course."

"This is going to hurt quite a bit."

"That's fine. Just get it over with."

Despite the kid's warning, I wasn't particularly worried. How could it hurt any more than a Spirit Seal? Even if it was the kind of pain that Pain Tolerance didn't work on, I wasn't afraid.

"I am a barbarian."

A barbarian. One who always advanced through struggle.

"Hmm, is that so?"

The kid gave me a meaningful smile, then conjured a pure-white flame above her index finger.

And then...

SIZZZZLE!

She seared the sole of my foot with the flame and said, "You can scream."

Oh, can I?

「The Earth Dragon's Blessing has imbued the character's soul.」

「All bonus stats increase by 20%.」

I screamed with all my might.

"Aaaaaaargh!!"

This was no time to worry about my barbarian dignity.

* * *

「Bjorn Jandel」

Level: 5

Physical: 516.48(New +86.08) / Mental: 427.56(New +71.26) / Ability: 937.2(New +171.2)

Item Level: 2,867

Overall Combat Index: 2,597.99 (New +328.54)

Obtained Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Orc Hero - Rank 5 / Ogre - Rank 3 / Manticore - Rank 5

* * *

The actual process of engraving the Earth Dragon's Blessing on my sole was brief. Perhaps three minutes? Compared to a Spirit Seal, which could take hours, it was practically an instant.

In the end, though, it took about as much time out of my day. I lost consciousness as soon as it was over.

"You're awake?"

I cautiously opened my eyes to find the kid sitting against the wall, reading a book.

"... Looks like I fell asleep for a bit."

"You mean passed out?"

"..."

"You're hilarious."

Ignoring the kid's mockery, I checked the time first.

Nine in the morning.

It was already time to start a new day.

"Drink."

I drank the water she offered and got up. Mentally, I was exhausted, but my body felt full of vitality. Well, with my stats up a full 20%, it would have been impossible not to feel the difference.

I was already looking forward to what lay ahead. Excluding the Corpse Golem, I only had three Essences of Rank 5 or higher. Once I filled the remaining slots, the stat increase from the blessing alone would be equivalent to absorbing another high-rank Essence.

"Kid."

"It's Fenitarseauros."

So she didn't want to be called a kid?

"Right, Fenitasaurus."

I recited her name as she wanted, but it felt strange. Was this a person's name or a dinosaur's...?

"... Just call me Fen."

"All right, Fen. Anyway, are we all done now?"

"Yes. Fortunately, it went well. But come back when you have time, just in case. This is my first time doing it for another race, so there could be side effects."

"Sure, if I have time."

"Make time if you have to. I've already told Dad."

I gave her a vague agreement and left the cave with her. Then I asked where Mister Dragon was so I could head back.

"Dad should be where you first arrived. Want me to show you the way?"

"I can find it myself."

Ever since Rotmiller had trained me as a navigator, I had been confident in my ability to remember routes.

And so, just as I was about to leave...

"Sorry."

Her voice came from behind me.

"Hmm?"

"I said I'm sorry. About yesterday... For honestly telling you that you're ugly."

I chuckled. It was hard to tell whether this was an apology or another attempt to pick a fight, but I decided to be the adult and simply set the facts straight.

"I'm not ugly."

"What?"

"I'm handsome in a manly way."

Fen stared at me, then gave a small nod.

"... All right."

It seemed I had successfully instilled a proper sense of beauty in her before the world could corrupt her.

"See you next time. I'll have new stories for you then."

"... Okay."

After saying goodbye to Fen, I found Mister Dragon. I handed over the Dragon Sword, then returned to the sewers through his Draconic Tongue.

The familiar stench of sewage instantly killed my appetite.

For a moment, I considered simply going back and sleeping, but I hurried onward instead.

'It really does connect to the city.'

Following the secret passage as Amelia had instructed, I found an exit into the city: District 8, right beside District 7, where I lived.

I had originally intended to see Misha and Aynar and catch up, but I was far too tired for that.

'I'll see them in a few days anyway... '

Covering my face with the hood I had brought, I bought only the skewers Whiny Jin had requested, then headed back.

"Skewers from the shop you mentioned. I asked for the hottest ones, like a man."

"..."

"Why so quiet? Aren't you happy?"

"... I am."

"I can barely hear you."

"I am overjoyed!!!"

Whiny Jin expressed his delight so loudly that it made dragging my exhausted body out to buy them worthwhile.

Seeing that put one of my worries to rest, too. I had made it clear that I could return at any time, so Bifron wouldn't revert to its old ways overnight just because I was gone.

"Are you crying?"

"The skewers... are... spicy."

"Tsk. Crying so easily is why your hair falls out."

"Yes..."

"I'm going to sleep now. Don't wake me."

I spent almost an entire day sleeping after my return, then continued taking it easy as though enjoying the last of a vacation.

Time passed, and at last, the day arrived.

"Vehel—laaaaaaa!!!!!"

The end of an exile that had felt both short and long.

With all the gang members gathered to give me an enthusiastic send-off, I headed toward the city-side wall. There, I said goodbye to Whiny Jin as well.

"I'll drop by now and then."

"Yes! I'll be waiting!"

Compared to the first day, Whiny Jin at least seemed to have recovered much of his composure. After emphasizing again that the secret passage was to remain between the two of us, I called over a guard on the wall.

"Bjorn, son of Jandel. Confirmed."

I entered the checkpoint and went through a simple identity check. Once that was done, the guard opened the gate on the far side of the double-gate structure.

"The knight from Mozlan left a message for you. Try not to cause trouble next time."

Trouble, my ass.

I had been locked up here over something that should have ended with a fine, all because of their circumstances. Grumbling, I stepped out into the city and drew a deep breath.

Even the air felt somehow different. For some reason, the sunshine felt especially warm today, too.

'... But why isn't anyone here?'

Back in the city after twenty days of exile, I stood blankly in the street for a while. Several minutes passed, but none of my companions appeared.

Tsk. I'd hoped they might at least come to meet me.

'Well, they wouldn't have known what time I was getting out.'

I quickly hailed a carriage and went to the inn. As soon as I arrived, I knocked on Misha's door.

BANG! BANG!

No matter how many times I knocked, the door didn't open. I couldn't hear anyone inside, either.

'What's going on? Is she out?'

Maybe she'd gone to meet me and we'd missed each other.

Just as I was thinking that...

A door swung open. Not Misha's, but Aynar's.

"Bjorn...!!!!"

Looking as though she had only just woken up, Aynar greeted me urgently.

Something felt wrong.

'What is it?'

At first, it had only been a subconscious feeling, but I soon identified the cause. If Misha had gone to meet me, there was no reason Aynar would have stayed behind alone. Misha would have brought her along.

"Why...! Why did you take so long to get here?!"

"Calm down first, and tell me what happened."

Suppressing my own rising anxiety, I asked her to explain.

"Misha...! Misha's been kidnapped!!"

Something had gone wrong while I was away.