Chapter 242 - Branching Point (2)

Now that I was inside the Golden Soul Vault, I understood perfectly why the other races were powerless before the royal family. Was this what it meant to see their true strength?

Those precious rank-three Essences filled half the vast vault. And it wasn't as though they only had one of each.

'They've got seven or eight apiece of the easier-to-find Essences that don't see much use.'

They had spares of most of them. Even the Essences that were hard to obtain because they could only be found inside ruptures were stocked in every color.

'Holy shit, they even have Nibarok's Essence?'

It came from a rare monster found only in ruptures. Its effects weren't much use to a barbarian warrior, but when it came to how hard it was to acquire, it put even rank-two Essences to shame...

'How did they collect all this?'

The more I looked around, the more that question consumed me. Was this the kind of absurd wealth a single royal family could amass when it endured for thousands of years?

'When I played the game, I thought I could pick anything I wanted simply because it was a game.'

I abandoned even my faintest concern that the royal family might fall to Noark. How could anyone look at this and imagine them losing?

Thousands of rank-three Essences. I didn't know what their current forces looked like, but this meant the royal family could churn out an insanely powerful army whenever they pleased.

'If they stuffed five rank-three Essences into every knight who could use Aura...'

The very thought was staggering.

And why stop at rank three? The vault a tier above this one would have rank-two Essences as well.

'... Maybe even rank-one Essences.'

The scariest part was that it didn't end with Essences. They had Numbered items, too.

'If the Golden Soul Vault has triple-digit items, the vaults above it must have double-digit and single-digit ones...'

They took a lower priority than Essences, but once your growth hit its limit, they were the easiest way to improve your build.

'... There are a few things I want, but they don't compare to an Essence.'

Hmm, still, why not take a look?

With time to spare, I wandered around the Golden Soul Vault, admiring its wares with interest. Well, I already knew all their effects, so that interest faded quickly...

"Um, please don't touch..."

"It's not like touching them will wear them out! What's the problem?"

It was rather fun watching the mage who'd accompanied me as both guide and guard turn pale every time I touched a piece of equipment.

'That's enough sightseeing, then.'

It was about time to decide.

So I went through one final check. I'd already decided which Essence to take, but you never knew.

All right, let's start with this one.

'Bellarios.'

An Eastern dragon. With an appearance reminiscent of an imugi serpent, this monster was essentially a straight upgrade to the Manticore.

Its base stats focused on Mana resistance. It also had [Cycle Ring], an unusual passive that let you accumulate stats.

'Well, even if I absorbed it now, building up stats with that passive would be almost impossible.'

[Cycle Ring] only became effective once you were strong enough to hunt monsters of rank three or higher. Though it was the active skill that made this a core Essence in the first place.

[Scales of Greed]. Using this skill temporarily made scales sprout across your skin, raising your magic resistance in proportion to your Mana resistance.

For reference, once your Mana resistance exceeded 1,500, you gained a magic-immunity bonus. From then on, mages became something you could kill as easily as an earthworm in your path. Barbarian Dragon Mode became possible.

But...

'Normally, this isn't an Essence I'd take right now.'

In fact, if not for the Scholar of Destruction, it would never have risen this high on my priority list. The Manticore was enough for exploration alone. Even if I needed to absorb it eventually, the order in which I took Essences would affect how quickly I grew.

Anyway, on to the second option.

'Vol-Herchan.'

A colossal monster covered head to toe in a shell. As its appearance suggested, it had skills specialized in defense. Its passive would synergize with [Iron Leather], while its active would make my body capable of withstanding even Aura.

In short, it was an anti-Aura Essence—a part of my build I still lacked. If I'd had it, that Aura-wielding Noark explorer wouldn't have cut my arm off.

'Amelia used Aura, too...'

Since the Clown had said he was sending an assassin, this Essence had climbed a little higher on my priority list. Honestly, of all the assassins I knew, she frightened me the most.

'Besides, it looks like I'll be fighting people more often from now on.'

Oh, but that didn't mean it was useless against monsters. Countering Aura was only a bonus. Above all, it granted an enormous amount of Strength, giving it the best balance of offense and defense among the candidates.

Now, finally...

'Bayon.'

Among the rank-three monsters, a category dominated by giant beasts, this was the only one classified as small. It was also one of the few humanoid monsters... and undead at the same time.

According to the game's lore, they were ancient heroes who had risen from the dead. Perhaps because of that, they had a very unusual feature. They fought using Essences, just like explorers.

Their Essence combinations varied from individual to individual, but they all had one additional ability in common: the ability of the Essence they dropped.

[Transcendence].

Oddly enough, absorbing their Essence gave you only this one skill. It served as both passive and active. Oh, and its base stats included the ultra-rare Magic Power stat, which had the added benefit of making MP much less of a concern.

'So, which one should I choose...?'

I would need to absorb all of them eventually. It was simply a question of which to take first. After one last round of deliberation, I made my decision.

'Yeah, if I can only take one, it has to be this.'

I couldn't wait for the day of my conferment.

* * *

"Hmm, this Essence?"

When I made my choice, the mage who'd followed me the whole time gave me an odd look.

"It certainly is a good Essence. I'll report your choice to the Chancellor."

"Oh, could you throw in a Numbered item, too? They look like they're just gathering dust—"

"No."

No need to look so stern. I'd been half joking.

After another body search, I returned to the reception room we'd been in earlier and found my companions already waiting.

"I suppose visiting the Golden Soul Vault does take a while."

Mister Bear greeted me with a smile.

"Which Essence did you pick?"

"Hmm, I went with the one you told me about. It looked decent, and you said it was a secret legacy, didn't you?"

A secret legacy. Put simply, that meant a tried-and-tested Essence combination. The kind used by heroes or great explorers whose names had gone down in history.

Of course, while those figures were well known, most of their combinations involved high-rank Essences and were hard to apply unless an explorer had reached the requisite level. But smaller, effective combinations were common knowledge.

For example, hadn't the dwarf known how to use [Emergency Restoration] to reset a Numbered item's cooldown? That must have been one of the secret legacies circulating among dwarves.

"I'll have to book a training ground as soon as we get back."

Having chosen his Essence on my recommendation, Mister Bear was eager to leave the palace and try his new skill. Though everyone else probably felt the same way.

"Bjorn, let's hurry back! A warrior's power has taken over my body! I need to unleash it!"

Unlike me, those three had received rank-five Essences, but I did envy them this one thing. Sigh. I had to wait until the conferment.

"Honestly, be patient. Erwin isn't back yet, nyah."

"Can't we just tell that elf to come back on her own?"

"Hey, what did I say I'd do if you talked like that, nyah?"

"I-I misspoke. So please, anything but carrot soup..."

Misha scolded Aynar and stood up for Erwin. Having the eldest girl on her side really was reassuring.

After a short wait, Erwin finished choosing her Essence and returned as well.

"You're late. Was there a problem?"

"No. I got the one you picked for me, Mister. But after absorbing it, I had some trouble adjusting, so I rested a little before coming back..."

Hmm, that made sense. Most high-rank Essences brought major changes to the body the moment you absorbed them.

"I-I'm sorry. Were you waiting long?"

"Nothing to apologize for. As long as there wasn't a problem. All right, let's go home."

We took a carriage provided by the royal family back to District 7, which now felt like home, then went straight to the training ground—the only place in the city where using Abilities was permitted.

"I'll go first, then."

Mister Bear summoned Irathun the Iron Bear. Then he positioned a pig he'd bought at the training ground's entrance on the target stand.

"I just can't bring myself to do it. Misha, could you?"

"Me? Ugh... All right, nyah."

Misha wounded Teddy with her sword, and with that, the preparations were complete.

「Avman Urigfried has cast [Hungry Claws].」

An arrow began to glow red. Mister Bear nocked it and aimed at the pig's thigh.

THUNK!

"SQUEEEEEAL!!!"

The pig thrashed wildly, squealing like it was being slaughtered. But it didn't take long for its strength to fade.

THUD.

Though it hadn't been struck in a vital spot, the pig soon collapsed and stopped moving. No blood flowed out, because the embedded arrow was absorbing it.

WHOOOOSH!

Even now, the arrow lodged in the pig was drawing out its vitality and transferring it to Mister Bear. And this was where the combination's synergy came into play.

「Avman Urigfried's HP is currently at maximum.」

「Transferring excess HP to the soul-linked target.」

The absorbed vitality passed through Mister Bear and into Teddy.

"Grr?"

Before we knew it, Teddy's injuries had healed completely.

"I wasn't entirely sure, but it really did heal my Spirit beast."

"The book said you'd take priority if you were injured, so keep that in mind."

Though I said that, Mister Bear fought at range and rarely got hurt, so it was safe to say our tank line had grown sturdier. And that wasn't the only benefit.

About three minutes after the arrow struck, the pig's corpse had shriveled up like a mummy.

'That's not bad damage over time, either.'

Besides, Mister Bear had [Hooked Arrow], which made lodged arrows difficult to remove. Once he landed them, the damage over time and life steal would keep stacking.

'If he gets [Altruism] later, he could use that to heal us as well as the Iron Bear.'

Of course, that was only one possible build path. I had no plans to turn Mister Bear into a healer. Essence slots were far too precious for that. Healing was best left to a dedicated healer.

'It's about time I found a priest, too...'

Anyway, Aynar was next.

「Aynar Pheneline has cast [Wildness Control].」

Since none of the rank-five Essences were worth keeping for an endgame build anyway, I'd chosen one that was effective immediately and would last her as long as possible.

「All conditional effects triggered by the next attack are converted into Cutting Force.」

[Scars of Explosion], which triggered an explosion when she struck the same spot, and [Life Power Absorption], which raised her regeneration simply by landing a hit. With [Wildness Control], both effects now became Cutting Force. Like this.

SHING!

Even allowing for her adamantium greatsword, the steel bar had been cut clean in half without the slightest resistance.

"Could I try another sword?"

"Why not? Try all you like."

Unlike the pigs, the steel bars were free. They could be restored with magic.

"Then..."

Still looking doubtful, Aynar tested it again with one of the cheap iron swords provided at the training ground. The result was the same.

SHING!

The steel bar fell to a single slash.

'Good. That gives her more options.'

Against multiple enemies, she could use explosions and life steal. Against a single powerful enemy, she could raise her Cutting Force. In short, she was no longer a barbarian whose only trick was mowing down weaklings.

"My turn now, nyah?"

Misha tested her new Essence next, followed by Erwin. Both looked pleased with synergies that exceeded expectations.

'... It's hard being a barbarian.'

Why was I the only one who still didn't have a new Essence?

* * *

Two days later, I visited the palace yet again. Honestly, I wasn't nearly as nervous as the first time. How many visits did that make this month alone?

Of course, there were a few differences this time.

"You're so very tall. Could you bend down a little?"

Apparently even the formalwear Kyle had given me wasn't good enough. Servants clustered around me, dressing me and doing me up to the nines.

My companions weren't here, either. I was the only one invited today. Apparently, it was a long-standing royal tradition that no one without noble status could attend a conferment, however distinguished they might be.

'It's already lively over there.'

I was in the Palace of Glory, which I'd visited once before. Music drifted from the inner hall. The banquet seemed to have started already. Our entrance would probably be its climax.

"Oh, you look much more striking dressed like that."

While I waited, still being dressed and groomed, Count Ferdehilt came to see me. He had brought that youngest daughter of his.

"I-I'm Arabella Ferdehilt."

The young lady still seemed afraid of me, unable even to meet my eyes.

Apparently he had no intention of pestering me about a political marriage even on a day like this. The count simply made small talk before leaving. Hmm, or perhaps a warning would be more accurate?

"Three men, including you, will receive titles today. One is from a viscount's house and the other from a marquis's."

I'd heard that already. Though, unlike me, they would technically be inheriting their titles rather than receiving new ones.

"The viscount's heir is of no concern, but House Kudo's future marquis is famous for his foul temper and competitive streak."

"In other words, he's immature."

"... An apt description. So be careful. This is a once-in-a-lifetime day, after all. He may think you've stolen his place in the spotlight. Oh, and if he does provoke you, try to bear with it. You're one of us now. You can't simply do whatever you please."

"I'll remember your advice."

"Good, that should suffice. I'll stop bothering you and take my leave, then. See you later."

The count really did leave without fuss, taking his daughter with him. Apparently he truly had only wanted to build a friendship with me.

'Politics...'

For some reason, I remembered what had happened in the Doppelgänger Forest and chuckled. Would barbarian-style politics work in noble society?

As I passed the time entertaining such silly thoughts, evening soon fell.

'Wow, have I seriously spent over ten hours in this tiny waiting room?'

When I stepped out into the red-carpeted corridor, two men were already waiting. Both were dressed to the nines for their conferment day.

'The little one must be the viscount's heir...'

I studied the other man, who was fairly well-built for a human. His fierce-looking eyes alone suggested he was the marquis's heir.

"A pleasure to meet you. You're to receive a baronetcy today, I hear? My sincerest congratulations. Having a hero such as yourself join our ranks is surely a blessing for the royal family as well."

The future viscount greeted me with a string of flowery compliments, sincere or not. The future marquis didn't even bother.

"..."

He merely glanced at me and snorted, as though he didn't want to exchange so much as a word with a common-born savage like me.

'Well, that makes my life easier.'

I wasn't interested in him anyway. I had no intention of wasting my life playing politics. All I wanted was a rank-three Essence and the convenient trappings of nobility.

"The guests of honor are entering!"

Lively music rang out, and the doors opened.

'Come to think of it, this is my second time walking through here this month.'

Without any particular nervousness, I walked naturally along the carpet. The future marquis stood in the middle, with me to his left and the future viscount to his right.

STEP, STEP.

We advanced to the cheers of the nobles, then stopped before the throne. The Chancellor stood by the empty seat.

He delivered some ceremonial remarks, and we followed the simplified protocol, lowering ourselves onto one knee in respect.

That was when it happened.

'Huh?'

As I started to kneel, the future marquis bastard leaned toward me. What was this? Had he lost his balance?

That was my first thought, and I moved to steady him, but I quickly realized that wasn't it.

Malice. Instinctively, I caught the dark emotion behind his movement.

It was truly absurd. Apparently, he meant to shove me over and send me sprawling, making it look like an accident...

'... Is this fucker insane?'

Never mind that he was pulling this petty stunt under the eyes of countless nobles and the Chancellor himself, the undisputed second-most powerful person in the royal establishment.

'Does he think that's going to work?'

The best defense was a good offense. Before I knew it, my body tensed, and at that same instant, we collided.

THWACK!

The laws of physics had all but predetermined the outcome.

"Aagh!!"

With a heavy impact, the future marquis went flying forward and took a great tumble across the carpet. His previously crisp suit ended up thoroughly crumpled as a bonus.

"..."

At that mortifying spectacle, the music abruptly stopped, and silence descended.

Suddenly, the count's advice came back to me.

"..."

Oh, right. He'd told me to bear with it.