Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Five Days (2)

#35

“Mm?”

Bran’s meditation ended around the time the sun was just passing beyond the horizon.

“What the fuck.”

Bran hurriedly raised his body.

The surroundings were dark. Dim twilight was dyeing Valkeros.

He thought at most two or three hours had passed but half of the day had disappeared entirely.

“···Spent it fruitfully.”

Still the result was certain.

Bran could now feel the existence of mana.

Part of the water droplets that had been flowing along the skin were circulating inside the body.

Accumulating pure mana which is the basis of the Primordial Flow cultivation method in the heart also succeeded.

Although an amount less than sparrow feed, 0 and 1 were strictly different.

‘The start is important.’

Since he even learned mana cultivation the foundation construction of the physical build had almost entered the finishing stage.

High stats and pure mana that assists them.

If he can just steadily grow these two he could overcome any hardship.

Abyss? Outer God? Lick my ass.

“By the way where did this guy go?”

Bran’s eyes narrowed.

Kale had disappeared somewhere.

He thought he would be holed up in some suitable place, but no matter how much he looked around he was not visible.

‘Fuck. Did a mountain beast take him?’

An uneasy premonition flitted through his mind.

Actually the Red Mountains was a place where monsters or wild animals frequently pop out.

Although blood stains were not visible right away it seemed there was a need to look.

With a method a bit smarter than usual.

“Huu···.”

Since he learned mana anyway there was a need to utilize it.

By feeling it seemed it would be fine if he did like when he first used Smash or Power of the Giant Tree.

Bran closed his eyes.

It was the moment he imagined the mana flowing along the blood vessels gathering to the ears.

『Acquired new skill “Sense Enhancement”!』

『Sense Enhancement: Consume mana to enhance the five senses. If proficiency increases multiple senses can be enhanced simultaneously.』

Along with the notification a change occurred.

Like the volume of a movie rising the surrounding sounds began to grow.

Pebbles rolling in the wind. The hurried running of a rabbit.

At least the sounds within a radius of a hundred meters were being heard as if whispering in the ears.

“Hya, this works.”

It succeeded too easily more than expected.

An effect different from the game stood out.

Originally it was a skill that simply consumes mana to light the dark vision, but here since it can enhance not only hearing but various senses the utility seems higher.

『Agility value is high. Effect is amplified!』

『The quality of consumed mana is very excellent. Effect is amplified!』

Even causing synergy with other stats.

Somehow it seemed it was heard too well. As expected basics are important.

While feeling the reward and cackling, a faint breathing sound brushed Bran’s ears.

“Found it.”

It was definitely Kale’s presence.

Not that far. Following the sound a slope came out.

It was a path hidden in a giant rock gap.

Unbelievably narrow and steep for that coward Kale to have gone up.

Coming out of the rock gap Bran spat out a curse.

“Fuck, startled.”

Kale was sitting kneeling at the edge of the cliff.

A precarious position as if he would fall right away.

Above the disheveled head one sparrow was crouching and chirping.

“Tweet tweet.”

“······.”

Nevertheless Kale did not react.

How much he was concentrating that he was not even noticing that he came.

He doesn’t know why he is sitting in that kind of place, but if left alone it seemed he would be like that until tomorrow.

Just as Bran who squatted next to him poked the soft cheek with his index finger.

“Hey.”

“Hiiik!”

Kale screamed and was bounced.

The butt that was retreating while sitting left the cliff.

“Eh.”

Kale’s eyes widened.

Noticing the fact that there is nothing under the feet his face turned pure white.

“Kyaaaaak! Save me!”

“Idiot really.”

Bran snatched Kale’s nape.

The body pulled up like a big fish sprawled behind Bran.

Crash! Only after rolling seven times did Kale who stopped catch his rough breath.

“Huek, huuuk··· I thought I was going to die. Thanks···.”

“Doing all sorts of things. How did you crawl into a place like this?”

“Th-that··· because I wanted to feel mana better I changed positions and···.”

Kale continued while sniffling.

In short it was that while looking for a place where he can feel mana better he came this far.

Separate from the idiot-like happening it was a commendable academic zeal.

“Yes. Was there some result?”

“Uung··· for now succeeded up to here.”

Suddenly Kale raised both hands.

Hwaak!

A bluish light cluster formed between the fern-like hands.

Bran’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“What.”

“Th-that but it keeps scattering. As expected do I have no talent···?”

Kale said in a voice without confidence.

As expected the light cluster disappeared not even a few seconds later.

But that kind of thing was not important.

What about talent?

The dumbfounded Bran opened his mouth.

“Kale. Congratulations on becoming a mage.”

“M-mage? Me?”

“Precisely you passed the cutline that can become a mage. The lump you just made is a crystal of mana.”

A hollow laugh came out.

Somehow it seemed there was aptitude on this side too, but he didn’t know it would be this much.

Mana cultivation is largely divided into three realms.

1. Detection: the realm of detecting the mana that constitutes the world.

2. Accumulation: the realm of storing and operating mana inside the body.

3. Manifestation: the realm of taking out and manipulating the mana stored inside the body outside the body.

To learn Body Strengthening Art he unconditionally had to know up to accumulation.

Because he has to be able to freely roll mana inside the body to use it in fighting.

In that sense Bran’s talent was by no means bad.

Although only an extremely small amount he succeeded in accumulation on the first day.

‘To think he succeeded in manifestation on the first day.’

But manifestation was a completely different story.

Flying a fireball, or erecting a wall of ice.

To use so-called “magic” he had to know it essentially, but a realm that can never be reached without outstanding aptitude.

That Kale has such aptitude could only be seen as great luck.

Bran stroked his head.

“Anyway well done Kale. The probability that we save the world increased more.”

“Ehehe··· I don’t know well what is what but it’s thanks to Bran. I only did as written in this book.”

Kale showed the Empire Basic Mana Cultivation Method with both hands.

Of course it was a matter possible because there is talent, but there would also be the benefit of using that as a textbook.

Since it was also a book containing the purpose of quickly finding talents helpful to the empire.

If it was the stupid Primordial Flow at most he would have accumulated a few more drops of mana in the heart and ended.

The necklace Leodorn bought would also have helped.

“But what help does this mana thing exactly give?”

“Let’s try right away. Can you make one more lump the same as before?”

“Yes. I think once is possible.”

“Then try making it. As far as possible.”

Kale did so.

When he extended his hand a sphere of mana appeared in the air about three steps away.

“Good. Now try infusing blessing there.”

“B-blessing?”

“Yes. With the feeling of pouring syrup on a snack. Think that the subject performing the blessing is not you but that lump.”

Not certain but probably it would work.

Kale’s eyes narrowed thinly.

“Uuuuum··· for now I understand.”

The prayer text of Rawiena began to flow from between the small lips.

Just as the sphere that was precariously shaking was about to lose its form and scatter.

Paaaat!

The gold of morning covered over the bluish sphere.

The collapse stopped. A narrow radius was wrapped in dim light.

Kale’s eyes opened round.

“It-it worked Bran! It worked!”

“As expected.”

Bran smiled.

The expectation hit.

It was the same principle as himself using skills while recalling the character in the game.

Just as Bran who walked with steps entered the range the light reaches.

『You entered Rawiena’s Sanctuary.』

『While in the Sanctuary you can receive the effect of the serene Morning’s Blessing.』

『If you leave the Sanctuary or the Sanctuary extinguishes the effect of the blessing disappears.』

Along with the body becoming greatly light translucent windows rose one after another.

It was a completely identical effect to the skill “Sanctuary” of Return Road.

A skill that only characters who reach the realm of manifestation of mana, and Divine Power above a certain value can use.

Since it could grant blessing even if it leaves the vision it was a technique useful in many ways.

Helping mana manipulation is a bonus.

“This is only an extremely small part. Depending on how you combine mana and Divine Power the utilization methods are endless so try using it well once.”

“Th-thank you··· mana is extremely amazing.”

Kale nodded like a woodpecker.

Although the manipulation is still immature so the sphere disappeared soon, just accomplishing it was an amazing matter.

Because it means room to escape the position of only hiding and praying arose.

“Bran? Did you train well?”

“I accumulated about three drops of mana in the heart. Compared to you it’s an achievement like aphid shit.”

“Eek.”

Kale flinched.

The appearance of himself complaining that he has no talent despite having accomplished even manifestation was flitting before his eyes.

Rolling his eyeballs left and right Kale clenched both fists.

“S-still being able to use it is something? It’s just the start!”

“Yes. Your words are correct.”

Bran smiled.

If usual he would have grabbed the head saying where is this dwarf guy acting cocky but he did not.

Because Kale’s words were fact.

The Steel Tower burning while receiving the sunset.

Precisely Bran who was gazing at Silien and the Abyss that would be lurking inside it muttered to himself softly.

“It’s just the start.”

****

The most tight five days in the world began.

Bran and Kale devoted themselves to mana cultivation and training applying that every day after that.

Since time was originally tight there was a need to invest at least ten hours a day.

Drawing the longsword Bran recited.

“Heavy.”

Shuuuk. Pure mana flowed in along the sword hilt.

Numerite reacted immediately.

The blade containing mana tilted forward with a whoosh.

At the change far exceeding expectations Bran gripped the sword hilt with both hands.

“Damn, the performance is certain once···!”

“B-Bran. Are you okay?”

Because not okay he could not answer.

No matter how much at least a hundred kilos it seemed.

“You go do what you have to do! I··· huu, will train with this!”

“U-ung. Hang in there!”

Kale returned to his place.

The forearms of Bran that swelled greatly disturbed the head but somehow he succeeded in concentrating.

“One···! Huu, two!”

Barely catching his posture Bran began training.

It was only repeating basic movements like downward slash, horizontal slash but because the weight of the sword is the weight swinging even once was not easy.

Actually not even swinging a few times a message rose.

『You are continuing training that surpassed the body’s limit. Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『The growth speed of Strength increases slightly.』

Just because he started learning mana he could not neglect stats.

Rather to compose the physical build Bran pursues he had to more actively grow the basic stats.

After devoting to training until the sun set like that they swept the restaurant street of the Golden District for nutrition supplementation.

“Ooh, the young heroes came! Does the food of our shop suit the mouth?”

“Very delicious. Can I eat more of this steak?”

“Hehe, of course. Wait a little!”

The chef wearing a hat that seemed to touch the ceiling burst into a hearty laugh.

Soon in his hand that returned food that was double what Bran ordered was held.

Surprisingly most were service.

Since it was a restaurant in the Golden District all were high-class dishes.

Munching the smoked bison roast Kale suddenly covered his mouth.

“Huek!”

“Why? Did you bite your tongue?”

“T-too delicious··· I didn’t know I would eat this kind of food while alive···.”

“Arai. Stop acting up.”

Bran shook his head.

Of course he understood that feeling.

Until just a few days ago he had not even thought he would enjoy this kind of luxury.

More than half of the people passing by were talking to them.

“Next time visit our shop too!”

“H-by any chance can you give an autograph? I was also in the Golden District then.”

“Ah. Since I paid the money here you don’t have to calculate. Eat comfortably.”

Bran’s prediction that he would no longer be able to live as a Nameless Hero at least in Valkeros hit exactly.

Having annihilated the infamous Iron Blood Twin Shadows, and uncovered Director Chloe’s conspiracy they had already become the most famous people in Valkeros next to the lord.

If there was just one problem···.

“Yes? But where is Ilark? Weren’t you guys going together?”

“That’s right. We also haven’t seen her for a bit.”

Hearing the chef’s question Bran shrugged.

Ilark who ran out saying they are playing leaving only herself out had not returned for almost three days.

He even went to the mercenary guild she originally said she would go but she said she had never visited the guild at all.

Kale sighed.

“Worried··· where did she go?”

“Hmm. It wouldn’t be that she simply got sulky and left.”

There must be some reason.

Because Ilark was a person who never betrays loyalty even if simple.

It was also very troublesome if she disappears like this without even starting the normalization work.

And the morning of the fourth day.

Finally Bilmoris’s letter that the equipment was completed arrived.

“Kids. Big sister came.”

Surprisingly held in Ilark’s hand not a postman.

Kale who opened the front door froze as is.

“M-Miss Ilark? Where did you go?”

“······Sorry. Just sleep one hour and let’s depart.”

Instead of answering Ilark entered the room.

Wounds not seen before were engraved on various parts of the body.

Somehow she looked extremely tired.

The half-loosened eyes looked as if they would close forever right away.

“Those wounds?”

Bran’s brow narrowed.

The form of the wounds was somehow familiar to the eye.

It seems like a place lightning scratched and passed.

The edges of the cut or stabbed wounds were scorched black.

Different depth from the wounds received while fighting the Iron Blood Twin Shadows that healed in two days.

“Hey. You surely...”

There are not many existences that can engrave such scars on the tough skin of a dragonblood.

Just as he was about to say something.

Grab.

Naturally hugging Bran Ilark flopped on the bed.

“Just one hour···.”

“Eup.”

“Wh-what are you doing now?!”

Kale’s face heated up greatly.

It was an action where commercial morality could not be found.

He hurriedly tried to pull Bran out but rather he himself got caught and ended up becoming an attachment doll.

“Uueup! Ueup!”

...Ilark opened her eyes exactly one hour later.