Chapter 40

Chapter 40After consuming Elena’s elixir, I trained for another week.

Just when I thought I was getting pretty strong.

I opened my status window to check my status.

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[Basic Info]

Name: Nox von Reinhafer

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Race: Human

Primary Element: Darkness

Achievements: None

[Traits].

Positives: [Genius with Swords and Martial Arts] / [Genius with Mana Sensitivity] / [Insightful] / [Master of Memorization] / [Steel Mentality] / [Master of Acting]]

Neutral: [Manifestation of Darkness]

Negative: [Time Limit] / [Weakling] / [Crippling Chill] / [Possession]

[Stats].

Physique: 6.1 (+1)

MP: 9 (+1)

Luck: 10

Willpower: 11.1

Charm: 26

[Hidden Stats]

Dexterity (Uncultivated): 7

[Skills] – Active Skills: [Time of Genius] / [Shadow Family Intermediate Swordsmanship] / [Southern Swordsmanship] / [Ignition] / [Transmutation]]

*The player’s remaining lifespan is 150 days based on the [Time Limit] talent.

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[Conditions: Sub-Quests Completed (10/10)]

[Tutorial – You have cleared “Need Help?”]

[Status will be updated with the tutorial reward].

[You’ll see additional itemized stats].

I was pretty happy with my stats and achievements.

My initially abysmal Physique is nowhere to be found, and it’s up to a pretty decent level.

It’s enough that I shouldn’t have any problems entering the Academy right now.

Also.

[Reaching 10 in the Magic stat will unlock the talent ‘Mana Sensitivity Genius’].

Mana Sensitivity Genius, the core of the magic tree and the ultimate talent, has also successfully bloomed. The requirement to unlock it is Mana 10.

With my existing Mana stat of 9, plus the stats from the Black Brimstone Ring, I was able to safely fulfill this requirement.

At this point, I feel a new sense of accomplishment.

......How long did it take me to reach this point?

Between my daily training and wandering around the mansion in my spare time.

[Do you need anything?] {Nox}

[Hmm... No, Young Master Nox?!]

[I asked if you needed anything, don’t make me say it twice].

I go around looking for people in distress.

[I hear you’ve lost the ring you wore when you married your wife four years younger. I’ll find it for you].

[Hic...!]

[I’ll find it and bring it back].

I’ve helped other servants with similar cases of lost property.

Each of them reacted with horror, and Rona’s suspicious glances followed.

If it weren’t for the acting talent, I would have failed to complete the subquest.

That would have slowed my growth even more.

However.

After working to the bone, I succeeded in blooming both of my genius traits.

A strange sense of satisfaction rose in me, making my whole body tired.

‘But now’s not the time to relax.’

I’m well aware of the dangers of the talent [Time Limit].

The most dangerous is the inability to raise your Physique stat above a cap of 15.

While others are capped at 30, I’m stuck at 15. This means I have to watch other units overtake me.

Eventually, if I don’t take advantage of the two Blossoming Genius traits soon, I will gradually start to fall behind them.

After all, survival in Inner Lunatic begins and ends with Physique and MP.

“Whatever, there’s nothing too bad to think about. It’s true that I’ve gained a lot from this and that.”

Apart from that, I don’t feel too bad about my development. In fact, I think there are more positives.

Speaking of which, let me recap.

First of all, in terms of swordsmanship, [Dark Family Beginner Swordsmanship] has been upgraded to Intermediate.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

Apparently, my daily sword training has paid off.

In addition, I have a genius talent, so my growth rate was unrivaled. I don’t want to compare, but even compared to the children of other vassals, the difference was obvious.

Almost twenty times more...?

I suddenly realized how unearthly the [geniuses] in this world were. They’re able to reach places that mortals could never reach through hard work.

And with much less effort.

Rona crosses her arms.

“Um... I was just telling you that Young Lady Talia and the Master are getting engaged, and it’s not like everyone knows about it.......”

“That’s the problem, I didn’t know!”

I blurted out.

What kind of bullshit is this?

Who was this person who was going to stick a knife in my heart in the future?

Without a second thought, it was Talia von Steiner.

And she’s engaged to who, to whom?

And why did all the other assholes know about it but me?

“Aww, even you’re embarrassed. Are you that happy?”

“If you mention Talia one more time, you won’t get paid. Not this month, not next month.”

“.......”

Rona was silent.

Then a girl from the workshop who’d heard the ruckus rushed over and grabbed my shoulders.

She was drunk, and her breath reeked of alcohol.

Whoa... Hold on.

I’m going to go crazy, but I have to put up with it somehow.......

“Young Maaaassster...!?! When did you cheat on me? I was waiting for you to confess first.......”

It’s like Rona has become two people.

Sometimes I think Elena is a bit more over the top than Rona.

Like... now?

“Ah, haha... Nox-nim, I’m sorry, I must have gotten distracted and had a drink.... I think I snuck it out of the Reinhafer family’s liquor warehouse. Hmm, let’s see... It says ‘Rivalin Family Specialty Cognac’? Is it expensive...?”

“Hah... Put it in front of me.”

Grine would pay for it.

“And get this girl to sober up, and you get some rest, too, you’ve got dark circles under your eyes like you’re about to die.”

Not that it’s any of my business, but Mei’s face is serious.

She nods with a serious look on her face.

“.....Was it that bad.......”

I can tell by the way her vibrant orange hair has turned gray.

A situation with no answers. But you know what’s the most unanswerable?

In a week, I would be enrolled at Eldain.

Not anyone else, but me!

Me!

Also, what does this mean.......

It means the first main story.

It meant that the [entrance exam] would begin.

* * *

{Emma POV}

A troubled girl’s voice came from the Steiner family mansion.

“Hmmmmmm~ What do you think, Emma, do I look okay?”

“I’ve seen that outfit at least twenty times...?”

It was the Steiner family’s honor that was in shambles.

Talia’s room was no different.

“I mean, I think this outfit is okay... and that one isn’t too bad either... Oh, right! What about accessories?!”

Emma’s face was set in a stern expression of exasperation.

Her dark circles had already reached her cheeks.

“It’s been hours... days... and we’re still a week away from admissions......!

No matter how much she was looking forward to her reunion with Nox.

This is too much.

Aren’t you supposed to see each other briefly on the first day, move into your dorms, and start wearing your uniforms the next day?

And she’s worried about that one brief moment?

It was enough to make her wonder where Talia’s brain went wrong.

But Emma’s worries didn’t end there.

‘The head of the family, Leo von Steiner, is furious at what kind of a bastard made his daughter like this, he sent her off to the Reinhaber family for a marriage contract... No matter how stupid the daughter is, that’s the case...!!’

The father and daughter worked in pairs to put Emma through her penance.

Emma pressed her temples and looked at Talia, who had already changed into her next set of clothes. Her empty, hollow eyes spoke volumes.

“I’m guessing something with ruffles, right?”

“Oh, yeah.......”

“Emma, you just answered out of boredom!”

Oh, this is haunting me again.

You sassy little brat!

Emma couldn’t help but look at her outfit again.

That’s right. It’s her own fault for succumbing to the power of capitalism.......

If only for the sake of my healthy parents back home...!

Tears blinded Emma.



{1} : first time it’s been refered to as “handicap” but I’m going to keep as is

{2} : Type Change is the Spell and Transmutation is the category

{3} : MP is the stat, Mana is the manipulated particle, Magical Power is your juice