Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Storing Dragon Magic

I had absorbed the Fireball spell with Acresia.

The absorbed spell could even be released back.

'I knew it would work.'

The mana consumption was significantly higher than absorbing ordinary objects, though.

Seeing this, Ashley exclaimed.

"You absorbed the magic? Even if it was the weakest spell...... What on earth is that subspace storage?"

"I don't know the details myself!"

I then released the absorbed spell.

The Fireball flew back at an even greater speed than when it had arrived.

But Ashley dismissed it with a small gesture, and it vanished.

That was how weak the spell had been.

"Then try absorbing this."

She conjured an enormous flaming spear and launched it at me.

I absorbed that as well and sent it right back.

"Tch!"

This time, Ashley had to cast a shield to block it.

The spell had been powerful enough to require a defensive response.

Being a stronger spell, it consumed a fair amount of my mana too.

"Then how about this!"

Ashley raised her right hand toward the sky.

A blue fireball formed, swelling to the size of a human body.

'That's the fire spell she used to threaten the Blade Saint at the restaurant.'

Seeing it, Ria drew her sword.

If Ashley launched it, Ria seemed ready to intercept it midair with Aura.

"It's a high-circle spell called Hell Fire. Seon-u, that one is dangerous."

"It's fine, Ria. I have enough mana to absorb it."

"......All right."

Ashley fired it at me.

The earth along the projectile's path charred black.

'Terrifying power.'

But I was confident I could absorb any single-projectile spell.

I activated the Absorption skill toward the incoming Hell Fire.

'Ugh!'

The stronger the spell, the more mana it took to absorb. The cost was staggering.

My heart ached under the strain.

But—

It was sucked in.

 

[Fire magic 'Hell Fire' has been absorbed.]

I succeeded in absorbing it.

I could not take any more than this.

I jabbed my spear into the ground and barely steadied myself.

"Seon-u, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. High-circle spells really aren't easy to absorb."

"Of course not. That's probably the strongest spell Ashley can currently use."

"I see."

Ashley approached me.

"I can't believe you absorbed even the Hell Fire...... This is absurd."

"Haha......! But I doubt I could absorb more than one."

"That goes for me as well. I'm not yet at the level where I can cast Hell Fire consecutively."

Ashley looked slightly bruised in her pride.

"What kind of monster couple is this?"

Fenrir agreed with her sentiment.

"Indeed. Monster-like humans, the both of them."

Being called monsters by colossal non-human beings.

It was, in effect, the highest praise.

A system message then appeared.

[TIP: Storing absorbed spells or skills without releasing them consumes a minimal amount of mana.]

Minimal.

It did not seem like much.

Even now, the rate of mana recovery felt faster than the rate of consumption.

'How many Hell Fire-level spells could I store?'

Three seemed manageable.

I spoke to Ashley.

"Could you cast Hell Fire for me again next time? I'd like to stockpile the spell."

"......You want to gulp down my magic for free?"

"Not for free. I'll give you a free meal for every cast."

"Hmm, that's not a bad deal. Very well."

The bargain was struck.

'So it's confirmed that I can absorb projectile-type spells and skills.'

However, this was limited to projectiles only.

I would not be able to absorb the area-targeted fire pillar spell Ruina had used, or Nova-type spells that gradually radiated outward from the caster.

'In any case, having powerful spells stockpiled should prove useful someday.'

And so the sparring session ended with me collapsing from mana overuse.

Ashley wanted to go back to the restaurant for another drink and polymorphed Fenrir back into human form.

Just then—

"Woof—!"

Bell came running from afar.

Behind her, Eriksson, Vice Commander Garrett, and Ruina followed.

Bell ran not to Ria and me, but straight to her mother.

Even though Fenrir was in human form, Bell recognized her immediately.

"Woof!"

"......"

Fenrir held Bell.

"Bell......"

"Aoong."

Bell nuzzled her cheek against her mother.

"Have you been well?"

"Woof."

"Good. Your coat is glossy and you look healthy, so it seems you've been well taken care of."

Even the normally rough Fenrir was gentle with Bell.

Vice Commander Garrett, who had followed Bell, spoke.

"Bell seemed to detect something and tried to leave the house, so we followed."

"Yes, she must have sensed her mother's presence."

"Her mother......? Then this person is—"

"That's right. Fenrir."

"Ah......"

Fenrir set Bell down.

Bell wagged her tail and kept circling around Fenrir.

She looked happy.

"Fenrir, come show your face to Bell once in a while. Look how happy she is."

"......Understood."

Meanwhile, Ruina, who had followed Bell, was staring at Ashley with wide, sparkling eyes.

"Um......"

"What is it, blue-haired human?"

"My name is Ruina. I'm a mage, currently at the mid-level of the 7th Circle."

"A human reaching mid-7th Circle is impressive."

"It's nothing compared to a great being such as yourself."

"I'm only at the upper level of the 8th Circle myself. So what do you want?"

"I'd like to request your guidance sometime."

"Guidance?"

"Yes. Even just briefly, I'd love to hear your insights on magic."

"Insights, you say. You seem to have a strong thirst for magical knowledge."

"Yes. I want to become stronger."

"Why?"

"As a servant, to protect and guard Lady Ria's family."

"A servant......? With your level of magical ability?"

My thoughts exactly.

No matter how much we told her she did not have to be a servant, it was useless.

"Anyone can perform simple servant duties, but a powerful mage-servant who can also protect her master—isn't that wonderful? It's been my lifelong dream."

"......"

Ashley furrowed her brow at those words.

She must have sensed a touch of madness in Ruina.

Ashley waved her hand dismissively, seemingly dreading a headache from further conversation.

"Well, I'll think about it."

"Thank you!"

"......I haven't agreed yet."

Ruina was already celebrating as if she had received approval.

We all headed to the restaurant.

The guild and party spectators who had been watching from afar began slinking away.

'Can't blame them for being scared.'

A dragon still at Transcendent-Grade due to her youth.

Fenrir, a fellow Transcendent-Grade monster.

And Ria, who had demonstrated strength seemingly beyond human limits.

Having witnessed their might firsthand, fear was only natural.

However, some people held their ground.

They were the three new front-of-house staff.

"......"

"Haha...... hahaha......!"

"Hyungnim, the Fourth Floor...... it's even more insane than the rumors......"

The Fourth Floor of the Rift had a reputation as a place where common sense ceased to apply.

Having witnessed it with their own eyes, they all looked half out of their minds.

I spoke to my friends.

"You'll get used to it eventually."

***

Ruina and Ashley drank wine until nightfall.

Since everyone was gathered anyway, the S-Rank trio and the four-member knight squad also convened at the restaurant for a group dinner.

I had recovered my mana and brought everyone through the Gate portal.

I also invited Han Se-a.

'Last time, she got upset about not being invited to the reception.'

And so we held an impromptu welcome party for the new hall staff.

The three were thrilled.

"I can't believe I'm seeing people I've only ever seen on TV, in news articles, and on Mutube. It feels so surreal."

In response to Jeong Ye-rim's remark, Eriksson clicked his tongue.

"Surreal? You already knew Seon-u, didn't you? He's the most surreal person here."

Several people nodded at his words.

"His phrasing could use some work, but he has a point."

"......That's true."

The Sword Saint and Santos agreed.

Neville and Ruina nodded as well.

"That's right. Seon-u is the most amazing one."

"Exactly. How he managed to steal Lady Ria's heart remains a mystery to me."

I found myself nodding at Ruina's comment.

'She's not wrong.'

Winning Ria's heart still mystified even me.

Wine and various other drinks flowed as the atmosphere grew livelier.

Then Rin tugged at my sleeve and said,

"Seonu, Rin is sleepy."

"Yeah? Then come here, I'll hold you. Sleep."

"Mm."

I picked Rin up, patted her back, and lulled her to sleep.

"Want me to carry her?"

When Ria asked, I shook my head.

"No, I'll put her to sleep. You have a bit more to drink."

"Okay."

Before long, Rin had drifted off.

Standing there with Rin asleep in my arms, I watched the companions enjoying the welcome party.

'Before I knew it, I've made so many friends inside the Rift.'

Not just me—Ria too.

There had been a time when I worried Ria might be lonely living in the Rift.

If I had known things would turn out like this, I would not have worried at all.

'Ria looks like she's having fun.'

Her smile was truly beautiful.

Even in a crowd, my eyes found only her.

Then Ruina, drunk, clung to Ashley, and Ashley grew irritated.

"Emeria, can I burn this one alive?"

"No. She's a dear friend of mine."

"Then peel this leech off me."

"If you tell her you'll teach her magic, she'll let go on her own."

"Ugh. Fine, I'll teach her."

The instant those words left Ashley's mouth, Ruina—who had been draping herself limply as if hammered—suddenly straightened her posture.

"Thank you, great one."

"......Ha!"

Ruina then gave Ria a thumbs-up.

"You frauds!"

When Ashley realized she had been tricked, she scowled—and Ria explained.

"Ruina has the highest alcohol tolerance in our entire knight squad. There's no way she'd be drunk from this little."

The festive drinking continued.

'This is fun too.'

***

The next morning.

Fenrir and Ashley, who had drunk until late and slept on the restaurant floor, visited the Rift house early.

Fenrir intended to stay a day and spend time with Bell.

Ashley was there to teach Ruina magic, as promised.

"An outer barrier that disrupts the senses, and an inner protective-type barrier. Impressive work for a mid-7th Circle mage."

When Ashley examined the barrier and praised it, Ruina bowed her head.

"Thank you."

"At this level, even a monster of Fenrir's caliber would have trouble breaking through both layers."

Fenrir nodded at her words.

"True. And even if it were breached, the element of surprise would be long gone. They'd already be prepared."

By "they," he meant the S-Rank trio and the four-member knight squad.

He understood our defensive system precisely.

Ashley said,

"Of course, I could breach it before they had time to prepare."

At that, Ruina nodded.

"Correct. Any mage at your level or above could. That's why, in addition to the barrier, I'm working on erecting automated-attack magical turrets to engage intruders."

"Those pillars?"

Ashley pointed to the large stone columns spaced out along the forest perimeter and fence line.

"Yes, that's them. But there are tangled sections in the formulae that I'm currently researching how to resolve."

"Is that so? Admittedly, complex formulae for defensive automated-attack turrets are no small feat. Let me take a look."

"Thank you."

Ruina had recently been racking her brain over the turret construction.

She understood the theory behind magical turrets, but translating that into working formulae had been the challenge.

After examining the turret, Ashley nodded.

"This is where the error occurs."

"Correct."

Ashley picked up a twig and drew on the ground.

"Then remove this section, connect it like this, and run it through like so—it should cycle properly. And that part over there should go like this."

She looked ready to say, 'Easy, right?'

Ruina could not keep up with the explanation.

"Too fast, Master."

"I'll explain slowly. Watch carefully."

Ria and I had been observing, but our heads started hurting and we drifted away.

"This isn't really our domain, is it?"

"Not at all."