Claris Academy, Hall of Fate.
Hazel, standing in front of the Alchemy Circle’s office, closed the door after peeking around to see if anyone was watching.
‘Now I don’t know either!’
She had made one promise to Lev Denec.
To keep silent about what happens in the Alchemy Circle.
And to fulfill one of his requests.
– There’s a traitor in your circle.
– Huh? You want me to believe that?
– Right, you can’t. So check the test subjects every day, and if you find anything strange among the discarded items, contact me with this crystal.
His words about a traitor in the Alchemy Circle and asking her to observe the current experiment were really hard to believe, but—
– Th-this is??
Hazel really had stumbled upon something.
She didn’t know who it was, but a microorganism had been observed in a test subject that was supposed to be discarded…
This unidentified creature seemed to be gradually growing, probably having absorbed the amniotic fluid of the homunculus they were about to dispose of.
‘By the way, is it really okay to just throw it away like this…?’
In the end, Lev Denec took the test tube containing that creature away.
She couldn’t oppose him.
Thanks to Lev, Hazel was able to attend school, and he had also solved the financial problems of the Alchemy Circle she belonged to.
‘I really don’t know either!’
Hazel hoped nothing major would happen.
—
Leaving the Hall of Fate and arriving at a quiet place away from others’ gazes, I find myself deep in thought.
—————————————————
▶[Parasite Worm]
[Named F-Rank Demon Creature]
[Insect, Complex]
[Danger Level: ?]
[Characteristic: Can grow into an adult if there’s a host.]
[Current State: No Host, Larva]
—————————————————
A disgusting larval form of a parasite worm in a test tube.
“Hmm…”
It’s hard to believe that this named demon creature will cause a commotion in Chapter 3 after it grows up.
Anyway, implanting this worm into Caeran is pointless.
He’s fussy and unnecessarily delicate.
How to implant this worm into him is indeed a challenge, but if I say there’s a parasite worm, he would notice immediately and get rid of it.
So, I’m thinking of taking advantage of another system flaw this time.
“Larva…”
Currently, the parasite worm is in larval form.
If I want to obtain the parasitic skill by killing it, it seems I’d need it to become an adult.
I don’t know when it will become an adult, and killing it now would likely not drop a proper skill.
‘Ah!’
In a flash, a good idea popped into my head.
‘What about using the Black Dragon’s Vessel?’
It was said that it can grow when used on demon creatures, and this one is also a demon creature.
‘Erosion Level.’
Ding!
[Erosion Level: 0.5/110]
I still have about 0.5 left from the erosion I couldn’t pour into the Black Armor.
‘So it’s decided to use the Black Dragon’s Vessel.’
It feels right to decide on the reward for this reason, but I think other skills could serve as alternatives.
The only method for me to reduce the erosion level is through attacks in Demon Form.
Ariya can’t always be around to provide purification, so having a skill like this wouldn’t be bad.
‘Reward, Black Dragon’s Vessel.’
As soon as I thought about the reward selection, a pop-up appeared.
[You have acquired a new skill!]
Then, a status window popped up.
‘Black Dragon’s Vessel, skill registered.’
I calmly registered the skill in the ultimate ability slot and focused on the parasite worm in the test tube.
Whew…
Black magic, clinging like debris within, swirled up towards the target.
.
.
.
‘Did it… work?’
[Erosion Level: 0/100]
Having only 0.5 Erosion Level left, it seems minor compared to what the Black Armor used, but…
The effects started appearing immediately.
-…
The small parasite worm, which had looked like a larva, skipped its growth process and became an adult.
“Ugh.”
Now that it’s thicker, its disgusting form is clearly visible.
I immediately used my magic eyes.
—————————————————
▶[Parasite Worm]
[Named F+ Rank Demon Creature]
[Insect, Complex]
[Danger Level: High]
[Characteristic: Parasitizes and breeds if it finds a new host.]
[Current State: No Host, Adult]
—————————————————
‘All that’s left…’
Is to end the parasite worm with my own hands to acquire the skill.
If this little worm cannot fill the test tube, it would definitely cause chaos if it just gets a proper host, just like I saw in the fanfic.
If it had parasitized a normal human, they would have noticed the oddity in their bodies long ago and gotten rid of it.
Alas, it chose to parasitize a homunculus, which allows it to breed endlessly.
The word “parasite” doesn’t have a pleasant ring to it and sounds grotesque; I remember many readers had ditched this chapter…
Anyway, if I take it out now, it would undoubtedly disrupt the story ahead.
But, it’s already reached this point.
The parasite creature is still a demon, after all.
‘Farewell.’
I administered the deworming medicine that Hazel had kindly prepared into the test tube.
.
.
.
A crackle of unpleasant sounds.
“Ugh…”
The insecticide that Hazel had given was quite effective.
[Achievement Cleared!]
[Named: You have defeated the Parasite Worm.]
[Remaining Named Creatures: 140]
[You can receive a Demon Hunting Reward!]
Then, with a familiar pop-up, the reward appeared.
[Please choose your Demon Hunting Reward.]
—————————————————
▶[Parasite] [Lv. None] (Complex Skill???)
: Designate a target to become a host, and parasitize???
The host continuously weakens, creating an environment that allows the parasite to breed over time???
The decline rate increases as breeding occurs???
Difficulty of acquisition: ???
—————————————————
▶[F+ Rank Demon Creature Defeat Reward]
: Earn 60 Extra Points.
A random stat increases by 0.1.
—————————————————
‘As expected.’
It’s a ??? festival, whether due to an error or whatnot.
Doesn’t matter. I ignored that and chose Parasite.
[You have acquired a new skill!]
[Parasite]
If according to the fanfic and original game’s canon, I could never have obtained this skill,
Parasite.
Parasite is a skill that’s hard to define by type.
Because, literally, the caster must be attached to another person’s body to use the skill.
Ultimately, since I’m not a worm, I can’t directly use it.
Ding!
[Error: Player ‘Lev Denec’ does not meet the conditions to use the Parasite.]
As expected, gaining this skill while being in a closed beta game caused the settings to start to glitch.
So, like Demon Form, it would be arranged as much as possible to fit the original work.
Ding!
[Error corrected: Changing Parasite skill to an active curse-type basic skill to match player ‘Lev Denec.’]
[Penalty: Changed to a one-time use skill.]
Ding!
—————————————————
▶[Parasite] [Lv. None] (Active) (Basic Skill) (One-time Use)
: Designate a target to become a host, casting a curse (Lv.4) that causes the parasite worm to breed.
If the curse is successful, the random skills the host possesses will continuously decrease, and if the target’s skills vanish, it transfers to the next skill.
(*If there are no skills, it will lower traits and statuses.)
(*The decline rate is influenced by the breeding rate of the parasite worm.)
Difficulty of acquisition: None
—————————————————
With the error resolved, the parasite skill changed to an active curse magic.
The tooltip was precisely revised to match my gamer status.
‘Effect-wise, it feels almost demon king level…’
However, the biggest flaw of this curse magic is that it’s only at 4th level.
Probably if I try to cast it on Caeran, his rainbow immunity would easily result in:
[Target ‘Caeran Hiss’ is in a state of immunity.]
Yeah, he’d just resist and say that.
‘So a shift in thinking is needed.’
Caeran and I are fundamentally different.
He’s a local resident who’s gotten the author’s favor, while I’m an isekai with gamer traits.
So,
I’m thinking of using this curse on me…
No?
On my ‘skill’ to ensure that it’s cast without him noticing.
“Parasite, use on myself.”
Ding!
[Target ‘Lev Denec’ is self. Will you really cast?]
[*Currently, the curse immunity cannot resist.]
“Cast.”
At my decisive answer, a clumsy sound echoed, accompanied by a purple message.
[You have been cursed by the Parasite!]
[A random skill has become parasitic!]
[Luck Activated! : (Alternative) The skill you need the least has been infected.]
‘…?!’
Luck activated here too!
I opened the skill window with a trembling heart.
—————————————————
.
.
.
[▶[Parasite·Fireball (Proficient)][Lv.Max] (Active) (Basic Skill) (Infected!)
: Maximized version of Level 1 Magic – Fireball.
High magic consumption but can be manipulated freely.
(*Transforms into blue flames!)
Exp: (Max)
Difficulty of acquisition: Normal
[*The skill level will continuously decrease.]
[*As it decreases, Parasite Worms will spawn in your body.]
[*If the designated skill is eliminated, it transfers to the next skill.]
—————————————————
“…!”
Upon checking, it turned out to be the useless Fireball spell I had obtained after defeating the Fire Demon.
I thought I’d endure no matter what skill got infected, but luck was on my side.
The skill ‘Parasite Fireball…’…
Maybe this could work…?
—
Days passed, and the core event of Claris Academy, the ranking tournament, kicked off.
A large-scale event that lasts for ten days attracted crowds from across the empire, including war heroes, royalty, knight orders, and major guilds, creating a festive atmosphere.
Of course, for the students, it wasn’t a celebration.
In a regular duel, winning would guarantee two weeks of rest, but the duels during the ranking tournament only offered a mere one-day rest.
Moreover, the purpose of this ranking tournament was for anyone dissatisfied with professors’ evaluations on students to prove their skills directly.
– Now, I’ll confirm it once again!
The rules of the ranking tournament, which I had heard countless times from the instructor, were simple.
You can designate a total of two duels, and there are no restrictions on who can be chosen.
Here, if you are chosen by someone of a higher rank, you can refuse.
Thus, rank S usually fights among the same rank.
Of course, many outsiders come to Claris Academy to watch these duels.
Anyway, I wondered if Caeran had already submitted an application, as our duel was scheduled for today—the day of the match…
“Everyone’s celebrating except me… a festival…”
I had been in the training room for days, so I didn’t notice the bustling atmosphere, reminiscent of an amusement park…
I let out a hollow laugh while heading towards the Hall of Struggle.
.
.
.
—————————————————
Today’s Match Schedule
Caeran Hiss (Rank S)
Lev Denec (Rank B)
—————————————————
“A-4 Group match is this way…!”
In the Hall of Struggle, 2nd-year Yeriel, who was assisting with the entrance of underclassmen and spectators, couldn’t hide her astonishment.
“Lev… really… again…?”
Among the A group matches she had to guide, the familiar name, Lev Denec, stood out.
Furthermore, this time, his opponent was also Rank S, a freshman who could be regarded as the top student if he wanted.
If a senior like her knew this, how much more would the same-grade students recognize the overwhelming difference of this matchup?
“Yeriel! Is that a Rank S 1st-year match happening here?”
2nd-year students from the same grade approached her to switch shifts.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Wow, look at the crowd forming.”
“Well, they’re just there to see the handsome first-year’s face, right? The outcome is obvious.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“I’m sure the seats are already full of people trying to recruit Caeran.”
Fortunately, they didn’t know the relationship between Lev and Yeriel.
There was no reason to speak about both of them being in the same dorm.
Anyway, the students’ predictions for the duel didn’t differ much based on grades.
‘As long as he doesn’t get hurt…’
I thought it was a relief that evaluations had slightly improved among the first years since the duel with Galeon, but now he was about to face off against the most prominent Rank S student…
‘Seriously… why do I keep getting worried about this?!’
Was there some reason I might want to be an outsider?
At that moment, Daisy, a magic department student who had made an early advancement with Yeriel, spoke playfully.
“What do you think, Yeriel? Who do you think will win, from the perspective of a top 2nd-year?”
“Well, who knows…?”
“Oh, by the way, Yeriel, didn’t Caeran approach you last time? What did you two talk about?”
“Not really…! There’s nothing like that.”
“Come on~. Isn’t there something going on with you two?”
“No…!”
Yeriel decisively replied.
Still, there was something pressing in her memory.
‘Ah, I remember… that’s why he came looking for me.’
Wasn’t it before the dungeon exploration practical that Caeran visited the Sellafi Black House?
Lev was absent, and—
– Lev Denec is here, right?
– So, this is where you live~.
– Is it decent? I don’t think it suits you.
Did he approach her to chat based solely on his looks, irritating her?
– If you’re not interested in the dormitory, could you leave?
– …You’re a bit prickly. I was just trying to do some PR.
– The exit is that way.
– Fine, take care, bye.
A careless attitude that gives a grin.
‘Why is he so popular…?’
Lev doesn’t come across as polite but at least isn’t unpleasant, yet this guy is transparently sly.
However, to Yeriel’s objective observation, Caeran was definitely strong.
He was also attending a 2nd year class, and although he consistently acted relaxed, the professors were praising him as a glorious genius.
He would likely be an even tougher opponent for Lev than Galeon.
‘But why…’
– Rather than paying attention to my matters, I wish you would focus on what you need to do, Yeriel.
Would I feel a sense of unease again if I thought Lev would win?
Just because I knew him?
While pondering, Yeriel checked her wristwatch.
‘Will I be able to see till the end…?’
Time was tight.
Not long ago, war hero Umberto had sent a letter asking if she could introduce him to the Sellafi Black House.
“Yeriel, where are you going? Aren’t you watching the match?”
“I’m just… wait a moment!”
“Oh, are you worried about someone??”
“Seriously… I’m not!”
Whether someone else misunderstood or not,
‘Lev…!’
Only thoughts of him resided in Yeriel’s mind.
