Race Change.
In the virtual reality game, Devil of Angel, there exist numerous systems, features, and settings, but the most special feature known is the ‘Race Change.’
Deoen starts as a ‘Human’ but can change races through special hidden pieces or job-related traits, or hidden quests.
When changing races, all stats, skills, and bodily structures retained as a human are completely altered, granting abilities of a whole different dimension.
While difficult, the advantages are plenty, but there is one significant drawback…
“Nymph?”
“Yes. That’s right. I’m a nymph. Yes…”
Leo took a deep breath and brushed aside his navy blue hair.
The ears hidden by his hair were sharply pointed.
Similar to elf ears but strangely different.
“A nymph…”
A nymph can also be considered a type of spirit.
In the deep woods where human hands do not reach, fairies and nymphs always gather.
Perhaps it seems natural that Leo, a spirit sorcerer, transformed into a nymph.
“How did you change?”
“Uh… the Level 3 Quest was to increase spirit affinity, and, ah… water, please.”
Leo gulped down the water placed on the bench.
Maybe because it was so small, he held the bottle with both hands to drink.
Phew! Leo exhaled.
“You can take your time to speak.”
“Yeeah…”
[It’s so cute, lolololololol]
[The penalty is terrifying, seriously, does this mean Deoen was made by aliens?]
[Lolololololololol]
[Still, in reality, he’s probably fine]
[Isn’t it just like having a drink?]
[Lily is so nice, waiting patiently]
[I wish Leo would just be a nymph for a day…]
[You chose the nymph, tough it out with all your might!]
“…Phew. I feel better now. Anyway, to continue, I wandered around to raise my spirit affinity. And I happened to venture deep into the woods.”
Following an intermediate spirit deeper inside, he encountered a group of nymphs playing with spirits.
Smaller than elves but considerably larger than spirits.
At that time, Leo, still human, sensed it was a special quest and decided to help the nymphs.
By assisting them, he learned about spirit affinity and was able to connect with many spirits.
And then…
“The moment of choice came. It was one of the few moments for race change at that time.”
Having grown close to the nymphs and envying their spirit affinity, Leo accepted without hesitation.
Without hesitation, he accepted.
Thus, Leo gained affinity greater than that of a nymph, along with outstanding stats, skills, and physical abilities.
However, there was a problem…
“Um, yes. I didn’t know there would be a penalty…”
First and foremost, he became younger.
Leo, who previously stood at a decent height of around 170 cm for a woman, suddenly plummeted below 150 cm, and his appearance transformed into a cute and chubby face.
The bigger issue was his speech and personality.
He started to stutter more and his personality itself became more childish.
Though he tried to speak more maturely on purpose to resist the penalty, he would soon find himself talking like a child again.
“Damn penalty…”
“…I see. You must be having a hard time.”
“Oh, well. Yeah… I’m used to it by now after about a year. Other than the occasional frustration, I’m pretty much okay.”
“……”
Not that different from someone else’s problem.
Of course, my years are different.
‘About 30 times more?’
Earlier, I almost burst out in surprise, but now I’m pretty much used to this side of things.
I’ve spent more time as Lily than as a man.
[Poor Leo]
[Hahaha]
[He chose it himself though, lol]
[Stuttering and becoming cute in exchange for becoming the strongest in the world… Sounds like a good deal!]
[For real, lol]
[If Leo really put his mind to it, he’d be rank 1 in ranked games, haha]
[So why are you here?]
[Is this a counseling broadcast?]
[Eh]
[Eh]
[That’s right]
“Ah! That’s not what I came to say.”
Leo perked up with an exclamation mark above his head.
The funny part was how there wasn’t much of a difference even when he stood up.
Leo moved his hand, saying he would awaken the spirit for a moment.
Tap, tap… The empty ground began to tremble slightly, and something started to rush in from afar.
‘Below?’
Not from the ground above, but from below.
[Is it a mole?]
Soon enough, something shot out from the green earth.
A cute brown spirit with a tidy head.
It resembled a mole…
“It’s the Earth Spirit. I hold the blessing of this friend as an Intermediate Spirit.”
“Oh…”
I got off the bench and looked down at the mole spirit.
It looked around at its master and then shook its front paws, split into a V shape.
Perhaps because it resembled its master, it looked cute too.
[Hahaha]
[It’s greeting us]
[Looks can be deceiving, though]
[For real, the strength fight with the Greatsword Warrior gave me chills]
[The Earth Spirit is indeed strong]
[Is it because of the blessing?]
“Is it because of the tiger?”
“Aren’t you asking about the high-level spirit?”
“Seems like it.”
“The mole looks cute.”
“Hello.”
“Isn’t it cute? It may look this way, but it’s really powerful.”
Leo cleared his throat and pointed at his friend.
…Now that I think about it, he acts like a child.
He probably doesn’t realize it himself.
I nodded and sat back down on the bench.
“I can guess what you want to ask.”
What Leo wants is probably a blessing.
A contract with a spirit is simply borrowing power, but getting a ‘blessing’ is akin to obtaining the spirit’s entire essence.
The difference in power may be similar, but it’s a different meaning to pour water from a glass versus copying and giving the whole water jug.
If we’re being technical, it’s sort of like a shell… similar, I suppose.
Since spirits are spiritual beings, calling it a shell might be off.
“Are you curious about Nerindia’s blessing?”
“Yes. I’ve never received a blessing from a spirit of high rank or above. I was wondering if there might be a way.”
Leo’s eyes sparkled.
If he were to obtain a blessing from a spirit of high rank or above, he could become much stronger than now.
“By mouth?”
“Oh… that’s a secret.”
“LOL.”
“You gave me a million won, right? LOL.”
“Leo will be making a lot of money, so 100 is a bit…”
“Honestly, from Lily’s perspective, 100 is pocket change, LOL.”
“Leo is cute, so I think it’s fine to tell him.”
[?]
“How about we consider it if you pass on the position of Grand General in the Siege War?”
“Agreed.”
I pondered.
To be honest, I wouldn’t mind sharing, and I had mentioned it once on Yena’s broadcast.
That the bond with spirits and communication is important.
But if you ask if that’s where it ends? I would say no.
Communication is just the key to opening the door to the relationship with spirits.
All situations that follow are the spirit’s responsibility.
I sat on the bench and showed the ring of Silphid to Leo.
“Do you know what this is?”
“Yes! It’s a spirit’s ring. Very expensive.”
“I didn’t make a contract with the spirit that granted me the blessing. Neither did Miss Yena. So, the blessing is merely a shell. Just like this ring.”
It’s a different story if the spirit resides within the ring, though.
Leo tilted his head.
“Is the blessing like equipment…?”
“It’s similar to a shell. Oh, but my opinion could be wrong. A blessing as I understand it might have a different meaning in Deoen.”
Saying Deoen is similar to the place I possessed is just a guess.
Unless I storm the Deoen headquarters, I guess I’ll remain forever in the dark about whether it’s truly the same.
I guess I’ll be in the maze forever.
Hmm… Leo nods in agreement for now.
“Anyway, from my perspective, a blessing is a part of the spirit. It’s important to the spirit, but since it’s a kind of shedding, it’s not that important.”
“…For some reason, even the dirt-dirt just gives it away once we’re close.”
“Right? It’s not exactly important, but they won’t just give it to anyone. If you give it to someone who doesn’t know their own shedding, how do you know how they’ll use it?”
That shedding must be their former body.
There wouldn’t be a spirit in this world that would recklessly give away not just their body but also their abilities.
[Oh, I see]
[Who’s teaching whom right now?]
[LMAO]
[The newbie is broadcasting teaching the ranked 2nd spirit sorcerer about spirits]
[???: I will tell you about spirits]
[This is what a spirit is]
[Is this a lecture broadcast?]
[Eh]
[LMAO]
[A spirit’s blessing is a shedding… in other words, a spirit is a lizard… taking notes.]
[? LOL]
[Do spirits shed?]
“I’ll say it again; I might be wrong. It’s just how I feel about it.”
‘Of course, since I heard it directly from the Spirit King, it must be true.’
The place and Deoen might be different, though.
After much contemplation, Leo nodded vigorously as if he understood.
“No! I think that’s right too! For some reason, when they don’t want to give it away, they just give it without any hesitation.”
“Exactly. The reason it’s hard to obtain the blessing of a higher spirit is that the longer you live, the more attachment and identity you have towards yourself.”
“So that’s why they don’t want to give it away even more? Not just because they’re lofty and high-ranking?”
“Exactly.”
[Ah-ha!]
[I got it]
[Today’s broadcast is so informative LOL]
[But how does a newbie know all this?]
[They don’t know the basic system, but they remember the weird details well LOL]
[Shh! Act like a newbie!]
[Lily is a newbie, yes she is]
[Lily is plotting ㄴ]
With everything understood, Leo wore a satisfied expression and asked one last question.
“So, how do you obtain the blessing of a high-level spirit?!”
“You have to speak well.”
“…Huh?”
“Yeah.”
Isn’t that obvious?
There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
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