〈 Chapter 171 〉 Water Sage (3)
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“Blood Magic?”
At my words, Luel raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
“How do you know about that?”
I replied nonchalantly.
“Just as you possess knowledge as the Water Sage, I have my own means of knowing.”
Another round of intelligence warfare began.
This strategy was similar to the one I used against Gwen.
The gap in knowledge.
No, to be precise, it wasn’t a gap.
In fact, she likely possessed much more knowledge than I did.
But that also made this strategy more effective.
‘Water Sage.’
It’s safe to say there is practically no knowledge she isn’t aware of.
For someone like her, knowledge she doesn’t know will hold significant value.
For instance…
“Memories from another dimension.”
At that, her eyes, which had been half-closed until now, widened in surprise.
It almost resembled her monocle on one eye.
“Another dimension… that’s quite interesting.”
Indeed it would be.
No matter how adept she was in the knowledge of this world, she wouldn’t know about the knowledge from another dimension.
However, she shook her head.
“It may be interesting, but I don’t think a trade is possible.”
That was an unexpected rejection.
“Why is that?”
I thought she would definitely accept a trade for knowledge from another dimension.
To this, she replied.
“Blood Magic is inherent. So even if I were to teach you how to wield it, you wouldn’t be able to use it. That would be an unfair deal for you.”
Saying this, she looked around.
“Isn’t there another price? There’s plenty of other knowledge here that could help you.”
Although she mentioned looking around, all that knowledge was likely stored in her mind.
However, the knowledge I needed right now was nothing other than that.
“Please teach me how to wield Blood Magic.”
“I told you, Blood Magic is…”
Ultimately, I pulled Albert from my inventory.
“You…”
Luel jumped in surprise.
I could see her legs tensing as if she was about to fall off the ladder.
“Stay put.”
I had no intention of harming her.
So, there was no need to dangerously rise from the ladder.
Before she could misunderstand any further, I placed my finger on the blade.
‘Just a tiny bit.’
Then I moved my finger slightly.
A tiny drop of blood began to form on the small red line that appeared on my fingertip.
“Is that…?”
It seemed Luel figured out what I was trying to do.
[Blood Magic (Minor)]
A type of magic usable by only a very few clans. It allows one to control blood using magic.
This was a trait I inherited from the [Twin Orca Emblem].
And the [Twin Orca Emblem] was something that Lusi and Luel both possessed.
While there was only one playable character, Lucy, Luel wouldn’t be unfamiliar with it.
‘Blood Magic.’
Magic isn’t inherently a power to create something new.
Whether it’s light, darkness, water, or fire.
It merely controls the elements of nature using magical force.
In a way, it’s not much different from my Wind’s Power.
However, unlike Wind’s Power that can be readily activated, controlling elements of nature through magic requires a synchronization process.
Magic types like light or darkness can be found anywhere, and their synchronization requires little to no time, making it unnoticeable.
On the other hand, blood-type magic can take decades to synchronize with something as simple as a sword.
And Blood Magic is also not a quick type of magic in terms of synchronization.
As a result, blood that can only be controlled is limited to one’s own blood, and since I recently inherited Blood Magic, my blood concentration was still low.
However…
‘It’s enough to show.’
The drop of blood on my fingertip began to move slowly.
‘At this point, it wouldn’t be distinguishable from Wind’s Power…’
Wind’s Power has a weakness.
It cannot accelerate in a direction blocked by something.
So, it would be impossible to draw blood that had exited the skin back into the body.
‘But with Blood Magic, it’s possible.’
The droplet of blood that had formed at the edge of the wound began to seep back toward the wound.
Seeing this, Luel said, “It’s Blood Magic.”
Though surprised, her demeanor remained calm.
“However, what you want to learn about using Blood Magic is ultimately Body Strengthening Technique, isn’t it?”
She was correct.
What I aimed for was body strengthening using Blood Magic.
No matter how much I pushed my will and technical skills, I had felt the limitations of my current physical condition in my previous battle against Demon King Laus.
‘Coincidentally, the fourth inherited Stigma falls in that category as well.’
The mighty power with which Hero Lucy swings her sword.
Her extraordinary strength also came from the Body Strengthening Technique through Blood Magic.
However, there was a reason for delaying this until the fourth inheritance.
‘The earlier you inherit, the better the efficiency, so precociousness had to be first. The royal emblem was necessary to meet Libero. Overload was Yusera’s unique trait, making inheritance certain.’
Of course, the Body Strengthening Technique using Blood Magic wasn’t less worthy than Overload.
After all, relics don’t just pop out of the ground.
But Blood Magic came with a critical flaw.
“That’s too dangerous.”
The Body Strengthening Technique using Blood Magic is exceedingly hazardous.
Controlling one’s own blood flowing within the body is no small risk.
If I were to succeed in inheriting Lucy’s skill of [Body Strengthening Technique], that would be one thing; otherwise, trying to use Body Strengthening Technique on my own would be akin to suicide.
And I had failed to inherit [Body Strengthening Technique].
The skill randomly assigned from Lucy was something else entirely.
However, just because I failed to inherit it didn’t mean there was no way to learn the Body Strengthening Technique.
‘Luel Teracian.’
Though she may not possess a natural talent for body strengthening as much as Lucy, her theoretical knowledge was considerable.
So, if I could reach the Central Sea System, learning Body Strengthening Technique from her wasn’t impossible.
‘Of course, one more condition is necessary.’
The reason she had declined because it was too dangerous.
No matter how much I learned the Body Strengthening Technique directly from her, it was still dangerous since theory and reality are often different.
“I can teach you the Body Strengthening Technique, but there’s a high chance you may die. No, you will likely die, unless you have innate talent like your sister… Lucy.”
But I spoke confidently.
“I probably won’t die.”
Most likely not.
After all, I had the last condition necessary to learn the Body Strengthening Technique.
[Blessing of the Water God]
During this playthrough, the character possesses a weak regenerative ability.
Weak regenerative ability.
It was a regeneration that couldn’t even begin to compare with potions or healing magic.
So far, this blessing hadn’t been very noticeable.
‘At least, using the Royal Sword last time should have had some impact.’
This blessing was more effective against internal injuries, like when blood vessels were scorched rather than severe external wounds.
Perhaps the reason I escaped death that time was thanks to this blessing.
In truth, I had intended to utilize it to learn Blood Magic rather than for survival.
The dangers of Blood Magic similarly pertained to internal injuries.
Moreover, if I learned the proper application from Luel, the damage I sustained would accumulate slowly instead of all at once.
That slowly accumulating damage could be offset to some extent by the Blessing of the Water God.
‘As evidence…’
The wound I inflicted on my finger was slowly but steadily healing.
It seemed Luel had also noticed it.
“The wound…?”
With that, it should be sufficient.
“Now, please teach me Blood Magic. I want to rescue Miss Gwen as soon as possible.”
If I could join Gwen easily, I would have sought the Rose Sword first and then learned Blood Magic.
However, knowing she was captured, I needed to be fully prepared.
‘Things have escalated significantly.’
The bounty on my head.
The captured Gwen.
And the ongoing threat posed by the Demon Kings.
I could not afford to ignore any of these.
‘Then there’s only one way.’
It was difficult to gain cooperation from the church and other heroes.
So I had no choice but to push through the heroes and rescue Gwen.
In any case, I had to defeat the demon kings before leaving here.
‘That’s the only way to stop destruction and the only way to resist the High Priest who betrayed me.’
The issue was that to defeat the demon kings of the Central Sea System, I needed Elsie wielding the Royal Sword.
At present, with just Yusera and me, it wasn’t sufficient.
Hence, it was imperative to have Gwen, who held the Rose Sword.
‘The conversation with the High Priest can wait until then; after I somehow push back the demon kings.’
If that works out, I would be removing the root of her vain thirst for power.
So…
“I want to learn to wield Blood Magic.”
To my request, she nodded, showing no choice but to comply.
“I have no other choice. However, it won’t be easy.”
She said as she descended from the ladder.
“It took even my sister, who had innate talent, three years to use it in practice.”
“That’s fine.”
None of the things I’ve obtained so far have come easily.
And my goal isn’t to master it to the level of Lucy, but to be able to use it just enough to overcome the limitations caused by my physical abilities when they arise.
‘Of course, that won’t be easy either.’
It would be nice if I could learn it quickly, but I had set a time frame of about two weeks.
If I couldn’t learn it by then, I would have to move directly to the operation.
‘Somehow, I have to grit my teeth and learn.’
Luel, however, was observing me with analytical eyes.
After a moment of looking at me, she spoke.
“Alright. Please prepare your mind for a moment. I’ll tell the others in the room to keep out, including my sister.”
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