Flames burst forth from Redberry’s body.
A different kind of mana than usual writhes and her hair color deepens to a richer red.
I helped her as best as I could, adjusting the mana.
But not all mana can be absorbed.
It needs to match the inherent mana qualities to some extent, and even if it’s the same fire, there are often different textures involved.
The mana that Redberry possesses is quite contrastive to the mana Rutilus has.
It’s a dangerous task that an ordinary mage would never attempt.
“Phew…”
“Move little by little. Just a tiny bit.”
But Redberry is a ‘User’—an immortal under the protection of the System.
She is almost perfectly safeguarded in spiritual matters, so she can withstand considerable strain.
Moreover, with the stabilization update of the System, there shouldn’t be any issues.
Rutilus is strong, but he’s not on the level of ancient beasts like the Pharaoh or Kraken.
“As I said, it’s a circulation. You’re making it loop only within the body.”
If we develop this further, it becomes what’s commonly known as a ‘Circle’.
To be honest, it’s a bit outdated, and I wouldn’t really recommend it.
It’s just a device to store and operate mana efficiently, but users already have far more stable and easier-to-use devices.
Like that wonderful device called the ‘System’.
There’s no need to use a trembling waterwheel when we could use a conveniently functioning hydroelectric power plant.
This circulation structure is sufficient to hold onto mana.
“Haah…”
“It seems like we’re almost there.”
After wrestling with the mana for quite a while, Redberry loses her posture and collapses to the ground.
A red ring spins within her.
Mana imbued with Rutilus’s heat is maintained within her body without escaping.
“With this, it should have increased significantly in numeric value. How much did it go up?”
“Uh… Um… Give me a moment…”
Redberry grunts as she opens her information window.
Then she reluctantly speaks.
“Mana… Increased by 15…”
“15.”
[Oh]
[Insane]
[15???]
[?????????????]
[Whoa]
[No way, lol, isn’t that almost like leveling up 5-6 times?]
[Wow, 15 is crazy]
[ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ]
[Pumping it up, huh]
[Let me try too!]
Fifteen.
Considering it’s not temporary but permanent, it’s a surprisingly significant result.
As for me, since I use the Holy power, I don’t care much about stats.
But for ‘Mana’, which is already hard to increase, 15 is an astounding figure.
In terms of the past, it feels like jumping from Circle 5 to Circle 7?
“Does it feel like around 7 circles in the clan?”
“Back then, the level was so low that it felt like it was just the same, but actually, even reaching about 7 circles would have made a name for yourself.”
“There are so many monsters in the world that it can’t really shine.”
“I used the holy power to fully heal Redberry and told her to wait for a moment.”
“She was healed, but adapting to the mana embedded in her body is her job.”
“I can’t do that part, and even if she regains her past powers, she shouldn’t rely on me.”
“Such things need to be realized on one’s own for true development.”
“Let’s slowly open the door.”
I place my hand on the massive stone door.
Just by touching it, I feel intense heat through my skin.
It seems the mana absorbed by Redberry is only a minute fraction.
Paaaaa…
As the pure holy power rushes in, the heat wavers and retreats.
I push the holy power through the gap in the door, and enough space is created for just two people to pass.
Through the gap, I see a man with red hair.
His whole body, except for his head and near his heart, is bound by blue chains.
He seems to have been here for at least a thousand years, yet his long hair looks clean as if it is well taken care of.
The most striking thing is his heart.
The heart, visible through his flesh, is still beating, but the blue flame emblem drawn on his chest is suppressing it.
“I think that might be Lord Akron.”
[Ugh]
[X-ray vision d-d-d]
[Why would you use X-ray on bones?]
[That heart looks gross]
[Let’s kill him and level up, g-g]
[Let’s level up, level up]
[There’s that high-level monster, and you’re not going to kill him?]
I turned my attention away from the strange viewers and looked around the area where Akron lies asleep.
The inside isn’t that big.
It’s almost as if it’s made just to seal, as taking just a few steps brings me right to the opposite wall.
The walls are decorated with murals depicting the tales of the two races.
Murals of battles between the Blue Ones and the Red Ones.
The murals stretch around all four walls and depict Rutilus ultimately victorious.
A mural that differs from reality.
It seems like this is part of the seal as well.
Now I look down at the floor.
The entire floor is made of Blue-Red Stone.
“Wow, it’s Blue-Red Stone, the whole floor.”
Even the ceiling is made of Blue-Red Stone.
[Oh]
[Can’t we just mine it all?]
[How much is all this worth? LOL]
[If we mine it, the seal will be broken, you crazy idiots]
[? Aren’t we supposed to dig?]
[Dugging is a basic trait of an explorer, you know ;;]
[Lily, let’s mine a bit!]
Inside the Blue-Red Stone, there are red water shapes drawn, similar to the unique patterns that Wenetus and Rutilus possess.
It’s a unique pattern that I’ve got.
Though it’s hidden by chains, right now, there’s a red water symbol on Akron’s shoulder.
“Wow… This place is amazing! A room made of magical stone.”
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Oh, yes. To some extent.”
Recovering, Redberry looks around curiously.
Perhaps because we’ve shared the same mana, it seems she’s adapting better than before.
Now that we’ve checked, let’s go back.
Just then.
Ding!
[Primal Original Sin, Akron offers you a proposal.]
“…?”
[?]
[What the hell is this?]
[???]
[Another release?]
[Hahahahahahaha]
[Lily always goes where… ]
[Why are you awake LOL?]
[Let’s kill it.]
[???: Did you see it?]
A message window appears in front of me, blocking my view.
I turn around.
Akron is still sound asleep, motionless.
Thump. Thump.
However, the red heart beats much faster than before.
“I find your proposal to be a bit problematic.”
I know the suffering Rutilus faced, but if I release him, this place will undoubtedly turn into hell.
The slaughtering war, where we kill each other repeatedly, will ensue once more.
I don’t lack the sentiment of revenge.
In fact, I know it all too well; once, I lived madly for it.
However.
“Everyone you remember has returned to the earth. The only one left from that time is Wenetus, who was just a young child…”
I doubt that would soothe your grudge.
[Primal Original Sin, Akron promises not to kill anyone.]
“How am I supposed to trust that?”
Revenge cannot simply be brushed aside.
Especially considering my kind were wiped out, and I was imprisoned for over a thousand years…
“Absolutely not.”
I might have tossed him into the Space of Despair like the other monsters back in the day, but that’s not an option now.
Unless I use a casket, I can’t put Akron away.
[Primal Original Sin, Akron wishes to write an oath of pledge.]
Whoosh!
The message window disappears, and a fiery magical paper appears before me.
A symbol of a pact, engraved with its own rules and constraints.
Inside the fiery paper, it says, “If you do not attack first, I will not kill anyone.”
If this is violated, an immediate vow of fire will burn Akron’s heart, it adds.
[Primal Original Sin, Akron waits for your wise judgment.]
“Hmm…”
[Oh]
[What will you do?]
[Let’s make you a slave]
[Let’s do the contract scam, let’s go]
[Let’s create one more pet for the monthly report]
[Let’s sign the contract and then kill]
[But what do you offer?]
“What do I get?”
[The original sin of old, Akron says he will grant any request as long as it doesn’t pose a threat to him.]
Any request?
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
I’m really going to ask for anything!
[The original sin of old, Akron clearly states that it must not be a ‘threat’.]
Saying ‘anything’ is kind of reckless, you know.
Contracts should always be taken seriously.
I thought for a moment and then moved the red mana to slightly modify the vow.
“‘As long as you don’t attack first’ is a bit bothersome. You could always find a reason to attack…”
Change it to if I’m not seriously threatened…
[?]
“I’ll make the requests two, no three. Is that okay?”
[The original sin of old, Akron asks if he has a conscience.]
“Yes.”
Who else has as much conscience as I do?
[HAHAHAHAHA]
[Oh right, haha]
[When you think of Lily, you think of conscience, right?]
[?]
[For real, haha]
[With Lily, that’s a living conscience, right? Yup]
[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]
[Who’s talking big when they’re sealed? Wanna die?]
[So cocky, haha]
“If you refuse, I’ll just leave. Just to be safe, I’ll seal it even more…”
I move the holy energy.
A pure white magic circle is engraved near Akron’s heart.
Having contained dozens of monsters in my soul, I’m confident my knowledge of seals surpasses that of the celestial race.
Creating a solid seal from an already made one is a piece of cake…
[The original sin of old, Akron says, “Stop!”]
“Stop?”
[“…Please stop.”]
That’s right.
I nod and present the modified vow in front of him.
[“…Crazy woman.”]
Whack!
The contract is established.
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