Chapter 11: (EP-11) Orientation
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The laws of the hidden world apply differently than in the material world.
Even if you just use a single portion of food as a burnt offering, the people here can all drink, play music and do other things.
"Ah… I'm wasted…"
"This is the good shi†…"
"…"
As a result, there's a bunch of drunken angels currently lying on the floor. I'm watching all this while holding up a sigh.
However.
Regardless of how much they look like wasted drunkards right now, if they are put in the material world, each and every one of them is a being capable of a power comparable to that of a military corps. There's no need to do anything disrespectful.
"Hey, I ate well."
The one with the reddest face among the scattered angels stood up.
Obviously… it was the Lord Angel. Among the angels present, he's clearly the one with the highest rank.
"Thanks to you, working became enjoyable for a bit. It's been a while, and who knows when we're able to experience this again."
"They're not feeding you at work?"
"What kind of food would there be in this world? We don't even have physiological needs."
"…Do you have something else then?"
"Look at our condition. What do you think?"
"…"
Oh my God.
Doesn't that mean that they're on military service for eternity without pay?
According to the setting, this race is virtually immortal in the hidden world.
What angels? They're just winged slaves.
"Don't think about useless things, now tell me."
As I was giving the other person a sympathetic look, the Lord Angel smiled and pointed at something.
It was the still-smoking Divine's Ultima incense burner.
"Yes?"
"You came to us because you wanted something. Tell me and I'll give it to you."
Around me were loud mumbling of Iya~ Squad Leader is so hot~ He's alive~
The angels twisted, nonessential rambles were dizzying.
"…"
But, well, he's not wrong.
Even though the purpose of the Ultima was simply to reveal the hidden world, the reason why it is classified as a 'survival' item is that when you encounter this side in the game, it'll unconditionally get infused with divine protection.
"Say what you want and I'll do the best I can."
However, it was totally unexpected that they'll just give it to me before I could even negotiate.
I've even prepared dozens of bargaining chips specifically for them.
While I was blankly staring at this development that had worked so well for me, the main angel continued.
"You just don't decide to offer things to air. Looking at you, it seems that you know the rules and laws of angels."
"…To be honest, I kinda do."
"I can see it."
The Lord Angel's eyes flashed with all kinds of colors as he said so.
I know this ability.
Insight.
It's a skill that could grasp one's 'essence' just by looking at them. You can say it's like reading the other person's Status Window in great detail.
"I see that you're someone who's going to be big in the future. Think of this like an investment."
"…"
"I can see potential. It's just not fully developed yet."
The other angels lying nearby woozily echoed too.
This is a burdensome high evaluation. What could he possibly be referring to?
'This must be it…'
He's probably talking about my Special Gift.
The ability to gain favor from the wicked.
If we're talking about my potential, then there's nothing else that comes to mind other than this.
"That is more powerful than you think. I'm interested to see how you deal with it."
The angel said with a burst of laughter.
However, the sentence that followed was not something to be said lightly.
"But it's not necessarily always good."
"Yes?"
"You've been bitten by something terrible. I can't see its full form yet, but I can tell it's bad. It seems to have stuck because of your abilities."
What is he talking about?
Blinking in wonder, the Lord Angel continued to speak while scratching his head.
"But again, it's kinda funny. It certainly is bad, but it doesn't look that harmful."
"…What are you talking about?"
"It feels strangely friendly. At least I don't feel like it's trying to harm you. Even, it's trying to help."
"…"
What is it?
"I can't even see its shape right now, so it won't have a direct effect on you. Just prepare yourself sometime soon."
Still blankly blinking, I was net with another word bomb.
"Let me give you one piece of advice. If it could mean your survival, you're thinking of taking everything even if they're not yours, right? That incense burner is also something that should've gone to someone else."
"…How did you know?"
"I told you, I can see everything."
The angel replied with a smirk.
"But I have no intention of interfering with anything. I would've advised against it if it were another person and not you."
"Yes?"
"Take it all. Whatever it may be, gather all the means available to you. It would be really hard to survive if it's involving with such an abomination."
The weight of his words was heavy.
Though, his following words went back to a light-hearted tone.
"But don't worry too much."
"What? You just made a big deal about it."
"I can tell just by looking at your expression. Usually, humans I've seen get scared right away when they hear these words."
A ferocious smile crept across his face.
"But you... You remained calm and even planned on how to live through to see the next day. People like that typically have a long life."
"…"
"Trust me, the average person don't do that. You're a bud waiting to bloom."
Again, it's an onerously high evaluation.
I'm just trying because I don't want to die.
But this is still coming from an angel. I'll need to give it some serious thought. This is pretty important-
"Squad Leader, you're talking nonsense after receiving the good shi†?"
"Come here quickly, use the shovel not eat it."
"Look at these little f*cks. Hey, you sons of bi†ches became my superiors all of a sudden, huh-"
"…"
It will be important.
Maybe.
Hopefully...
●
'This is great.'
Thinking so, I looked at the incense burner in my hand.
The protections I received from the angels were quietly dwelling inside.
< Item Info >
[ Divine's Ultima ] [ Item Grade: C+ ]
[ This incense burner has been used for ancestral rites for a long time. It has been influenced by the divine who exist in the hidden world and have acquired special powers. ]
◎ Built-in Skills ◎
■ [ Penance ] [ Skill Grade: C ]
[ Temporarily converts all additional stats to 'Endurance'. ]
[ Consumes a small amount of mana. ]
※ [ This skill can be evolved! ]
Upon evolution, the skill changes to [ Proof of Faith ]!
■ [ Guardian Shield ] [ Skill Grade: C ]
[ Creates a protective shield that absorbs incoming attack once. ]
[ Consumes a small amount of mana. ]
[ The strength of the shield is affected by the 'Endurance' stat. ]
[ Has a 20 second cooldown. ]
※ [ This skill can be evolved! ]
Upon evolution, the skill changes to [ Stigmata ]!
Looking at the effects that can be used right away, it is quite useful.
Among the stats, 'Endurance' is mainly related to health. It is in charge of the body's resilience, stamina and durability. This makes it heavily tied to survival.
The higher it is, the more effective the protective equipments or abilities.
If this is combined with the stat-raising Desperation skill, it would create a combo perfect for protection and survival.
'And…'
The key point is that it can evolve.
It will take time as the only way to evolve it is to use it as much as possible and increase the proficiency. But the ability of the skill to grow is definitely a merit.
The performance of all the things that can 'grow' in the world of Sera rapidly increase as their level goes up.
Getting this from the very beginning of the scenario is a great boon.
This was a good initiative that led to receiving the protection of the Lord Angel.
'Isn't this a good that I got this now? With this, I have more time to grow.'
Of course, being able to meet an angel itself is possible after Chapter 2. But being able to interact directly with a main angel would take a longer time than that.
Receiving protection from such an existence for free is huge.
The problem is this.
[ Consumes a small amount of mana. ]
I looked at such sentences on the skill window with gloomy eyes.
Generally, skills require mastering related traits, such as magic power and divine power.
But I don't know any one of those, they're nothing but pies in the sky.
Elfante students learn this type of knowledge from childhood, meaning the academy doesn't't teach it.
"…"
In this situation where I can't learn magic right away, I have to find a way to use temporarily.
I probably won't get it right here, but I can get it with a 'clue'.
"Here, here! This is a magic gun that was refined by the Firearms Department of the Crafting School! Come now and get 10 free shots of 10 bullets made from grinded spirit stones! If you perform well, there will be prizes!"
"The Magic School's Alchemy Department is recruiting new students! We'll be handing out self-made reagents only during the Guide Event, so come and see us!"
These types of talks could be heard all around.
A Guide Event is a faculty-run event that's basically an advertisement. It is held before the welcome party where students decide on their majors.
The departments usually throw baits like distributing reagents and show that they're a fun and beneficial place.
Once you've taken the bait and joined, they'll then start giving you insignificant tasks and do some positive reinforcement like, 'Wow, you did a really good job!'
They're doing everything they can to attract freshmen… or to more appropriately call them, sIaves to do the chores for them.
These enthusiastic seniors were throwing in carrots to seduce the unsuspecting freshmen. But those bright smiles hid dark malice.
The poor chicks who are ignorant of the world would get devoured by the preying snakes.
"…"
I want none of those things.
I'm currently at the event booth of the Knight School's Magic Research Department.
Compared to other booths, here is unusually empty, but that's because this place is exceptionally strict for a booth in a Guide Event.
It's a long dungeon course prepared by the department, a mock battle against a dummy doll with a 100% reproduction of real magic using magic fibers.
What freshmen would want to do such a grueling job, a Guide Event at that.
'There's one here.'
However, as much as they make us do such hard work, the reward they give is exceptional.
Considering the difficulty in obtaining it, it's not a stretch to say that it's almost like eating for free. It's that good.
To the point where I feel sorry for the other freshmen who missed such a jackpot.
"Well, you're quite the blank paper, aren't you?"
"No. I was listening."
"Really? Then what did I say?"
"Didn't you tell me to form a team of two and wait?"
"…"
Hearing my reply, the senior receptionist in front of me crossed their arms with a displeased look.
"You probably don't know what that means. Where is your partner?"
"They'll be here soon."
"Who would come to such an unpopular department? Are you lying?"
Judging from the self-deprecating remarks, they seem aware of the fact that their department is exceptionally non-mainstream among the Knight departments.
Knights have the highest prestige among the main armies of the empire, thus regular Knights are a target for envy.
However, the probability of becoming a regular knight is extremely low in the Magic Research Department. At best, they'll probably land a job as an office worker if it worked out well.
'If I get along with them, there would be no other place that's as comfortable as here.'
True to the department's name, they find weaknesses of magic, investigate their ecology, and establish an overall 'strategy'.
They're nothing flashy so people tend to ignore them. However, the information you get here makes for a pretty big difference in the future scenarios.
These are the people who will provide tremendous help in Chapter 1 of the scenario.
Of course, since it is a non-mainstream department, it is not attracting new students, which really is discouraging. So let's give some encouragement.
"I'm not lying, my partner is coming. Also, it will be very crowded here soon."
"…What?"
"Well, the person coming is someone you can call famous."
Saying so, I checked my magic wristwatch.
It's about time they arrive.
It's an 'experienced' freshman who knows that this kind of study, despite looking modest, is extremely helpful in practice.
"Hello! Is this the Magic Research Depart…ment…uh…?"
The person that came in through the tent of the booth gradually quieted down.
It's probably because they found me.
I gently waved my hand towards them.
"Hi."
I originally didn't want to get involved with this person.
But I changed my mind.
Especially after listening to the advice of the Lord Angel. So, I decided to change my course of action altogether.
"Is the offer for getting to know each other still valid?"
Elijah Krisanax looked stunned.
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