Chapter 14: Ring of Black Brimstone (1)
The acquisition of a new artifact.
This is always a good sign within the Inner Lunatic.
The value of the Ring of Black Brimstone, which can extend one's lifespan, is unrivaled.
I stared at the window and smiled.
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[Basic Information]
Name: Black Brimstone Ring
Category: Accessory
Rank: Lower Middle
Property: Darkness
Stats: +1 Health / +1 Magic
Wear Restrictions: May only be worn by those who wield dark elemental magic.
Special Effect: Steals a small amount of life from those you kill, making it your own.
The amount of life stolen increases as you defeat enemies stronger than your rank.
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Ring of Black Salt.
This is an item that is undoubtedly helpful to those with dark attributes, especially those like me who have the [Time Limit] attribute.
It's basically the only item in the world that can steal the life force of others.
The fact that it is the only one is proof enough of the rarity of this artifact.
However, it doesn't extend the user's life indefinitely, and it comes with the condition of "stealing a very small amount", so it's not so easy to overcome the time limit.
What if the Archmage's health continued to increase as they killed orcs?
They could live forever.
This ring could extend my life, so to speak, in a situation where I was risking my life every moment. It was right to look at it that way.
"Even with this, my life is but a day's work."
But if you're willing to struggle a little bit.
Wouldn't it be better to choose that path willingly?
In the past, even this was a luxury.
After the doctor gave me a time limit, I stayed in my room like a cripple.
I didn't even try to be different, I just spent time thinking.
"It has to be different now. This world is harder to survive in than I thought."
So much for negative thinking.
Once I'd gotten my thoughts out of my system, I refocused on the item.
[Ring of Black Brimstone]. The value of this item was not limited to what was described earlier.
"This ring increases two stats by one. That's a pretty good increase for a lower mid-tier item.
Considering that artifacts were extremely rare even across the continent, it was for the best that the [Black Brimstone Ring] was acquired at this point.
"Let's go."
I said as I walked out of the treehouse. Talia, who had been waiting, perked up her ears and stretched her back like a meerkat.
She's a little frightened, but there's nothing I can do about it. It doesn't really matter, does it?
I'd gotten what I'd come for, and right now, whatever my thoughts or feelings about her, it was important to get out of the forest.
I put the Ring of Black Brimstone in my pocket, unworn for now, not wanting to be seen by others and risk being a nuisance.
For the time being, it would be better to take it out only when I needed to use it.
With that thought in mind, I made my way through the middle of the forest with Talia clinging to my back, slowly reaching the far end.
There were various mazes along the way, but I didn't have any trouble clearing them.
Basically, do the opposite of conventional wisdom.
Because that's the only way to beat this Mia's Forest.
And so, about two hours later.
Talia and I reached the very edge of the forest.
The torches flickered, casting long shadows, and Talia was once again startled by them, but she didn't show it.
…Or, more accurately, she just chewed on her tongue along the way, so no sound came out.
"We're here, stop being scared."
I blurted out in a cold tone.
* * *
With a rustling sound, the forest's enchantment completely dissipates. Rodwell, Emma, and the knights of the House tensed up and stretched out their swords in front of them.
The lifting of the forest's enchantment meant that the other trapped beasts could then break free and raid the town or manor.
Objectively, it was more likely that the forest would be destroyed by an unleashing of demons than that Nox and Talia would make it out alive.
Of course, Rodwell didn't think so.
"There's no doubt about it. The natural magic in the forest has been completely removed.
The magic of the forest had been washed away.
It is now nothing more than an ordinary forest.
Nox von Reinhafer.
The Forest of Mia was captured thanks to the efforts of the youngest member of the family.
It is not an easy story to understand, but it is not unbelievable.
Given the skill he displayed in the fight with his brothers not long ago, it is possible.
That was his conclusion.
Patriarch Theo, who had a hard time looking at people, also seemed to have some hope for the youngest.
That must mean there was hope for Nox.
A rustle.
"The forest opens!"
It was then that the voices of the knights of House Reinhafer were heard.
Instantly, everyone's attention was focused on one thing.
The exit of the forest.
From there, two childlike figures walked out, casting long shadows.
I recognized the faces of those in front of me. Rodwell's face had been expressionless the entire time, but a faint smile finally broke through.
'You can't control your expression.'
The one who walks out, nonchalantly wiping away the blood spatter from the beast before him, is Nox. The man who was arguably the family's biggest disgrace.
Rodwell was the first to rush forward and bow to Nox.
"Young Master. You left without telling us, and the men of the house were worried."
"A wretch like me worries them all. The name of the House of Darkness must weep."
The voice of a pathfinder with no sense of wrongdoing.
It sounded as if Nox had come to Mia's Forest because it was the natural place to attack.
Behind him, Talia is clinging to Nox and looking around. She realized that if Emma caught her, she'd be cut to the bone.
But alas, Emma was very used to catching her.
By the time Talia realized it, Emma had moved behind her and had her by the scruff of the neck.
The daughter of her favorite lord. It would have been disrespectful of her to do so, but there was nothing in Emma's eyes right now.
This was the child she had raised and changed diapers for.
It's no wonder she's acting like this.
To reprimand her and help her get on a better path!
That was what she was supposed to do, Emma firmly believed.
"Young lady. Please follow me as I explain the seventy-one rules of House Steiner again."
"Eh, Emma, I, I did something wrong...."
"No, no. How dare I reprimand you for your misbehavior, you are but a lowly maid, and I'm sure my lord will have a word with you on the matter."
At Emma's words, Talia's sobbing gaze suddenly snaps to Nox. But he was already moving away.
She missed his back more than ever.
"Master Nox. Thank you so much. For protecting my lady."
Emma stopped him for a moment to thank him. Objectively, it was well deserved.
Talia is a promising knight, but she has yet to prove herself.
She's a child who can't even handle magic. She's far too young to take on a demon.
If Rodwell was right, then the theory that Nox had saved her was the most realistic.
But after a moment's hesitation, Nox simply shrugged.
"I didn't mean to go with you, but I did it for myself. Don't be too hard on her."
And with that, he was gone.
Rodwell doesn't blame him, either. Is this why all the children of the Rinehafer family turn out to be geniuses?
Emma grabs Talia by the scruff of the neck and slowly begins to drag her along, not wanting to let go this time.
Then she added a comment.
"This is going to be a long night."
"...."
Talia's eyes were lifeless as she gave up completely.
It was almost as if she was facing the wolf in the forest.
* * *
"Huh… I've gotten over it for now. I didn't expect them all to be waiting there."
Actually, it's not surprising.
Talia, the second daughter of the Steiner family, had disappeared with me, along with a rascal from House Rinehafer.
It would be strange if vassals and knights didn't gather to look for her in such circumstances.
But in the woods, I hadn't thought of that.
I'm not used to being in situations where I can't think straight. Perhaps this poor judgment will improve with each subsequent battle.
Don't I also have the trait of [Steel Mentality]?
Judgment gained from countless experiences, when wielded with cold reason.
It will be my greatest weapon.
In the heat of battle, when everything depends on a split-second decision, that's what it means to be cool-headed.
I straightened up and tried on the new ring on my hand.
[Equip 'Ring of Black Brimstone].
"I can definitely feel my health and magic increasing… I like it, Rona, I know you're out there, come in for a minute!"
I immediately called out to Rona.
"Hey, ..., do you happen to know how to clairvoyantly?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"Hmph!!! Doesn't that mean you've seen me naked?!"
…It was just a joke, but she was almost accusing me of being a pervert. I waved my hand modestly and stretched my arms out.
Rona cocked her head and asked.
"There's a ring I didn't see…go, no, no, what do you mean?"
"I want you to arm-wrestle with me."
I had been arm-wrestling Rona for a while now.
…I'd always lost, but she'd always insisted that I'd helped her.
Every time, Rona would smile and sarcastically say, "You're a master!"
It seems like just yesterday.
Now it was time to return the favor.
"Master, if I lose this time, you'll actually pay me half of my salary, right?"
"That's right. If you lose, I'll give you …."
"Right. I'll take a 20 percent cut in my salary."
Rona crossed her arms as she said that, looking triumphant.
He doesn't seem to be thinking about losing to me anymore.
But she's wrong. To completely deceive a man in his sleep, truth must be mixed in.
In the past, I was weak, and that's why I lost to her.
But not now, not ever.
"Here we go. One, two… three!"
BANG!
As soon as I gave it my all, the results were in. Unsurprisingly, I won.
The reason was simple.
Rona's health was down to 4.5.
Whereas my health was now a whopping 5.3, thanks to the +1 added by the Ring of Black Brimstone.
Thanks to the fact that health is also a function of strength, I was able to defeat her easily. Lorna's expression stiffened.
"Even you don't think it's worthy of a prestigious family to cut a maid's salary by twenty percent, do you...?"
"Well, that's true."
Rona's face instantly brightened at that. But a man's words must be heard.
"But I'm the rumored bastard son of House Rineharbour, or so I've been told. So I've decided not to get caught up in such trivialities."
"You're ... wrong!"
Rona said as she grabbed my pants.
A triumphant smile spread across my face.
-The effect of the talent [Nuisance] is activated.
-You have acquired [Wrist Fracture Lv 2].
-You have acquired [Cold Lv 1].
"Go to ... and I'll cancel the cut, but go get some ice and washcloths. I need to rest."
Is this a special buy-one-get-one-free sale?
The nuisance trait felt like it was pestering me every time I tried to do something.
I can't do it. I knew from experience that there was no benefit to moving my body at times like this.
The past month had been long enough for me to experience the full extent of my sickly body.
"'Yes!"
Rona moved quickly, as if money was king in this world or in real life.
I flopped down on the bed, realizing the truth with a start.
…It hurts like hell.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone