Kapitel 12: Shock
"Y-you? Becoming my husband? Are you serious?" Charlotte stuttered in shock. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Lucien wanted to retract back his statement, but it would be out of his character if he did so. He also felt a sense of responsibility to help her out of this mess. "Yes, I am. It would solve the problem, wouldn't it?" he replied, trying to sound confident.
"B-but we barely knew each other..?" Charlotte reasoned.
"That's not a problem. There were many cases where spouses only got a chance to cultivate their feelings after marriage." Lucien responded.
"B-but you're a notorious playboy." Charlotte pointed out.
"That's in the past. I'm now a family man." Lucien repeated the same sentence he had said a half hour ago.
"B-but I don't want to get married this early."
"That's okay. We don't have to rush into anything. We can take our time and get to know each other first before deciding to have a marriage." Lucien said thoughtfully.
"B-but I don't like you..!" Charlotte announced bluntly.
At her response, even Lucien was left speechless. He couldn't believe that Charlotte, who had previously willingly thrown herself at him and enjoyed their intimacy together, could suddenly reject him so harshly. It made him question his worth without his 'Seduction' and 'Charm' abilities.
'Is it possible that his appearance was unattractive, or was it just the original Lucien's image so nasty due to the rumors surrounding him that it made him unappealing to Charlotte?' Lucien wondered.
However, after a moment of reflection, Lucien realized that Charlotte's hesitations were completely understandable. He was notorious for his womanizing ways, and it was unlikely that he had ever given off the impression of a trustworthy and reliable man. Moreover, his sudden proposal must have come as a complete shock to Charlotte, who had just committed a public sin and was already feeling vulnerable.
'I'm such an idiot for saying that in the first place! I should have thought of better words to comfort her,' Lucien wanted to smack his head so badly.
[It appears to me that you require assistance, host.] Auman's voice suddenly resounded within Lucien's mind, offering a glimmer of hope.
As though finding his savior, Lucien desperately responded. 'You got a suggestion?'
[Let her know that you are aware of the reason she was unable to awaken her Arcane Nexus.]
Although the term "Arcane Nexus" was unfamiliar to Lucien, he heeded Auman's suggestion and promptly addressed Charlotte, "Charlotte, I am aware of the reason behind your unsuccessful attempt at awakening your Arcane Nexus."
Charlotte's eyes widened in astonishment as she began to speak, "How did you kn-" but she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, as if realizing that she was about to reveal something she shouldn't have. Her expression shifted from surprise to caution as she looked at Lucien with suspicion.
Lucien maintained his facade and followed Auman's orders, speaking in a cryptic tone. "There are many things I know," he said, his eyes seeming to hold a hidden knowledge. "If you wish to learn what caused you unable to become a mage, then you must adhere to one condition."
"What condition?" Charlotte asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. Despite her reservations about Lucien and her detest of him, she couldn't help but feel intrigued by the prospect of finally learning the reason behind her failed awakening.
"You must become my friend." Lucien said after seemingly arguing with someone. His face was twisted between strange and wonderment.
"That's it?" Charlotte confirmed skeptically. She couldn't help but feel suspicious of Lucien's motives. From what she knew of him, he didn't seem like the kind of person who would offer such an important piece of information in exchange for friendship. Lucien had always been aloof and cold to everyone, and was known for his overbearing personality that few dared to challenge, let alone befriend.
"Yes, that's the only condition you required to meet." Lucien raised his eyebrows. "So, are you interested or not?"
"If you still doubted me, then pretend I didn't say anything." Lucien continued dismissively.
"W-wait!" Charlotte hurriedly cried out. Her fists were clenched, appearing to be struggling with her own self. With a deep breath, she mustered her courage and spoke up, her voice shaking slightly. "If a friend is all you need, then I'm willing to become your friend," she stammered. "Please, tell me the reason why I failed to awaken my Arcane Nexus."
Lucien's lips curved into a small smile, feeling relieved at Charlotte's willingness to accept his condition. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, wondering why Auman was so insistent on him befriending Charlotte. It was unlike her to be so forceful, and he couldn't help but feel there was something more to her request.
'I'm her host, but I feel like I'm the one with the status of servant.' Lucien shook his head inwardly and went to unclench his fist, revealing a small, unremarkable pill. It was plain and unassuming, with no discernible markings or decorations. However, it was an item directly gifted by Auman herself for Charlotte. So, Lucien didn't dare to underestimate it.
As Lucien examined the pill, a strange sensation overcame him, and his left eye began to burn with intense heat. He winced in pain and attempted to close his searing eye, but to his surprise, it refused to comply with his command and remained open and fixated on the pill. A complex golden rune then appeared in his vision, emanating from his eye and hovering in the air before the pill.
The rune seemed to twist and turn in intricate patterns, as if analyzing the pill from every angle. After a few moments, the rune dissipated, and the information it gathered was absorbed back into Lucien's eye.
Suddenly, a golden message appeared on his retina, written in an archaic language that he surprisingly understood. Unlike the usual system notifications he was used to, this message seemed to be etched directly onto his vision, almost like a tattoo.
[Spirit Enhancer Tablet]
<Upon ingestion, the Spirit Enhancer Tablet would initiate a surge of energy that amplifies the spirit's capacity to hold mana, enabling the user's mana reserve to increase dramatically.>
<When consumed, this pill permanently boosts the consumer's Intelligence by 110 points.>
Lucien was hit by two immediate shocks. First, his left eye was somehow able to conjure a complex golden rune on its own. To his surprise, the rune provided him with a description of the item, a level of appraisal he had never experienced before.
Second, the pill he held in his hand was not just any ordinary pill, but a valuable treasure that could increase his intelligence by 110 points. Although he did not understand how powerful this was in the real world, he knew it was an insane amount of stat.
If his assumptions were correct, intelligence would work much like a mana reservoir and also be capable of determining the amount of magical output one could generate. His current intelligence stat sat at a mere 16 points, yet he was still able to generate a potent pheromone that clearly affected Charlotte. If the pill truly offered a permanent increase of 110 intelligence points, it could vastly enhance his magical abilities and greatly expand his potential as an Incubus.
[Eye Of Cronus.] Auman suddenly spoke within his mind.
'I beg your pardon?' Lucien confusedly asked.
[That's what your left eye is, Lucien. It's the Eye of Chronos, an eye that possesses a special ability to see beyond the fog of time. With it, you can appraise anything in this world, no matter how ancient or obscure it may be.]
[Every time you use your Eye of Chronos, there is a price you must pay. The cost varies depending on the age and rarity of the item you are appraising. The older and more significant the item, the greater the price you must pay. It could range from a simple headache to a more severe migraine or even temporary blindness in extreme cases.]
Lucien was shocked hearing Auman's explanation. Wasn't Chronos the strongest titan in ancient greek mythology? Why did his eye get into him? He had so many questions, but he knew he had more pressing matters at hand, as Charlotte was still waiting for his response. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and proceeded to tell Charlotte what Auman had told him earlier.
"The reason your Arcane Nexus remains dormant, not due to any lack of talent or affinity, but because your spirit cannot yet bear its weight." Lucien spoke in a calm yet serious tone.
"Huh? How did I never heard such a case?" Charlotte thought confusedly before shooting him a suspicious glance. "Are you bullshitting me, right now?"
"My credibility is up to you to decide. I understand that my claim without any tangible proof may sound like complete nonsense. That's why I have something to show you." Lucien took a step closer and revealed the Spirit Enhancer Tablet from his right palm.
Geschenke
-- Geschenk
erhalten Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein