episode_0050

“Mana practice?”

“Yes, that’s right. If you tell us how to practice Mana… we will let you drink from the fountain of wisdom.”

“…Hehe.”

I just smiled helplessly at the bold request of the blue rain.

“Master. This doesn’t make sense. It’s a mana practice for monsters.”

“That’s right. Even if it’s okay to talk, there’s no turning back if you give great power to a monster that will be hostile to humans anyway. To be honest, even now that I have gained wisdom, I still feel anxious. So, kill them all right now and take the Fountain of Wisdom.”

As Karen and Harriet enthusiastically clap together next to each other, Jang Dae-bi’s blue face turns pale.

“Well, we’re not that stupid! Even putting aside the bad feelings accumulated from the past, we clearly know that our power lags far behind that of humans! Moreover, after gaining wisdom, we no longer feel unconditional hostility towards humans!”

“Hmm, how can you believe that?”

“Zanderom! The proof is that they didn’t attack your group as soon as they showed up! I didn’t poison the car or prepare a trap!”

“Well, a normal monster wouldn’t be able to face humans for this long… I’ll just attack and see.”

“Yes, that’s right! We…!”

“However, teaching you how to practice mana is a different story.

“……”

I fell into trouble as I watched the blue rain that had become mute.

It’s a mana practice… To be honest, it’s not that difficult of a request. All I need to do is to downgrade the practice method I am learning now and teach it to them. However, there are two issues.

The first is the literal threat of monsters. Monsters with enough intelligence to communicate with humans will definitely grow into a huge threat. In particular, Delheim, which guards the border close to Fleminim, will be greatly affected.

The second is a collectible character. This is because among the numerous characters I collected in the ‘Different World Beautiful Girl Training Program’, there was also a ‘talking monster’. Of course, they have a very beautiful appearance even to the human eye. Of course, there were characters that weren’t like that… Anyway, like humans, they also handled mana well.

If that fountain of wisdom were to impart advanced wisdom enough to use language to countless monsters on the continent, if it had become such a gigantic snowball and created the collectible characters I know over the generations, I could never sit idly by. This is because the number of collectible characters that are ‘talking monsters’ is too large to be ignored.

“I have something to ask you. Will the intelligence gained by drinking from that fountain of wisdom be passed on to your children?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Not only my children but also my children’s children are maintained. It probably won’t go away.”

“Ugh…”

If I leave this like this, I will become a complete villain.

He is not just a villain, but a hero to the continent.

The main story deals with the creation of a nation of monsters and the war against them. In particular, the Margrave Delheim family will not be able to avoid that war.

“……”

Moreover, did the fountain of wisdom really arise naturally? I just can’t get rid of the doubt. Maybe…it could be the work of those damned demon lord worshippers. In the future, those guys who kidnapped the princess, a mythical character and announced the beginning of the main story, will form a great power by uniting with the monster kingdom. As a result, they come into conflict with the worshipers of the current Demon King who are invading Middle-earth, turning the continent into a mess.

If the Fountain of Wisdom is the beginning, then this would be like witnessing a hidden setting before the main story… I’m not sure.

“Keu…”

Is there anything to worry about for a long time? In the end, I can’t give up on those collected characters.

The problem is this guy’s desire to collect and possess. Just imagining giving up so many characters with distinct personalities makes my heart pound and my intestines feel like they are about to burst.

…However, it is also true that there is a feeling of guilt that comes with it. The talking monsters will join together to form a force and create a country. It doesn’t stop there, it starts a war against humans and joins forces with the black magicians who worship the former Demon King to lead the continent into a huge war.

Can I just leave it to my own desires?

“Phew…I don’t know. Well, okay. Mana practice. I’ll give it to you.”

“Are you sure!?”

“Master!?”

“Master!”

“Calm down. However, what I will give you is an imperfect mana practice. Let’s leave it up to you guys to find a way to complete it. This seems like a pretty reasonable deal, right?”

“…Good.”

He was aware that it was a disadvantageous deal anyway, so he nodded heavily.

“And there is one more condition.”

“What is it?”

“Do not be hostile to humans. Oh, of course, except for the humans who attack you. I’m not saying you should just accept it, but I’m saying try to have a conversation first. Just like I did…of course it would be better for you to stay hidden. Did you understand?

“Okay.”

“Okay. Then the deal is done. Let’s go see the Fountain of Wisdom first. I will teach you the Auror exercises slowly.”

This transaction was actually more of an act of kindness and favor. Maybe, really just maybe, a kingdom of monsters that are friendly to humans could be established and humans would accept it favorably and coexist without war?

…It’s ridiculous even when I think about it.

The blue raindrops seemed worried as they didn’t know if I would keep my promise, but since they had the power in the first place, there was no choice. He let out a small sigh, got up and guided us.

“Follow me.”

After coming out of the room, he walked inside the cave, and as we entered through the gently descending path, we couldn’t help but gape.

“What kind of cave size is…”

“No, is this a cave?”

It gets higher and wider.

When we reached the end, a vast hollow the size of a city was showing off its grandeur, and although it was crude, it was filled with houses that had the shape of buildings.

It’s not that dark because there are torches lit here and there.

“Human?”

“You’re human…”

“Oh! It’s Tankakal!”

“Is this Tankakal’s snack?”

There were countless, truly countless Orcs.

I don’t know, but it has already surpassed the thousand mark. Maybe even up to 10,000 units.

All the orcs were chatting among themselves, speaking human language.

“Wow…”

As someone who knew the original atmosphere of the game, it was a scene that didn’t feel too out of place, but it didn’t seem to be the case for my companions. When I glanced around, I saw that all the women except Thankakal were extremely nervous and were sweating profusely.

“This is it.”

The place pointed to by the blue rain was a pond located at the end of the cave, which was shabby compared to the size of the cave. Although it was still wide and deep enough for all of us to swim in, I was a little disappointed because the cave was so overwhelming.

The fence that appears to have been made with considerable effort and a large number of orc guards attract attention.

I climbed over them and got closer to the pond, but to my eyes, it didn’t look any different from an ordinary pond.

“Hmm… If you drink this, you will gain wisdom. Xenia, Saraha, Halona. Do you understand something?”

When I asked the three people in the group who knew the most, they each tried to find out the identity of the Fountain of Wisdom in different ways, such as spewing out mana, staring at water in their palms, or rolling their heads.

“…I don’t know. To me, it’s ordinary water. The mana arrangement is a bit unusual, but I don’t know anything else. Sorry..”

“What is there to be sorry for?”

He wrapped his arms around Xenia’s sullen waist and patted her buttocks.

“Umm… According to an old book I read, there is a passage that says that in the old days, dragons and demons took pity on monsters and humans and gave them wisdom that never runs out. I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but maybe it was referring to this.”

“Hoo, dragons and demons…?”

Halona’s unexpected words intrigued me.

A dragon is a being with absolute power in this world. The lord of magic, the orchestrator of the world, the representative of God, etc… A supreme race with such status.

Naturally, it is also the race that has one of the collectible characters.

The word devil, of course, refers to demons. Those guys who are in league with the warlock.

The Demon King also exists, but strangely enough, the Demon King is not a collectible character. It’s even male. Both the deceased former Demon King and the current Demon King.

…No, if you think about it, can Sentai Demon Lord be considered a collectible character?

“Based on ingredient analysis, it appears to be a type of elixir.”

We couldn’t help but open our mouths at Sarah’s calm words.

“What!? Elixir?”

“Is that really true? Is this all elixir?”

Sarah shook her head emotionlessly at our reaction.

“It is not a typical elixir. It has no function to heal wounds and diseases. However, this elixir seems to have a concentrated effect on the head and soul.”

“Head and soul…?

“That’s right. It certainly looks like monsters can learn language if they drink this..”

“Hoo…”

The eyes of women, including me, sparkle.

Who would deny that one can become smart even if it is not necessarily for enlightenment?

Even if it is temporary.

“Can I just drink it?”

“Yes. However, if you drink it, there is a high possibility that you will pass out for several hours.”

“Oh, really? Hmm…”

I took a quick look around.

Orcs, and orcs. There were only orcs. It is impossible to be certain that you will not be attacked while stunned.

“Blue rain. Is there an empty house?”

It would be a good idea to prepare a place to live first. That alone will significantly increase your defensive power.

“Ah. yes. there is. And that too, close to this fountain of wisdom.”

After saying that, the blue raindrop raised his finger and pointed to the side of the pond.

“Huh…?”

I hadn’t paid much attention to it until now, but there was a pretty decent house there.

It is also a two-story house.

It looked sturdy because it was made of brick, not wood, and the windows were located high up, making it easy to look around.

“This is a home for those who drink from the fountain of wisdom.”

“…Is that necessary?”

The blue rain smiled bitterly at my words.

“Being smart is not necessarily a good thing. A greater desire followed, and along with it, ‘crime’ arose. There are many of our compatriots who have already drunk from the fountain of wisdom and suffered from fainting and misfortune. That’s why I prepared this house.”

“Hmm…well, okay. Can we use it?”

“Of course.”

“Is there an oak you are currently using?”

“Recently, the law has established complicated procedures and tests to drink from the fountain of wisdom, so there are not yet.”

“Good timing. good. Sarah. Thankakal. Can you protect us?”

“I will do my best.”

“Leave it to me, master!”

Tankakkal asked because he could no longer drink from the fountain of wisdom, and since Tankakkal was a bit uneasy on his own, he also entrusted Saraha to guard him.

“Okay. Then…”

When I look back at my women, they come closer to the spring with solemn faces.

As a representative, I filled two canteens with pond water and stood up to find Jeffrey, Isabelle, Jeremy, and Halona hesitating.

“What’s wrong with you guys?”

“Yes, yes? no. no. Nothing.”

“…Is it because you don’t think I will give you this?”

“……”

They kept their mouths shut and slightly avoided eye contact.

I laugh out loud. Should I say I’m cautious or shameless because I’m still watching people like this?

“Don’t worry, we’ve included your share as well.”

As we led the girls into the house, we were greeted by the interior of a fairly well-built brick house.

The first floor was empty, but when I went up to the second floor, the carpets made of woven animal skins were quite soft.

“Not bad.”

After settling in, I looked at the women sitting around me one by one and drank some water first.

“Ugh…!?”

As soon as I drank it, I got a terrible headache and my brain started pounding violently like my heart.

In the meantime, I managed to pass the canteen to the person next to me and fainted on the spot, clutching my head.

***

“Uh, um…”

When I grabbed my head and came to my senses, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

“…Oh, that’s right. I drank from the fountain of wisdom.”

As I stood up, remembering my previous memories, I saw women lying around me.

“It looks like he drank it all. Hmm…but I don’t think I’ve gotten much smarter?”

I sat in a comfortable position, tilted my head, closed my eyes, and contemplated my inner self.

Bones, muscles, blood pressure, mana flow, etc., as expected, not much had changed from before.

“What, is it really not effective on humans? Rather than enlightenment… hmm?”

As soon as the word ‘enlightenment’ comes to mind, images and information related to it quickly pass by. I quickly closed my mouth and surrendered to the flow.

“…Ah..”

Even though I had only recently started meditating, I was able to clearly see the efficacy of the fountain of wisdom.

Objectification of my current state, things I have been missing out on, and thoughts and inspiration that go one step further from the realizations I gained in the past swirl like a storm in my mind.

“Seu-eup, huuu….”

I didn’t necessarily hold on to the inspiration that constantly came to me, but let it flow naturally.

“…Ahh!”

Control of soul and body by will. Following Saraha’s words, countless hints that it was an essential virtue for a sword master came to mind. It doesn’t stop there, and even the method of granting attribute powers to aurors comes to mind, is assembled, dismantled, and comes to a concrete plan.

“Suuu…huuu…!”

On the spot, I began tinkering with the Mana exercises that I had mastered over the years.

It’s a very dangerous thing. How can you change a mana practice that has already been completed and learned?

If other people had seen it, they would have been shocked and thought it was crazy, but for some reason, it didn’t seem impossible to me now. Rather, it almost made me wonder why I had left this as is until now.

It twists, twists, twists, cuts, and connects the numerous mana circuits that exist in the body.

It’s not difficult at all. The mana circuit and circulating mana in my body were under my complete control and obeyed my will.

“Seup, hoo, seueup, hoo, seeueueup…!”

Breathing changes and becomes embodied in real time according to the changing mana practice method.

“Suuu…!

How much time has passed?

Paget!

Little sparks flew across my skin. The static electricity, which was a local phenomenon, soon spread throughout my body and began to brightly light up the building as if I had become the electric current itself.

“…Huuu.”

When I finished editing the Mana Practice and opened my eyes, the lightning that was fiercely clashing with the atmosphere had disappeared without a trace, but I smiled in remorse.

Now I can emit an aura containing electrical properties at any time and can move faster than before.

Unfortunately, Sword Master is a long way off, but this alone is a huge achievement.