episode_0140

“Effectiveness of this necklace. I figured it out.”

Scarlett said.

It’s only been a few hours since I left the Magic Tower.

“It may not be appropriate to call it an effect.”

“Let’s hear it first.”

“Ugh. This is, so to speak, a medium and repository for drawing in external mana.”

“External Mana… ?”

“I guess you’ve heard of it.”

I also know about mana that exists outside the human body and in the natural world.

Because the person who told me that is right in front of me.

“On the other hand, it seems like his warriors don’t know.”

The Fruit Heroes, as well as Mercy and Katy, look like they don’t know.

Scarlett grinned and explained.

“Superhumans use an unknown energy called mana. yes? Whether it’s strengthening your body, casting magic, or performing miracles. The foundation is the same. At this time, the superhuman uses the mana inside the human body.”

“But mana is not found only in the human body. There is mana outside the human body and in the natural world. Unlike the amount of mana stored in each person, in the natural world mana is distributed evenly across places. It’s impossible to measure how much mana there is in this entire natural world.”

“In the first place, the human body’s mana is absorbed and refined through breathing, and is not created randomly by the body. Anyway, this means that if you use this necklace properly, you can use the mana that exists in the natural world as it is. Without the process of accepting it with your body.”

Scarlett shook the necklace in her hand.

As if some action had taken place, a blue lump appeared in the center of the transparent gem.

‘It matches the color of the mana that appears on the outside.’

As time passed, the lump grew little by little.

“It’s like this.”

“It’s good that you don’t use your own mana. But doesn’t it matter how much mana there is in nature? I’m not sure if it’s that significant if the mana distribution per unit volume of the atmosphere is low.”

“Wow. Honey, are you even smart? Be sexy… .”

“… … .”

Did I ask for no reason… .

I asked because I hadn’t heard much about natural mana.

“Good point, but no need to worry. The natural world tries to maintain homeostasis. As much mana is used up in a certain area, it will come back from the periphery to balance the situation. Over time, the mana of the natural world is restored.”

If so, this means that the mana in the natural world that can be used is theoretically almost infinite.

“It’s a huge thing, right? I don’t know exactly how much mana is stored in this gem. It’s difficult to test because it might break if you inject too much. However, the true value of this gem is that it is a medium for accessing external mana.”

Scarlett gave me back the necklace.

“Surprisingly, they hand it over obediently, right? If you’re a magician, I don’t think you’ll have anything to say even if you’re crazy about these things and steal them. Everything looks good to you… .”

“I knew he was a person with clean dealings.”

“Hmm. okay? It’s not bad that he knew me. Yes.”

“… … .”

I can’t say anything.

“ character. Request fee here.”

Scarlett handed over a fat pocket.

“100 silver.”

100 silver is the same value as 1 gold.

In other words, it is equivalent to 10 million Korean Won.

“At first, I was thinking of giving it in gold coins, but I gave it in silver to make it easier to distribute. How about it?”

“Well, thank you.”

“You will manage your affairs well, right?”

“… This is it.”

The request is over.

There is only one way to shake off the strange guilt that remains with her.

To prevent the aftermath of war from spreading to this tower.

“… I hope I can see you again next time.”

Katy glared sharply at Scarlett, who was talking behind me.

“That won’t happen.”

“Hmm?”

“That’s right! Oh, and marriage! This is absurd!”

Did I really think this was the last time?

Helena also shouted.

“Is that so?”

“You should marry someone you love!”

“I just need to love you, right?”

“Huh-?!”

“Isn’t it okay to get married and love each other?”

“That, that, that… !”

Helena, unable to find anything to refute, only blushed.

Mercy suddenly covered my ears.

“You shouldn’t listen to things like that!”

“I can hear it even if I block it… .”

“Even if you don’t want to hear it!”

“Wow, I can’t hear you.”

Scarlett giggled at this funny sight.

“Vivian You will learn how to use external mana using this necklace. Just because you have a necklace doesn’t mean you can use it right away like I did. Please know in advance.”

With Scarlett’s last words, I left the magic tower.

I had to quickly get the group away from the magic tower before anything happened.

While I was there, I heard 5 people nagging me not to go to the magic tower.

I also promised that if I had no choice but to go, I would definitely take at least two people with me.

I felt like something would happen if I didn’t do it.

It was semi-compulsory.

*

“Ian.”

A few days later, Esther came to visit.

“I found out the information about the ring.”

my office.

Next to me is Helena, who I was notified of in advance.

“Do you two know about the last apostle?”

Helena gave the answer.

“Yes. He is the 13th apostle whose faith in fire grew so much that he developed a desire to monopolize God.”

“As expected, you are great. That ring is said to have been worn by the last apostle.”

“Yes, yes… ?”

“The last apostle is said to have prayed every morning, placing a ring in the direction of the Lord’s rising, in order to repent of his desire for exclusive possession. If you pray often, you may be able to bring out special powers.”

“Is that so…? .”

Helena nodded, looking at the ring on her ring finger.

She still prays often these days.

I don’t know why you sometimes ask for my hand when you pray, but the day will come when it will take effect on its own.

Helena, who was looking at the ring, looked at me and quickly turned her head.

I think I just blushed.

Is it because of my mood?

*

“Hey, hey… .”

Vivian was lying on the floor, her chest heaving.

Vivian, who is tired, always makes such unusual noises.

If you think about it, it’s not just when you’re tired.

Because it makes a funny sound even when it gets hit with a hammer.

anyway.

I handed water to her, who was drenched in sweat.

“Thank you for your hard work. Today’s training ends here.”

“Hehe, hehe, neeh… .”

Lucia was standing but looking tired, and Helena was sitting with her back against the wall.

These days, I’m having a hard time too.

There is also the effect of Vivian participating more actively in close combat.

But the most important thing is that the three’s physical abilities have improved significantly compared to before.

In particular, I expect that Helena’s strength will soon catch up with mine.

Vivian, who was drinking water, glanced sideways at me.

“… ?”

She kept glancing at me and carefully walked away to the side.

“Why are you doing that?”

“No?”

“What is it?”

“Uh… .”

Vivian, who was fiddling with the water container, scratched her cheek and muttered.

“Well, it smells like sweat… .”

“… Ah.”

I may have started sweating because I was slowly getting tired of it.

“Sorry. The three of you have become stronger these days, and I am struggling too.”

“Neeh? Oh no! no! Well, I’m not saying it came from Ian… .”

“… Yes?”

“It comes from me… . The smell of sweat… .”

Those words made me look Vivian up and down for no reason.

My hair was wet, and my gym clothes were like they had fallen into the water.

It looks like something to worry about, but I’ve never felt like it had a smell.

“I thought it would give off to Ian… . I’m embarrassed… . I have a lot of water in my body, so I sweat a lot, so… .”

Startle.

Someone behind me was startled.

When I turned around, I saw Helena stretching the neckline of her shirt with her fingers and sniffing the inside.

Sniff, sniff, sniff… .

‘Are you being too persistent in your duties?’

Then, perhaps because he felt eyes on me, he slowly raised his head.

We ran into each other.

My face, which was already hot, turned even redder.

“Mu, radish, mer, me, radish, what are you looking at? ”

“Sniffing Helena?”

“Kyaaaagh-!”

Leaving Helena struggling alone, Lucia sniffed her wrist.

“Hmm. I feel like I can’t fly. Would you like to take charge?”

“… I don’t like it.”

“Why? Aren’t there many men who like this kind of thing?”

“What… . under… .”

I’m really dizzy.

Lucia chuckled as she held her throbbing head.

Anyway, it is evil.

“You don’t have to worry about that. It’s already been a few weeks since you first started, so if you were going to take it, wouldn’t you have done it a long time ago?”

“Hoo. Ian, what you just said seemed a bit perverted.”

“… Anyway, training is over. Organize it yourself.”

“Ahh! Prank, prank!”

Lucia rushed over and led him by the arm.

“We need to organize it together.”

“Ugh.”

“Did you just smell me? Were you conscious of it because you kept talking about it?”

“I’m really going.”

“Ihihi, just kidding! I won’t!”

“Tsk… .”

In the end, I stayed and sorted it out together.

I actually became more conscious of it because Vivian and Helena kept increasing their distance, but I understood.

I guess it was only later that I started to care.

“Why are you.”

As I was organizing, Kati kept sneaking up on me.

After announcing that he was a prisoner, Kati also freely participated in training.

Carty trained at an intensity appropriate for his level, so he was drenched in sweat.

By the way, this is my first time seeing a training uniform that clings to the body other than a maid uniform.

Like other fruits, her long hair was tied up.

It’s amazing and somehow unfamiliar.

‘So why do you keep following me?’

It’s so hot that even my clothes are flapping, so why are they sticking to me?

It would be hotter if we were closer.

“Do you have something to say?”

“… … .”

“Why do you keep asking me?”

“Smell.”

“Smell?”

“… No.”

… For some reason, I was afraid to ask more, so I didn’t ask any more.

***

Ian training the fruits.

Scarlett’s education and Helena’s prayers also progressed steadily.

Meanwhile, at the eastern end of the Northern Front.

“Kuhhh-!”

Beatrice collapsed, coughing up blood.

“Beatrice!”

Aria quickly blocked her path and deployed protection.

A human form covered in red slime rushed forward and hit Bangho.

-Quad!

“Kkeut… .”

S-class monster, red slime.

It is a monster that has acid throughout its body and can imitate human appearance and behavior.

It is on a different level from ordinary slime.

Red Slime struck the protection again with a solid sword made of slime.

-Click!

There was a crack in the protection.

“Beatrice! Come to your senses!”

“Kruk… .”

Beatrice squirmed as her prosthetic arm exploded again.

There was no consciousness to get up.

Aria looked around.

Kylie and Sylvia are nowhere to be seen.

It may be because the distance is far.

‘I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m scared… .’

I’m afraid of getting hurt.

I felt a morbid fear.

‘I’m scared, I’m so scared… . Ian, please, help me. What should I do? What should I do in this situation? Pull up the protection? Or, the moment you swing again, lower your guard and counterattack… ?’

Aria, who was trembling, remembered his face.

He is a man whose intentions are unknown.

Do they care about themselves or not?

Do my old feelings really remain?

Just looking at that relaxed face in any situation made me feel calm.

-Boo!

Red Slime struck down his weapon again.

Aria just closed her eyes, praying that the protection would stop her.

Right after.

-Poof!

A sound was heard harshly penetrating the skin.

Aria flinched.

I didn’t feel any pain.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Kylie’s back.

Got pierced in the side by Red Slime’s sword.

“Kylie… !”