Ch.1111. Orientation

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The laws of the Otherworld apply differently than those of the material world.

Just offering a single serving of food as a sacrifice is somehow enough for the humans here to have a grand old time.

“Ah… I’m getting nicely buzzed…”

“This feels good, just the right amount of tipsy…”

“…”

Looking at the angels sprawled on the floor with flushed, drunken faces, I suppress a sigh that threatens to escape.

Despite their current state, each one of them possesses legion-level power when released into the material world. No need to show any disrespect.

Though it was quite a sight to see them all giving off the vibe of day laborers at a hiring office.

“Hey, that was good.”

The angel with the reddest face among those sprawled on the floor said as he raised himself up.

He was definitely… an archangel? Clearly the highest-ranking being among the angels present.

“Thanks to you, we got to enjoy ourselves during work. I don’t remember the last time I ate anything.”

“They don’t even feed you while making you work like this?”

“What food? We don’t even have physiological needs in the Otherworld.”

“…Do they provide you with anything else?”

“Look at our condition. What do you think?”

“…”

Good heavens.

So they’re essentially serving eternal military duty with no compensation and round-the-clock work.

According to the lore, this race is practically immortal within the Otherworld.

What kind of angels are these? They’re just slaves with wings.

“Stop thinking unnecessary thoughts and hand that over.”

As I was giving him a sympathetic look, the archangel smiled wryly and pointed at something.

It was the Ultrima still emitting wisps of incense beside me.

“What?”

“You came looking for us because you wanted something, right? I’ll give it to you, so hand that over.”

Around us came exclamations like “Wow~ Captain’s being generous~” and “He’s really alive~” and so on.

Hearing such slurred speech from angels’ mouths was a bit disorienting.

“…”

Well, he’s not wrong.

The Ultrima’s purpose is simply to reveal my presence here, yet it’s classified as a “survival item” in the game because when you meet these beings, they always infuse it with their blessing.

“Just tell me what you want. I’ll try to match it as best I can.”

But I never expected them to voluntarily offer this before I even tried to negotiate.

I had prepared dozens of bargaining chips that might work with these people.

As I blinked in confusion at how smoothly things were going, the archangel continued with his still-flushed face.

“You’re wondering why someone like me, who has nothing, is being so generous, right? From your demeanor, you seem to know about angelic precepts and laws.”

“…Honestly, yes.”

“I can see everything.”

The archangel’s eyes flickered with myriad colors as he spoke.

I know this ability.

Insight.

The power to grasp the “essence” of a subject just by looking at them. It’s like being able to read someone’s status window in extreme detail.

“You’re definitely going to be someone great. Consider this an early investment. It’ll all come back to me eventually.”

“…”

“I see potential in you. Though it seems you haven’t awakened even a speck of your abilities yet.”

From the other angels lying nearby came comments like “Why are you telling him even that~” and such.

Even for me, this was an uncomfortably high evaluation.

‘This must be…’

About the Gift.

The ability with the characteristic of ‘being loved by evil beings.’

If we’re talking about my potential, that’s the only thing that comes to mind.

“That talent is more powerful than you think. How you use it will be up to you.”

The angel said with a slight laugh.

But what followed was not something to be taken lightly.

“It doesn’t come with only benefits.”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve got something terrible attached to you. I can’t even see its form clearly, but I can tell it’s horrific. Seems to have latched onto you because of your ability.”

What is he talking about now?

As I blinked in confusion, the archangel scratched his head and continued.

“But the funny thing is, while it’s absolutely horrific, it doesn’t seem particularly harmful.”

“…What are you saying?”

“It feels strangely friendly. At least it doesn’t seem to want to harm you? If anything, it might want to help you.”

“…”

What is that supposed to mean?

“Since its form isn’t visible right now, it probably won’t have a direct impact. But be prepared to get entangled with it soon.”

He added as I continued to blink in confusion.

“Let me give you some advice. You’re planning to take everything you can get your hands on for survival, even things that aren’t meant for you, right? That incense burner was originally meant for someone else.”

“…You knew?”

“I told you. I can see everything.”

The angel answered with another wry smile.

“I’m not going to interfere. If anything, I’d encourage it. I respect you, unlike others.”

“What?”

“Take everything you can. Gather every available means at your disposal. Getting entangled with such a monstrosity means you’ll really struggle to survive.”

The weight of his words felt heavy.

Though his next words came in a lighter tone.

“But honestly, I’m not too worried.”

“What? After all those ominous words just now.”

“I can tell just by your expression. Most humans I’ve seen would be terrified after hearing such things.”

A fierce smile spread across his face.

“But someone like you, who immediately starts calmly planning how to survive after hearing such news, usually has a long life ahead.”

“…”

“Trust me. Ordinary people can’t do that. You’ve got the makings of greatness, I’m telling you.”

Again, that’s just an uncomfortably high evaluation.

I’m just trying not to die, that’s all.

Since it’s a warning from an angel, I should take it seriously. It’s quite important—

“Captain, are you still talking nonsense after drinking the good stuff?”

“Come and grab a shovel instead of running your mouth.”

“Look at these bastards? Hey, I’ll kick your ascended asses—”

“…”

It must be important.

Probably.

●

‘This is excellent, at least.’

I think as I look at the incense burner in my hand.

The blessing received from the angels rests quietly inside.

< Item Info >

[ Ultrima of Divinity ] [ Item Grade: C+ ]

[ An incense burner used in rituals for many years. It has gained special powers from divine beings in the Otherworld. ]

◎ Built-in Skills ◎

■ [ Asceticism ] [ Skill Grade: C ]

[ Temporarily converts all stat bonuses to ‘Endurance’. ]

[ Consumes a small amount of mana. ]

※ [ This skill can evolve! ]

Upon evolution, the skill will change to [ Proof of Faith ]!

■ [ Guardian Shield ] [ Skill Grade: C ]

[ Creates a protective barrier that deflects an opponent’s attack once. ]

[ Consumes a small amount of mana. ]

[ The barrier’s strength is affected by the ‘Endurance’ stat. ]

[ Has a cooldown of 20 seconds. ]

※ [ This skill can evolve! ]

Upon evolution, the skill will change to [ Sacred Stigma ]!

The immediately usable effects are quite good.

Among stats, ‘Endurance’ is primarily related to health. It governs recovery ability, stamina, and physical fortitude. It has the most direct impact on survival.

The higher it is, the more it exponentially enhances the effects of armor-type equipment or abilities.

And for someone who can dramatically boost stats in critical moments, having a skill that can convert everything to ‘Endurance’ and a shield strengthened by that endurance will be invaluable for immediate survival.

‘And…’

The key point is that this can evolve.

The only way to evolve it is to use it frequently to increase proficiency, which will take time, but being able to gradually grow such abilities is definitely a merit.

In the world of Sera, everything that can ‘grow’ tends to increase dramatically in performance with each level.

Getting something like this at the very beginning of the story is an incredible boon.

The archangel’s blessing was worth receiving. I did well.

‘Isn’t this level of performance something I should only get much later?’

Of course, meeting angels at all is only possible after Chapter 2, but direct interaction with archangel-level beings comes much later.

Receiving a blessing from such a being for free is extraordinary in itself.

But here’s the problem.

[ Consumes a small amount of mana. ]

I gloomily scan that line in the skill window.

Basically, supernatural powers like mana, law force, or divine power can only be handled after learning related traits.

For someone like me with no related traits, this great item is just a pie in the sky for now.

The problem is that these are things Elphante students typically learn from childhood, so the academy doesn’t even teach them separately.

“…”

That’s why I’m here now. If I can’t immediately learn to use mana, I need to find a temporary way to use this.

I probably won’t get it right away here, but I might at least find a ‘clue.’

“Come, come! These are magical guns forged by the Firearms Department of the Production Faculty! Come now and get 10 free shots with bullets made from ground spirit stones! Prizes for good marksmanship!”

“The Alchemy Department of the Magic Faculty is recruiting freshmen! We’re distributing self-made reagents only during the orientation period, so come one, come all!”

Such noisy announcements can be heard all around.

The orientation event is where the departments try to recruit students before they choose their majors at the upcoming freshman welcome ceremony in a few days.

They’re selling the idea that their department is such a fun and beneficial place.

And the characteristic of such events? They make you do trivial tasks and then say “Wow, you did so well!” while giving out various items.

It’s their desperate effort to recruit freshmen… that is, slaves who will do menial tasks for them.

The seniors smiling brightly around us, dangling carrots to entice freshmen, are hiding pitch-black malice inside.

Naive chicks are easily fooled. They chirp away and get eaten alive.

“…”

What I want is one of those items being handed out.

I’m at the event booth for the Monster Research Department of the Knight Faculty.

It’s noticeably emptier than other booths because the task they assign is unusually rigorous for an orientation event.

A simulated battle with dummy creatures that are 100% realistic reproductions of monsters using magical engineering fiber bundles, inside a long dungeon course prepared by the department.

What freshman would want to do such intense work at an orientation event?

‘Well, there’s one here.’

As demanding as the task is, the rewards they give out are exceptional.

Considering the normal difficulty of acquisition, it’s ridiculously easy to obtain something so valuable.

Other freshmen are missing out on a real goldmine.

“Is daydreaming your specialty?”

“No. I was listening to everything.”

“Really? Then what did I say?”

“You told us to form teams of two and wait, didn’t you?”

“…”

The senior guide in front of me crossed his arms with a displeased expression at my answer.

“I assume you understand what ‘teams of two’ means. Where’s your partner?”

“They’ll be here soon.”

“Who would come to such an unpopular department? You’re lying, aren’t you?”

His self-deprecating tone suggests he knows his department is particularly niche within the Knight Faculty.

It’s true that the Knight Order is the most prestigious among the Empire’s major corps, and thus regular knights are highly admired.

But the Monster Research Department has an extremely low probability of becoming a regular knight. At best, getting an office job would be considered lucky.

‘Yet there’s no one easier to get along with if you befriend them.’

Their work, true to the department name, involves analyzing monster weaknesses, conducting ecological surveys, and establishing general “strategies.”

They tend to be dismissed for not being glamorous, but the monster information they gather makes a huge difference in progressing through the scenario.

They’re incredibly helpful from the very first chapter of the scenario.

Of course, being a niche department now, they’re visibly disappointed at failing to recruit freshmen. So let me offer some encouragement.

“It’s not a lie about my partner coming, and this place will be packed soon.”

“…What?”

“The person coming is quite famous.”

I check my magical engineering wristwatch as I say this.

They should be arriving about now.

An “experienced” freshman who knows that this field, while seemingly plain, provides tremendous help in practical situations.

“Hello! Is this the Monster Research Department…?”

The voice entering through the tent flap gradually fades.

Probably because they spotted me.

I casually wave my hand in their direction.

“Hello.”

Truth be told, I originally didn’t want to get involved with this person.

But I’ve changed my mind recently.

Especially after hearing the advice from those angel uncles, I decided to completely change my approach.

“Is your offer to get to know each other still valid?”

Elia Chrysanyx wore an extremely bewildered expression at my words.

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