Ch.112Awakening (4)

The challenge began on the second day.

My stomach was already clinging to my back.

The gnawing hunger was fiercer than any monster attack. My body felt drained of strength and my mind was dizzy.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

I have to stay in this state for a month?

And not just lying still, but while manipulating mana and creating golems?

“You must endure it.”

Salvira said.

“The first week is the hardest. Once you get used to the hunger, your body will naturally start using mana as nourishment.”

Whenever Salvira had time, she would appear to point out things that needed correction and then return to her nest. The Holy Spirit Kingdom female soldiers were also busy finding food and gathering herbs, only showing their faces in the evening.

Even the priestess who had been crying and making a fuss about how my body would be damaged seemed to have given up after seeing my determination. The Valkyrie left with empty threats about killing me if I died. As for the fox sisters, I met them when making golems, so there wasn’t much else to talk about.

These days, I was essentially always with the Captain.

Without Captain Adora, not only would it have been difficult to start this training, but I would have been lonely. Just having someone watching over me was encouraging.

Indeed, not eating made the flow of mana feel more distinct.

When I asked about this, Salvira explained that as cells begin to breathe with mana, the metabolism of Ekirel increases, and consequently, the amount of mana is permanently increasing.

The effect was clear.

After a week, the amount of Magic Stones I could produce at once doubled.

“This is, unexpectedly more impressive.”

Salvira, who came to check on me, spoke with a tone of admiration.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a human grow this quickly. Doubling in just a week… It’s like seeing a warrior from that era.”

“How long does it usually take to get this far?”

Since I was too exhausted to speak, Captain Adora asked on my behalf.

“In my case, it took a month.”

“What? Then hasn’t he already achieved the goal? Shouldn’t he be able to stop now?”

“He could…”

Salvira looked at me.

It was a gesture asking me to choose whether to continue or not.

For reference, if I stopped now, there would be no increase in mana until I starved for another week, and the first time is supposedly the most efficient.

What was my physical condition right now?

My head was very painful and my stomach was burning, but it wasn’t quite life-threatening. As Salvira said, my body was using fat and mana as energy sources.

“Are you going to quit?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I shook my head.

The hunger I was feeling now was less painful than the discrimination and pitying glances I’d endured all this time for having low mana.

Having starved this much already, I couldn’t give up now.

The corners of Salvira’s mouth turned up. She naturally changed the subject.

“By the way, I should tell you this. I recovered the body of the witch you defeated and delivered it to the Blood Vampire today.”

Blood Vampire.

The real power on this island according to this spider woman, and the magical being who maintains the barrier around the island.

We need to defeat that monster to escape from this uninhabited island.

The Captain asked.

“Why didn’t you wait longer to tell us?”

“I just made the first move before she noticed. I still can’t openly help you humans. Jeriem… he also said it. Everything has its proper time.”

“So, what did that magical being say when you showed her the witch’s body?”

“She said she would come out herself as soon as the first stage of the ritual was complete.”

Salvira added that there was nothing else said.

Blood Vampire, was her name Bepisya? I could roughly guess what she was thinking. I opened my mouth, which had been heavily closed.

“Master, that magical being already suspects you.”

“Yes, I suppose she does. But… did you just call me master?”

“You’ve taught me, so you’re my master.”

Having my magical power double in just a week is a miracle. I don’t know yet if this is truly permanent, but it’s enough to make my heart race.

Who would have thought I’d be thanking a monster one day.

“Thank you, Master.”

“…Hehe.”

Salvira, who had looked surprised, soon raised the corners of her mouth. She repeated what I had said, as if savoring the words, “Master, master…” and smiled.

Ahem, clearing her throat, Salvira continued in a weighty tone.

“My disciple.”

“Yes, Master.”

“The Blood Vampire deals with forbidden blood magic. With just a little blood, she can slice through a human neck like cutting butter and use spells that repel holy power. Moreover, she can perform what’s called ‘weaving.’ Do you know what weaving is?”

I’ve heard of it.

Only heard of it.

“Weaving refers to the state where one can change and assemble natural objects with mana. When you reach the level of weaving, you can alter the surrounding environment to your advantage. It’s difficult to explain in words, so it’s better to show you directly.”

Stepping back, Salvira recited a spell.

“Thread.”

At that moment, the ground began to writhe.

The undulating earth transformed into thread-like strands that stretched out and flew toward the Captain and me. Startled, the Captain quickly drew her sword and struck down a cluster of colored threads.

Clang!

It sounded like striking steel.

“What is this…!”

Salvira scratched her head and withdrew the threads.

“I wasn’t attacking, just trying to bring it close to show you. I guess I startled you too much. I’m sorry.”

“…Did you turn the ground into threads?”

“That’s right.”

I’ve never heard or seen anything like it. Manipulating the mana of the earth without touching it.

“This master first learned spinning magic when I was born. It’s no exaggeration to say I’ve spent my life thread-weaving. I believe you’ve guessed why I’m suddenly telling you this.”

“In weaving, you can manifest the type of magic you’re good at?”

“Correct.”

Then does that mean if I master weaving, I could freely manipulate stone?

“From what I see, my disciple seems to have a talent for earth magic… Among the basic four elemental magics, it has the highest degree of freedom, and it’s very effective against liquid magic like blood magic. If you reach the level of weaving, you’ll easily gain the upper hand when fighting the Blood Vampire.”

Originally, Salvira had planned to teach me weaving after doubling my mana.

“My disciple, the Blood Vampire will come here soon. She doesn’t seem to trust me. So before things get worse, I wanted to make a suggestion to you, but I simply can’t.”

“What is it?”

“If I tell you, you’ll surely think of me as a devious monster.”

“I won’t. It would be immoral of me to think that way about someone who could have killed us long ago but has shown us such kindness instead.”

Salvira wore a grave expression. After several sighs, she opened her mouth.

“I was thinking of… pretending to tie up and deliver those Holy Spirit Kingdom women.”

***

An emergency meeting was called. The main agenda was how to prepare before the vampire arrived.

When I explained Salvira’s plan, the Holy Spirit Kingdom female soldiers protested.

It was a natural reaction. Who would immediately agree to being offered to a monster?

Even if the capture itself was an act, there were many problems. What if they were killed immediately after being captured?

The biggest obstacle was that Salvira was a monster and originally an enemy.

She had provided shelter to hide from other monsters and had released the Valkyrie from her forbidden spell, but there was still no trust. Salvira must have known this, which is why she brought up the topic cautiously.

“But it’s also true that we have no other options.”

Surprisingly, it was the Captain who pointed out the core issue.

“The fact that there’s a Blood Vampire among the magical beings is something I was directly informed about by headquarters, so it must be true. I also came knowing to some extent how strong she is.”

If Captain Adora said it, it could be trusted. After all, she had risked death to go to the mountain with me to save the Valkyrie.

“The spider woman hasn’t been wrong about anything.”

When the Captain asserted this, a moment of silence followed. Everyone’s faces showed deepening concern as the existence of a formidable enemy became almost certain.

“Argh, this mosquito again!”

“Sergeant, please stop making a fuss and stay still. This is a serious situation.”

“Don’t scold her too much. The Sergeant hasn’t been hammering iron all day today. She must be very tired and exhausted.”

The Valkyrie said something while showing me a piece of metal. It was steel made by Riyo. She had received the blessing of the goddess of crafting and had successfully smelted iron ore in a makeshift furnace, and her older sister Miyo had added mana to complete an impressive spearhead.

Truly divine power. To be able to do such precise work at this speed on a deserted island. It was so impressive that not only I but even the Captain and Salvira were amazed.

The four of them discussed various things but didn’t seem to reach any meaningful conclusion. Meanwhile, I was staring blankly into space, trying to forget my hunger.

Mosquitoes.

Damn mosquitoes were especially numerous today.

“Everyone.”

I opened my mouth.

“I have a good idea.”