Ch.2827. Daily Life? (2)

# 27. Daily Life? (2)

[Using the Regressor’s Privilege.]

[Target has been designated.]

[You will randomly acquire one of the designated target’s (Elizabeth Michael) skills.]

I don’t know what skills she currently has, but there probably aren’t too many.

First of all, the skills I want are her unique skills [Ruthless Cold] and [Absolute Zero].

And even skills like [Mage’s Heart] or [Michael’s Blessing] would be more than good enough, so I’ll likely get something decent.

To be honest, the chances of getting a bad skill were much lower.

Even just mentioning the skills I knew about made me feel jealous of how ridiculously overpowered her abilities were.

I waited for the results of the random selection with high expectations.

It didn’t take long; the result appeared almost immediately.

[Congratulations!]

[You have acquired the skill [Mage’s Heart].]

As soon as I obtained [Mage’s Heart], I felt a significant sense of discomfort deep in my chest.

It was a strange feeling, as if something that wasn’t mine, like someone else’s organ, had entered my body.

I slowly took a deep breath.

“Whew.”

Only then did that unfamiliar feeling begin to diminish slightly.

Very gradually.

Still, as expected, I got one of those four skills.

‘But of all things…’

It was [Mage’s Heart].

[Mage’s Heart: F-]

[The noble heart of a mage benefits you.]

[Maximizes the user’s mana capacity and mana regeneration.]

For mages who live off mana, there couldn’t be a better skill, but for those who bravely engage in close combat with metal weapons, it’s quite an ambiguous skill.

‘Well, at least I won’t have to worry about mana capacity now, but if it’s going to enhance something, couldn’t it enhance my magic power too?’

To increase magic power through skills, I’d need to acquire a skill related to mana circuits.

For someone like me who doesn’t get along well with mana, obtaining such a skill would be like reaching for the stars.

Of course, it wouldn’t be particularly useful anyway.

‘Should I really use this on Aelin too?’

After acquiring a skill like this, I couldn’t help but seriously consider the path of a mage.

Once you get the skills, the rest is a battle of effort.

But I still have four more uses of this privilege.

If I use it on the excellent mages I know, I could really change my class to a mage.

‘Not that I’m really going to do that.’

I’m just saying I could if I wanted to.

Even if I could become a mage, it’s too much of a gamble that relies on luck, and there’s not enough merit to abandon my current combat style.

Unless I’m incredibly lucky and draw all four unique skills, that is.

‘But what if that was my destiny?’

This is probably how people get addicted to gambling.

When you start thinking about possibilities, there’s no end to it.

The unique skills of the great mages that come to mind are incredibly tempting, but it’s too much of a gamble.

And those with a combat style like mine aren’t inferior to mages either.

‘Warriors are powerful too.’

There are plenty of strong individuals like the Holy Knight Commander, Dark Knight Commander, Sword Saint, Heroes, and so on.

Their skills are no less impressive than those of great mages.

‘Though they might lack in firepower.’

When I think of the spectacular magic displayed by great mages in war, my thoughts drift in that direction, but then I remember how valiant warriors can take on hundreds, no, tens of thousands of enemies, and my thinking changes again.

Mages have the advantage in many-versus-many battles, while warriors excel in one-versus-many situations.

‘What should I do…’

While I was pondering this, I remembered something Aelin once told me.

She definitely said:

-When you have to choose between two things, don’t hesitate. Just choose both.-

Those words provided me with the answer.

‘I can just do both.’

Sometimes there are people like this.

Magic swordsmen who use both magic and swords, or magic archers who use both magic and bows.

‘What’s stopping me from doing the same?’

I couldn’t help but think.

Finally, I reached that conclusion.

Then I stopped thinking and returned to reality.

“Th… that…”

She was stammering with a face as red as a radish.

I was puzzled by her reaction until I looked down and realized why.

I was still holding her hand that I had grabbed earlier when designating the target.

I hastily let go and said:

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

She was desperately trying to hide her face, which had turned not just red but crimson.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to dislike it.

‘She actually likes it.’

That was the only conclusion I could draw from her reaction.

Riel, finding our interaction amusing, snickered and said:

“Why did you grab her hand anyway?”

“I just wanted to try holding it.”

“Wow, such a man.”

Riel continued snickering and asked her:

“How does it feel to have your hand held by a man for the first time in your life?”

“Shut up…”

“I heard you loud and clear, it felt wonderful? Of course it would.”

I couldn’t help but admire Riel’s smooth demeanor.

She was probably the only person in the entire world who could treat her like that.

“That’s a relief. I think this resolves most of my concerns.”

“Concerns?”

When I asked, Riel smiled contentedly and said:

“You should quickly establish a new identity, though someone like you probably doesn’t need to worry. You’ll receive another title after this incident.”

“A title?”

This was the first I’d heard about receiving a title.

I couldn’t hide my surprised expression as I waited for Riel’s explanation.

However, Riel’s reaction was quite different from mine, as if it were obvious.

“You saved the Empress—it would be strange if you didn’t receive a title. Given the scale of what happened, you’ll probably be made at least a Count or Viscount.”

“A Count or Viscount!?”

Riel found my dumbfounded reaction ridiculous.

“You risked your life to save the Empress—isn’t it obvious? Why are you so surprised? You’re not some country bumpkin.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s how it works. And Aelin will probably get at least a Baroness title.”

I was stunned by this unexpected windfall.

I stared at her blankly, and Aelin showed a similar reaction.

“I was planning to surprise you by telling you later, but you’re really shocked, aren’t you?”

“I never imagined it.”

“It’s understandable. Becoming a Count or Viscount at 17 solely through your own merit is something that happens maybe once in a century.”

“I feel strangely proud.”

In truth, it still didn’t feel real.

When I heard them talk about it, I thought, ‘I guess it makes sense,’ but when I realized it was happening to me, it felt different.

She also gave me some advice about it.

“When someone as young as you succeeds like this, others will definitely envy and be jealous. You can’t just ignore that and move on.”

She told me something unexpected.

“You need to show those foolish people that you deserve your position and that you’re worthy of it.”

“How do I do that?”

She grinned and said:

“Obviously, by demonstrating your power and silencing the rumors.”

This world is one of survival of the fittest.

In the end, the strong survive, and the strong rule over the weak.

It’s an inevitable principle of the world.

“You’re good at that, aren’t you? Just do the same thing you did this time.”

“When you put it that way, I feel a bit reassured.”

“It’s nothing… you probably knew all this already. I just helped bring it to the surface.”

This kind, humble side of hers made her the object of admiration and aspiration for everyone in the Empire.

Of course, I was no exception.

I respected, liked, and served her more than anyone else.

And I wanted to be like her.

I wanted to be kind, humble, and gentle like her.

I wanted to fight for others and for the country.

And above all, I wanted to shine like her.

I never shone before.

I always lived in her shadow, in darkness where light couldn’t reach.

Still, after she passed away, light finally came to me.

However, at that time, I wasn’t someone who could fully receive that light, nor did I deserve it.

How could someone who couldn’t even protect a single loved one deserve to receive the light of the entire world?

I didn’t deserve it then.

I always lived as her shadow, or as a failure, a loser, but this time it was a little—

No, very different.

This time, I wasn’t standing beside her as her shadow.

This time, I was standing beside her as one of the Empire’s geniuses, equal to her genius.

And this incident seemed to prove it.

That I deserved to stand beside her.

That fact made an indescribable sense of satisfaction well up inside me.

I felt so good that I could soar.

I truly understood what it meant to feel like ‘I can do anything.’

It felt like I could really reach the goal I had been desperately yearning for.

And on the path to that goal, she would be my reliable supporter.

After all, my goal was to create ‘a world where she is alive.’