Forced Collection

MP raises one tiny finger.

"The first condition is that you've lent a certain amount of mana or more."

Then MP raises a second finger.

"The second is to sincerely wish for repayment from the bottom of your heart, along with intense emotions!"

MP spreads her two raised fingers into a V.

Her face lights up with a beaming grin.

For the past five years, I'd lent those guys mana every single day.

Even if it wasn't much in a single day, it added up to a considerable amount over time.

And I'd often found myself thinking, more or less, 'Wouldn't it be nice if the mana I lent them came back?'

But today, with unprecedented anger, I'd demanded from the bottom of my heart for the first time, 'Give it back!'

So that's why it had evolved...

"Does that clear things up for you?"

"Yeah, I get it."

At the same time, joy washed over me.

I had been reborn.

I was SSS-rank, and I'd even gotten a Gift Fairy to boot.

Maybe, just maybe, this time I could make a name for myself as an adventurer!

"Now, let's take a look at the details of your Gift!"

"Right."

I touched the Gift field displayed on my status.

Doing so would display the Skills I could use.

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Infinite Magic Repository

【Ability Bonus】: Recovers mana equal to 20% of your maximum MP per hour. (NEW!)

【Skills】

Mana Transfer (Lv. 1): Lend mana to party members.

Forced Collection (Lv. 1): Forcefully collect mana you've lent. (NEW!)

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Whoa!

Normally, mana only recovers by 10% per hour.

But my 【Ability Bonus】 had doubled my mana recovery!

【Mana Transfer】 was the Skill I'd had from the start.

Its effect was exactly what the name suggested.

I'd used this Skill to give mana to my companions.

The new Skill I'd learned was 【Forced Collection】.

Reading the description made my body tremble.

Now my wish could come true.

I could finally get back the mana I'd only ever lent them!

"Master, you've got a pretty sinister smile~"

"Yeah. I've lent them plenty over the years. Now it's their turn to pay me back."

"That merciless smile gives me shivers~"

It felt like the two of us were plotting something sinister.

But what I was about to do wasn't wrong in the slightest.

It was perfectly legitimate debt collection!

After they'd made such a fool of me,

I had absolutely no reason to show them mercy!

"Now, let's discuss how you'll collect the mana~"

"Right. Please do."

I touched 【Forced Collection】 on my status.

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【Forced Collection】: Lv. 1

【Overview】: You can collect the mana you've lent using one of the following methods.

・Lump-sum payment

・Installment payments

・Revolving payments

・Optimal plan

【Collectible Mana】

・Mana lent at least one year ago (settled monthly)

【Maximum Interest Rate】

・10% every ten days (compound interest)

【Lending Status】

・'Sky-Cleaving Sword':

Amount Lent: 2,678,078 MP

Collectible Amount: 1,435,837 MP

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I read the 【Overview】 and got the general idea.

Lump-sum and installment payments were probably just a matter of whether you paid it all at once or in several installments.

But I'd never heard the term 'revolving payments' before.

And what was an 'optimal plan,' anyway?

I'd never heard of either '10% every ten days' or 'compound interest' before.

And then—

When I looked at the 【Lending Status】, I was stunned.

I'd lent those guys 2,678,078 MP?!

They say even dust piles up, but I never imagined I'd lent them that much.

That explained it.

Considering how much I'd lent them, their ridiculous rate of growth was no surprise.

"You'll explain all of this in detail, right?"

"Of course!"

MP's face blossomed into a radiant smile.

How many years had it been since I'd seen such a pure smile?