Chapter 22
[Skill, 'Blood’s Grace' has been unlocked!]
Blood’s Grace.
It was a name that gave me a sense of déjà vu.
Where had I seen it before?
“Ah. Right. That time!”
As I thought about it carefully, a memory came to mind.
Si-Yeon was in danger while fighting the Parasitic Demonic Beast inside the Black Cow’s Sorcerer.
[Please select a Grace!]
Suddenly, a window like that popped up, and I was able to choose one of three options to strengthen my Retainer.
“So that was this.”
It seemed to be an Enhancement System that originally unlocked upon reaching Level 20, but because my Retainer was in danger back then, it specially popped up early.
While I was having those thoughts.
[Would you like to activate the Blood’s Grace Interface?]
Another line of messages appeared.
'Interface?'
Let’s open it for now.
As I agreed, a red, translucent window unfurled before my eyes.
It looked like branches extending in five directions from a central point.
'Oh?'
Isn’t this exactly that?
A Skill Tree is commonly seen in games.
Each branch had a name attached to it.
[Blood Art]
[Transformation]
[Shadow]
[Charm]
[Mystery]
“There are five types in total.”
I skimmed through the names one by one.
Blood Art. I got a feel for this one right away.
'It’s what Katarina sometimes chants when she uses a Skill.'
I remembered the [Blood Binding] that Katarina used.
And was that technique of compressing blood and firing it at high speed also a type of Blood Art?
Anyway, it seemed to be a type that used blood roughly as a weapon.
Next was Transformation. I could guess this one too.
I had given the [Blood-Red Claws] to Si-Yeon.
It was an ability that made her fingernails longer and harder.
Since it altered a part of the body, it was a Transformation type naturally.
Shadow.
There was a Skill called [Shadow Step] when I selected a Grace last time.
So that was a Shadow Type Skill.
“The problem is the remaining two…”
Charm.
Just looking at the word, I could roughly tell what it was.
You know, it’s that typical ability that comes to mind when you think of a Vampire.
“Is it a Mind Control type?”
It was a superpower that bewitched and controlled humans. I figured it was something like that.
Neither Katarina nor Si-Yeon had used it yet, so I wasn’t entirely sure, though.
And finally.
Mystery.
“…What is this?”
I couldn’t really get a grasp of it just from the name.
Blood Art, Transformation, Shadow, and Charm were at least somewhat guessable just by looking at the words, but I had no idea about Mystery.
It just looked like it had something to it, but its true identity was unknown.
'Let’s put it on hold for now.'
I decided first to examine the other types step by step.
There were three Skill Icons for each type.
I first pressed the Blood Art type.
[Blood Art]
<Tier 1>
[Blood Binding]
- Forms blood into a rope to bind the target.
[Blood Bullet]
- Compresses and fires blood.
[Blood Veil]
- Condenses blood firmly to deploy a defensive barrier.
My prediction was right.
They were techniques that manipulated blood, things Katarina frequently used.
Next was Transformation.
[Transformation]
<Tier 1>
[Vampiric Fangs]
- Fangs elongate, making Vampirism easier.
[Bat’s Senses]
- Gains the senses of a bat, sharpening perception.
[Blood-Red Claws]
- Mutates fingernails to sharply enhance piercing power.
“Ah. Blood-Red Claws. This is the one Si-Yeon has!”
Seeing the Grace I had bestowed made me inexplicably glad.
However, two more branches continued after Blood-Red Claws.
<Tier 2>
[Bloody Claw Hand II]
- The hardness and sharpness of the fingernails are enhanced. Physical piercing power is increased.
[Scratch]
- Swings the enhanced fingernails to inflict physical damage.
'Oh!'
It seemed that an already bestowed Grace could proceed to the next tier.
A system where Tier 2 opens only after selecting Tier 1.
It was the exact same structure as a game’s Skill Tree.
Next, I checked the Shadow and Charm sections as well.
[Shadow]
<Tier 1>
[Shadow Step]
- Hides the body within shadows to evade attacks and move quickly.
[Night’s Veil]
- Wraps oneself in shadows to enter a Stealth State. Can only be maintained during non-combat.
[Shadow Manifestation]
- Temporarily grants physical Force to shadows to manipulate them.
[Charm]
<Tier 1>
[Fatal Charm]
- Emits a captivating aura to lower the target’s hostility.
[Suggestion]
- Engraves a faint Suggestion into the subconscious of a target whose eyes meet yours.
[Intimidation]
- Charisma increases.
When one looked at it, the characteristics of the Tier 1 Graces felt like a Vampire’s basic skills.
Basic techniques for handling blood, basic techniques for transforming the body, basic techniques for hiding in the dark, and basic techniques for seducing people.
However, as for the Mystery side.
[Mystery]
[???]
[???]
[???]
It was in a state where I couldn’t even select a Tier 1 Grace yet.
The other types at least showed that they had such and such Skills, but Mystery was just all question marks.
'It’s truly mysterious.'
Living up to its name, huh?
'Let’s skip it for now.'
I shook my head and swiped past the screen.
Now, what I was really curious about was something else.
'Let’s check our kids' stuff too.'
There was a menu where I could check the Graces selected for each Retainer.
First, Si-Yeon.
[Yu Si-Yeon]
[Transformation - Blood-Red Claws]
As expected, the [Blood-Red Claws] I had chosen were selected on Si-Yeon’s Skill Tree.
And.
[Katarina]
Katarina didn’t have Mystery, but all the Tier 1 Graces for Shadow, Transformation, and Charm were selected.
However,
[Blood Art - Blood Binding, Blood Bullet, Blood Veil, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???…]
'…?!'
The Graces she possessed in Blood Art weren’t just one or two.
An enormous number of branches extended out.
It was safe to say that almost everything in the Blood Art section was selected.
But the contents were mostly invisible, shown as question marks.
[TIP: A Retainer’s Grace can only be checked if the corresponding Grace has been unlocked.]
“Ah, I see.”
In other words, it meant that most of the Graces Katarina possessed were in territories I hadn’t unlocked yet.
I understood.
I understood.
I couldn’t accept it.
'No, I’m the Master, but I can’t even see my Retainer’s abilities…?!'
It’s so unfair.
Appraisal Eye doesn’t work, and I can’t see her abilities. What exactly does work?!
If I had my way, I would have liked to directly ask Katarina one by one what abilities she had, but.
“…”
That was also impossible.
Because my lips simply wouldn’t part.
It was because of the [Exalted Dignity] Passive.
Asking your own Retainer what techniques they have must not be an exalted thing to do.
Was it because it was like admitting that the Master didn’t know such things?
“Ugh, so frustrating…!”
Even if I tried to Force myself to speak, some other weird nonsense would probably come out anyway.
In the end, I gave up and kept my mouth shut.
'…Someday, I’ll Unlock them myself and see everything!'
I strengthened my resolve inwardly.
For now, even if I was a bit vexed, I had no choice but to endure it.
The next thing I checked was the method of bestowing Graces.
After pressing this and that in the menu, I found the method in the Skill window.
[Blood’s Grace (Unique)]
You can bestow a Grace upon a Retainer by consuming your own “Essence of Blood”.
1 Essence of Blood is cumulatively acquired every time the Blood Power Stat is raised by 1.
- Tier 1: Consumes 10 Essence
- Tier 2: Consumes 30 Essence
- Tier 3 and above: ???
“Hmm. Essence of Blood.”
It seemed to be a concept like a Unique Currency that could only be obtained by investing in the Blood Power Stat.
“Then I must have gathered quite a bit, right?”
My Base Blood Power was 100, and since I had dumped all my Level-Up Stats solely into Blood Power so far, I had hit 54.
I should have 54 Essence of Blood as well.
Since a Tier 1 Grace consumed 10, that meant I could give a whopping five of them, right?
I anticipated inwardly as I checked the Owned Currency Window at the bottom of the screen.
However
[Essence of Blood: 34]
“…Huh? Why 34?”
There should definitely be 54, but 20 were missing.
As I looked at the history to find the reason.
[Usage History]
- Tier 1 Grace (Blood-Red Claws) Purchase: -20
Due to an Advance Loan, double the Essence was consumed.
'No…! Wasn’t that free…!!'
The window that had miraculously popped up when Si-Yeon was in danger.
I thought I had just scored big as a Play-to-Earn Gamer through a Hidden Event.
It turned out to be a loan, and they had even lent it to me with 100% interest!
'…Sigh.'
I was once again able to ruminate on the lesson that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this World.
My stomach churned a bit, and I felt like I had lost hard cash.
Still, I had saved our Si-Yeon’s life with it, so I had no regrets.
Be that as it may.
Could I give Si-Yeon something else right now?
Since she only had [Blood-Red Claws], it was worth giving her at least one other Tier 1 Grace as an addition.
And if I put the 9 Stat Points I got from leveling up 3 times into Blood Power this time, 9 Essence of Blood would be added, making the Total Essence obtainable 43.
Around 10 points were definitely worth spending.
'If there’s something Si-Yeon lacks… it would have to be a Ranged Attack.'
Si-Yeon was a girl specialized in Melee Assassination.
Her Combat Style, when looked at so far, had all been like that.
Then how about giving her this?
“Blood Bullet.”
If she had at least one means to attack enemies from a distance, the breadth of her combat would widen significantly.
I made my decision and called Si-Yeon.
“Si-Yeon, my retainer.”
“Yes, Master.”
Si-Yeon quietly approached and Knelt on one knee.
“I shall bestow one more Grace upon you.”
“…A-Again, you speak of Grace.”
“Indeed. Now, receive it.”
I used the [Blood’s Grace] Skill.
To be bestowed by the Grace, I selected [Blood Bullet].
Ding!
[10 Essence of Blood is consumed.]
[Owned Essence: 34 → 24]
[The Grace “Blood Bullet” is bestowed upon Retainer Yu Si-Yeon-Yeon-Yeon.]
It was in that moment.
I felt a strange sensation as if something was draining out of my body.
At the same time, Si-Yeon’s body flinched and trembled slightly.
“…”
Si-Yeon slowly looked down at her own hand.
She seemed to concentrate for a moment, and soon a drop of blood formed at her fingertips.
The blood drop did not fall to the floor.
Instead, it floated up into the air in the shape of a bullet and moved around freely and swiftly, swish, swish.
Si-Yeon stared blankly at that blood drop.
Her head moved minutely following the blood drop’s movements, her bobbed hair swishing.
She kind of looked like a cat following a laser pointer.
It was somewhat cute.
After moving the blood drop around like that for a long while, Si-Yeon slowly raised her head and gazed at me.
“…Thank you. Master.”
A calm voice.
But deep gratitude could be felt in the eyes staring intently at me.
“This power that Master has bestowed upon me, I will definitely make it worthwhile.”
“Mhm. Right.”
I nodded in satisfaction.
And then
'…Katarina.'
I stealthily looked at Katarina, who was next to me.
She stood still, watching the scene of the Grace being bestowed upon Si-Yeon.
Her expression seemed indifferent, but
subtly, a hint of something akin to envy seemed to be seeping through.
'Ah… I can’t give one to Katarina. What do I do?'
Excluding the Mystery type, Katarina was already fully packed with Tier 1 Graces.
Even the Blood Art type was heavily invested up to the Higher Stages.
Of course, I could strengthen her Shadow, Transformation, or Charm sides.
To do that, I had to select a Tier 2 Grace, which cost a whole 30 Essence.
My Remaining Essence is 24 right now.
Of course, I still had Stat Points left, so if I invested them all into Blood Power, I could select one for her, but…
If an Emergency Situation arose where I urgently needed to bestow a grace, I’d be in a tough spot, so it was a bit burdensome to use it all up just now.
But I also felt sorry just passing over her.
“What should I do for her.”
I pondered for a moment, then called Katarina over with a hand gesture.
“Katarina. Come here.”
“Yes. Liege Lord.”
Katarina immediately approached and knelt before me.
I reached out my small hand and placed it on top of her head.
And.
Pat. Pat.
I affectionately stroked her head.
“…!! L-Liege Lord…?”
Katarina noticeably flinched.
“You worked truly hard today.”
I’m sorry, Katarina.
This is all I can do for you right now.
My pockets aren’t very deep, so please understand.
However.
“H-Haa… Ugh. Liege Lord. S-Such an undeserved honor…!”
Katarina rejoiced to the point where she was almost out of breath.
Her cheeks were incredibly flushed, and she even started to twist her body slowly as if she didn’t know what to do with herself.
I became slightly flustered.
Huh. Why does it seem like she likes this more than receiving a Grace…?