Chapter 33
“Wow, Master - - !!!!!”
It was the moment the Third Familiar flew at me with her arms wide open.
Swish - .
A blood-red rope shot out from thin air and tightly wrapped around the Third Familiar’s body.
“Uwah?!”
It was Katarina.
Katarina, who had been standing next to me, had Cast Blood Binding in the blink of an eye.
On the outside, I stood haughtily without a word, as if this was only natural.
But on the inside, I was incredibly relieved.
“…Phew. I almost got crushed.”
I never imagined she would suddenly lunge at me the moment I summoned her.
With my reaction speed given my Agility Stat of 4, it was completely inadequate. If Katarina hadn’t blocked her, I really would have been pinned to the floor.
“Ugh… It’s so tight…!”
Flail, flail.
The Third Familiar struggled while suspended in midair.
“How dare you.”
Katarina said in a cold voice.
“To lunge recklessly at the Liege Lord.”
“Eh? I just wanted to hug Master… Because I like Master…”
“I must first fix that insolent mouth of yours. How dare you speak so disrespectfully to the Liege Lord. Use honorifics.”
“Honorifics? What are honorifics?”
“…”
Katarina’s brow twitched.
“It means to speak respectfully. Use formal language. End your sentences with 'sir' or “my Lord”. Speak that way. Do you understand?”
“Uhm… I like Master… sir…?”
The Third Familiar stammered.
It didn’t seem like she was rebelling; she genuinely didn’t know.
It seemed the very concept of polite speech was completely foreign to her.
“Are you daring to be insolent right now in front of the Liege Lord?”
Katarina’s eyes narrowed, and a hint of killing intent leaked out.
“…?!”
At that, the Third Familiar immediately whimpered.
“Ugh… S-sowwy… I can’t use honorifics… because I’m an idiot… Sorry, sir…”
Her face turned pale white.
Her voice trembled.
Tears welled up in her large eyes, making her look like she was about to cry at any moment.
“…Oh boy.”
Feeling pity for her, I decided it was time to step in.
“Katarina. That is enough.”
“But Liege Lord. This insolent thing…”
“Just calling me Master is sufficient.”
“…Yes, Liege Lord.”
Katarina withdrew her killing intent and released the Blood Binding.
Thud.
Dropping to the floor, the Third Familiar blinked and looked up at me.
“Uhm… So, Master… sir?”
“…Just call me Master.”
“Master! Got it! Thank you!!!”
Her face immediately brightened.
She was someone who recovered her emotions incredibly fast.
'Anyway, with this, the Third Familiar’s summoning is complete.'
I opened the System Window and checked the information for the [Summon Retainer] Skill.
[Summon Retainer (Unique)]
- Cooldown: 30 days
- Blood Power Consumption: 200
'…200.'
It was 100 just a moment ago, but it doubled.
From 50 to 100 and 100 to 200.
“The cost increases rapidly every time I use it.”
Will it be 400 next time?
Raising Blood Power was already a chore, so if the consumption cost jumped like this, it would get pretty tight later on.
Well, that was a problem for later.
Right now, figuring out what exactly this new Retainer could do came first.
“[Appraisal Eye].”
I subtly used Appraisal Eye on the Third Familiar.
Ding!
[Name: None]
[Level: 35]
[Race: Vampire]
'…Oh?!'
My eyes widened.
I can see it; I can see it.
I can see her level!
With Katarina, the level difference was so huge that the appraisal was blocked, and it was the same for Si-Yeon.
But Appraisal Eye worked on this Retainer.
'Hell yeah, now I can see my Retainer’s level too!'
Finally, my dignity as a Master is coming alive.
I cheered inwardly, but…
“…Wait a minute.”
But.
Isn’t it a bad thing if her level is low?
Level 35.
Of course, it was a higher level than mine.
But compared to Katarina or Si-Yeon, this Third Familiar was definitely in a much lower weight class.
'Ah… This isn’t something to be happy about.'
The fact that Appraisal Eye worked meant she was just that weak.
Sulk.
My good mood soured again.
It seemed this Retainer wasn’t an SSR-rank Retainer.
Well, I had to give her a name anyway.
I had no intention of discriminating against her just because she was weak.
“Hmm. What would be good?”
I quietly observed the Third Familiar.
A red bob cut, large eyes, a pure expression.
Plus, the way she tried to cling to me the moment she saw me earlier.
How should I put it?
'She’s like a retriever.'
A golden retriever is wagging its tail and running at its owner.
It was exactly that vibe.
In that case.
“Short for retriever… Riri?”
Riri.
It had a nice ring to it, and it was easy to call.
It seemed like a name that fit her cute and energetic personality well.
“From now on, I shall call you 'Riri'.”
“Riri? I’m Riri? Wow, a name!”
When I bestowed the name, Riri smiled brightly.
To think she’d be this happy over a single name.
It was the same with Katarina and Si-Yeon; their reactions to receiving a name were always nice to see.
“And.”
I pointed at my two Retainers with dignity.
“Riri, you are the Third Familiar. Katarina is the First Familiar, and Si-Yeon is the Second Familiar.”
“Lady Katarina! Lady Si-Yeon! Please take care of me!”
Riri bowed her head.
She couldn’t use honorifics, but she gave a bright and proper greeting.
“Since the Liege Lord has personally bestowed a name upon you, ensure your future conduct befits the Liege Lord’s majesty.”
Katarina crossed her arms and gave a word of advice fitting for the First Familiar.
“I am Yu Si-Yeon. I look forward to working with you.”
Si-Yeon gave a short nod.
Now then, onto the most important thing.
Figuring out her abilities
What was this Retainer’s ability?
I wanted to ask directly, but I already knew from experience that [Exalted Dignity] wouldn’t let me say something like, “What’s your ability?”
Because it would be admitting that the Master didn’t know their Retainer’s ability.
At that moment, Katarina sensibly stepped up.
“Riri. So, what ability do you possess?”
“Ability? I can make all sorts of things with blood!”
Riri proudly tapped her chest as she spoke.
“Things with blood…?”
Katarina tilted her head.
“Yeah! I make them super well!”
“What kind of ability is that?”
Curious myself, I checked Riri’s Blood’s Grace Interface.
Then.
[Riri]
[Mystery - Blood Blacksmith]
'…!'
The [Mystery] Tier.
One of the very tiers that had last time been entirely locked with question marks was now unlocked.
“Ooh. So this is where it opens!”
I immediately checked the detailed information.
[Blood Blacksmith]
- You can craft various items using blood as a material.
Aha.
Riri wasn’t a combat class; she was a Crafting Class!
Below that, a list of Craftable items unfolded.
Weapons, Armor, Consumables, Accessories…
And among them, there was something.
'…Huh?'
My eyes stopped dead on a specific entry.
[Blood Silk Garment (Craftable)]
- Greatly reduces penalties caused by Sunlight when equipped.
Required Materials: A large amount of Low-grade Blood
[Ink Shadow Parasol (Craftable)]
- Blocks Sunlight with the power of shadows when equipped.
Required Materials: A large amount of Low-grade Blood
'This is it, isn’t it?'
I had been agonizing over the Nightmare 5th Floor Sunlight Problem for days.
It wasn’t on the internet, it was awkward to ask the Association President, and buying it from the Community felt like exposing my weakness, so I thought there was no answer.
So it gets solved like this.
Moreover, the material was Low-grade Blood.
Drinking Low-grade Blood didn’t give any experience and tasted awful, but if it could be used as a Crafting material, its utility completely changed.
'Whoa. Riri is an S-rank Retainer too, isn’t she?'
Even if she wasn’t on Katarina’s level, she was definitely a Retainer with an amazing ability.
I nodded in satisfaction.
Then I just needed to dispatch my Retainers to a gate to gather materials.
I immediately gave an order to Katarina and Si-Yeon.
“Katarina. Si-Yeon.”
“Yes, Liege Lord.”
“Yes, Master.”
“You will need to visit a gate today. Go and procure the blood of low-grade monsters.”
“I heed your command, Liege Lord.”
“Understood, Master.”
They immediately bowed their heads and replied.
However
“Master! I want to go too!”
Riri suddenly raised her hand high.
“I want to help Master too! And I want to see the outside!”
Riri looked up at me earnestly, her eyes sparkling.
Wouldn’t a puppy itching to go for a walk have exactly these eyes?
'Hmm…'
Honestly, I was a bit worried about her combat power.
Would a Level 35 be okay going into a gate?
At that moment, Katarina spoke up.
“Indeed, this one must also be given combat training. Liege Lord, I shall take her with me.”
“Hmm. Good. Do so.”
I readily agreed.
If Katarina were taking her, there wouldn’t be any safety issues.
“Katarina, see to it that you teach her well.”
“Yes, Liege Lord. Leave it to me.”
“Wow! Thank you, Lady Katarina!”
“…Ahem.”
Riri smiled brightly.
Katarina cleared her throat as if slightly flustered, but her expression showed she didn’t mind it.
I took out my Smartphone and searched for a suitable gate.
A C-rank Gate where Low-grade Monsters appear should be enough.
I found a decent one, reserved it, and then handed the ID card I received from the Association President to Katarina.
“You can enter the gate with this. Si-Yeon, you stay on standby at home.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Then, be on your way.”
“I shall return, Liege Lord!”
“Master, Riri will be back too!”
Riri waved energetically and headed toward the front door with Katarina.
However,
They opened the door and stepped out.
Bang - !
“Gyaaaah!”
The door suddenly burst open again, and Riri came rushing back inside, screaming.
Then she planted her hands on the floor, panting with a tearful face.
“Ugh… The Sunlight, I’m dizzy…”
'?'
“My head is spinning…”
It seemed Riri also had a hard time being exposed to Sunlight.
Watching that sight, I felt a strange sense of kinship.
'Riri. You’re a scrub too, huh?'
Mhm. I know that feeling too.
Katarina and Si-Yeon walked around so perfectly fine during the day that I thought it was just me.
Now I had a comrade.
Just as I was about to comfort Riri and tell her it was okay.
“We, who have received the Liege Lord’s Noble Blood, are immune to Sunlight.”
Katarina came back in with a dumbfounded expression.
“Are you making such a fuss over a little dizziness?”
She looked down at Riri with a stern face.
“It would be one thing if there was actually something wrong with your body. Aren’t you ashamed to show such weakness when there’s nothing wrong with you? Hurry outside and get used to it.”
“…”
Hmm.
Riri was definitely the one being scolded.
Why do I feel attacked…?