Chapter 5
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Your 【Light Attribute Vulnerability】 Skill has been reduced.
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I'm logged in. Whew, that was a close one. My boss from work called right after I logged out. It was just to say we're having a drinking party next week, so it was fine, but still. I thought it might be about coming in on my day off.
Putting real-life matters aside, as expected, 【Light Attribute Vulnerability】 has been reduced by one level. Hell yeah.
At its current state, though, I don't think it can go any higher. The reason is that this light is too weak to deal any damage anymore. I should increase the amount of light.
I already know how to do that. I just need to add a magic stone to the lamp. I'll add one of the ones I got from hunting earlier.
Whoa! It got a lot stronger. Since a magic stone of the same quality and size was added, I suppose both the light intensity and Light Attribute damage simply doubled. My healing is barely keeping up. I can't just read carelessly in this state.
For now, I'll turn off the lamp. Now, shall I use 【Summoning】? What should I imbue this time...? There.
"Return. And then, Summon, Skeleton—Defense Boost."
The Skill I used for this summoning was 【Enchantment】. I figured this might let me create a sturdy minion.
What appeared in front of me was an utterly ordinary Skeleton. In FSW, stats are masked data, so I don't know their exact values, but it's probably sturdier. I certainly hope so. Now, off to hunt.
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Your Race level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your Job level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your 【Staff】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Mana Control】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Earth Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Water Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Fire Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Wind Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Dark Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Non-Elemental Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Summoning】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Enchantment】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Magic Circle】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Appraisal】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Stealth】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Sneak】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Surprise Attack】 Skill level has increased.
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The 【Summoning】 and 【Enchantment】 combo was exactly right. The minion I summoned this time barely takes any damage from Lesser Ratman attacks. Isn't it the perfect tank?
I got carried away and summoned a second one, but I don't regret it. In fact, even three Lesser Ratmen were easy to handle. I could probably take down four without trouble. This time, I kept hunting until two magic stones dropped.
Even so, rat hides and front teeth have piled up to the point of being a nuisance. I'm too much of a cheapskate to throw them away. What should I do with them?
Also, during that hunt I somehow made it to the northern edge of the sewer. It dead-ended ten blocks from my base. Since I just went straight, I still have a long way to go to fill in the map, but there was no way out along the direct route. I'll search carefully. For now, I'll head east next time.
All right, now for the fun (?) reading time. I've read all the introductory books except the ridiculously thick 'Scripture of the Twelve Great Gods,' which also explains the world and goes into detail about the doctrines of all the gods. As for the advanced books, a quick glance showed that they assume Magic levels of 10, so they're useless. Alchemy is out of the question...
Should I reach for the laboratory books soon? Some were absurdly difficult, and there were parts I couldn't read, but I feel like I might manage now.
I have grounds for that. It's only the first day, but I've already realized that this game has an absurd number of links between Skills. At first I only had 【Dark Magic】, but now that I've learned nine types of magic, I think I've met the requirements. If it fails, no harm done; at the very least, 【Linguistics】 and 【Archaeology】 should level up as I read further. I'll read while keeping an eye on my stamina!
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Based on your actions so far, you acquired the 【Necromancy】 Skill.
You acquired the Title 'Seeker of Truth.'
You acquired the Title 'Title Bearer.'
You acquired the Title 'Heretic.'
Based on your actions so far, you acquired the 【Curse Magic】 Skill.
Based on your actions so far, you acquired the 【Trap Magic】 Skill.
Your 【Linguistics】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Archaeology】 Skill level has increased.
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My prediction was correct, and thanks to my increased 【Archaeology】, the text I couldn't read began flowing effortlessly into my mind. As a result, I noticed there was an introductory book among those left in the laboratory. It was 'An Introduction to Heretical Sorcery.'
This is awful. I mean, every spell is powerful, but their effects are downright vicious, which must be why they were designated forbidden magic. I don't know how many years ago this book was written, according to the setting, but if people learn I'm a monster who can use forbidden magic, I'll probably be targeted from all sides. I'll make sure to avoid attracting attention until I grow stronger.
Anyway, let's check their performance as usual. First, 【Necromancy】 seems to require 【Linguistics】, plus the ability to use 【Dark Magic】 and 【Summoning】.
It allows me to command and strengthen Undead, as well as create them. The last one, creation, is especially interesting.
Creation means that I can make Undead if I gather the materials. Unlike summoned creatures, Undead created from materials don't reduce my maximum mana. What's more, they can be strengthened by modifying them after they're created. Apparently, they can even gain experience through combat and evolve. However, when destroyed, they vanish just like ordinary monsters, and the materials apparently don't come back.
With this, as long as I have the materials, I could even create an Undead army. Just imagine me, commanding a force of tough Undead soldiers... The possibilities are endless.
Next is 【Curse Magic】, which is basically the reverse of 【Enchantment】. If 【Enchantment】 is for strengthening allies, 【Curse Magic】 aims to weaken enemies. I think its acquisition requirements are 【Dark Magic】, 【Enchantment】, and 【Linguistics】. That's just my hunch—I only listed the related Skills, so I don't know whether it's true.
Then there's 【Trap Magic】, which must involve 【Magic Circle】. It's magic that sets up magic circles that activate when certain conditions are met. Unlike magic circles, it isn't as versatile, but it's harder to notice that one has been placed. Seems like it could be used to harass monsters or players in all sorts of ways.
Finally, Titles. When I checked my status, the Title field had expanded. Was it some kind of hidden feature after all? The detailed descriptions of each are below.
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'Seeker of Truth'
A Title bestowed upon those who have learned many kinds of magic.
Reduces mana consumption when using magic.
Acquisition requirement: Possess ten magic-type Skills.
'Title Bearer'
A mark of one who has acquired a Title.
Acquisition requirement: Acquire a Title.
'Heretic'
A Title bestowed upon those who have dabbled in something deemed evil.
You will bear the full brunt of people's fear and hatred.
Acquisition requirement: Acquire a ??-type Skill.
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'Seeker of Truth' is unquestionably a hit. The effect is fantastic. It feels like a reward for someone who has learned lots of magic types. Conversely, I might be able to get another Title for specializing in just one type of magic. But it's too late for me now.
'Title Bearer' is basically a memento. It doesn't have any particular effect, so I may as well hang on to it.
'Heretic'... What is it supposed to be? From the wording, it sounds like NPCs will be more likely to hate me. I was already treated as a kill-on-sight target as a skeleton, so it makes no difference!
More than that, the phrase ??-type Skill bothers me. It's a mystery. Judging from the circumstances, 【Necromancy】 must fall under this ?? category. But I have no more clues to go on, so I'll leave it alone for now.
I got something out of reading, so now it's time to hunt. I'll keep the two summoned creatures deployed until they break, and try out 【Necromancy】. This time, I'm using strengthening. Conveniently, there's a Skeleton summoned with 【Summoning】 right in front of me. Let's strengthen it.
"Undead Boost"
"Clatter, clatter, clatter!"
"Whoa!?"
That startled me! Don't move so suddenly! In any case, the strengthening effect of 【Necromancy】 is pretty cool. The instant I cast it, the skeleton began to wear a faint black aura. It really tickles my inner chuunibyou.
Off we go hunting!
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Your Race level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your Job level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your 【Staff】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Mana Control】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Earth Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Water Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Fire Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Wind Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Dark Magic】 Skill level has increased.
You learned Dark Lance and Dark Wave.
Your 【Non-Elemental Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Summoning】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Enchantment】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Magic Circle】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Necromancy】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Curse Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Trap Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Stealth】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Sneak】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Surprise Attack】 Skill level has increased.
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Good grief, hunting is going smoothly. Things were already stable earlier, but thanks to the wall becoming even sturdier, I didn't take a single point of damage. Man, this is easy.
Still, I don't expect things to stay this easy forever. Even if I leave the front line to my minions, their AI seems to have only the bare minimum programmed in, so they apparently can't make snap decisions.
Then I could form a party, but I'm not in a position to recruit anyone. I'll think about it once I figure out how to get outside.
Forget the future for now; the improved 【Dark Magic】 comes first. The new additions are Dark Lance and Dark Wave. I've already used both.
They feel good to use. Dark Lance is a powerful single-target attack, while Dark Wave is an area attack. Both are more powerful than the original Dark Ball, but they're more mana-intensive, so each has its place.
So does each elemental school get its own Lance and Wave at level 5? The other elements should surely reach level 5 on my next hunt, so I'll know then. I'll look forward to it.
Oh, is it that late already? Since I have a two-day weekend, I could keep going like this, but I'll log out for now. Pulling an all-nighter is for weekdays only.
I'll expose myself to the lamp's light again. However, I'd die if I left it like this, so I'll reduce the fuel to one magic stone again. I don't know whether this will help me grind resistance experience, but it's definitely better than doing nothing.
Well then, good night.