Deklan watched curiously as the red ritual formation settled underneath the spear.
Like any formation, it was circular.
Inside was another circle formation with strands of red strings intertwining with each other, forming a nexus of strings that looked like spider webs. Once the formation glowed, the spear levitated and then stood upright.
"Cool…" Deklan commented in amusement.
Right now, he felt like he was watching a magician performing a trick.
Normally, in horror movies, the ritual formation would need several components, like candles or salt, and more importantly, all of them looked scary and demonic. But this Strength Ritual was a lot more magical than scary, which Deklan appreciated.
Energy seeped out from the ritual formation.
It seeped into the spear from the bottom, cracking its surface and exposed the reddish gleam within.
For a few seconds, the spear pulse multiple times until eventually, the ritual dissipated.
Deklan caught the spear before it could fall.
He inspected the spear and couldn't help but appreciate the change in design.
Earlier, the spear was completely white from the handle all the way to its head—the shade of white was the only thing different between the handle and the spearhead. Now, the handle was cracked along its entire length, and a red hue gleamed from within.
Deklan swung it around and saw that the spear now left a trail of red.
"It's like having a premium skin in a game. Being in this world is more fun than I thought!"
…
[Albino Spear]
Rank: F → E
Description: A sleek, ivory-white spear comprised of refined steel. Despite its delicate appearance, it's unnervingly sharp and perfectly balanced.
Boost: Increase strength slightly.
…
"Oh, it even went up a rank," Deklan smiled inwardly as this was a well-timed boost.
Not only did its durability increases along with its rank increases, but the spear also brought a boost.
For his very first weapon in this world, this was not that bad.
"Young master…?"
Deklan glanced over his shoulder and put the spear away, seeing that Marsha was already up.
And from the look of shock on her face, it seemed she had watched the entire ordeal.
"Oh, Marsha, you're up?"
"Have you been training all night? Shouldn't you rest first? If you want, we don't need to go today."
"No need to worry about me," Deklan approached—and pinched her cheek again, which she already expected that he'd do from his gesture. "All I need is a good scrub, and then we can be on our way. It's no biggie."
"Mmh," Marsha nodded—then shifted to the ground where the ritual formation was. "And what about that? What is that? How did young master do that?"
"Magic!" Deklan headed back inside and waved his hand. "I'm more capable than you think."
[Stop trying to score points, host. It's annoying.]
Oh? What's this? Are you perhaps jealous? Just tell me. If I'm a girl, I'll also like me.
[No, host. I'm worrying about Marsha's future because of your bad influence.]
You know what?
[What?]
Fuck you.
Deklan stopped when he was by the door and turned to face Marsha again.
"Oh, Marsha, in case I want to bully Granny Linsa, how would you feel?" He asked straight-up.
"Don't do that, young master…" Marsha shook her head, surprised that Deklan would even suggest doing that. "If you're angry, then you can take it out on me. You can be mean to me, but don't bring granny into this."
Deklan's lips curled into an annoyed smile.
Even though he expected this answer, hearing how Marsha framed it annoyed him.
What do you mean don't bring that old hag into this? She's the one who started this!
Although he wanted to burst, Deklan swallowed the curse words he wanted to spew with every ounce of his willpower.
It was hard, but he managed.
Marsha stared at Deklan dubiously, worried that it was the wrong decision to let Deklan handle this, "Ermm… Young master, can we not go? I don't think it's good for you to meet Granny. Don't worry, I'll find a way not to dwell deeper into the forest, and not take your pumpkins."
Deklan rubbed his forehead and pinched her cheek again.
But this time, he did it harder than normal.
"Since when did this become about me not wanting to give you my pumpkins?" Deklan raised a brow, looking at this annoyingly selfless—and innocent woman. "Fine. Since you don't want me to bully Granny Linsa, why don't we make a bet?"
His lips curled into a mischievous smile.
Back in his home world, his victims for bullying know no bounds.
Be it classmates, seniors, or even teachers—he can bully them all.
Not to brag, but it was a fact.
Right now, his annoyance stemmed from Marsha being timid, but he would vent it out to Granny Linsa.
And he knew exactly how to do that.
"A bet…? What kind of bet, young master?"
"It's a simple bet. I'm going to make a stunt when we meet Granny Linsa, and if you ever change your mind—and allow me to bully her badly, you will give me a cue. If you didn't change your mind even after my stunt, then I'll not bully her."
Marsha was alarmed.
She didn't know what Deklan was going to do, but it seemed he wanted to prove something to her.
And somehow, this made her worry.
Even so, Deklan was willing to go this far to consider the feelings of a peasant like her, so this is the least she could do. Biting her lower lip, Marsha eventually nodded, "How… How do I give you the cue? Should I just tell you?"
"Tell me? Of course, not. You're really annoying me right now, so the sign will be…" Deklan leaned his face close and tapped her cheek. "A kiss on the cheek!"
"Eeh?!" Marsha stammered, her face turning redder than a tomato. She then turned her face away, "O-Okay…"
She accepted? I was only playing.
[Right… Playing. Keep telling yourself that, host.]
…
Moments later, Deklan had cleaned himself up and was now feeling like a new man.
He wasted no time and headed to the Ward, ready to erase the protective bubble around the hut.
Now it's time for him to spread his wings and venture out into the vast new world.
"System, raise the Ward to level 5."
[Leveling up the Ward to level 5 will cost 20 Spooky Dollars. Do you want to continue?]
"Yep."
[Are you sure?]
"Fuck yes, I'm sure! Do you have to always ask me twice? How do I turn this setting off?!"
Swish!
Deklan's annoyance faded instantly when the leaves began to sway and hum, glowing with a beautiful blue light that pleased the eyes. He could feel the gentle breeze coming from the Ward, but it lasted only a moment.
[Ward level has been increased to 5!]
[Lv. 1 Mana Apple has been upgraded to Lv. 2 Mana Apple!]
[Hot Blue Chilli has been unlocked and added to the Dimensional Fruit pool.]
…
[Ward — Ancient Dimensional Tree]
Level: 5
Class: Sprout
Ghost Residents: 1 / 1
Prison: 0 / 1
Income: 15 Spooky Dollar / Day
Current Spooky Dollars: 36
Fruit Bearing: 18 hours and 31 minutes.
…
"From 6 SD to 15 SD per day from leveling the Ward up to level 5? So stingy…"
[Stingy? Do you want to test me, host?]
"Nope, you're the boss, system." Deklan waved his hand and dropped it.
Like always, arguing with the system is only fighting a losing battle.
Deklan looked around and saw the invisible barrier starting to become visible to the naked eye; even Marsha on the side could see the barrier too. Then, under their gazes, the barrier cracked and collapsed, dissipating away into nothing.
For some reason, the moment the barrier went down, Deklan could feel a shiver down his spine.
But he tried not to think about it too much.
Deklan wanted to quickly depart to deal with this Granny Linsa, but his eyes caught something.
Something on the ground near the Ward.
His eyes narrowed as he took the finger-sized thing and realized it was the new fruit he unlocked.
…
[Hot Blue Chilli]
Description: Can you handle spicy food? A chilli with a stark blue color. Its skin gleamed with a faint azure glow, as though the mana within couldn't sit still. One bite will set your tongue on fire and coax your soul to evacuate your mouth!
Boost: Increase agility and reflex slightly.
Side Effect: Spicy—very spicy.
…
"Spicy…?" Deklan sneered and rubbing his nose. "Not spicy enough for me to handle, that's for sure."
Not even thinking about it much, he placed the Hot Blue Chilli inside his inventory.
"Let's go, Marsha," He urged, nudging his chin to signal for Marsha to lead the way. "Lead the way!"
…
Slosa Hamlet.
At the heart of the hamlet, a man stirred a thick stew in a blackened pot—the wooden spoon scraped against the side with each turn. A line of hollow-eyed villagers waited, clutching their bowls like it was their lifelines.
Most, if not all, were no more than skin and bones—face sunken and movement sluggish.
Food didn't come by often in the last few weeks, and now they take what they can get.
It was hard to avoid danger and scavenge with an empty stomach, so they had to eat.
But under Granny Linsa's watch, all of them formed in line in fear.
People who looked better than the rest were Granny Linse, seated on her porch like a queen among corpses, her servant tending the pot, her broad-shouldered son standing beside her, and a few youngsters who were on her good side.
Granny Linsa and her son watched the hungry crowd bicker over their meager portions.
Both of their expressions were calm, almost bored, like this was a normal day.
"It's been a day since she went to get more pumpkins, and she hasn't come back," Adrian muttered. "I am afraid that she got into trouble with the young master. Should I go send someone to check? That kid Brian usually sneaks out in the middle of the night, so we can use him."
"Leave her," Granny Linsa waved her hand dismissively, thinking nothing of the situation.
She'll give more time before making a move.
Besides, it has been quite some time, and the young master has never even visited the hamlet.
Even his loyal guards never set foot, so Granny Linsa wasn't worried.
Perhaps, his loyal guards have already abandoned him by now. Who knows?
Just then, Granny Linsa and Adrian heard a shout.
Not from the line, but from the far side of the square—a few men were running.
Adrian noticed them to be the men who were usually hanging out outside the hamlet and lazing around. And right now, these lazies are running frantically. It seemed they were running from something worrisome.
Or maybe someone.
"It's… It's the young master! Young Master Deklan! He's angry!!"
"Young master!!"
Hearing their shouts, Granny Linsa frowned hard, "Young Master Deklan came…?"