The journey was a lesson in humility. The "valuables" from the manor amounted to a handful of tarnished silver coins and a single, faintly glowing mana crystal the size of my thumbnail—a pittance. It was a stark reminder of how far the Arsene family had fallen. Elara, to her credit, had also put together a small pack of travel bread, dried meat, and a waterskin. Her practicality was going to be an asset.
We traveled on foot, sticking to back roads and forest paths. The Shadow Veil over my neck was a constant, low-level drain on my mana, but it was non-negotiable. Every few hours, I had to stop, meditate, and slowly refill my reserves using the Breath of the Void. It was a tedious process, but each cycle made the flow of mana feel slightly more natural. [Mana Manipulation Proficiency: 12%].
Elara watched me during these sessions with wide, curious eyes. "You're... different, Young Master," she ventured on the second day, her voice hesitant.
"The world has a way of forcing change," I replied, my eyes closed as I drew in the cold, inner energy. "The question is whether you break or adapt."
"I prefer this change," she said quietly, almost to herself.
After three days of walking, my weak physique was screaming in protest. My feet were blistered, and my muscles ached. Elara, despite her slender frame, seemed to be holding up better. It was infuriating. I was a Demon King in spirit but trapped in the body of a pampered, albeit secretly trained, noble.
This won't do, I thought, accessing the Library as we walked. I focused on my status.
[Physique: Weak (Improves with Mana Core advancement)]
The footnote expanded: Mana can be used to reinforce the body temporarily. Constant, low-level circulation can gradually improve physical conditioning. See: [Mana Reinforcement - Basic].
Another skill. I focused on the entry, and the knowledge integrated itself. It was a simple technique—a continuous, faint channeling of mana to strengthen muscles, ease fatigue, and sharpen the senses. I activated it.
A wave of cool energy washed through my limbs. The ache in my feet dulled, and my breathing eased. It was like a second wind, but sustained. [Mana: 240/350]. Another constant drain. I was becoming a battery with multiple leaks. Efficiency was key.
"We'll need to find a way to earn some real coin before we reach the academy," I said, breaking the comfortable silence. "This won't be enough for the entrance fees, let alone supplies."
Elara nodded. "There's a town up ahead, Willowbrook. It's a trading post. Maybe we can find work?"
Willowbrook was a bustling, noisy hub of merchants, farmers, and travelers. The air smelled of hay, animals, and roasting meat. For someone who had spent the last few days in a silent manor and quiet forests, the sensory overload was jarring. I pulled the hood of my travel-worn cloak lower over my face, my [Mana Sense]—a faint new ability that had unlocked with my core's stabilization—picking up the weak, fluctuating auras of the common people around me.
We were approached almost immediately.
"Hey there, travelers! Look lost!" a burly man with a friendly smile but greedy eyes said, stepping in front of us. Two other men flanked him. "The roads can be dangerous. For a few silver, my associates and I can ensure you have a safe stay in our fine town."
It was a shakedown. A clumsy one. In my previous life, I'd have been terrified. Now, I just felt a flicker of annoyance. These were the small-time thugs that infested the background of every fantasy story.
Elara tensed beside me. "We have no coin to spare," she said, her voice firm but nervous.
"Now, that's a pity," the leader said, his smile not reaching his eyes. He reached for my cloak.
I didn't flinch. I didn't need to. I met his gaze and unleashed a tiny, focused pulse of [Killing Intent], just for him.
It wasn't the overwhelming wave I'd used on the knight. It was a needle—a sharp, precise stab of primal fear directly into his mind. His friendly facade shattered. His eyes widened in terror, his face lost all color, and he stumbled back as if burned, crashing into a stack of crates.
"B-Boss?" one of his lackeys said, confused.
The leader just pointed a trembling finger at me, unable to form words. He scrambled to his feet and fled without a backward glance. His companions, bewildered and leaderless, hesitated for a moment before following him.
Elara stared at me, her mouth slightly agape. "What did you do?"
"Convinced him his services were unnecessary," I said smoothly, adjusting my hood. "Now, let's find a notice board. Real work."
We found the town notice board. Most postings were for farm labor or required skills we didn't have. But one, nailed crookedly to the side, caught my eye.
"Goblin Problem!" it read, scrawled in messy handwriting. "Pack of goblins raiding storage cellars on the old mill road. 5 Gold Crowns for proof of eradication. See Miller Hodge."
Five Gold Crowns. That was more than enough. Goblins were weak, cowardly creatures. But they were numerous and could be dangerous in a pack.
"Too dangerous, Young Master," Elara whispered, reading over my shoulder. "We should find something else."
"Risk and reward are intrinsically linked," I said, pulling the notice down. "This is efficient."
Miller Hodge was a nervous, jumpy man who described the goblins—a pack of seven or eight—that had been stealing his grain and now were getting bold enough to prowl near his home at night.
We found their den as the sun began to set: a damp cave near the riverbank. The stench of filth and rot was overwhelming.
"Stay here," I instructed Elara. "If anything gets past me, use this." I handed her a heavy branch. It was a token gesture, but her safety was my responsibility. Her loyalty was an investment I needed to protect.
Then I stepped into the cave.
It was dark, but my [Darkness Affinity] made the gloom feel like a gentle embrace. I could see clearly. Five goblins were squabbling over a stolen chicken. They were ugly, snot-nosed things, barely three feet tall.
They shrieked when they saw me, grabbing crude clubs and rusty knives.
I didn't give them a chance to swarm me. I didn't need fancy skills for this.
[Skill: Shadow Tendril]
Two tendrils of darkness shot out, snatching the legs of the two front goblins and yanking them off their feet. They crashed into their companions, causing a tangle of limbs and angry shrieks.
The last one, smarter or more cowardly than the rest, turned to run deeper into the cave.
I was faster. A third tendril lashed out, wrapping around its neck and squeezing until it fell unconscious. Non-lethal. I wasn't a murderer of mindless beasts. Besides, proof of eradication could mean driving them off.
The remaining four, untangled and furious, charged. I didn't retreat. I channeled mana into my fist, using [Mana Reinforcement], and sidestepped a wild club swing. My enhanced fist connected with a goblin's jaw. There was a sickening crack, and it dropped.
Another lunged with a knife. I caught its wrist with a shadow tendril, twisted, and disarmed it with ease. The fight was less a battle and more a brutal demonstration of control. Within a minute, all five were either unconscious or whimpering in pain, nursing broken limbs.
I stood amidst them, breathing steadily. My mana had dipped [Mana: 200/350], but I felt a surge of satisfaction. It was clean. Efficient. I had controlled the engagement perfectly.
A small notification appeared.
[Title Updated: [Fox of the Ruined Manor] -> [Cunning Fox of the Ruined Manor] - Moderately increases proficiency gain with shadow-based and manipulation-based skills.] [Subordinate Loyalty Increased: Elara (Loyalty: 78% - Respect/Admiration)]
I turned. Elara was standing at the cave entrance, the branch held tightly in her hands, her eyes wide. She hadn't needed to lift a finger. She had just watched me dismantle the threat with cold, precise efficiency.
"Gather one of their ears for the bounty," I said, my voice calm. "Let's collect our fee."
As we walked back to Miller Hodge, the goblins scattering into the woods behind us, I knew this was just the beginning. The academy would be full of challenges far greater than thugs and goblins.
But I was learning. I was adapting. The fox was learning to hunt, and soon, the grounds of Black Rose Academy would be his new territory.