Chapter 18 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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I returned to my dorm room and quickly racked my brain.
For starters, even if I failed, I wouldn't die.
That meant it was a proposal I could afford to mess up.
But judging by the unlucky title of Route 2, it was clearly similar to the "Even a blind chicken sometimes finds grain" failure path from Chapter 1's proposal. No need to invite negativity on myself.
'And missing out on the reward would be a shame.'
I pulled up the proposal window again.
It was telling me to bring my stamina score to 0 within a week.
Since it blatantly dangled a reward, it probably meant a pure 0, not one boosted by drugs or artifacts.
'How should I go about this?'
Dumping all my time into blind training would just waste it.
I needed to think smart and act.
'The timing of the proposal is a bit tricky.'
It had appeared right after Leo showed me the poison ingredients.
So the success or failure of this proposal hinged on whether I could turn that poison into a reinforcer.
Just as the skill category encompassed studying, reading, training, and countless other things, stamina worked the same way.
Unless I could tweak stats with reward points, the status window only reflected my condition—it didn't dictate it.
Strengthening my core to hit stamina 0 wouldn't drag my muscle strength from negative to 0, either.
'But with improved core efficiency, I'd have a foundation to train longer.'
That was where the drug came in.
Training at the current intensity every day, I wouldn't hit 0 before midterms, let alone in a week.
But training while reinforcing the core changed everything. The maximum training time itself would shift.
So making the drug was just the start. To nail this proposal, I'd need to put in the effort too.
Might as well hit the hunt one more time and order an elixir.
No.
I shook my head right away.
Assuming I flipped the poison's effects positive, buying an elixir of the same potency would take days of hunting without running into Illi again.
If spending time on elixir shopping or making the reinforcer led to the same result...
'Better to try something that pays off long-term by handling it now.'
The next morning, I stopped by my homeroom professor's lab before heading to class.
"I read the notes, kids."
I smiled and handed them over. The students stared down at them with pale faces.
"..."
"...You don't have to return them..."
"Yeah, Lucas. You can borrow them longer. We know you're not extorting us."
"What are you talking about? Midterms are only a month away—you need to study too. Get to copying quick."
I gestured at the notes and grabbed my bag, standing from my seat.
"Class is about to start. Study hard."
"Huh?"
Confusion filled the students' eyes as they watched me.
Who announces class starting and then leaves the classroom? One ventured the question cautiously.
"Where are you... going?"
"I've had a bit of a cold since last night. Got permission from the professors, so don't worry."
"What? Then the notes—?"
I shook my head with a smile at the question.
"Why would I come here on a day I'm skipping?"
"..."
"Take care today. See you at six."
I patted their shoulders with a grin and left the classroom.
* * *
No cold, no nothing.
The moment I reached my room, I laid out my experiment tools fast.
As I cleared the desk clutter, I paused at the small animal.
'...?'
What was this?
The creature the exchange student had said he'd raise was curled up asleep here.
'I thought he left it at the admin office.'
Narke and the other exchange students for this term had dropped their stuff at school and headed back to the palace today. No pets allowed there, so they'd left the cage at the admin office.
I grabbed it and headed to the dorm's first-floor admin office. Sure enough, the animal's cage was there, confirming they'd dropped it off.
After returning it, I dumped my brother's medicine box on the desk and counted the vials.
He'd given me a year's supply, calculated generously at five weeks per month—sixty in total.
For now, play it safe since who knew what might happen.
Limit myself to thirty for use, save the other thirty for emergencies.
'Ten should do for experiments.'
I uncorked one and diluted the poison.
'Trouble is verifying the effects.'
Thought about catching a beast... but what had it done wrong? Shelved that.
No sharp ideas, so I'd have to test on myself.
Today: temperature and ingredient ratios.
Might fail here, but I'd experiment with those two first.
Lots of combinations, but no choice but to dive in.
Leo wasn't future Leo—no real help there.
He'd grown up in that environment, so more skilled than me... but couldn't drag him from class.
With that, I began the experiment.
* * *
Knock knock—
"Lucas, got your notes."
Past six in the evening, voices came from outside.
These guys doing something they shouldn't.
Coming on their own since I didn't show—guess they got yesterday's message.
"Lucas?"
"Leave them out front."
I mustered my biggest voice and rose from the sofa.
Then realized I'd overestimated my stamina and flopped back down.
'Damn...'
The cold was self-inflicted.
Even dropping one or two beads per try, the effects were clear.
Not effects—side effects. First poison in ages, body wouldn't respond.
Checked the status window: stamina down a whole point. Would recover in a week anyway.
Extended my hand flat.
Trembling like someone shaking it wildly.
'So skipping and restarting hits like this.'
Live and learn.
That's why I'd planned gradual tests over time.
So, failure?
I took a deep breath to slow the shakes.
Then snatched the vial from the table and downed it. Heart chilled instantly, the flow spreading through me.
'Status window.'
Lucas René Ascanien
Title: Hunter of ???
Stamina: +3.3 (+7.0) [+6.3]
Mental: -6.6 (+1.0)
Mana: ?
Skills: +1.07 (+0.05) [+4.07]
Impression: -10
Luck: -5.385 (+1.0)
Traits: Dawn777, Divine Power
Success. In one day.
"Ha, haha... ha...."
I let out ragged breaths, laughing madly.
Not sure if luck—over half my prepped plan panned out.
Still, nailing it with just temp and ratio tweaks? Satisfied.
I jerked my limp body upright.
Fatigue lingered, but vitality returned to my core, letting me stand fine.
'Mana first.'
Thanks to drug and artifact, but hitting 6.3 core was unreal. Needed to see it myself.
Rubbed fingers lightly, sparked flame.
Crackle—!
'Whoa.'
I marveled at the vivid red magic blooming before me.
Pulled mana straight from core? No—just imagery and motion unleashed it.
Flow smoother, but more than that.
Hue subtly different. Same red, but veins of varied light. Leo's childhood magic probably closer to this than my usual.
Color variety separated talented mages from others. Meant natural handling of diverse mana properties.
Mana score unchanged, yet core health alone made visible change. Fresh feeling.
'Divine power next.'
I etched the divine formula in mind, rubbed hand with same force.
Air rippled smooth like water surface, sunlight scattering pure white light. Slight activation fluttered curtains across the room.
'Comes out even better than mana.'
Range different too.
Bet this was what Phleroma used.
'Always thought calling it "god's power processing mana" was silly...'
Anyway, here divine power was holy force. I could bloom perfect proof of faith from my hand. Wondered if anyone seeing this would buy me as Phleroma.
Preparations done.
Now test how much more drug I could take.
Wanted to pour till 10, but even good things overwhelm if slammed at once.
Recreated prior recipe.
Sure enough, at +0.2 stamina, core pain crept in. I capped the vial and tidied up.
'Artifact baseline: max 6.5.'
Supplement gradually as effects wane.
Now I could cast all day without tiring easy. I pulled out the pendant.
As I channeled mana, an odd noise came from somewhere.
"Bweep...."
I froze, scanned around.
"Bweeeep—!"
'Hm?'
Unmistakable animal cry.
I whipped around.
The tawny lump from admin stared at me with a strangely haggard face.
First time seeing eyes open—definitely hamster-ish. Or not quite.
One thing clear.
Looked like it'd gnaw furniture legs if it slipped under.
'Left it at admin—why here?'
Eye-lock with the animal tightened. I glanced around quietly first.
Anything to cover it?
Nope.
Decision made, I flicked fingers quick.
Ping—!
Animal floated up. Small size, no issue levitating with magic.
Tucked necklace inside shirt, drew it close. Release outside first, then train. Eased magic, cupped in hand.
"Bweep—!"
"Yeah, letting you out now."
"Wait!"
I opened the door, tossed the notes from front inside.
Turning to close, chill ran down my spine.
"..."
Who said that last?
Scanned around.
I had this floor solo. No one wanted rooms on "Lucas's floor."
Roof above, students passed via side stairs often.
Maybe yell from lower stairs or outside echoed. Evening acoustics helped.
Settled on the rational explanation and stepped out.
"Ahh, wait! Hold on!"
"..."
I eyed my hand coldly.
Rational suspicion flashed: was I losing it in this mad world?
"Gonna dump me outside?! Hear me out first!"
"What...."
Vision darkened as I loosened grip. Animal panicked, clutched my hand.
"Bweep!"
Calm down first.
No people, but voices.
Conveniently, animal-appropriate words.
Stories of granting animals personhood via divine power existed here, but never happened for real.
Did Lucas's friendless life wish animals spoke? Hence hallucinations.
"No, I'm talking to you! Listen before dumping!"
I gazed ceiling-ward, rubbed face with other hand.
Deep sigh, pondered where my sanity broke.
As always, concluded I wasn't mad—the world was.
'Status window show?'
Stared into round eyes, summoned.
'Status window.'
Would it?
Summoned it myself, sighed, looked away.
Then something flashed.
Pie
Favor +10
Title: —
Stamina: +1
Mental: 0
Mana: +1
Skills: +1
Impression: +3
Luck: +1
Traits: Divine Power
* * *
With such a human-like status window, I couldn't ignore it.
Especially with favor at +10 for some reason. Second positive after Narke.
Had to know why.
Back in room, I tried calm talk.
Long story short: animal spoke true.
Chat revealed mental age low—like five or six human years.
It knew students tried feeding it to me, that I didn't eat it, handed safely to owner.
Favor maxed likely from that.
'Animal... generous scoring?'
Not just high—full marks already. Shocking.
Knowing it spoke probably boosted it more.
Divine power synced few humans; this was second talkable one ever.
Escaping admin: needed holy water as divine fuel, but staff gave plain water instead of Narke's.
I infused divine power, asked.
"Better now?"
"Yeah! Thanks."
It flopped belly-up on desk.
"But you... what species?"
"Species?"
"I mean, what animal?"
Thought long, answered.
"Dunno! I'm just me."
"Right, got it."
What'd I expect... Hamster-like-ish.
Gave up understanding, took it back to admin.
* * *
"Hoo...."
I stowed my wand and stood.
Outside, dawn breaking already.
Left Pie at admin, practiced magic at training grounds till midnight, then pure stamina work after.
And...
Ding—!
〈 Chapter 3. Constant Droplets Pierce the Stone (1) 〉
Proposal 2: 'Stamina' score 0 achieved (1/1) (9 hours 17 min 33 sec)
* Route 1 — 〈 Chapter 3 Special Reward 〉
* Route 2 — 〈 Chapter 4. One Swallow Does Not Make a Summer 〉
Congratulations!
'Proposal 2: 'Stamina' score 0 achieved' success!
'Route 1 — 〈 Chapter 3 Special Reward 〉' confirmed.
A week had passed.
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