43 Chapter 36: Let's Make the Demon Lord Stronger Part 2; The Fleur that I know

I've passed every skill that are passable to Fleur.

I say 'passable', as there are other skills that are being rejected by Fleur's soul even before I could place them in the thread for transferring. It must be related to interchanging species and types being incompatible.

I tried transferring the skills I have, which are exclusive for a certain monster, but an 'Invalid' screen pops up whenever. So I gave up the idea.

Also, it looks like I can't pass skills that are combined and are made to be a single skill. Omni skills, for example.

I also don't want to pass everything to her. I want her to train and personally acquire them, not just from acquiring them from me. Fleur must also feel that way, so I only chose a few that she will be needing for a start.

(Vigor)

(Harden)

(Enchant)

(Magic Resilience)

(Haste)

These are the skills that grants status bonus for every level up. They give + status points for HG, Physical Defense, Magical Attack, Magical Defense, and Agility respectively.

(Magic Shield Lv. 1)

(Magic Damage Lv. 1)

These are the skills that boosts magical abilities. They also level up according to proficiency.

For skill level one, Magic Damage grants additional 1% damage with every magical attacks. Same, with magical damage received. Magical Shield reduces the damage received by 1%. Each gets stronger with every level it gets.

These two are a must have for Fleur who wants to focus on magic. She said she dreamed of becoming like her mother who was a great Magus at her time.

So a mage is called a Magus in this world, huh? Now I know.

And lastly,

(Float)

Somehow, Fleur was able to acquire Float.

I guess this skill isn't only exclusive to monsters of a kind.

And that's all. For the rest of the skills, I want her to learn them by doing them. That way, she will be used to them right away after obtaining them. I don't want to spoon feed her too much. There's also the risk of her being too dependent on me.

At any rate, there goes our problem about her leveling up without gaining the bonus status points out of our way. With these skills, additional status points will be added when she levels up. Now we can make her level up without worrying of wasting her levels. Of course, she gains additional status points with every level.

But the more the better, right?

Getting into the details, she gets those additional status points according to her training.

When I evolved into an Eifil-Realne, it looks like I gained to ability to earn additional status points with every level. I guess now that I have a body, I can now train it. Unlike when I was a ghost with no physical body to train.

I tried training my Physical Attack by earning experience points from attacking monsters physically. When I leveled up, I gained a lot of additional points for Physical Attack. When I tried receiving the attacks of monsters before dealing with them, I gained Physical Defense when I leveled up.

Therefore, it comes down to training.

But, I think the race/specie also plays a role in it. After all, I gain a lot of Physical Attack and Speed no matter which I try to train.

Needless to say, Eifil-Realne is a physical type specie of monster.

Ciel: "Did you get the gist of the skills you acquired?"

Fleur: "Yes."

Alright. Seems like we're good to go.

I explained most of her skills to her and how they work. She's fairly familiar about the status details, so it didn't take much time.

Ciel: "Next, I will teach you all about your Arcana Title and Skills."

Fleur: "A-Arcana…?"

I showed her Status once again and had her look at her own titles. There's a Title there that has a word 'Arcana' before it.

Fleur: "This is… Arcana – Judgement."

[Arcana – Judgement: "Thou, who have risen and chose to walk the path of enlightenment and awakening, art Judgement." Established a connection to the Order of the Arcana. Earning the protection and guidance of the Lost Goddess, the bestowed is granted an Augment skill: Awakening and Alter Skill, and additional status points. "You have persevered to face the new beginning. Please, carry my will and someday, until we meet." – Lost Goddess.]

Fleur: "Lost Goddess…? Isn't that…"

Just as I thought, that's the first point you'll notice, of course.

Ciel: "So you've noticed it too."

Fleur: "Does that mean… The legend is… true?"

Ciel: "I suppose it is. I'm not really sure, though. But receiving that Title speaks more than enough, don't you think?"

I don't have the evidence to prove it, after all. This is something beyond our reach at the moment, so I'll skip it for now. We'll just talk about it later.

Sensing my intentions, Fleur went to look at her status once more.

Ciel: "That is an Arcana Title. Not only does it gives you bonus status points, it also gives special skills."

I point a finger upwards to look cool while explaining.

Fleur: "Arcana…"

I was expecting a more surprised look on her face, but instead… It's a resolved expression, as if she's just decided on something.

Hmhm. I never saw Fleur look so dedicated…

Ciel: "To be honest, even I don't' know much about it yet. I can only say that you can acquire it through achieving certain conditions. Though, I also don't know the specifics."

Fleur: "Does Master has one, too?"

After taking a short glance on her screen display, which should be in front of her, she turned her head towards me.

Ciel: "Yeah. … Anyways. Lost Goddess and such, we're still clueless about them. But for now, let's use them for our gains. What are your skills?"

Fleur: "Uhm… Awakening and Alter."

Awakening…

I tried analyzing it before but I still don't get its use.

[Arcana – Awakening: With the Lost Goddess' blessing, the ability to awaken the inner enigma is granted.]

Inner enigma… Inner mystery? Or puzzle? How does it relate to Fleur?

Hmm…

Ciel: "Try activating Awakening first."

Fleur: "Understood."

She placed her hands together over her chest, which then amplifies those chest even more, and closed her eyes as if to pray.

She's really cute, damn it.

… Ahem.

It seems like this world teaches their young how to activate a skill.

For active magic skills, they are activated by a Causa, which is the term used for 'casting.' They chant certain words to successfully activate the magic skill.

On the other hand, other skills that aren't magic skills require focus and must be practiced to activate with ease. Unlike magic skills that needs chant, other skills uses a confirmation inside the user's soul. Hence the need to focus.

As for me, I only did it out of instinct. It's like I knew what I was doing in the first place. I guess that's thanks to being reborn as a monster, but… Who knows? I may be just a genius, in the first place. Mufufu~

Fleur: "Phew… I am very sorry. It seems like I cannot activate it."

Her worry extends to her face, as she heaves a sigh.

Ciel: "Hmmm…"

If that's the case, then maybe there's a requirement or a condition for Fleur to meet first to be able to activate it. But if so, then what's that condition?

Hmm… It looks like we still have to wait and see for now.

Fleur: "Uhm… Did I perhaps fail… or something?"

Putting her fingers together, she fidgets around and looks at me with upturned eyes. I know she isn't doing it on purpose, but damn, that's cute.

Ciel: "Ah, no. Just thinking about something."

She really is worried constantly about her actions, huh? She's afraid of failing once again. Moreover, she's afraid to disappoint anyone.

That's what I feel from her.

Ciel: "Anyways, let's set aside Awakening for now. I'll think of something for the time being. Next is Alter."

Fleur: "Yes!"

[Arcana – Alter: With the Lost Goddess' blessing, the ability to change one's characteristics is granted.]

Fleur: "I-I feel like these skill descriptions are too vague for understanding."

Reading the description shown on the screen that she is seeing, Fleur flashed a wry smile.

Ciel: "Ahaha… You can say that again."

Fleur: "Anyhow, it says that I can alter one's characteristics… Let me try it, Master!"

Ciel: "Go for it."

Once again, Fleur closed her eyes with her hands on top of her chest. She's activating Alter.

Ciel: "*gulp*"

A tense atmosphere have begun to surface. I waited patiently for the activation while bracing myself for the unexpected. Doing so, I saw Fleur started to glow. Little sparkles of crystals appears on her body.

And after a while…

Fleur: "There we go… Phew… H-How do I look?"

After a few seconds of that bright shine, a short flash of light gently bursted, and when I opened my eyes to look at the source…

Ciel: "… Is that… you, Fleur?"

Fleur: "Y-Yes. How do I…"

How should I explain this…?

She looks erotic. Even more so than she usually is.

She looks more mature, as if she grew a few years in an instant. Estimating the age based on her looks right now, she looks like she's past 25 years old. She's also taller than she originally was. I'm still taller, but…

And not only that, her voice also changed into a mature one. Though I can still hear her usual tone, she's trying to act more mature.

Ciel: "You thought of altering your body?"

Honestly, I'm surprised. To think that she would try to alter herself instead of an object near her. She could have just altered a rock on the ground or something.

Fleur: "Uhm… How do I look?"

O-Ohh… She's fixated on that, I guess. Ahaha…

Then as her master and as a man, I should go ahead and say it.

Ciel: "… It's off."

Fleur: "Eh?! Off, you say… H-How…?"

Perhaps from the shock, she reverted back to her original form.

Yep. She is better with this look.

Ciel: "Hmmm… To be honest, you looked sexy. It really catches attentions."

Fleur: "Th-Then…"

She then closed in on me with a worried face, as if she thinks she may have failed at something, again. Her being constantly worried about her actions really is the Fleur that I know.

Yeah. She was alluring with her appearance earlier…

Ciel: "But it's not the Fleur that I know."

I pat her head, to make sure I comfort her.

Fleur: "Eh…?"

Ciel: "You see… The Fleur that I know is cute, lovely, and charming. Yet, she's clumsy, and easily embarrassed. But on top of that, she has a great sense of responsibility. That innocent kind of Fleur is what suits Fleur the best. Or so I think."

Fleur: "…"

Fleur just stares at me without uttering anything.

Ciel: "The Fleur earlier looked so mature and erotic, uh… It was really off. To be honest? I like the usual Fleur. Ah, well… I may be just placing a selfish prejudice about you. Aha… Ahahaha."

Man, now that I've said it… It's really embarrassing. Damn, why did I think of trying to look cool…?

Fleur: "…"

But unlike what I expected, she shook her head from left to right, all the while hanging her head down.

And then followed by…

*bump*

Ciel: "Fleur?"

She slowly walked to me, while still holding down her chest. I thought she would hug me for a second there. But right now, it's just her head pressing against my chest.

Fleur: "Did you… Did you truly mean what you said…?"

Ciel: "… Of course, I do."

Because of her sudden action, I was caught in surprise. My mind lagged for a bit.

Fleur: "Then what is with the short pause…?"

From her voice alone, I can already imagine her puffing her cheeks and pouting her lips.

Ciel: "I was just surprised. I mean it."

Fleur: "I see. … Uhm…"

It looks like she's having a hard time thinking of something to say, so I placed my hand over her head. I guess this has become a habit now.

Fleur: "… Master… I… I really like it when you do that."

Ciel: "Is that so? Then I'll keep doing it if you want to. Just say so."

Fleur: "… Yes. Fufu. I will…"

With her mild giggle ending her sentence, silence filled the air.

I can only hear the sound of water dripping and a few cries of monsters.

Purin is out for a hunt so I don't hear any complaints from her. Only our breathing filled this one narrow space.

Nonetheless…

It's a relaxing atmosphere, I think.

Ciel: "So why did you think of changing how you look?"

Fleur: "… W-Well… It is… because you keep looking at my ch-chest."

SO IT WAS MY FAULT.

Urk… So she noticed that… I should be careful from now on.

[Author's Note: So you still plan to look, eh?]

Why the hell am I looking at a young girl's chest? Even though she already told me about it?

BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE, OBVIOUSLY.

Why do people climb mountains?? Because they're there, dummy! Why do people eat?? Because there's food! That's why I look! Because they're there!

Fleur: "Uhm… I cannot understand you sometimes."

Ciel: "Hm?"

Fleur: "You look at my chest… Yet, you treat me like a child. Just like now, you are patting my head. I… was actually expecting you to e-embrace me back instead."

Since her forehead is pressed against my chest, I can't see her expression. But her shivering voice reveals more than enough. She's embarrassed as well.

Ciel: "Well, aren't you?"

Fleur: "*sigh* Just as I thought…"

She looked up with her flushed cheeks and gripped my clothes.

Fleur: "Including the years I wandered around, I am already 26 years old. I am already an adult."

Ciel: "Wha… I'm the younger one??"

Fleur: "Eh?"

… Crap. Out of surprise, I blurted that out.

Ciel: "*sigh* Yeah. … I'm only 20 years old. I'm 6 years younger than Fleur."

Fleur: "… Hmmmm…~"

Releasing a teasing tone, she looked at me with narrowed eyes. She's still gripping my clothes and is stuck to me, but I really hear her tone as that of a teasing one.

Ciel: "… What's with that look?"

Fleur: "Fufu~ Nothing~ Just thinking that I am much older than Master. I am the big sister, if you think about it carefully. *giggle*"

This girl…

Ciel: "Says the big sister who loves being patted on the head."

Fleur: "*flinch*"

Hearing my words, Fleur's shoulder trembled slightly, as I hit her with a bulls-eye.

*sigh* How can one girl be this cute, I wonder? Damn.

Fleur distanced herself away from me and looked at me straight in the eyes. Then I found myself drawn to those crimson red eyes and bright smile of hers.

Fleur: "Master. Really, thank you. I am so glad that I met you. You do not know how much I feel so."

I do. I can feel it through the Link, after all.

And guess what?

Ciel: "… Same here."

I feel the same.

Just when I utter those words, I look straight at Fleur. There, I saw…

Fleur: "… Uhm…"

Her face is blushing, she's squirming around, and is rubbing her thighs together. It's the usual scene I've gotten used to.

… Again, I see.

And it was such a nice atmosphere.

Oh well. That, also, is the Fleur that I've come to know. So pure and innocent, yet so lewd. Though, I know that she can't control it. Ahaha.

Ciel: "I'll prepare a room. Go ahead."

Fleur: "… Y-Yes… Uu… *pant* … Really… I hate this…"

…

..

.

Chapter End