Chapter 11

Staring at the mirror after Melissa left, Noah could clearly see the difference. His face was now even proportionate and close to how a Disne* character from his previous life would've looked like in real life.

Noah never had a chance to play with charm and luck stat much during his alpha testing, but seeing Melissa's reaction, he was more than sure it had its own benefits. Although Melissa was weak against kids, Noah was confident that he was the most charming one she had ever seen.

Although this wasn't a sure-fire way to avoid trouble, Noah felt it was something worth looking into.

After completing his punishment the next day, Noah found Melissa to lend him some thick clothes for him to wear.

Even though the charm proved effective to disguise it now, Noah wasn't sure how it would be when his condition worsened further.

Covering himself top to bottom with multiple layers, Noah went back to his room to continue with his escape plan.

Going over his playback memory, Noah started learning the new techniques one by one.

Basic Ice Elemental Series: Ice Cube

Would you like to learn(Y/N)?

Requirements:

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 20

Intelligence: 20

'Yes.'

New skill learnt: Ice Cube

Create ice cubes with mana. Size of ice cube depends on mana supplied, intelligence and dexterity.

Intelligence +1

Seeing the unexpected benefit of +1 intelligence, Noah decided to learn all the skills from basic series. Taking a short break, each time his mana exhausted, Noah continued on until he completed all spells from basic and intermediate that he was capable of, before proceeding to learn from his weapon manuals.

[Name: Noah

Level: 37 (2,051,000/2,500,000)

Class: None

Title: None

Grade: F

State: Normal

Affinity:

Fire: 10% Water: 5%

Wind: 7% Ice: 7%

Psychic: 3% Divinity: 1%

Health: 14,000/14,000 Mana: 1,400/10,400

Strength:51 Stamina: 56

Agility:46 Intelligence: 81

Dexterity:40 Charm: 51

Luck: 30

Stat Points: 0

|— Goddess Aditi's Blessing

| |— {6}

|— Ice Temple Self Defense Sword Style (F Rank)

| |— {5}

|— Skadi Ice Spirit

| |— {0}

|— Basic Ice Elemental Series

| |— Ice Cube

| |— Ice Touch

| |— Frost Breath

| |— Powder Snow

| |— {11 more}

|— Intermediate Ice Elemental Series

| |— Hail

| |— Freeze

| |— Ice Armour

| |— Ice Spear

| |— {11 more}

|— Ice Temple Self Defense Spear Style (F Rank)

| |— {5}

|— Ice Temple Self Defense Bow Style (F Rank)

| |— {5}

]

Satisfied with the spoils from the library, Noah decided to close things up with Skadi.

Closing his eyes, Noah entered Skadi's domain.

Even after learning all the ice related skills, Noah wasn't able to increase his ice elemental affinity. As Skadi's power was still potent towards him, he needed help.

Seeing the armour covered ranger staring at the horizon with lifeless eyes, Noah was certain that she just needed one final push to join him.

Taking a seat near the cliff next to where Skadi stood, Noah let out a breath of air.

"Nice view."

"."

"So… thought about it?"

"."

Recalling the previous conversation with Skadi, Noah decided to lift some of the constraints the contract placed as last time Skadi was barely able to speak without gasping for air each time she spoke.

"As your master, I allow you to speak your mind even if it's disrespectful. So, thoughts?"

"I could just wait for you to die then--"

"Well then I just have to make sure you die a few more times until I don't have to."

"How did you change the contract?"

"Just a handy trick."

Sigh. "Taken down by a 10-year-old brat… What happened to me..."

Pausing for a bit, Skadi turned to face Noah who barely reached her waist. Although Skadi didn't apply any pressure or spell like when they had first met, the languid yet sharp expression made it difficult for Noah to maintain eye contact.

Noah knew that if he turned away now, he would never get any support or respect from her. Mustering up all his courage, Noah stood without backing down.

Looking at the scrawny kid in front of her, unwavering, Skadi finally continued.

"You said you found a book on me from a forbidden room? Why did you go to this forbidden room?"

"I wanted to grow stronger, faster…"

"Even if it has a chance to kill you?"

"Then I just have to bet on the chance that it doesn't."

"Do you need strength for revenge?"

"No."

"Then?"

"."

"Hmm…"

"If you help me grow stronger, I can take your revenge."

"You?"

"You made light of me earlier, enough to wind up in this situation. So, do you want to take a chance on me losing or winning this time? I might look like a kid, but I am older and wiser."

Looking into Skadi's eyes, Noah could feel a light slowly sparkling. "Yea, yea, sure kid. I'll let you humour me. By the way, I heard your apology to that priestess earlier. Very mature and wise of you."

Recalling the embarrassing moment, Noah turned beet red.

"Yeah you're right, you look like an 8-year-old brat but talk like an overconfident 10-year-old brat."

"... Skadi, from now on, you are to only address me as master, nothing else."

"What did you do, br--"gasp

"I am not taking that rule back." Noah looked sternly at Skadi before continuing.

"I read from an ice spirits book that it wasn't uncommon for the spirit to create a contract in their favour. So, I promise that I'll consider that forceful little slave contract that backfired on you as nothing more than traditional bullying from you, spirits. Like that, you can think of this rule as a playful joke on you. But since I am a kid, my jokes might increase with time, ha ha ha."

Skadi could only help but wonder how many more annoying rules were to come.