Chapter 49: Level Three

"I did that..?"

"You sure did."

…

I am speechless.

Is that what happened back then? I could not recall my memories of the first time I used [Mana Furnace]. That's already an indicator of its abnormality.

That is not supposed to happen.

"Then… Lady Artemis and Hephaestus-sama…"

That's why they didn't talk about it..!

I could feel a wave of heat in my head. I hid my fluster, but Tsubaki-nee's smug face is already there.

"Li'l Nobu-kun knows about romance, eh?"

"Please stop."

I used my ultimate move: shifting topics.

"When I… I used a spell of that caliber?"

"Yeah. All Hephaestus-sama has to do is ask and ye complied."

Military Fortress (Militaris Fortilitia) in under five seconds…

It's that.

Lady Riveria could create three different versions of a spell by controlling their cast time. That's also a trick I used. My large-scale spells—Orion, Military Fortress, Fax Rendre, Alice's Wonderland—has varying versions related to durations.

The first version is what I could cast without external help.

The second version is something I could cast with Miku or external help.

The third version is the full power of the spell with Arbiter's help.

The third version could destroy a city. There are no further versions simply due to my weakness. I could not reference the other magician's cases since nobody could use technology with magic.

If I become stronger, I will be able to improve them further.

Anyways…

'I should've cast the second version.' I couldn't believe it. 'How did I do it?'

"You waved your fingers before this large dome enveloped us."

"Waved my fingers? Isn't that liturgy..?"

Liturgy.

It is the act of shortening cast time with chants and gestures. It is the reason why magicians could swiftly cast their spells. They helped cut a long ritual into thirty seconds or less. Liturgy refer to the chants and gestures done to shorten the cast time.

The problem here is that… I could only do it with a suit.

"Right! Yer also elusive."

"Elusive?"

"I caught your arm but it simply passed through." Tsubaki-nee added, "How do I say it… Yer similar to Kenki. Both of you have a similar feeling. In her case, the feeling's stronger when she uses her magic."

Aiz Wallenstein?

'Wait—!'

Whenever she uses her magic… something we have in common… does it pertain to her being a spirit?

In the eighth iteration, I heard her other name long enough for my ears to bleed. According to the Demi-spirits, she is their friend—a spirit. Though, all they wanted is to 'devour' her, perhaps due to her spirit identity.

Since [Mana Furnace] involved transforming ourselves into a higher-order lifeform, it is the same for spirits. They are higher-leveled than humans. For instance, spirits have the power of Telesma, something exclusive to the gods. They could easily negate all kinds of lower level magic with it.

So… I took the form of a spirit with [Mana Furnace]?

To be honest, that is far-fetched from its normal effects. There had been no magicians who became spirits through [Mana Furnace]. Maybe there is but I am limited by my knowledge.

Nevertheless, it is completely different from what I learned. I didn't need to create 'dream organs'. It was already adjusted when I used it now. Thus, it might have involved the state before my death in the eighth iteration.

That's my most probable guess.

"Thanks for the help, Tsubaki-nee."

I have to reconsider things.

*****

Three days had passed. My daily routine became stable.

Dungeon Dive.

Train Lili.

Visit Twilight Manor.

Take Eina-san's lessons.

Sleep.

Forge.

Repeat.

With [Composite]'s addition, I no longer went to the dungeon legally.

Once evening arrives, I wear it to go past the guild staff. I also use a disguise and went straight to the twenty-seventh floor. I started fighting hordes of monsters to increase my status.

Since it is the highest floor of Water City, monsters spawn at a fast rate. They often form groups which could only be overcome by a party of level two and three adventurers.

It is different now. There aren't many adventurers present in this floor due to what happened here. No matter how long it took, this will leave a bitter mark for Orario.

Fortunately, this depressing event was counteracted by Loki Familia's success over Evilus. It signified the annihilation of a terror group—at least in the surface. It was enough to offset some of its effects, at least.

Shriek-!

I lured a group of devil mosquitoes in a specific place. Then, I placed the strings made of spirit cloth and activated its high-speed vibration state. It cut through their bodies with ease.

"It's already the 314th kill…"

Through the use of magic tools, my hunting efficiency increased. This led to [Child of Constellations] being fully used. Its enhanced recovery buff and increased excelia gain is enough to push my status to the limits.

I recalled the strings to the gloves. After that, their corpses fell to the ground.

Shiing-!

Unsheathing my sword, I carved the magic stones out. Their bodies turned into ashes.

"..!"

Suddenly, I felt a gaze. I took out a dagger and started completing the [Recall] spell. I hid it behind my arm. If I needed a minute to complete it before, I could do it in under twenty seconds now.

My vigilance is raised to its extreme. I monitored my sixth sense. I am waiting for the danger feedback to immediately run away.

I will not be caught off guard this time.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Footsteps came closer. A sound of metal clashing resounded.

"Sirius..?"

A familiar doll-faced girl appeared. Her signature golden hair looks beautiful even within the dungeon. Her voice sounded a bit monotone, but every Bocchi-like people has their problems.

Her aura is the one I am accustomed to. I lowered my guard slightly as I weaseled my way out.

"Kenki..? I'm sorry but you got the wrong person."

"You are Sirius."

"I'll be going."

"Why did you—?"

I acted as If I never heard her question. Though, I felt a grip on my left arm from behind.

"Uhm… Sword Princess…"

"Why act unfamiliar?"

Surprisingly, I saw her shaken up. It reminded me of a certain girl in my memories. She was also not good at speaking, often acting airheaded.

"Are you angry at me?"

Wait, wait, wait!

How did she come to this conclusion?!

Sighing, I resigned to my fate.

"It's not. I'm not angry at you, Aiz-san."

*****

Years ago, Aiz went on a tantrum. She never spoke to Finn nor Riveria due to them restricting her from acquiring high-level excelia. She was only a level one at that time. When even Gareth forbade her from doing so, she went on a strike and sneaked off to the dungeon.

Aiz got in danger due to an Infant Wyvern brought out by an unknown god, but she was saved by Riveria in the end.

Since these memories made a mark on her, she had a little misconception. What Nobu does is exactly the same as what she did but more destructive. A friend pretending not to know you is painful. Aiz thought Nobu is snobbing her for that reason.

Fortunately, he chose to reveal himself.

"Actually, I encountered some troubles. Some adventurer group ambushed me every now and then for my magic swords. I wanted to level up in peace, which is why I got these magic tools."

"Why didn't you say so? I… I could've helped." She said with slight guilt.

When Nobu decided to share his secret, Aiz was happy, though it didn't take long before she realized how unfair that was. Nobody would share their secrets with others, more so when they belong to different familias.

It is the norm for adventurers to mind the business of other familias. They don't get involved in the fear of being adversely implicated. The only reason why Nobu could do this with Loki Familia was simply due to Hephaestus Familia's reputation; and the fact that he didn't particularly cared about it.

Whatever rumors that appeared were easily overwhelmed by his feats. Add to the fact that he helped adventurers in the twenty-seventh floor incident and his 'low' price of "unbreakable magic swords". It is not surprising for his public image to be that good.

"There's no need to bother Aiz-san. This disguise already solved that problem." He pointed to his unfamiliar face. "Though, can we keep this a secret? Both our meeting and my disguise."

"Alright."

Hearing this, Nobu calmed down. He knew how straightforward Aiz was. When she promised something, she will keep it. That's how it was even in his eighth iteration.

Suddenly, Aiz put up her hooked pinky finger. Facing this legendary event, she pulled no breaks.

This act showcased her cuteness to the maximum. It shook Nobu for a while. The girl's appearance rivaled the gods. His train of thought went to Lady Artemis, Hephaestus...

Soon, it went off-track.

He returned to himself moments later.

"It's a promise." She said.

"Okay…"

His pinky finger hooked hers. It is very similar what he did before.

Inadvertently, he recalled Hitori. He thought of how he made a promise with her—that they'll never forget each other. Now, how is he supposed to chat with her?

Suddenly, another girl entered his mind. Her image overlapped with Aiz's. He briefly froze.

'Shiina…'

There was a girl that looked very similar to Aiz. Her lack of expressions is also the same. The way they acted is nearly the same, too.

While she held great significance for him, he couldn't bear to recall that memory. Every time he saw her, it would remind him of that event.

When he met her a year ago, he still met her. Their talks were not the same as in his memories, but the latter continued to haunt him.

After all…

'She died because of me.'

*****

{Achi.}

Inside a wide computer screen, Miku covered her nose as she sneezed.

{Goshujin-sama must be somewhere.}

She recalled how sneezing could be induced by someone thinking of you. This mystical law is no longer a myth but real. It is the accidental perception of someone beyond the knowledge they have. The sixth sense is built upon that concept.

[GuitarHero: Yeah… I hope I could meet some friends.]

[Shichi: You're already in Kanagawa. No one ones about your dark past. Good luck.]

[GuitarHero: Hey! That's… right.]

[Shichi: If you're still having trouble in Kanagawa, you can just transfer to Yokohama or Tokyo in high school.]

[GuitarHero: That won't definitely happen!]

(A/N: It happened. She went to Shimokita, Tokyo.)

Seeing the subsequent chats, Miku paid attention. Telling Nobu's parents is the limit. She chose not to tell everyone that is not involved with the supernatural side. Hence, she dealt with Hitori's chat in his stead.

[Shichi: No worries. There are good music schools in Tokyo.]

[GuitarHero: I refuse to believe that]

[GuitarHero: *!]

While chatting, Miku recalled one of her [memories].

…

{Goshujin-sama. Would you like to find her contacts?}

"No need."

It was the first time she saw him extremely disturbed. His heart rate rose as he started having cold sweat—a common sign of panic attacks.

{Goshujin-sama is experiencing a moderate panic attack. It is advisable to take tricyclic depressants.}

"No need. I will calm down soon."

As soon as Nobu recited [Heart Sword], he calmed down. The full-power of the spell empowered with science and myths showed itself.

"Shiina… I have to get her out of this mess."

…

As a 'courtesy', Miku did not look her information deeply. It was also then did Nobu place a directive.

"Monitor the target [Mashiro Shiina] within the year 2020. Deploy a Rank S Subjugation Squad. If the events of [10.31.20] occur, immediately evacuate her along with others from Shibuya."

Miku did not doubt her creator's words. She understood how he could 'see' the future. She unconditionally trusted these directives and will operate them at the highest priority.

{Shibuya Incident — 10.31.2020}

{Error of margin with the inputted predictions is 59.67%. Executing [Full Observation] state from the satellite [Judgement].}

Upon detecting that Nobu's future memories became unreliable with his disappearance, she began executing his contingencies for the upcoming disasters.

*****

"Hm…"

"Nobu-kun."

"Ah."

I was pulled out of my thoughts.

"Something is bothering you."

"...Yes…"

After meeting Aiz-san, I continued with my dungeon dive. She was already on her way to return while I just started. When I returned home, it is already 5 AM. Hephaestus-sama woke up early to wait for my arrival.

"I remembered some unpleasant memories. I'm alright now."

I could see her gaze on me for a few seconds.

"I will be updating your status now."

Her fingertips began moving at my back. It traced our familia emblem. It is done to unlock my status. Hephaestus-sama would not make the mistake of showing my status to others.

Some time had passed. I vaguely felt something changing.

"Congratulations." Her eagerness couldn't be hidden. "You're now level three."

A chill was sent to my entire body.

Thanks to the everyday training with Tiona-san and Aiz-san plus the daily dungeon dives, my status rose sharply. Perhaps it is the remnant effect of the eighth iteration, but the numbers grew faster than usual. I reached the 1,500 mark for all attributes yesterday so I was expecting this.

However, hearing it happen is different.

"Fu…" I breathed slowly to calm down. "Thank you, Hephaestus-sama."

"It's all your efforts."

"Our joint efforts."

"...Yes."

I didn't forget about all the assistance Hephaestus-sama gave me. If she didn't take me into her familia, I will not grow as fast as this. She gave me the proper channels for forging materials as well as taught me more about forging. She is the reason why I could make a small accessory with such precision.

"Ah… Here it is again…"

Seeing her strange looks, I knew I gained another ability. I waited for her explanations.

"You have five options for your next developmental ability. These are [Trap Master], [Samurai], [Ubiquitous], [Spirit Healing], and [Abnormal Resistance]."

After listening to Hephaestus-sama's explanation, I got the gist of everything.

Trap Master enhances the effectiveness of traps and the probability of falling into them.

Samurai enhances my capabilities while wielding a katana.

Spirit Healing increases the recovery of my mind.

Abnormal Resistance nullifies poison proportional to the ability's rank.

"Spirit Healing is a no… Trap Master too…"

In the first place, I am not the type to use traps. As for Spirit Healing, I already have [Proof of Combat] and [Child of Constellation] for enhanced recovery. I could choose it, but it's not a priority.

"Samurai is good…"

Samurai sounds good. I could just use Sora for the ability to activate. The same goes for Abnormal Resistance. If I ranked it up high enough, I will be invincible against poison.

However, the most unknown choice is none other than [Ubiquitous].

"Nobu-kun. Everything already appeared once. Ubiquitous hasn't appeared yet."

Without any prior records of the [Ubiquitous] ability, I am going blind.

If we are going for a dictionary meaning, it is 'universal' and 'all-encompassing'. In other dictionaries, it could mean 'omnipresent'. That alone made me feel like it was something huge.

Universal…

"Is it my proficiencies..?"

With my cheat, I developed many skills. That included making weapons and fighting strong enemies. If it is related to that, this ability might prove more useful than the rest.

Should I choose [Samurai] or [Ubiquitous]?

Once more, a crossroad was presented in front of me.

…

I will trust its 'universal' definition.

"I will choose Ubiquitous."