Chapter 9: Grinding, And Surviving

AN: In chapter 2, when the limit level for humans is mentioned, I made a mistake an put 1, when it's actually 5. For some reason, I was tripping.

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Inside the house at the end of the village, Nilcaris, Elsa, Ram, and Meili sat at a table, a silence that was soon broken.

"Meili, I have begun serving a new, Master. I no longer work for Mother." Elsa said with a calm expression with an underlying of worry in her eyes.

"What!? Did you go crazy?! She'll kill you!... And probably kill me too!" Meili started panicking as she ruffled her own hair a clear frustration visible.

Ram and Nilcaris said nothing, the prior curious, while the latter was waiting for the moment to enter the conversation.

"Don't be so dramatic, my new master is this young man right here. He saved my life when I was about to die at the hands of the Astrea Sword Saint. He's as much a monster as the rumors say, maybe worse, even the Blue Lightning was not so troublesome, and I was already no match for him." Elsa revealed there was a trembling in her if one paid attention though her body stayed as still as a statue.

"Elsa... I didn't know... I'm glad you're still here." Meili immediately hugged her upon finding out she almost lost someone this dear.

"Let's not dwell in the past, what matters now is that my Master wants you as well, we could stay together under him." Elsa stroked her hair as the little one hugged her.

"... I guess... If you're following him he has to be someone amazing like Mother." Meili concluded as she looked into the bowl hunter's eyes.

"I wouldn't quite say that, but I am following him under a blood oath, and he'll probably ask the same of you," Elsa explained.

"That sounds like he's super weak and took advantage of you being in a hard situation... Are you sure you trust this guy?" Meili eyed Nilcaris up and down, not impressed in the slightest by what she saw.

"Trust is complicated, but I do believe he will reach great heights, he has great potential in terms of his mind, we just need to see if his body and spirit can back it up, luckily, he said he could with your help," Elsa said to her.

"... My help... What does he want from me?" Meili narrowed her eyes pretty much sure this Master guy was a fraud.

"Why don't you ask him, since you insist he's bad. Don't worry, I'm here for you." Elsa reassured her with the same calm smile.

Turning around on Elsa's lap, Meili looked at this so-called Master the woman she thought of as an older sister, betrayed Mother of all people, not that seems like it was much of a choice as much as it was her only chance at survival.

"You don't seem like you're strong at all... plus I don't like your smile, you hair looks like a girl, and your clothes are weird! Let Elsa go! We serve Mother!" Meili put her tongue out as she clung onto Elsa, like a bratty little sister.

This caused Ram to giggle, and Elsa to raise an eyebrow before shaking her head with a sigh.

"That doesn't matter. You don't like me? Fine, then how about we play a game, and put a bet on it? If you win, Elsa is free to go, if I win, you'll come under through a blood oath too." Nilcaris could not care less about her comments on his appearance, but he was here for a reason and nothing was stopping him.

"Really? You better not be lying! What's the bet?" Meili was curious.

"I heard of your ability to control Demon Beasts, and I want you to summon as many as you can throughout the whole day, I'll hunt them with Elsa, and then by the end of the week, I'll be fighting the strongest you have and however many of them you can throw at me on my own. The deciding factor is that fight, If I win, I get you under me with a Blood oath, and If I lose, you and Elsa are free to go live however you want." Nilcaris said with a calm expression.

(A week should be enough for me to get a few good levels in. Also, Genive you said the max attribute for level 1 is 20, so does that mean I can just train my body to that point?) Nilcaris asked already quite sure he'll win.

[Yes, you can exercise your way there, though it's not easy at all. I recommend just focusing on leveling up.] Genive responded.

"... Fine! I don't know what you are planning, but you better keep your word!" Meili nodded her head sure this was her win.

"Elsa, this is an order, if I lose this bet, we'll annul the blood oath." Nilcaris looked Elsa in the eyes as he spoke.

From the side Ram just watched it unfold, confused as to what the amethyst-eyed young man was trying to accomplish. 

After that, they went outside the village and into the forest area, and there was a small dog with brown hair who came to Meili, and was taken into her arms.

"Elsa, keep an eye on things at night for this week, It seems our hosts are a little prone to violence," Nilcaris whispered to her.

This got a nod from Elsa, then right then Ram approached him.

"Are you sure you want to do something this pointless? Why not just fight them now, if that's what you plan on doing?" Ram asked trying to understand his plan.

"I'll be using this week to train, I never fought Demon beasts before, so I want to get used to it," Nilcaris explained in what was not a lie, as part of this was indeed training for that purpose. 

To this Ram looked at him for a few seconds before nodding.

"Are you ready for this?" Meili asked as she petted the dog in her arms.

"Of course, Elsa, you go as the frontline, and I'll be playing support." Nilcaris nodded then turned to Elsa to order her.

"As you wish Master." Elsa pulled out her black dagger ready for combat.

Standing next to Ram, Meili with the small dog in her arms, used the powers of her divine protection and called upon 14 wolgarms, large wolf-like creatures with brown and black hide, protruding razor-sharp fangs, a set of spikes jutting out of their backs, red eyes, and a single spike-like horn on their snouts. 

They came from the forest and slowly approached their red eyes glowing in the shadows.

Not waiting, Nilcaris moved his arm in a circle and then closed his hand, causing a portal rope to appear around the whole pack, then closing on them, catching 11 out of the 14 wolgarms, who didn't react fast enough to dodge while the other three jumped out of the way.

"Kill the ones out loose." Nilcaris orders.

Things didn't stop there as he continued to put more portal ropes around the wolgarms as the first one was being broken by their collective struggling. 

(It seems the limit size for my portals right now is height- 4 meters, width- 4 meters, and depth- 4 centimeters.) Nilcaris concluded.

At the same time, Elsa got closer to the wolgarms, and all three of them encircled her, before going in for a bite. In a show of her finesse, Elsa did a spin slash, decapitating the three wolgarms in a single swoop, as their heads fell to the ground leaking blood, and the bodies sprayed out blood before falling to the ground.

[Master, as your servant Elsa, has killed 3 level 4 wolgarms, and you have gained 72 exp]

[You have accumulated enough experience points and reached level 2.]

Just then Nilcaris opened his status screen.

[Status Screen]

[Name: Nilcaris Kwiv Love

Age: 16 years old

Sex: Male

Species: Humanoid | Sub-Species: Human

Affinity: Neutral, Life, Death, Yin, Yang, Fire, Water, Earth, Wind

Bloodline: Love Lineage

Physique: True Deathless Human Body; Excess Mana Circulation Constitution

Soul rank: Mortal(Rank I)

Level: 1 -> 2

Titles: None

Job: None

Class: None

Attributes:

HP: 200/200 | MP: 250 | Sta: 93/100

Strength: 11 -> 12 -> 14

Dexterity: 10 -> 12 -> 14

Willpower: 20 -> 21 -> 23

Agility: 11 -> 12 -> 14

Undistributed attribute points: 0 -> 8 -> 0

Stats:

-Accessible

Charisma: I+

Luck: I+

Mortal Energy Core/s(2): Od(I+); Gate(I)

-Inaccessible

Chi(Od): I+

Mental: I+

Spiritual(Soul): I

Angelic: 0

Demonic: 0

Essence: I-

Magic(Mana/Gate): I

Reality: I-

Particularity/s(Authority/s): Portal Creation; True Deathless; System

Innate ability/s(Racial skills): None

Active skills: None

Passive skills: None

Resistances: Deathless,

Magic: None

Unique Magic: None

Extras: Divine Protection Of The God; Blessing Of The Great Spirit, Genive;

Inventory: Human corpses x8]

One point had been added to every attribute because of the level-up, and then he allocated his attribute points giving each one 2 points.

(Good, let's keep doing this until it becomes inefficient.) Nilcaris thought with a smile.

[Or the demon beasts go extinct, whichever comes first.] Genive said in a bit of a playful manner.

(You do realize that with Meili's help, it won't be too hard to breed these things right? And even if I can't for some reason, I'll just grind on the Great Rabbit until I reach the cap or stop getting exp or the world ends, whichever comes first.) Nilcaris shrugged his shoulders.

[You're no fun.] Genive sighed.

Meanwhile, Elsa went ahead and killed the rest of the wolgarms, who never escaped the portal rope.

[Yay... She killed more, so you get 264 exp due to the 11 level 4 wolgarms killed.] Genive informed.

"Meili, send out as many of them as you can," Nilcaris ordered.

"You're even really doing anything, if it weren't for Sister Elsa, you would be dead." Meili was not just unimpressed, she was disappointed like she just met her older sister's useless boss.

"Maybe, but we have a bet to live up to unless you want me to keep Elsa." The amethyst-eyed young man put his hand on the bowl hunter's shoulder and even rested his head there with a smug.

"Don't touch her! I'll call the Demon Beasts, just stay away from her!" The blue-haired pre-teen girl was not very with it as she yelled at him.

The small dog in her arms groaned at Nilcaris looking ready to attack him.

(I guess, I'm very popular with kids... I'm not even sure if that's a good or a bad thing...) Nilcaris internally sighed at this.

[And here I thought you would be laughing at the idea of her not liking you.] Genive was a bit surprised.

(I don't know what idea of me you built, but I'm still a person, the person who will become the greatest, and yet a person nonetheless. I wouldn't bother doing any of this if I couldn't enjoy it afterward, I'm a bit reserved and not great at talking to people, that's why, I'll do things my way, I'm not some perfect robot who knows all the right ways to do things, I'm just a guy with many dreams, and the faith in himself to go after every single one of them.) Nilcaris expressed feeling a bit off-put by her comment.

[Yeah... I guess you are... I'm sorry if I sound hostile sometimes, I just don't know how to act toward you. You're partially my creator and my only master... I can't really view you as a father... Yet you're who I'm learning from, even if by accident. It's weird to exist this way.] Genive let out a bit of a somber tone in her voice.

(Don't let it bother you, existing as a conscious being tends to do that to you, we're all confused in one way or the other, trying to act right to keep things in place, cause if you fall, and nobody is there to catch you, it can be scary. It's funny, cause people tend to think it's a bad thing to be afraid of the next step you'll think, it seems they don't realize that greatness is the scariest path to walk.) Nilcaris sighed before a small smile appeared on his face.

[Maybe, I just wish I could do what I was made for, without any of these feelings or stray thoughts. It would be much easier and better for both of us.] Genive lamented.

(I don't think so, you've done well so far. If you want a purpose of your own aside from the one given to you, don't worry and try to find it. I'll carry you along and who knows, something we encounter might trigger what you're looking for.) Nilcaris responded.

[Talking to you is odd, you call yourself selfish then you do this... Thank you... I'm honestly starting to regret that dumb bet...] Genive felt embarrassed.

(Don't, that's the spirit of the free if you don't embrace who you are, it's harder to know, accept, find purpose, or even change. The bet is on, and I'm winning, so don't worry, I'll take care of it all.) Nilcaris shook his head internally.

[I don't like how reassuring you are, it's annoying. It's like I want to be mad at you but can't... I'll take a break, if you need anything call for me.] Genive decided.

Not bothering to say anymore, Nilcaris continued his hunt with Elsa.

More demon beasts were called and killed, a cycle which continued until the end of the day. That day things were rather fruitful before the goodbyes were said, and Ram, Elsa, as well as Nilcaris made their way back to the Roswaal mansion.

For the following 4 days, the cycle continued. The 4th day was ending as Nilcaris lay there in bed looking at his status screen. He gained the habit of exercising his body every day, doing an exercise routine similar to that of Saitama, and even more.

[Status Screen]

[Name: Nilcaris Kwiv Love

Age: 16 years old

Sex: Male

Species: Humanoid | Sub-Species: Human

Affinity: Neutral, Life, Death, Yin, Yang, Fire, Water, Earth, Wind

Bloodline: Love Lineage

Physique: True Deathless Human Body; Excess Mana Circulation Constitution

Soul rank: Mortal(Rank I)

Level: 2 -> 5(Rank I cap)

Titles: None

Job: None

Class: None

Attributes:

HP: 500/500 | MP: 450 | Sta: 210/250

Strength: 14 -> 23 -> 29

Dexterity: 14 -> 23 -> 29

Willpower: 23 -> 28 -> 34(Limit)

Agility: 14 -> 23 -> 29

Undistributed attribute points: 0 -> 24 -> 0

Stats:

-Accessible

Charisma: I+

Luck: I+

Mortal Energy Core/s(2): Od(I+); Gate(I)

-Inaccessible

Chi(Od): I+

Mental: I+

Spiritual(Soul): I

Angelic: 0

Demonic: 0

Essence: I-

Magic(Mana/Gate): I

Reality: I-

Particularity/s(Authority/s): Portal Creation; True Deathless; System

Innate ability/s(Racial skills): None

Active skills: None

Passive skills: None

Resistances: Deathless,

Magic: None

Unique Magic: None

Extras: Divine Protection Of The God; Blessing Of The Great Spirit, Genive;

Inventory: Human corpses x8]

After checking his status screen, Nilcaris heard noises outside his room.

(It seems it's time.) Nicaris got up and went to check on it.

2

To no surprise at all, what he found was Rem being pinned down by Elsa in Subaru's room.

"Let go of me, you witch-worshipping freaks!" Rem gritted her teeth as she tried to escape the assassin's hold, but it was pointless.

"What should I do with her, Master?... I would love to get her guts out... It would be a beautiful experience." Elsa pressed her dagger against the maid's face but didn't cut her.

"Yo! Nil! Man, what the hell is going on?! She tried to kill me! Right on the day, I got Emilia-Tan to say yes to a date with me! what kind of evil behavior is that?!" Subaru came complaining the nervousness on his face was very clear.

"Well, it's not really personal... if you heard what she said, she thinks we worship the witches, which is partially my fault. Congrats on your date, though." Nilcaris pat his shoulder.

"Oh, Emilia told me about that stuff... They're super evil ladies, it's crazy that you said you would resurrect that, it's like if you said you would bring the Devil back... Did you hit your head or something?!" Subaru who had a better understanding could only criticize him.

"I have my reasons, don't worry about it. Just go on your date and get that half-elf p-" Nilcaris was about to say, but Subaru covered his mouth.

"Don't say something so crude about Emilia-tan!" The black-haired young man looked legitimately stressed.

Once he moved his friend's hand, Nilcaris said. "Ok, I get it, don't get yourself hurt white knighting too hard. Jeez. Anyway, apparently you have a miasma thing around you called the witch's scent because of your power, and this Rem girl can sense it, and add to my comment, it looks like we are witch worshippers."

"Both of you have that disgusting smell you filth! Don't try to hide your horrid truth anymore! I know what you are!" Rem struggled to escape the grip, genuine hate in her eyes, and voice as she looked at both Nilcaris, and Subaru.

"I'm not really a witch worshipper... I'm more so trying to become a witch tamer if you catch my drift." Nilcaris rubbed his hands together and locked in for a second, before chuckling.

"I don't think that's gonna be any better for her." Subaru who was hiding behind Nilcaris commented.

"You pathetic scum! I'll kill you both and feed the remains to demon beasts! None of you sick bastards deserve to see the light of another day, and if nobody else will do it, I myself will bring upon the divine punishment you deserve! In the burning flames of hell! The last memory you will have to remember is nothing other than the torment I'll bring you!" Rem's hatred for them was sincere and pure, as wrath had taken over her mind.

"... Are you sure I shouldn't put her down?" Elsa seemed a bit concerned as she asked.

"Just knock her out, Roswaal, and the rest have a bit of explaining to do," Nilcaris commanded unbothered by Rem.

"... It's scary to be hated this strongly... Are you sure I didn't do anything wrong?" Subaru on the other hand found himself worried.

"Don't think you ca-" Just as Rem was about to say more, Elsa knocked her out.

"Let's go deal with this before things get out of proportion." Nilcaris sighed as he walked off to do just that.

Three of them, as Elsa carried an unconscious Rem, went to solve this matter.