Preparation to Level Up 2

"Why would your grandfather agree to let you follow me? I have slightly about average talent for our city, while you apparently have heavenly talent level even in the whole dukedom? Hell you'd still be considered a low level genius in the Kingdom" I asked both confused and annoyed now.

James looks at me like I am crazy, "I already told you. My instincts say I should follow you. My body makes it so my instincts will almost never be wrong."

Finally I gave up, guess I am stuck with an overpowered follower. I need to work harder than ever unless I want him to surpass me. Currently im only stronger because I am using the Nine Immortals Rebirth which is nearly a cheat as it helps me refine my body to a higher degree than the body forging art. Let me explain it like this; the Nine Immortals Rebirth changes me from iron to steel to black iron so on so forth, while the body forging art forges that material into something more powerful that a simple ingot. Unfortunately since my body is mortal tier 3 even if I'm changed into mithril I will be the most impure and weakest version of mithril. Sigh..... maybe someday I can evolve my body into a higher tier. A tier 9 mortal body is not necessarily weaker than a tier 4 or lower mystic metal body, it is just that a mystic metal body has special abilities like mana boosts immunity to certain elements and rare one even increase comprehensive abilities, while mortal bodies only provide strength, defense, speed, and in rare cases regeneration all of which every single mystic metal and fiendgod body provide.

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Strolling through the market we try to find anything useful. I also learnt what a human black hole was. I eat a lot because of the Dragon's Forged Body Art, which demands a huge amount of nutrients, unfortunately dragon bloodline beasts are to rare so my progress has been way to slow. I only completed the first stage four days ago. But James only used the demonic ape body art which doesn't need even a tenth of the nutrients that my technique does but he was eating the same amount I did when we stopped at a finer on our way. What was most shocking is that James is five foot five inches and skinnier than a rake. Where the heck did he put it all?

I am currently five years old, but I look the same as I did when I was fifteen in my last life with a lot of extra muscle that at that. At first I was surprised but after asking my mother she explained that humans on this planet reached full body maturity at the age of fourteen, which is when the signs of aging slow down significantly.. While I was still ahead of the curve it was because of all the training I do.

If I breakthrough this week I can enroll at the Fire Drake School, which is the number one school in the dukedom, when I turn six. The only reason I can even apply there though is because of my status as an eldritch knight, but I will still need to pass the entrance exam which usually only ten percent can while fifty percent either die or become crippled. My mother wants me to join the Purple Crane Magic Academy which is the school she went to. It is only a small school in the counts lands but it has the power to be placed eleventh in the dukedom. But if I am to ever have a shot at exploring the Kingdom and maybe further, I need to put my all into joining the Number one school in the dukedom. They have the best resources, training facilities, magic spells, and the best competitive spirit. While I could easily die I refuse to give up, besides I already reincarnated once so why worry? My father promised to let me go if I could beat two squires and two mage apprentices at the same level as me who he choses. I only have seven months before I have to leave to make it on time for the exams, and seven is the cut-off age so this is my only chance.

All of a sudden James freezes before turning to run off, confused I ran to follow him. he finally stoped in front of this cart selling bones. I don't know what's going on as I never figured he liked bones. Bones are typically used by mages who follow a more shaministic path and alchemists, although occasionally other professions use certain bones. "Jason you need those" James said confidently while pointing at a set of large femures. Looking over I was unable to tell what they came from except that is was an avian creature, so I asked the store owner who was a pretty woman about twenty-two from her appearance.

"These bones came from a tier 3 lightning pigeon. They are great for tier 2 to tier 6 alchemy and decent reagents for tier two lightning inscriptions." The woman politely answered. Hearing her I was dissapointed, I am no alchemist and I would soon be a tier 3 runesmith which means i will be writing tier 3 inscriptions. Tier one inscription uses one rune while tier two houses three and tier three uses six runes. The problem is you need more powerful reagents to successfully write more runes, or more powerful runes used by tier 4 and higher inscriptionist or runesmiths.

"James I'm about to be a tier three runesmith these bones are of no use to me. " I calmly spoke to him, he did try to help so I wasn't angry just annoyed.

" Jason you need to buy these and use them while forging your glaive, not for runes." James said once again.

Turning to the lady she was already ready with a response, " Lightning pigeon bones cannot be used in forging as they will turn to gas as soon as they touch fire."

I looked at Jason and saw him mouth the words body instinct. Harding my heart I turned to pay after being reminded of his bodies peculiarity. Besides they were only marked at thirty thousand apiece so since my father gave me so much money I could afford to by the two pieces.

As we left I told James I will beat his ass if he is wrong. "Fine but if I am right you need to craft me two magic swords, one of fire and the other of lightning." James said with a smirk. Magic weapons are not that rare as most knights use them to add elemental damage to their blows. This is similar to the spell Flames Sheath that I use to coat the blade of my glaive in fire.

As we continue walking we hear the slave market. I hate slavery as I believeve it is wrong to force another intelligent being to be anothers property. But in this world were animals can gain sentience and even some pills can as well, the people believes it is their fate. Luckily only criminals could become slaves, as it is illegal to capture people and put them in slavery. Although some time the crime was just not paying their depts on time.

"Jason there are three followers in there. I wont be able to tell who it is but you need them and they need you." James said. He looked terrible, like he was going to faint.

"James, are you ok?!" I exclaimed. Nodding his head he said it was just the instinct had hit to strong for him and it shocked him.

Hearing that I replied, "Ok , well I can buy them but I will set them free. It will be their choice to follow me. "

"That is ok. I am sure they will after I tell them about my ability. " James said

"No. You will not say anything to them about your ability. They will make their decision without any extra pressure. If you want to follow me then follow my orders now." I made my decision final. At first James looked like he would argue, but with the last part he kept quite, but he didn't seem happy about it.

The next person to go up was a female orc who looked slightly crazy. But it was a crazy I have seen before, it was the look of someonewho was raped, betrayed or had a loved one killed before them but choose to fight instead of giving up.

I knew right away that I was going to save her. The auctioneer introduced her, and like I thought, she was here for murdering the man who raped her and the servant who drugged her, allowing her to be raped. After hearing that I was even more assured of my decision.

The price quickly raised to fifty-eight thousand and it seemed like it wouldn't stop anytime soon, so I directly raised it to a hundred thousand. Everyone stoped bidding, as even sixty thousand is a little high and the only reason she could sell for more is she is also a level four alchemist, but according to the law you cannot force slaves to work a proffesion without letting them pay their way to freedom. The trouble is they pay the Kingdom for freedom not their owner so the maximum profit a tier 4 alchemists will bring their owner before leaving is between seventy to eighty thousand gold.

They take the orc woman was taken away and bring up others. Turning to James I ask if he knew if that was one of the people he mentioned. "No she is not im sure of it. now that im closer I know that only one is female and she is not her." Hearing that I began to worry as it seemed he could only know if it was the right person after I won or lost the bid which meant I might not find the people.

All of a sudden an uproar began as they brought a kobold with white scales up to the stage. Kobolds seldom owed anyone debts and even more seldom broke the law. And this was a white scale kobold at that!

"Quit down ladies and gents, quit down. This is Tai'Razor of the Ryt tribe. As you know, his white scales means he is a warrior bloodline which is why I'm sure you're so shocked." A white kobold who breaks his vow will have his scales turn silver, their power will be the same but they can never be trusted, while black signifies they have earned redemption but will die if the ever violate their vow again. "As you know every child regardless of race vows to follow the law at the age of 5. So his scales being white means he can be trusted. For some reason he has sold himself as a slave under his clans Tai'Chang pact. The terms state he will only be a slave for five years which is the minimum unless someone buys their freedom. But for those five years he will be the most loyal slave and shall seek no vengeance or retaliate in any form for anything that happens during that time upon gaining his freedom again."

Hearing it was the Tai'Chang pact people finally understood. The Tai'Chang pact was a trial for white scale kobolds that often killed them, but they were not allowed to marry if they had yet to complete it according to kobold tradition. This pact also gave them certain special rights in the kingdom, such as being able to sell themselves as slaves for a set period of time.

Hearing it was only a set time ownership many people grumbled and it was obvious the price would drop. Admittedly the price would still be high because white scale kobolds were absolutely fearsome opponents as their scales where some of the best armor in the work and they had immense strength as well as fast regeneration

"10,000"

"15,000"

"35"000"

"65,000"

"I bid 120,000 gold" an arrogant voice spoke out looking over it was an elf with a tier 2 arcanist bage. The badge had a green border which signified it was the more comon branch focusing on vital qi, blue meant mana and was just as common as the green. While purple was the rarest as they inscribed organs, flesh, blood, bones, as well as both mana and vital qi. Of course in our little city arcanist are all very rare in fact this guy came with a traveling fifth tier arcanist and was his disciple.

"Jason he is one of the ones you will need" James whispered.

Hearing him I about faint. winning a bid against that arrogant fool is possible maybe once with the monry my father gave me, but there are still two more "companions" I must buy.

Gritting my teeth I place my bid hoping for a miracle." 200,000"

The elf looked at me with displeasure, "400,000" he shouted out.

Sweating bullets I place the highest bid I can afford to spend here, "500,000". Hearing me the elf glares at me before sending a message into my mind " I hope you don't regret this choice boy"

Thinking of the money I spent, I already regret though. I still had two more companions to buy but I no longer have the coin, as the rest was needed for medicine for my breakthough and materials for my weapon. And I still had James's swords as well, since he is my follower I need to take care of him.

I hear a laugh from James which irratats me because I am so worried. " No need to worry Jason, the other two left so we wil meet them a little later. Lets go meet are new companion, and that she-orc you bought."

Still slightly pissed I try to trip him but although he stumbled he caught himself from falling.

"That will ve 660,000 good sir." I am immediately furious seeing that he is trying to scam me. Seeing my face he quickly explained, "The king takes ten percent on top of the price that is owed to the slavers market which is why it costs 660,000 gold good sir." Dammit I thought I wouldn't need to spend any more money after James said that the other two were free people

After paying he hands me their slave rings. Tai'Razor one was silver with 5 years printed on it, the orc lady had a blood red ring with no time on it. Silver rings signified special cases, red murderer, green dept, purple was most other crimes. Rap*sts were to be devoured by Jasmine bee's who eat everything including ones soul, it is the most painful torture we have, as such there was no ring of enslavement for them.

As I walked into the room I saw the orc lady sitting in the corner glaring at me as I walk in. As soon as I walk in I pass the silver ring to the kobolds and ask him to stand outside if he still wants to pass the Tai'Chang. He hesitates looking at the girl before walking out.

Seeing that I actually started to like him more. As just because someone follows the rules it doesn't mean they are good people. Turning to the girl I toss her the ring that binds her. She catches it before looking back and forth between me and it. She doesn't seem to believe it's the real one.

" Don't worry just do the bind chant to see if it's the real one." I said. Masters often sell space rings and to check if it's real one must chant "shind ta qut" which is ancient elvish for "reveal the binding". when used it make the ring and the slave bound to it glow golden for a couple seconds

After the glow disappeared she looks at me again with slight distrust and confusion. "Why are you doing this?" I could kill you as I am already a slave no additional punishment can be given." she asked.

"You won't. You are a good person who did what was right but since it went against the law was punished. I have been there in my past life, but mine was against those who killed my sister."