Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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As Kane sent Gillip away, Camilla asked, “Why did you give him a crafted gem? He doesn’t seem to know its value….”
“He\'s just overwhelmed right now because I took advantage of him. He’ll soon realize its worth.”
Gillip had a keen eye for goods. Once he understood the value of the crafted jewel, he would come back to meet him again. Surely, he would ask if he could sell the jewel.
“I plan to use his money to build my crafting workshop in the estate.”
What a brilliant idea it was. Gillip would never refuse this deal. He would likely ask for the exclusive sales rights to the jewels. If Kane offered him a one-year exclusivity, Gillip would promote the jewels himself. It would solidify the brand’s position in a short period.
Gillip was well-known in the black market. Camilla, like Blata, felt sorry for him.
“How unfortunate for him to have met someone like you, my lord….”
“What do you mean?”
“Hehe, nothing.”
Camilla stuck out her tongue playfully.
“Seems like your training isn’t tough enough lately.”
“That’s not true. It’s really tough.”
“Hmm.”
Kane opened Camilla’s status window.
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[Camilla Einrich (Lv. 60) (MAX)]
- Grade: ★★★☆☆
- Profession: Iron Knight
- Mana Affinity: Water Mark (D) [2 Runes]
- Favorability: 71 (Admiration)
Basic Abilities
- Health: D+
- Mana: D
- Body: D
- Strength: D+
- Agility: C-
Traits
- Iron Wall (C+)
- Separation Anxiety (D-) (↓)
Skills
- Water Swordsmanship (B-)
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‘Her stats indicate she’s a Mid-Tier 3rd class, soon to advance to High-tier, but I need to hurry and make her a 4th class knight.’
Water Swordsmanship, which used to be E- grade, had risen to B-. It was proof of her hard training. Now that she was at max level, she could advance her grade.
Kane moved his hand in the air.
“What are you doing now?”
“I’m making you stronger.”
A fist-sized magic circle floated and moved around.
“Just relax and don’t resist.”
Blata, who was at their feet, watched with sparkling eyes.
“Is this Kane’s authority?”
Kane, busy manipulating the hologram, didn’t hear Blata’s voice. Or maybe he just ignored it. Camilla did the same. She tensed up at the command to stay still.
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[Camilla Einrich’s 4-Star Promotion Requirements]
- Kane Rehinar’s 4-star fragment +1
- Kane’s 4-star weapon.
- Kane’s 3-star accessory
- Kane’s party member
Starting from the 4-star grade, there are specific promotion conditions. They were quite challenging, especially the 4-star weapon requirement. Kane lowered his hand, and the magic circle at Camilla’s feet disappeared.
“Camilla, where did you put the Frostblade we got from the first princess?”
“I left it in your room, young master. Didn’t you see it?”
“I didn’t need the weapon, so I didn’t pay attention. Go get it.”
“Yes! Just a moment.”
A short while later, Camilla returned carrying a long box.
“Here it is.”
She opened the lid of the box and took out the Frostblade. The blue blade gleamed beautifully. Kane lightly scratched his left palm with the blade.
“Y-Young Master…!”
Camilla was startled, but Kane didn’t mind.
“Stay quiet.”
Kane used his mana to smear his blood on the blade. A faint humming sound was heard, signaling the sword’s recognition of its new owner. The blood evaporated, and the blade looked pristine again.
Kane sheathed the Frostblade and handed it to Camilla.
“This is yours from now on.”
“No, I can’t. The first princess gave it to you. How can I take it?”
Camilla waved her hands, refusing the gift.
“I’m its owner now, so it’s my choice who I give it to. Take it.”
“…Even so.”
“My damn arm is getting tired.”
“Can I really accept it?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you…. I’ll treasure it.”
Camilla couldn’t hide her expression of joy as she received the Frostblade. It was a gift from her master, the second one already. Who else could say they received two gifts from the young master? The thought that she was the first filled her with happiness.
Kane also handed her a 3-star jewel. He removed the cloak clasp from her shoulder and placed the jewel in its place.
---
[Camilla has equipped a 3-star accessory.]
[Camilla Einrich’s critical hit rate has increased by 140%.]
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“Wow, my lord.”
Camilla was overwhelmed with emotion, her admiration for Kane growing even stronger due to his kindness.
---
[Camilla Einrich’s Favorability has increased by +1.]
[Camilla Einrich’s Favorability has increased by +1.]
[Camilla Einrich’s Favorability has increased by +1.]
---
Kane carefully reviewed the promotion requirements.
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Partner List (2/5)
- Iron Knight Camilla Einrich (3★)
- Red Reaper Mikhail Pervartz (4★)
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‘I’ve already registered them in the partner list.’
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[Camilla Einrich’s 4-Star Promotion Requirements]
- Kane Rehinar’s 4-star fragment +1
- Kane’s 4-star weapon
- Kane’s 3-star accessory
- Kane’s partner registration
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Only one thing remained: feeding his 4-star fragment to Camilla.
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[Do you want to use the 4-star fragment of Kane Rehinar for promotion? (Y/N)]
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Upon selecting YES, Camilla’s body was enveloped in light. Blata lay on the ground, covering his eyes with his front paws, but he couldn’t hide his amazement.
“Ooh! She’s glowing!”
---
[Camilla Einrich’s grade has been upgraded to 4 stars.]
[Water Mark (2 Runes) has evolved into Water Bond (3 Runes).]
[Reassessing all grades.]
[New trait ‘Iron Guard’ has been acquired.]
---
---
[Camilla Einrich (Lv.1)]
- Grade: ★★★★☆
- Profession: Iron Knight
- Mana Affinity: Water Bond (A-) [3 Runes]
- Favorability: 80 (Admiration)
---
Basic Abilities
- Health: C-
- Mana: C+
- Body: B-
- Strength: B
- Agility: C-
---
Traits
- Iron Wall (C+)
- Separation Anxiety (E) (↓)
- Iron Guard (A)
---
Skills
- Water Swordsmanship (B)
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[Iron Guard]
- Type: Trait
- Grade: A
- Description: Kane Rehinar is the reason she breathes. Protecting the duke from enemies is her only happiness.
- Effect: Assassination rate of the guarded target -60%
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‘She has risen to Beginner-Tier 4th-class in one go, and she acquired the ‘Iron Guard’ trait again.’
In her past life, this trait was the reason Camilla died, sacrificing herself for Kane. Although Separation Anxiety had lessened, it hadn’t completely disappeared. She was still like a ticking time bomb.
‘I’ll make her so strong that she’ll never have to die.’
In this life, he was determined to ensure Camilla never met that fate. He needed to become much stronger than he was as Ray, so she wouldn’t have to sacrifice herself.
“It’s time to level up rigorously again.”
Kane grabbed his Bloodsky Blade and headed to the garden. His destination was the western demon forest.
“Wait for me, Kane!”
Blata, the chubby tiger, waddled after Kane.
* * *
“Are you really not going to tell me where we’re going?” Camilla asked.
“I’m still thinking. We have quite a few hidden territories to choose from now,” Kane replied.
Despite the mention of a hidden territory, Camilla didn’t overreact. In the past, she might have, but not anymore. After all, Kane had faced down an army of thousands and even beheaded the Count of Dyer. Worrying about him was now an unnecessary act of overstepping her bounds.
They had ventured quite deep by now. Unlike the frontier, monsters began appearing one by one.
Ssshhng—Camilla drew the Frostblade.
“My lord, there are monsters,” she said.
“Leave them be. They won’t attack us,” Kane responded.
Just as he said, the mutated monsters only watched warily. Kane\'s aura was filled with bloodlust, and not just any bloodlust, but a deep, refined pure bloodlust.
Additionally, his mana contained dark mana, water mana, and fire mana. This combination made his presence highly repulsive to the mutated monsters.
Blata, holding onto Kane’s arm, taunted the monsters.
“What’s the matter? Lower your gaze! How dare such lowly beasts show their fangs before the great Vladimir Bu Pavil Legiler? Do you wish to die?”
“Sigh. I can’t think straight because of you,” Kane sighed, making Blata’s voice grow louder.
“See? We should just kill them. Look at them, still holding their heads high even after I threatened them.”
Blata clung tightly to Kane’s arm.
‘There’s something really suspicious about him. Is there something I don’t know? Or is this guy... just a bug?’ Kane pondered, deeply suspicious of Blata. He wondered if Blata was something that emerged from a new patch, similar to how Kane didn’t know the full story of Kane Rehinar, Blata might have been a derivative character. This was a reasonable suspicion.
As they wandered aimlessly, Kane sensed a familiar mana.
“Hmm... was someone training here?”
Kane quickened his pace, and the clashing sound of metal grew louder.
A woman with long, white hair was fighting a fire golem that stood about five meters tall.
“Lady Sara?!” Camilla’s eyes widened in surprise. Her gaze also shifted to the golem.
“Gasp! That’s a mid-boss level monster! Is she fighting it alone?!”
“She’ll be fine. Just watch,” Kane assured her.
[Lv.50 Sigmis]
A mid-tier 4th-class mutated monster.
“Anna’s been training her hard,” Kane noted.
Sara had grown significantly since he last saw her. She seemed to be getting stronger every month. Her current level was high-tier 3rd-class, and she was on the verge of surpassing even that.
Thanks to Anna’s rigorous training, Sara’s growth defied common sense.
“No wonder I struggled against her back then.”
Memories of the past resurfaced. Back then, Anna hadn’t been training Sara separately. The training had started late, and now it began much earlier than it did in the past.
With a proper mentor, Sara was making unprecedented progress. Anna Werner, known as the Ghost, was a great fortune for Sara. Perhaps even more beneficial than attending Rehinar Military Academy.
“Let’s see if she can ascend to 4th-class.”
Kane leaned against a tree, crossing his arms. Camilla kept watch, while Blata climbed onto Kane’s shoulder, cheering for Sara.
---
Boom!
The fire golem’s fist slammed into the ground, causing pillars of flame to rise.
They whirled for about three seconds before vanishing into the air. Despite its strong attack, the fire golem moved slowly. Sara seized the opportunity and lunged. Her dual swords glowed white as she unleashed her Hundred Twin Sword Technique. Water flowed along her blades as she repeatedly slashed at the fire golem’s legs.
Fssshh!
Steam rose from the golem’s legs, the fire extinguished by Sara’s water-infused attacks. Her assault was gradually taking effect. As the golem moved its other arm, Sara swiftly retreated and crossed her swords in an X, sending a water slash forward.
Crash!
The water slash extinguished the raging flames, but only temporarily.
“This isn’t enough,” Sara muttered.
The fire golem’s rage only intensified, its flames burning even hotter. Trees nearby caught fire, spreading quickly. The heat forced the mutated monsters lurking around to reveal themselves. Anna shook her head at the sight.
“With uncertain attacks, you only expose yourself to danger,” she remarked.
Sara bit her lip. She needed to end this quickly, or she’d be surrounded by mutated monsters. She pushed her mana to the extreme, readying herself for a decisive strike.
[The weak point of Sigmis is surprisingly simple: there’s a flame mana core located on its back.]
‘Brother?’ Sara heard Kane’s voice.
Following his advice, she moved behind Sigmis. However, the golem’s actions sped up significantly, making it harder for her to see the core.
‘The core isn’t visible at all.’
[Watch for when Sigmis expels flames.]
The fire golem’s flames were released at regular intervals. Each time a red streak glimmered between the rocks, flames would burst out.
‘The core is exposed when it uses flame attack.’
Sara quickly understood Kane’s instructions and devised a strategy. Letting her dual swords dangle, she walked toward Sigmis. Anna watched Sara’s movements with keen interest.
As Sara approached, Sigmis predictably swung its fist at her. This time, Sara didn’t dodge. Just as the golem’s fist was about to make contact, a water shield enveloped Sara. It was a temporary barrier triggered by the protective gem Kane had given her, detecting its owner’s peril and activating automatically.
This created a brief opening. Thanks to Sigmis’s attack, Sara had a fleeting chance. Seizing the moment, she moved behind the golem and thrust her dual swords into the exposed mana core.
Thunk!
As the mana core shattered, freezing Sigmis in it’s place..