Chapter 19: Hiat the Lucky

"Well now, an adventurer aspiring to be a Dragon Knight, dragging back another beauty today? Don't tell me you're planning to form a whole order of knights?"

At the entrance of Seria's Inn, Tana sat basking in the sunlight, her tone playful as she cast a slightly displeased look at Yelin upon his return.

Coming back with a new person every single day—if his own strength weren't steadily increasing, she would have started to wonder if he was actually out adventuring or just picking up girls.

"This is Kera, the mage who went mad. We can use her to find Pinosia, and then find the damaged magic circle."

Yelin reached out and pulled a "Letter Full of Affection" from his pocket, placing it into Tana's hands to soothe her restless heart and solidify his status as a future Dragon Knight.

The "Letter Full of Affection" was merely a common love letter item; it had no special effects, and the ability to instantly increase favorability simply did not exist.

When given to Tana or Seria, both would blush slightly and act shy.

He had even tested it on Hyatte earlier, but she had bluntly remarked that a greatsword would be much more practical than a love letter.

"What about Seria? See if she has a way to stop Kera from losing her mind."

"She’s on the roof. I'll go call her."

Realizing it was a serious matter, Tana shed her playful smirk. She helped lay Kera onto the bed and summoned Seria.

"Such a poor soul. Has she been wandering the Forest of Grandis ever since the great fire?"

Seria’s voice was filled with gentle sympathy. She placed her hands on Kera’s forehead, and a faint green glow began to radiate from them.

Although Yelin knew this was healing magic, he couldn't help but have a subtle sense of déjà vu... Kera’s head was glowing green!

"Try feeding her a 'Sparkling World Toy.' It's a consumable that can clear all abnormal status effects."

"Okay."

Once Seria finished the healing, Tana slammed her palm onto the side of the bed, and several cyan chains bound the still-unconscious Kera tightly.

"Even if she has the strength of an Awakened one, she won't be able to escape my bindings now. Rest easy and wait for her to wake up."

Hyatte, standing to the side, asked, "If—and I mean if—Kera doesn't wake up, what then?"

"The probability is low. She understood my words, which means some shred of rationality still exists. Combined with Seria's healing, it shouldn't be a problem."

Yelin glanced at Kera once more, then pointed toward the door, in the direction of Linus's blacksmith shop. "Let's go. Time to finish the mission—and get your weapon."

"Oh, right, right! The Hidden Dragon Greatsword!"

Beside the furnace in the blacksmith shop, Linus was meticulously wiping down a silver-white greatsword with a soft cloth, his eyes filled with a deep sense of nostalgia.

When he saw Yelin and Hyatte return safely at his door—and even bring back Frost Kera—he understood that the Venomous Cat King must have met its end.

"This sword might not stay with you for long, but I hope that as long as it is by your side, you will cherish it well."

Linus didn't even glance at the corpse of the Venomous Cat King at his feet. He gripped the hilt and swung the blade a few times, as if recalling his own days of adventure, a faint smile touching his lips.

"Of course. Weapons are meant to be used. Rather than just cherishing it, I hope you don't let its potential go to waste!"

"Hyatte! Can you do it?"

"I can!"

This was a sacred rite of passage from elder to successor. Linus raised the weapon slowly, and Hyatte received the heavy greatsword with reverence.

The ceremony was simple, yet it represented a transmission of spirit.

"You have mastered Sword Mastery, a skill originating from a mysterious Sword God. Although it differs from the renowned Ghost Sword Arts, there are common threads in their vocational mysteries."

"If you want to cross that threshold and become an Awakened one, I recommend you study the mysteries of the Ultimate Ghost Sword Arts and realize your own Ultimate Sword Mastery!"

Linus’s expression was solemn and grave. He had once touched the threshold of Awakening himself and was a good friend of the Sword Saint Aganzo, making him fully qualified to offer guidance to Hyatte, who was also walking the path of the sword.

"But where am I supposed to find a Sword Saint of Awakened rank?"

Hyatte was troubled. She possessed all the techniques of Sword Mastery, but crossing the threshold of Awakening was something she had to realize on her own.

"Yelin here—he is limited by not having a Ghost Hand, so he can only practice standard sword arts. You two could perfectly complement each other in your training."

"Him? He’s not even a professional..."

Hyatte rolled her eyes. A man who had barely mastered the basics of swordsmanship was going to teach her the mysteries of Awakening?

"Not now, perhaps. But in the future... who can say?"

Linus smiled mysteriously. Every time Yelin returned from the Forest of Grandis, he was a little stronger; it was truly incredible.

Hyatte still had a long way to go before Awakening. By the time she reached that threshold, what level would Yelin’s strength have reached?

"The future? He’s an unprincipled beast. For all I know, I might just chop him down tomorrow. What future is there to speak of? Hmph!"

She remained noncommittal toward Linus’s perspective. After bowing to thank him for the Hidden Dragon Greatsword and the sword art guidance, she stepped out of the shop and saw Yelin practicing his sword techniques in the open space.

Though they were only basic sword techniques, he performed them with precision, mixed with a hint of his own wild, predatory style.

"Wait, why do I feel like he’s stronger than he was that afternoon at the Thunder Ruins..."

***

[The Fifth Element]: All elements other than Ice, Fire, Light, and Darkness are known as the Fifth Element!

This was a new skill Yelin gained after reaching Level 10. In other words, he could now perform basic manipulations of plants, earth, gale, metal, and other such elements.

"I don't seem to have gained the recognition of the Hidden Dragon Greatsword yet. I can't draw out its power."

Hyatte swung the blade through the air a few times to get a feel for it. Her initial excitement was instantly dampened by a bucket of ice water; having the equipment but being unable to use it was far too disappointing.

"That's because your strength isn't quite there yet. As it happens, I have a gift for you. Let's head back to the inn first."

Her level was likely around thirty-five, while the Hidden Dragon Greatsword was a Level 40 Artifact. This meant that, to her, the blade was currently just a piece of metal without magical amplification.

"This box is called Seria's Fortune. Three bucks each—er, no, five hundred gold coins each."

Yelin tapped the box on the table and explained its properties to Hyatte. "You get one to three special items at random, including the cakes and juices I gave you. There is also something called a [Contract of the Overlord] inside. Once signed, it temporarily grants the ability to use high-level equipment."

"Five hundred gold coins is a bit expensive. If it can control weapons, is this 'Overlord' a Sword God?"

"More or less, that's the idea. But the items are random; you'll get the contract if you open enough."

Yelin pulled out five boxes for her to use. The [Contract of the Overlord] was a notorious product, and its equivalent for learning high-level skills, the [Contract of the Master], was also a frequent guest in these boxes—items that made countless adventurers gnash their teeth in frustration.

"I'll try it. Hmm? What's this?"

Hyatte pulled a strange gray sheet of paper from the first box, covered in odd symbols and lines, with a faint trace of magic rippling across it.

[+10 Equipment Reinforcement Ticket]: Use to reinforce equipment to +10.

"Huh?"

Yelin took the ticket, momentarily speechless. A hit on the first try? Was she really that lucky?

"And what’s this?"

Hyatte held a golden sheet of paper, from which an extraordinary aura faintly radiated.

[+10 Golden Equipment Amplification Ticket]: Use to have a 30% chance to amplify equipment imbued with special energy to +10.

"What about the contract? What are all these things!"

Hyatte was slightly dissatisfied. From the third box, she pulled out a fist-sized transparent orb and tossed it to the stunned Yelin.

[Common Strength Enchantment Orb]: When touched to a weapon, the weapon gains an additional attribute: Strength +20.

"Yelin, are you lying to me? You said there were three items in the box, but these are all just one each?"

[Equipment Repair Device]: After placing equipment inside, it can fully repair the item, restoring its durability to the maximum.