Chapter 13: Sick Days
Holy shit good morning, I roll out of bed tiredly shambling into the bathroom. Man fighting the reanimated corpse of an ancient king will really have you sore in the morning. It was while I was getting my morning itches out of the way I caught sight of myself in the mirror.
CHA: 150
"Holy fuck… I'm gorgeous." And I am my hair is longer, fuller, and cleaner looking than ever before. My skin was still pale as fuck but it almost has an ethereal shine to it. I look like a fucking elf from the lord of the rings movies. My features hidden by sickness before shine through now sharp aristocratic lines to my face and jawline. My shoulders are broad and casting off the shirt I slept in shows me the carved pure white marble that makes up my muscles. I'm strong looking but fitting in with the whole elf-like theme I'm not bulky. But my musing was broken by a thought.
"There is no fucking way no one's gonna notice this bullshit. I went from the village leper to Dracula from Hellsing Ultimate's hot younger brother." Getting my shower in I worked through some plausible reasons for my change. When that inevitably failed I decided my next best decision would be to take a few days away from the public two no three weeks… yeah that schools work. Changing into some comfortable clothes… that were a bit tighter on me now I make my way to where I feel Kaija's presence. What I find is… interesting. Kaija, my precious vampire assistant/things I'm evaluating right now is currently trying her best to prepare me a meal. Which one I have to emphasize trying and two have to remind myself that she can't eat and quite possibly never learned how to before becoming a vampire. I had better pick up some cookbooks for her since she really seems to be playing into her Grayfia syndrome as I call it. Said syndrome being where an increasingly powerful being/creature is stricken with the uncontrollable urge to dress and act like a maid. My only wonder is how she was infected with it without even meeting the woman for which it's named...
Moving on Kaija soon notices my presence. I'm not gonna lie I tensed up. After all every time my appearance has changed she's made a wall decoration out of me. But instead I get a bright and (ironically) sunny smile.
"Good morning master. Please take a seat. I'll have breakfast ready for you in a moment."
Obviously I'm going to die today. Joking aside I sit down and prepare my best acting skills for what's to come. A short while spent twiddling my thumbs later and a plate of… eggs?... is placed before me. The coffee smells wonderful… wait where is it? My eyes drift in slow mounting horror to the pile of eggs that smells like fresh coffee. Wondering where Aris is going to send me next I cut into the meal slowly bringing it to my mouth.
'Don't die... don't die… please don't die.'
Honestly… it doesn't taste that bad. Don't get me wrong it's awful a real abomination against good cooking but other than that it's pretty… edible. Giving the hard working vamp a big smile.
"My compliments to the chef." The little dance she breaks into makes all of this worth it. Quickly scarfing down the rest while she's celebrating I make a strong mental note to get her some cookbooks. "Kaija as I'm sure you've noticed I've undergone some… changes. That being as it is, me going back to school would raise too many questions. So today I want you to call the school and inform them that I've taken a very sudden and important trip. If pressed, inform them that I've gone to Germany for special treatment and rehabilitation for my sickness. Once you've finished with that I'm going to have a list of items I want you to go pick up." I get a nod as a very serious look finds its way onto her face.
"I won't let you down. You can put your faith in me master." With that she sets off to make the necessary arrangements. While she's on that I return to my room grabbing a pen and a notebook from my desk. Let's see first crafting materials first glass jars for me to turn into [Soulflasks], next I'm going to need materials to level my crafting. Better go with some gold wire, simple stones but not jems though to low level not to waste them. I can level my skill by making some very basic gifts. That way I can also raise some affection levels. Taking another thirty or so minutes I've got everything down. Tearing out the page I start drawing some jewelry designs for when I have everything.
Name: William Morgan
Race: Human
Level: 21 (0%)
HP: 1070
MP: 2190
STR: 50
END: 57
DEX: 57
INT: 112
WIS: 107
CHA: 150
LCK: 70
Points: 66
I can't tell if I'm good yet or not. I mean sure with my mastery of necromancy I've got at least one path to beat Raiser. Yes I could just not but my reasoning for doing so is twofold; one it gets me in the good graces of one of the Saitans, and two it gets me a very big favor from Rias which is useful not to mention the unpredictable affect that would have on her affection for me. Honestly the girl's slothfulness will be her downfall. After that I'll focus on proving myself too valuable to kill to the fallen angels. As I finish that thought Kaija enters the room.
"Alright master the necessary calls have been made." Giving her a nod I hold the list out to her along with the Diamond Card.
"Good, be careful while you're out and don't forget your ring." This earns me a giggle from the vampire maid.
"I could never forget the ring you made for me master. I'll endeavor to gather the required items as quickly as possible." Rolling my eyes at her earlier statement I give her a firm nod.
"Good luck Kaija." With a little bow she scurries off to get me my crafting materials.
Alright if I'm taking a week off of school to "recover" from my treatment I can't be seen. I don't even think three weeks will assuage all of the confusion over just how much I've changed. Hmm, focusing on my connection with Raynare I press a heavy urge to see me onto her. My efforts were rewarded a few moments later when my doorbell rings. When I open it I'm met by the sight of a panting Raynare. In hindsight maybe just the thought of 'oh I should drop by today might be for the best. Her face when she processed my changes however… priceless.
Name: Raynare
[Affection:63%] For love at first site.
"I… How? You… What?" Was her eloquent response as a surprisingly heavy blush makes its way onto her face. This is the same chick that iced Issei straight cold blooded right? Then again Issei is really easy to hate.
"I see you like the renovations I've done to William's body. Come in, we have a bit to discuss." I get a dumb nod as she follows me to the living room. "I need a favor, Raynare… a rather big one." This got her attention as she sat up straighter her curiosity peaked.
"Is something wrong?" She asked in more than a little worry.
"No, no it's about you not murdering Issei." I get a head tilt at that. "... I want you to kidnap him and another Kuoh student so I can murder them." The look of utter shock and confusion is more than clearly evident on her face.
"But I thought you said that would be a bad thing?" Which was a fair question.
"Yes but not the way I'm going to do it. I've researched a way to use my powers to remove sacred gears. I intend to give Issei's gear to Azazel as a gift. Saji's on the other hand I'll be keeping in reserve."
"I didn't even know there was another human in the school with a sacred gear."
"Be that as it may… can I trust you with this task? My friends in this universe are ever so few and far between." My words earn me a slight blush.
Name: Raynare
[Affection:68%] For your faith in her.
"O-Of course, I'll have them for you as soon as possible." With that Raynare disappeared in her usual flurry of feathers.
I spent the next few hours sitting around, thinking mostly. Kaija's been back for around thirty minutes. I asked for some privacy while I sat at my desk. The list of things included a small propane burner, a ceramic bowl, some wire cutters, a few feet of gold chain, a large spool of gold and silver wire along with a small collection of semi-precious stones. First task, gifts for the kendo club. I was thinking bracelets with a few charms hanging from them, the primary ones being a silver and gold shinai, and a silver disk with two crossed bokken in the middle with "Death to pervs" written around the outside. For the captains I was making a necklace each with a small semi-precious gemstone clear quartz and opal glass both cut into a simple round brilliant cut. I'm not gonna lie, it took me more than a few days to get it done. I was in the third day of my second "week off" when I finally dropped the second finished necklace to the table. The hardest part is hiding the self-repair enchantments without ruining the gems.
Crafting/Enchanting: (lvl 35/100) Assembling objects from gathered resources from campfires to starfighters (With the necessary schematics/Research of course.)
Worst part is that it was just the kendo club I had finished. I still want to make something for Rias and the ladies of her peerage… need to think of something for Kiba, maybe a locket no… I doubt he has any pictures of his friends from the Holy Sword project. A ceremonial dagger… hmm maybe. Maybe I could offer him the soul of that dick-bag Valper in a jar. Oh right I still need to get those made. I should send Kaija out for some woodworking basics and some varnish. Hmm ooh a bowie-knife could be nice hand made if I had an actual forge I'd make it out of tungsten-steel alloy. No to that for now. Ring? No… don't want those kinds of rumors to spread about me… Maybe a heraldic seal? I'd need to remember the seal of Gremory perfectly for that so no. Hmm… right then nothing for him for now.
Four days after that bringing an end to my second week off I've got my crafting done for now.
Crafting/Enchanting: (lvl 47/100) Assembling objects from gathered resources from campfires to starfighters (With the necessary schematics/Research of course.)
It was definitely much easier this time around. For Rias a simple necklace set with an opel that matches the color of her eyes. For Koneko a bracelet with a lot of various sweets as charms. Finally for Akeno the peace de resistance of this crafting cavalcade. For her I made a necklace with four small raven feathers carved from onix hanging in twos on either sides of a rhodolite cut into an oval set in silver. But the jewelry itself wasn't what made them special it's the enchantments some of the most intricate this body's been able to manage self-repair, a few lesser resistance to poison, fire, and ice, some very well hidden tracking and spying charms, and finally an alarm enchantment that can be used to call other items with the same enchantment that the item's been synced with. Packing everything away making sure to keep the stuff going to the kendo club and the stuff going to Rias' peerage separate I put them into my criminally underused inventory.
Things went smoothly from there mostly just studying and waiting. It's interesting I've come to find that raising my intelligence score doesn't actually make me know more. It just makes me better at processing and storing information. In conjunction with that raising my wisdom helps me refine said information into something more usable for me. So I've taken to reading… a lot.
It was three days until I was set to return when Raynare contacted me. Well contacted is a strong word… more like appeared in my bedroom in the middle of the night carrying to unconscious idiots.
Issei Hyoudou
Race: Human
Lvl: 15
HP: 450/450
MP: locked
Saji Genshirou
Race: Human
Lvl: 18
HP: 500/500
MP: locked
Good I was worried Sona might have gotten her hands on him. I wonder if my arrival and subsequent disappearance had anything to do with recruiting him taking a back burner. I wonder if that means she wants me to take his place in her peerage. Meh, now then time to fix some very poorly placed superpowers.
Opening up the sacrifice menu let's free up some mana.
Name: William Morgan
HP: 1/1
MP: 20467/0
'That should be enough for both of them right? Without killing them?'
*Yes that should be just enough to remove both without killing them with a small amount left over.*
'Let's do this then.'
"Good , thank you Raynare. Place them on my bed. I have a spell to weave." As I say that a very complex runic array appears in front of me in the usual green fire. Once they're in place the spell gets to work two long tendrils emanate from the center of the spell reaching into their chests. Everything was going fine until I wrapped them around the gears. I felt agony race into my body, this most likely being the toll for using sacrifice for this as I feel myself weaken dramatically. I even hacked up a little blood… that's going to stain. But soon after that I felt the gears start to move my mana flowing into the void left to heal their souls. I want them alive, who knows I might get some reality altering power and turn them into chicks just to further spit on cannon. That would be neat anyway back to the ritual. As their souls were healed their connection to the gears was severed they came much easier slowly two perfectly smooth ovular gems rose from their chests gliding through the air and into my hands. When the magic left me I collapsed leaning against the wall while sitting on the floor. Taking the shocked look on Raynare's face in stride I quickly move on to what I need her to do.
"Raynare, I need you to take them home, they should be none the wiser. Make sure you keep up the act of following Kokabiel's act… I need rest." She didn't even speak; she was too shocked to question me right now as she picks them up and disappears in her usual flurry of feathers. I quickly put the Boosted Gear and Absorption Line into my inventory and pass out there on the floor.
Alright… waking up with fresh clothes in bed… neat. I'll give you one guess who's cuddling me when I wake up. Squeezing her close in a hug for a moment before getting up.
Name: William Morgan
HP: 1/1
MP: 467/0
[Locked for: 4:59:36]
Ah, yes that little issue. Glad I didn't do this at the last minute… let's just hope no one sneezes on me. Hmm.
Create/Exit Instant Dungeon (57/100): Create and exit custom IDs. Levels dictate the size and quality of ID/enemies. (Dungeons: Cursed Sands(I/II)/Goblin Realm/Hot Gates/The Second Tower/Empty| Time Dilation: 0 to 1 min = 1 day)
'Hmm? Aris what's the two mean for Cursed Sands?'
*Glad you noticed! Each dungeon has several stages you can unlock. What you completed was part one of the Cursed Sands dungeon called Arrival. You've now unlocked the second part Foothold. There are six more parts based on a free form storyline in Nehekhara.*
'Das dope is the first one of every dungeon called Arrival?'
*More or less. One's called Breach another later down the line is called Escape.*
'Oooh ominous. Thanks Aris.'
*Noooo problem.*
Alright… time for something crazy.
'The second tower… is that where I think it is.'
*Yes, the tower of Orthanc in the valley of Nan Curunír at the end of the Misty Mountains on the continent of Middle Earth. It's a single section dungeon that acts as an unlocker for a special start when you eventually travel to Middle Earth.*
'Darling stop I can only get so erect!'
*What ar-*
[ID Create| The Second Tower| 1 minute = 10 minutes]
I'm immediately smacked with the sucked through a hose feeling. When my feet hit the ground I'm there. I stand now at the entrance of the valley that holds Isengard; and it is beautiful… I want it.
*Are you actually stupid? You have one one ONE health!*
Temporarily ignoring my godly conscience I turn around. Away from the gap I can see everything all the way to the fords of Isen. I notice everything beyond that it shrouded in a fog thick enough to be smoke.
'Don't worry Aris. I have a cunning plan.'
*...I'll get a new save ready.*
'So I'm on Iron-man mode… fair enough.'
Even if my health and mana of five-alarm garbage right now I still have all of my stats. Sneaking around to the best of my ability I come across a group of orcs moving through the trees ropes and axes in hand. A lumber gathering party. I use [Observe] on one of them.
Name: Rogikk 'ard'ead
Race: Orc (Misty Mountains)
Lvl: 18
HP: 390/390
MP: locked
STR: 26
END: 13
DEX: 11
INT: 5
WIS: 5
CHA: -15
LUK: 1
That sucks man, the strength's nice for you I guess. Taking a look around confirms it high strength average for the physical stats and fuck all for the rest. It's like these guys are made just smart enough to speak and take orders… oh, I guess that's the point. These names are the shit though Gurrik Gut-spiller, Hurgras the Maimed, Mog and his identical twin Tog, and none can forget Hilgrish Fire-waister the Shadow of War name generator is strong with these ones. But I need to move on, slipping away unnoticed. I sneak closer to the outer walls of Orthanc when I come across my first Uruk-hai.
Name: Bulgrath the scout
Lvl: 18
HP: 390/390
MP: locked
STR: 25
END: 30
DEX: 19
INT: 14
WIS: 9
CHA: -5
LUK: 10
Yeah that's something you don't want to see marching towards you in the hundreds. Equipping my armor I can't help but wonder if they'll mistake me for a Nazghul. A guy can dream right.
*Ping*
Skill created: Stealth
Stealth: (lvl: 1/10) Your ability to move and act undirected.
'Why did it take this long to get that.?'
*Because you just passed your first stealth check.*
'Oh… that's good then… better just max that out.'
{Shop}
(1 redeemable free item)
Skills:
[Random Skill] 2p
[Specific Skill] 4p
[Level Skill] 1p to 1 level
Stats:
[+5 Select Stat] 1p
[+10 Random Stat] 1p
Spells:
[Random Spell] 2p
[Select Spell] 4p
[Random Grimoire] 12p
[Select Grimoire] 14p
Companions:
[Select Companion] 8p
[Random (select universe) companion] 6p
[Random Companion] 4p
Name: William Morgan
Race: Human
Level: 21 (0%)
HP: 1/1
MP: 467/0
[Locked for: 4:28:52]
STR: 50
END: 57
DEX: 57
INT: 112
WIS: 107
CHA: 150
LCK: 70
Points: 66 57
Skills:
Observe: (lvl 46/100)Gives you an intermediate readout of your target and how they presently feel about you.
Crafting/Enchanting: (lvl 1/100) Assembling objects from gathered resources from campfires to starfighters (With the necessary schematics/Research of course.)
Necromancy: [Grimoires [The Liber Mortis 21/21, The Kroveri Hæma 12/21, The Liber Animas 16/21, The Promæn Caro 21/21, and The Reunu Pertemru 16/16] 100/100] {Slots:25/43}
4x Lesser Lich
{Lesser Lich Arrik
({Slots:20/20}
200x skeletons)
Lesser Lich Filrakk
({Slots:20/20}
200x skeletons)
Lesser Lich Arnak
({Slots:20/20}
200x skeletons)
Lesser Liches Safroth
({Slots:20/20}
200x skeletons)}
2x Zombie Giants
9x Death Knights
100x Skeletons
Create/Exit Instant Dungeon (57/100): Create and exit custom IDs. Levels dictate the size and quality of ID/enemies. (Dungeons: Cursed Sands(I/II)/Goblin Realm/Hot Gates/The Second Tower/Empty| Time Dilation: 0 to 1 min = 1 day)
Swordsmanship: You capacity to wield a sword split into various styles.
Style: Sword and Dagger lvl 10/10
Stealth: (lvl: 10/10) Your ability to move and act undirected. You could only be caught if you were trying to be. (Undetectable for anything up to 300 lvls higher than you.)
Titles:
Tragic Prince: Cancels out all negative relationship penalties with Kuoh staff and students. Adds the hated relationship to all three members of the Pervert Trio.
Dungeon Delver: 20% bonus XP from dungeons
Master of the Sands: All sand base magic has a 50% discount to mana costs. Additionally all other spells from The Reunu Pertemru have a 20% mana discount.
Man buying skill levels is broken… meh time to lay low until I can survive being sneezed on.
{[(I know cliffhanger grab the pitchforks but in all seriousness thanks for the continued support keep it up. Remember I love those comments and messages keep 'em coming. Keep on keeping on and live long and prosper.)]}