I really underestimated Sensei's product.

Contrary to my expectations, I had to wait up to an hour before I could get any sort of mobility back, by which time my penalty timer had gone down to only [2] hours.

At this point, I'd spent enough time in the system's store to familiarise myself with all the shiny new goods.

Sensei was really trying to bleed me dry.

The system had so many new skills and items, and there were even detailed descriptions under some of them, which was completely unprecedented.

--------------

[Elixir of Truth]: Contains the feather of a creature known for its transparency and candour.

Effect: A single bottle will compel the user to embody the same honesty as the creature for the duration of 3 hours.

Limit: It will result in hysteria if used in excess.

Latent Effect: It will permanently increase the user's candour by 4% for every bottle.

--------------

[Sensei's Brew [Improved]]: A unique potion swirling with potentially dangerous undetermined magic.

Effect: It will temporarily increase all of the user's stats by 500% for 8 minutes.

Limit: Possibly deadly side effects which vary across specimens – limited consumption is advised.

Latent Effect: It will permanently increase the user's stats by up to 30% for every bottle.

--------------

[Tonic of Disillusion]: Contains the rendered heart of a creature known for its beguiling appearance.

Effect: It will temporarily allow the user to transform into any form of their choosing for 2 hours.

Limit: Transformation only occurs if the form already exists in nature.

Latent Effect: It will permanently increase the user's charm by 10% for every bottle.

--------------

I read them all enthusiastically as I tried to come to a decision.

«What do you think? Do you have any questions?» Sensei asked, like a salesman eager to sell his merchandise.

His enthusiasm only made me frown at yet another underhanded form of trickery.

While these new skills and items were interesting, there was no telling if they would complement my existing attributes, so I didn't purchase any yet.

But the real issue was that this scammer of a system thought he was fooling me.

Wasn't all this a tempting trap laid bare for this snake to fall into?

«Why do you keep glaring at the items?» Sensei innocently asked. «If you want them, stop acting shy and buy them.»

I really wanted to strangle him.

Why else would he bring so many new skills and items, if not to corner me into getting more while my situation was precarious.

Having more skills from the system only meant I had more things to hold me hostage during my penalty when they all reverted back to the source. With the elf girl and her mystery journal nowhere to be found, my current quest was as good as failed.

Because of this, I stubbornly refused to grant him access to my XP, however tempting everything looked.

«Why are you so hesitant?» Sensei asked, as if he didn't know.

I scowled at his casual manner. "What's the catch?"

Sensei chuckled. «No catch.»

Was I meant to accept this was all out of his goodwill?

«What are you suspicious about?»

"Did you have an improved version of your [Sensei's Brew] the whole time?"

I hadn't forgiven him for poisoning me with a flawed potion whose side effects made me feel ill. I was still somewhat drained, so for him to increase the price for that same flawed potion was like a slap in the face.

The nerve of him!

«No. I only adjusted its efficiency because I found it lacking.»

Hmph! I didn't believe him.

When I didn't reply, Sensei tutted. «The potion was the easiest way out of there. We wouldn't have had to use it if you didn't get careless and let yourself get stabbed.»

"It wasn't like I planned to!"

«Doesn't matter.» Sensei gave an exasperated sigh. «And there's no catch. You probably haven't noticed it yet, so check your full stats.»

I regarded his words with suspicion.

What was there to see that I hadn't already?

Still, I checked them anyway.

----------------------------

Name: Aurelia [LV26 Small Cerastes]

Specie: Cerastes Vipera

HP: 580/710 Defence: 525

MP: 600/600 Intellect: 450

SP: 510/680 Magic: 630

Attack: 725 Agility: 620

----------------------------

Skills:

[Rugged Scales:LV10] [Rapid Strike:LV10]

[Venom Rain: LV5] [Grip:LV10] [Leap:LV10]

[Heat Sense: LV10] [Heat Sphere: LV9]

[Stealth: LV10] [Poison Synthesis: LV9]

[Shadow Shroud: LV10] [Scent: LV10]

[Buoyancy: LV10] [Steel Skin: LV10]

[Heat Seeker: LV9] [Silence: LV10]

[Poison Fang: LV10] [Bite: LV10]

[Detox: LV8] [Overeating: LV4]

[Deadly Poison Attack: LV8]

----------------------------

Titles:

[Apostle] [Coldblooded] [Mistress of Chaos]

[Commander] [Hero] [Trickster] [Merciless]

[Monster Slaughterer]

----------------------------

Unique Skills:

[Devour] |Not Available|

[Area of Authority]

----------------------------

Magic Skills:

[Poison Magic: LV8] [Shadow Magic: LV9]

[Poison Manipulation: LV8] [Shadow Manipulation: LV8]

[Darkness Manipulation: LV4] [Darkness Magic: LV1]

----------------------------

Pit Members: [5286]

----------------------------

Resistances:

[Paralysis Resistance: LV7] [Mental Warfare: LV7]

[Impact Resistance: LV10] [Dark Resistance: LV8]

[Cutting Resistance: LV10] [Wind Resistance: LV10]

[Poison Resistance: LV10] [Heat Resistance: LV8]

[Pain Resistance: LV10] [Faint Resistance: LV8]

[Shock Resistance: LV10] [Pain Mitigation: LV7]

[Rot Resistance: LV2]

----------------------------

Experience Points: [6500]

----------------------------

Woah, I'd levelled up so much!

If only I wasn't in a penalty, the true value of my [Defence] and [Agility] would show.

But what else had changed?

My eyes settled on the new row with an exaggerated value of [5286].

My pit grew so big already?

While I was pleasantly surprised, I wasn't fooling myself into thinking they were entirely mine – most of the numbers were made up of the Nymph and the forest of spirits under her.

But why did Sensei bring this to my attention?

«If you want to keep them, you need to be stronger than you currently are.» Sensei intoned with meaning.

Keep them?

Had he forgotten the alliance with the Nymph was only a temporary measure, so she could watch over my nestlings, until I finished her task? I never even considered truly merging them into the pit due to many uncertain factors and very possible backlash.

Just what was he thinking about?

"But I don't intend to keep them." I replied, partly in shock at him even suggesting it.

How could I manage so many creatures? My original Pit wasn't even a quarter of those numbers and I was having all sorts of troubles with them.

Thinking of ruling them all would just be the wildest of the wild dream.

«Then you're more simple-minded than I thought.» Sensei's words held a hint of disappointment.

«Do you think she, as the Queen Mother of all Veladrys just agreed to babysit your nestlings because you struck a deal? The Nymph is an intelligent creature who is much more shrewd than you, she had no reason to give in to your wishes.»

I was more than a little confused. Was he saying she tricked me?

But how could she, when the numbers were right there. She was clearly part of my [Pit] now.

Sensei sighed when he saw my puzzled expression. «She obviously wants something from you.»

"Yeah…she wants me to find her dau-"

«Don't be naïve.» Sensei cut me off.

His words made me more anxious than I wanted to be. From what I remember, the Nymph was happy when I asked her to join my [Pit], albeit reluctant and amused by my brazenness.

I did not think of her as calculating, perhaps because of what she'd shared about her daughter and the forlorn emotion I'd glimpsed in her eyes.

To me, she seemed rather lonely even while surrounded by so many spirits, like none of them could relate to her. It was only after she agreed to join my [Pit] that I glimpsed a genuine excitement in her eyes.

Was I being naïve by taking her at face value?

"I can't think of anything she would want from me." I said to Sensei. "Even if it's just a trick, I can kick her out of my [Pit] if she tries anything."

Sensei sighed. «As it stands, I don't think she will let you rescind your position as leader, until she decides she wants it back. I can't figure out her reason for agreeing to your request, but it's very likely she is using you for something.»

«You'll just have to figure it out yourself. Hopefully sooner rather than later.» he added ominously.

I frowned.

All this talk of ulterior motives was ruining my mood and making me deeply uncomfortable.

I kept recalling the Nymph's innocent smile and pretty red eyes as she agreed to join my [Pit]. I genuinely thought we were forming a friendship then, and I felt a little disheartened by the thought of it all being a ploy.

If the Nymph was lying, why did she look so happy then?

Was Sensei really right about her? But I thought he liked her.

«Stop thinking so fondly about your enemy, you naïve girl!» Sensei snapped at me, abruptly bursting the friendship bubble that I pictured in my head.

"But you let me go through with it." I argued back at him. "If you thought she was tricking me, why didn't you say anything?"

«I thought you were planning to trick her into agreeing and then subdue her with [Coercion] after the fact. I didn't expect you to fall so deeply for her charm and not even consider it. Why are you so hopelessly honest?»

"I wasn't charmed!" I refuted him, but I felt so flustered and couldn't argue back.

I kept picturing the nymph's excited face...with her dazzling red eyes and sweet smile and...

Aah, hell. Was he right?

Maybe the Nymph's kiss had started affecting my mind already!

«Stop making excuses and get the skills you need to protect yourself.» Sensei grumbled. «It's a good thing you've improved a little since then, she shouldn't be able to charm you so easily anymore.»

He sounded more than a little irritated and if I didn't know any better, I would think he was upset with the Nymph, but there was no way that was possible.

"Alright, fine." I grumbled.

With that, I called up the system's store to see what effects the new skills had.