Among that truth, he had hidden one lie. He did not mark Nadiem, he couldn't. But the threat was conveyed clear enough. Would an Idler such as Nadiem dare to test it?

The party ended and the guests returned with a belly full enough to burst and lots of meat as a souvenir. The Irvings were exhausted, they went to sleep very early.

“Thank you for doing this, young Avel. I can see the eyes of the villagers looking at me more positively. We’ll meet again another day, have a good rest.” Shlomo said before he returned to his home.

As for himself, Viers did his first step of Serpentes Renovamen then rested on his straw bed. While waiting until he fell asleep, he inspected the thing he got from Sigma.

So this is my harvest… sigh.

After days of exploring the broken system, Viers tried to salvage what he could. Most of the system’s features were unavailable to him. He found one that was still relatively intact, making guns. Since the system was 80% broken, he needed to supply the materials and the ammo. The original material was something else but Viers found a working replacement. He could use souls to create guns that use souls as bullets but he was hesitating.

I killed Sigma cause he used guns like an idiot. Now I have to use guns too? Well guns are cool but aren't the setting very out of place here? What should I do…

Truly, dealing with Sigma was a messy business. He didn't even gain much from it. But what other choice did he have? Let Sigma strut around the world like a peacock? Simply watching him as he created harems and changed the geopolitical power balance in the world using his railgun?

In the end, Viers blamed fate, god, system, or whatever that put Sigma in his path.

Viers slept with a sour mood.

***

White Flowers Meadow.

V-stream had gone dark. The girls also started to feel sleepy. The fact that they always slept in open spaces didn't bother them. The flowers and grasses were very comfortable to sleep on and the weather was warm and cozy.

“Paina,” Farley said to her friend who was lying just beside her.

“Yes?”

“Are you serious about entering Viers Corporation?”

“...He said that earlier too but what does that even mean?”

“Eheheh, I also wondered at first. Viers said the same to me a while back, when we were at Luxore. During the Corn Festival, he hired me that evening. Basically, it is a company with the purpose of making Viers stronger and bringing him benefits. We, the employees, would be given compensation for our work.”

“...Sounds business like.”

“Yes, I suppose our connection with Viers is similar to a business relationship… We’re getting sidetracked. Are you serious about joining this company?”

“Are you? Didn't Viers already free you from his service?”

“Basically, my fate is tied to Viers. Clarissa is in the same boat so we had no choice but to enter Viers Corporation… But it is also my own choice. It is the best course of action for me. How about you?”

Paina didn't answer but looked to the eternal starry sky above the meadow.

“The more I see the world, the more I realize how beautiful it is, how fun it is… and how dangerous. I’m starting to understand why he seeks strength so single-mindedly. This journey to Valkut city… No, Viers’ very Path wouldn't be easy to travel.”

Farley patiently listened.

“This journey is for my sake. At the very least, I want to be able to accomplish something with my own power,” Paina said firmly.

“Good,” Farley seemed convinced. “Just like you, I have been thinking about what I can do to help Viers. I have formulated an idea. I haven't told Viers yet because this idea can also apply to you. I don't want to force you to participate if you’re unwilling.”

Farley’s face changed, showing her hesitation and unease.

“...You see, my father is practically the cause of your death. I-”

Paina put her finger on Farley’s lips.

“It’s fine. There’s no need to talk like that to me… We’re besties, right?” Paina giggled.

“...Thank you,” Farley showed her embarrassed smile.

“Muuuuuuuuuuu...”

Clarissa, forgotten by the other two, conveyed her displeasure with a childlike sound.

“Not fair! Involve me too. I want to be besties too~” Clarissa pouted.

The lamia rolled over Farley and Paina, making the three of them roll down the meadow like barrels, creating many flower petals that flew into the air in the process.

“Ahahah, I’m spinning!”

“Waow! The princess is jealous!”

The sounds of merry laughter spread in all directions.

The trio of teenage girls bound by similar fates bonded closer.

***

When the sun was shining in the sky, Viers stood on the bank of a nearby river, away from prying eyes.

He manipulated water in the river to create a solid sword, floating in the air.

This was merely manipulation, a technique one step lower than Arte. Pathseekers could manipulate elemental things which they had an affinity to in wondrous ways. Such as what Viers did when telling the Ugly Duckling story to Luca. It still needed Victa to use but since this was a basic ability, it didn't cost much.

Slowly, two other weapons were created from the river water, a spear and a sword with a different shape from Viers’.

“Alright girls, let's test it out.”

Viers’ water sword clashed with the other two weapons. The three instruments of battle began dancing in the air, clashing and parrying against each other. From an outsiders’ point of view, it was as if Viers manipulated the weapons by himself. Like someone playing chess against himself or playing rock paper scissors with one’s left hand and right hand.

After observing for a while, Viers was satisfied.

“Good, good. Let’s try something else.”

Viers turned to a nearby rock boulder.

“Arte — Water Slash!”

Viers normally used the Arte by coating his real sword with it, increasing the overall power, but this time, he used the water from the river to make a flying slash at the boulder.

Srak! Srak! Srak!

Three water blades in the shape of a crescent moon hit the boulder almost simultaneously.

“Hmn… interesting.”

Viers was contemplating the result. It was very positive.

This morning, Farley told him an idea. Basically, using her as a second brain to cast Arte. Therefore in a battle, Viers could cast more Arte than his opponent or cast a single Arte with unprecedented speed and precision.

If Paina joined, since she also had water affinity, Viers would have three brains calculating and or dishing out Arte! That meant whoever fought Viers, it would be as if they were fighting three people at once!

When Viers first heard of the concept, he felt it was a very novel idea and worth pursuing.

The first test was the sword Viers made against the other two’s weapons. Viers only controlled his weapon, Farley and Paina controlled theirs. The result was promising, Viers not burdened with extra mental load and the weapons moved fluidly as if held by real humans.

Viers tried using Arte for the second test. The three of them would cast a single Water Slash Arte, an elementary Arte which they all knew the formula for. Once again the result was good. Viers only made one Arte and the girls made their own, without disturbing or troubling Viers’ own Arte.

The gashes on the rock were the indicator of the Arte’s strength. Viers figured with his current Level 2 strength, a basic water Arte such as Water Slash could cleave an adult cow in two, the normal animal kind that is.

Incredible! Based on the similar gashes, all our Water Slash had equal power. Farley’s water affinity was 4, similar to mine, while Paina’s was 3 before their death. They were Level 1 back then but the power they displayed now is equal to Level 2. That means they have the power of the current me!

Also! Their Arte got a boost from my Horizon! Free extra damage!

It might seem similar to Viers' casting the same Arte multiple times as he had done before but this was fundamentally different. Viers could only calculate the Arte formula so much on his own, now he got two more brains. Three CPUs! His processing power tripled!

“This… this is wonderful. Truly! You girls have outdone yourself!”

Viers wasn't shy of saying his praise.

Farley and Paina looked very gratified.

“Me! Me! Me! Me next!” Clarissa was very eager. She raised her hand and hopped many times. She could do such a feat, even though her lower body was like a snake.

“Alright! Let's do this!” Viers did not refuse.

“Yaaaayyy!”

A few moments later…

“Muuuuuuuu…”

The lamia princess was sulking.

“So it truly is not possible,” Farley muttered.

Although Farley and Paina seemed to create their Arte on their own, it was actually done with Viers as the medium. Since Viers had no affinity with fire, Clarissa’s Artes couldn’t be used.

“Cheer up girl. You've already helped me plenty. Serpentes Renovamen, Euryale Sight, my soul affinity, all because of you.”

“Yeah! You can do things we can’t.” Farley added.

“Clarissa, we’re all in this together, alright?” Paina soothed the heartbroken lamia.

“But, but, I want to fight too. Making things go boom… It’s been so long.”

If this was a manga, this would be the part Viers and the other two had a falling sweat drawn on their picture.

“Well, we all have our roles. Don’t worry princess, do your job well and I’ll reward you. You want to make things go boom? I’ll make it happen. Do your homework first. I need that anti-divination Arte.”

Viers' power grew ever stronger.