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Chapter 41: Tyrant Trait

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He blinked.

Withnessing the groaning and painful cry, Krone really had a hard time believing he and Natalia went through it without, these. When the second batch started to feel stomachache, everyone already knew well enough to start searching for places to, um, release the burden.

They scattered, clear objective in mind.

‘Well, one ought to be a fool not to notice by now,’

As he continued to observe, it was soon lunchtime. As he was about to stop observing, a notification appeared.

‘Hm?’

Tyrant Guardian in Full Effect

Push the one you train to their upper limit, in anyway. This trait will heighten the effectiveness of their training, shock their innards and push them to break their limits.

Current effectiveness:

100%.

Level 1 Mastery Complete! Breaking through to another level…

As soon as he read it, he felt something within him, as if his whole body had lightning running through. He had familiar feeling like this before, it was when his other trait improved its effectiveness from long usage.

Weird, yet pleasant.

‘Breaking through already? Strange, that was fast... Too fast,’

Krone wondered what happened.

He thought it might take another month for him to even go from Level 1 to Level 2. This trait was, afterall, a Grand Trait. He did not have one before, but from his past experience, the higher the rank of a trait, the harder it would be to have any breakthrough. Though he did not have any of these screens appearing then, the feeling was a clear indication.

While he did push these forty to their limit, was that enough?

Tyrant Guardian Leveled Up!

Tyrant Guardian:

S-rank. Level 2.

Training effectiveness increased. Possibility of Enlightenment doubled.

"Enlightenment? What's that?"

Enlightenment A course in one’s life where one achieved unique insight of how to do things. Enlightenment could encompass Physique, Senses, Magic, Arte, Trait, Affinity or anything related to what one was training in.

‘This is…!’

He was not sure, but from what he could see, this was quite something. It was most likely similar to what one would experience going from a Beginner to Practitioner level, or an Expert to Master level. It was also related to how one could increase one's Magic Affinity. There was a realization of sort, something which was quite hard to explain to others who had yet to achieve it.

However, the fact that this Grand Trait increased in level all of a sudden, did not make sense.

“…What in the world happened, anyway?”

He was still lying on a roof, covered with dried grass camouflage. The dark brown colour matched the roof. Partially hidden from view, the chosen forty did not notice him observing them, their reaction and behavior. Well, they were too busy being in pain.

And cursing.

While he knew his action might be considered tyrannical, his trait improved way too fast.

As he pondered this question, his right hand vibrated.

It was his ring. His first thought was his sister, yet his mana sense told him otherwise.

“Yes, Julia?”

“Krone, this is bad! Please help! I don’t know— I didn’t do this! They took them without—”

“Whoa, wait, wait,”

It was Julia, frantic.

Consoling her, telling her to calm down, she finally took a deep breath. She related to him what occurred. It stemmed from few days back, when Krone had told her about the ‘medicine’, capable of improving her overall body’s condition, despite the bitterness. With that, he gave her the Verquan Seeds and a bottle of Lamina Oil.

And because it was bitter, she delayed taking it.

Yet during the academy’s orientation, she braved herself, taking it after dinner.

It was really bitter, but then again, she recalled Krone telling her it was important. Forcing herself, she took it all in large gulps, thus her action caught everyone’s attention. She was already a star during the test, thus during the orientation, many eyes kept watch on her.

Including the seniors.

Someone she knew asked her what it was, and why. Trusting her, she answered in all honesty, everything Krone told her. It was not a secret, afterall.

Because of what Krone told her, it was convincing.

“This will help you in the long run. You only need to brave the bitterness once. After that, your body will be cleansed and you’ll notice massive improvement in every area! Face the hardship once, your life will change!”

She told her exactly of Krone’s words, believing his every word.

Since she only used the seeds, she was kind enough to even provide her friend the leftover fruit as a sample. Experiencing only mild stomachache that night, and her being up and running the next day, others were convinced it was not so bad.

…

That morning, the news spread.

Herb shops around the capital, each had a spike of customers. The shops did warn them of stomachache, but seeing Julia was all fine, they did not listen.

…

It did not bode well.

“…I see, makes sense?”

“Huh, what, what? Krone, you said it’s safe! I see them dying here!”

From where she was speaking, he could hear groaning and painful cry, calling for heaven to carry justice. Taking a look again at the Tyrant Guardian Trait, he recalled Arnea’s trait link.

Understanding fully what was going on, he went keke.

“Krone, stop laughing!”

“Ops, sorry. But don’t worry, they won’t die,”

“Won’t die? The knights are calling out for food poisoning! They didn’t even rule out assassination, b-but I knew, I saw them taking the seeds and oil!”

“Eh~~ Who took them, so stupid? The first years?”

“No, who can get out at this time? It’s the seniors! Our facilitators, second and third years… There’s a hundred of them, dying!”

“…”

“Krone!”

Krone went silent.

The seniors? Were they that desperate, to follow prescription from a mere rumor? If they did, then this lesson would be worthwhile.

That’ll teach them.

‘Ah, there ought to be a final test before winter?’

Students would do anything for test, anything to gain even a little advantage.

However, to go as far as this…

‘Don’t just go and take someone else’s prescription just ‘cause it seems fine! Ai, at least they’ll remember this forever.’

“Krone, don’t leave me here!”

“Calm down Julia, tell them to drink warm tea with Irista leaf, that’ll help.”

“Eh, really? Irista leaf?”

“Yes, only a little, but still… Anyway they won’t die, alright?”

“Really?”

“Yes, really!”

After having spent time convincing her, he excused himself. He got some forty people needing attention.

…

He noted the chosen forty's miserable condition.

Those who never cursed, cursed. Those who never did it outside, did. Those who… Whatever. His ring vibrated, Kristine called him for lunch. He went out to announce, yet none of the forty could hear him.

Too busy with their stomachache.

During lunch only him, Kristine and Natalia were there, having a tranquil picnic.

Kristine frowned, wondering where the rest had gone.

"Krone, you didn't call them?"

"Let them be Sis, they have stomachache,"

"What? How? It's, not from breakfast, right?"

"Of course not. It's the medicine. Nevermind them."

She could hear weird sounds, as if wailing of beasts coming off here and there. Some girls did ask her where any other toiling room was, she ended up giving them her room's key. Being in the kitchen all the time, she did not catch wind of it.

Or rather, how serious it was.

“…So what to do with all these?”

“Just leave these for later. They'll take it when they're feeling better.”

“Alright,”

…

Later, when they were wailing no more, Krone called them forth.

Standing before them, he felt something. Apparently, the pain was enough for them to make a breakthrough, somewhat. He was still not sure what. Observing from afar, Natalia blinked.

She saw, their eyes twitching.

Mouth, inclining.

Hands, shaking. Legs, trembling.

‘Killing intent? They exude killing intent already… It’s barely second day. Are you serious?’

Natalia had a hard time believing it.

She was aware they all had experienced massive pain. Yet since she did not experience it herself, it was hard to empathize. In her mind, she wondered how come each of these forty already displayed killing intent.

What torture did they face?

Killing intent was not normal for modern human. Usually, only those who had faced real battle could exude it, or those who had killed others, or those who were insane enough to disregard reason and pity. At the time, these youngsters had a clear killing intent, directed at one person.

The one smiling ear to ear, in front of them.

Face clearly screamed, well done!

“So guys, how much come out—”

Before he could finish asking, they rushed.

All, towards him.

=====

…

An hour later.

“Ai, is this what they call hard love? No, was it a father’s love? Ah, a lion’s love?”

Krone sighed.

Since they rebelled, he had beaten them all up. He was careful though, he did not even use his fists.

He used his palm, on their stomach.

“Funny, they all roll on the ground,”

At the time, even Athea and the twins rushed toward him, so he wondered whether they wanted to hug him at first, thanking him for all his sacrifice.

Yet noticing their sharp nails coming at him, he had to counterattack.

His battle sense activated, he could not stop in time.

Kroneee, I hate you!

“Well, even Lisha, ai, sorry,”

That one sentence from her pricked his heart more than anything. Yet being attacked, there was no way he would not retaliate. Guys or girls, he patted everyone’s stomach.

Thus for an hour, they were rolling around.

Having fun on the beach.

=====

Pain subsided, a little.

The rest of the day, they struggled to finish all 250 Air Sliding. While they were still indignant, soon they forgo it because of fatigue. Due to their vow, they pushed themselves, out of their own values, out of their own volition. Some did think about abandoning the vow, yet they were ashamed of such act.

The group’s mentality hindered them, in a good way. A few finished all 250, while the rest fainted. Having finished, even the last of them, fainted.

…

While they were out cold, someone came.

Checking them one by one, he was the one who tricked them into making the vow. He kneeled, carrying Lisha in his arms, he slid his way toward the resort.

To the front of their rooms, next to a hut. With warm blankets and water, his sister waited.

He turned back.

One by one, in the darkness of the night, he carried each of them.

Liliana, still gasping from exhaustion, he channeled his mana into her chest, stabilizing her. Thiana, sand on her cheek, he brushed it off her, ever so gentle. Athea, her face ashen, he wiped it with a warm handkerchief, full of care.

Doran, having difficulty breathing, he tapped his chest several times, turning it into a snore. Kyril and Ron, faring better, he took them both at once, each for each shoulder.

All forty of them, he carried.

Boys, girls, big, small, no exception. The stars and moon as witnesses, he did not fret, did not complain. If they hated him, fine. It was just plain old work, nothing more, nothing less.

…

====

The ring on his right vibrated.

Turning to look at everyone in white blankets, he slid away before tapping the ring. A familiar voice resounded.

“Krone?”

“Lady Natalia, what’s up?”

“Nothing, just checking up if you’re ready,”

“I’ll be a little late. Might need to carry them into their rooms,”

“That bad?”

“Yes, sorry.”

“Doesn’t matter. Take your time, just wondering about the residue you said last time,”

“I see, you can rest first. I’ll wake you up later,”

“Alright,”

The ring stopped vibrating.

The last time he and Natalia tried to absorb the core, he noticed his absorption became better, with the core’s residue finally on sight. It felt as if his affinity with the core rose, it was strange.

Yet thinking about it carefully, he made the connection.

The core he and Natalia were trying to absorb, was one from the High-Items pack, originating from the high-level beast, Big Eye.

From the Library’s information, he knew its true name.

Beast's Info: Izkill’s Eye

Health: ---- /1800

Criteria

Level

Type

Physique

--

Unique

Senses

70

Heightened

Mana Pool

99

Superior

Mana Affinity

Peak

Light

Magic

Magic

Name

Original Name

Level

Bewitching Eye

Ain Copulata

80

‘Look at that Mana Pool level… So it’s called Izkill’s Eye, eh? Who’s Izkill?’

The first time he saw it, he pondered its name.

The one inside his ring, was bigger than the three he encountered during his past life. While he could not take out its body, he managed to take out its core, after much difficulty. Since the first day he was reincarnated, he had been trying to absorb it. So up until now, it had been a week. The core of Izkill’s Eye apparently only increased two things, Sense and Mana Pool. He managed to increase his Mana Pool level twice during the time.

Yet even with his double absorption, he still could not encounter its residue.

However, the moment he cooperated with Natalia, he felt his absorption increased.

Before the end of the night, he felt the residue. He made the connection, it was her. Her affinity was Light, while her senses, Heightened. It was the perfect affinity for this beast, with its power focused primarily on Senses and Light element.

Izkill’s Eye, the supreme mind-control beast.

Without any fighting power, it was considered a High-level beast purely due to its hypnotic ability. All throughout the war, these hovering beasts were scarce. Yet the existence of just one, could spell havoc on unsuspecting frontline. Despite many missions, the core of this beast could not be secured, not even once. It exploded in the air when it was about to be defeated, something other beasts could not do.

It was such a large explosion, everyone had to stay clear just to survive.

In such situation, who cared about securing its core?

To hypnotize, it used light and senses. Primarily, the opponent’s eyes. Its ability was much desired, with a lot of possibility of it being useful to an army. However, it seemed certain, that getting its trait was not so easy. Two days ago when Krone was a bit frustrated, Natalia came and busied herself with his affair.

At the time, he could not relate her with this, but now he knew. She was like a gift granted by The Creator. He had to make full use of this. The trait within the core he was trying to get, was of utmost importance to him.

A very rare chance.

To fully tap into this chance, he had given her his party ring.

His gift to her, while she, was a gift to him.

…

After Kristine did some basic cleaning, he brought everyone into their room. Placing warm blankets on each of them, he stood outside the rooms.

The full moon shone brightly, the light was enlightening.

Illuminating.

He tapped the ring.

“Lady Natalia, you’re up?”

“Huh? Yeah,”

“I’ll be counting on you, tonight,”

“…My pleasure,”

…

=== Chapter 41 ‘Tyrant Trait’ End ===