One bag of Gold Sols, two bags of Gold Sols~...

"And that should be all. Glad doing business with you, lassy," said Armveil, the old-timer drawf working at the Nequitas-sponsored blacksmith shop that I visited before.

"That's my line," I replied while using the money bags to fill up the space in my Storage that had been left open after I'd taken out all the "confiscated" goods from Springwood's hideout. Said stuff is now resting in the backroom of the blacksmith shop.

"No, no. Lassy, you've done a lot for us. Springwood's been reported outside the country already. You guys might have scared him off." - Armveil

Already? It's been just four days since I saw him leave Isla de Mina. Selling the "legal harvest" from our trip there to the Adventurers' Union took some time. Not to mention we didn't want to act suspiciously, so we delayed our departure an extra day or two. The hot springs were also a good reason for staying a little longer.

"Okay then. Is Blot around?" - Garami

"No, he's also leaving the country. Gotta tag along with the boss." - Armveil

"With Filyn? Why?" - Garami

"Sorry lassy. Confidential stuff. It'd bring you trouble if I told you." - Armveil

"In that case, let me be blessed with ignorance." - Garami

"That I'll do. But why're you asking for Mister Smartypants?" - Armveil

"*Chuckle*, Smartypants... No, I just wanted to tell him we're going to be unavailable in the next few days. And that we're going to leave the country sometime after that again." - Garami

"You people have a busier schedule than mine! And you don't need to tell me what you're planning. That wouldn't be fair." - Armveil

"For real? What if our plans somehow ended up ruining one of your secret projects?" - Garami

"Ha! I doubt Blot would allow such a mishap to take place. Besides, do you think I, the guy whose only job is to keep the Nequitas organization's gear in tip-top shape, would know anything that classified?" - Armveil

"Uh...yeah? Where would they get the stuff needed for those top-secret operations?" - Garami

"Nah. You're overestimating me, lassy. I'm just at the top of the goon mountain, leaving the complicated secret evil organization stuff to those above me. Besides, I'm too busy with other stuff recently anyway." - Armveil

...? Then who are..., nah. Didn't I just state the fact that knowing too much can sometimes be a problem? Let's leave it to that and flee with my money.

After saying my goodbyes, I left Armveil's smithy and returned to the mansion we've rented thanks to our latest windfall. I wanted something more reasonable, but Mira and Noire (especially Noire) complained that they wanted a rest on "the lap of luxury". And here I wanted to save some Sols for our trip out of the country...

In the end, I yielded to their demands when I remembered that Iron and Revi had been living in ruins for their whole lives. Especially Revi, who's several times older than the rest of us. Damn you, Mira. Your silver arm has nothing against your silver tongue nowadays.

"Welcome home, Guild Master." - Alf

Despite my beliefs, only Alf was in the mansion to greet me. Those guys, here I pay big money for this place and you're not gonna use it...!

"Where are the riff-raff?" I asked, not bothering to hide my irritation. Alf caught on to my resentment but replied without any worries in his tone.

"Mira and Iron are at the Union's training grounds. They said something about wishing to test out Iron's combat abilities. Revi went along, as she wished to get used to that magic tome she brought with her from Tir na Nog." - Alf

Right, one of the grimoire Magic Catalysts that were in the castle's library. We snuck a few with us, enough for me and Revi to use. Although, while Revi seems to favor magic books as her magic weapon of choice, I'm not so sure. I got [Grimorie Catalyst], but it's just too clunky using it since my hands are almost always occupied by either my scythe, my dagger, or controlling threads. What a dilemma. I should try to find a solution to it in the future.

"Noire, on the other hand, is out in town showing off her 'new looks'." - Alf

Damn, that fallen angel. And for real this time around. Both she and Iron have already evolved when I was too busy worrying about Springwood and keeping track of our economy. But not today!

"Give her a lecture or something for me if she comes back. I'll be busy in my room for the rest of the day." - Garami

"The queen of nightmares is going to grow more terrifying? I should stop you for the world's sake, but that's a fool's errand." - Alf

"Good thing you're not a fool then. Night-night~." - Garami

After locking myself into the master bedroom, I started to prepare for my third evolution. Hmm, normal people always make a ruckus whenever a single evolution occurs, as proved by the gang and the people having witnessed Noire's and Iron's new appearances, so what would they say if they heard this is the third time I've gone through this rite of age? That's not important right now. Come on out, status page!

Name: Garami | [Dungeon Raider] Race: Stygian Executioner Gender: Female Level: 50/50 Evolution is possible. Traits: 5 Karma Value: -200 Main Class: Arachnid Assassin Lv.5 Sub Class: Weaver Lv.48 Sub Class: Spectermancer Lv.40 Sub Class: Alchemist Lv.31 Skills: 136 Titles: 34 Blessings: 3 Aether Points: 71.2 HP: 452/452 MP: 888/888 SP: 495/495 STR: 743 VIT: 268 MAG: 760 RES: 471 SPD: 1,090 DEX: 1,145 INT: 120 LUC: 150 LP: 22

Skill List:

Skill List: Ability Skills: [Extra Health Lv.9] UP2 [Health Auto-Recovery Lv.2] NEW/UP1 [Massive Mana Lv.24] UP6 [Minimized Mana Consumption Lv.22] UP6 [Mana Greater-Recovery Lv.11] UP7 [Increased Stamina Lv.17] UP5 [Reduced Stamina Consumption Lv.3] NEW/UP2 [Greater Strength Lv.15] UP3 [Tougher Vitality Lv.9] UP2 [Magic Lv.20] NEW/UP19 [Resistance Lv.41] UP21 [Swift Speed Lv.14] UP8 [Nimble Dexterity Lv.13] UP8 Attack Skills: [Assassination Arts Lv.5] UP4 [Guard Lv.17] UP7 [Parry Lv.18] UP6 [Hardlight Claw Lv.19] UP5 [Darkness Bullet Lv.50 (Max)] UP8 [Darkness Drain Lv.18] UP5 [Poison Ball Lv.19] UP4 [Rogue's Assault Lv.9] UP8 [Demon Claw Lv.21] UP4 [Guillotine Scissors Lv.1] NEW [Assassination Threads Lv.13] UP11 [Web Bomb Lv.39] UP7 Magic Skills: [Darkness Magic Lv.12] UP4 [Healing Magic Lv.17] UP8 [Necromantic Rites Lv.39] UP11 [Create Undead: Skeleton Lv.31] UP7 [Create Undead: Zombie Lv.22] UP8 [Create Undead: Ghost Lv.13] UP12 [Magic Eye of Poison Lv.10] UP5 [Magic Eye of Blindness Lv.24] UP5 [Magic Eye of Weakness Lv.25] UP6 [Magic Eye of Fragility Lv.20] UP5 [Magic Eye of Slowness Lv.19] UP8 [Magic Eye of Deterioration Lv.16] UP2 [Summon Phantom: Undead Spiders Lv.5] NEW/UP4 [Summon Phantom: Ghast Spider Lv.12] UP3 [Apport: Scythe Lv.4] NEW/UP3 [Apport: Dagger Lv.5] NEW/UP4 Crafting Skills: [Weaving Lv.44] UP10 [Tailoring Lv.40] UP12 [Dyeing Lv.28] UP13 [Repair: Cloth Lv.16] UP6 [Fast Creation: Cloth Lv.12] UP11 [Alchemy Lv.32] UP10 [Synthesis Circle Lv.26] UP11 [Conversion Circle Lv.13] UP9 [Mana Circle Lv.12] UP11 [Reparing Alcemic Circle Lv.1] NEW [Trap Creation Lv.26] UP10 [Web Creation Lv.14] UP13 Active Skills: [Liquid Control Lv.22] UP6 [Aura of Darkness Lv.41] UP3 [Flash Lv.5] NEW/UP4 [Optical Cover Lv.42] UP8 [Cleanse Poison Lv.19] UP7 [Misdirection Lv.20] UP9 [Sticky Limbs Lv.38] UP7 [Thread Control Lv.26] UP12 [Web Wings Lv.18] UP6 [Dreadful Menace Lv.23] UP2 [Spatial Storage Lv.35] UP6 [Genocide Drive: Speed Lv.3] UP2 [Nature's Webbing] Passive Skills: [Dagger Proficiency Lv.33] UP10 [Scythe Proficiency Lv.41] UP5 [Rope Proficiency Lv.28] UP6 [Armor Proficiency Lv.19] UP9 [Grimoire Catalyst Lv.1] [Lurk Lv.50 (Max)] [Aiming Lv.50 (Max)] [Evasion Lv.43] UP9 [Jump Lv.27] UP9 [Parkour Lv.50 (Max)] [Balance Lv.6] NEW/UP5 [Ambush Lv.44] UP9 [Sadistic Constitution Lv.34] UP4 [Throwing Lv.50 (Max)] [Camouflage Lv.50 (Max)] UP6 [Demonic Disguise Lv.19] UP7 [Climbing Lv.40] UP6 [Lockpicking Lv.3] NEW/UP2 [Riding Lv.18] UP4 [Slumber Lv.15] UP4 [Golden Ratio Lv.9] UP6 [Necromantic Harvest Lv.31] UP9 [Necromantic Knowledge Lv.22] UP7 [Fear Reinforcement Lv.39] UP5 [Destruction Reinforcement Lv.26] UP9 [Thought Acceleration Lv.5] EVOLVED/UP4 [Prediction Lv.50 (Max)] UP5 [Parallel Calculation Lv.5] EVOLVED/UP4 [Vital Point Knowledge Lv.46] UP8 [Killer's Composure Lv.15] UP14 [Auto-Mapping Lv.6] UP5 [Gloom Hell Prison] [Language Adaptation] Perception Skills: [Gamemaster Lv.50 (Max)] UP5 [Detect Poison Lv.35] UP9 [Detect Monster Lv.50 (Max)] [Detect Trap Lv.23] UP9 [Treasure Radar Lv.14] UP12 [Vision Reinforcement Lv.50 (Max)] [Auditory Reinforcement Lv.50 (Max)] [Olfactory Reinforcement Lv.50 (Max)] UP5 [Tactile Reinforcement Lv.50 (Max)] UP10 [Taste Reinforcement Lv.45] UP9 [Tracking Lv.37] UP6 [Danger Sense Lv.50 (Max)] UP8 [Sense of Direction Lv.50 (Max)] [Identification Lv.50 (Max)] [Evil Eye of Dark Sight Lv.20] UP5 Leadership Skills: [Leadership Lv.35] UP11 [Charisma Lv.26] UP10 [Party Lv.34] UP14 [Control Undead Lv.30] UP10 [Evil Royalty Lv.6] UP3 Resistance Skills: [Darkness Resistance Lv.24] UP4 [Light Resistance Lv.14] UP5 [Poison Resistance Lv.30] UP8 [Blindness Resistance Lv.13] UP3 Elements: [Darkness Element Lv.28] UP8 [Lesser Light Element Lv.41] UP12 [Lesser Poison Element Lv.42] UP10 Monster Skills: [Demon's Strong Muscle Lv.25] UP5 [Demon's Spiritual Arts Lv.29] UP4 [Demon's Nimble Legs Lv.33] UP5 [Succubus' Poison Lv.1] [Glow Web Lv.45] UP7 [Spider's Bite Lv.18] UP1 [Spider's Poison Lv.27] UP6 [Demon Spider's Thread Lv.29] UP7 Extra Skills: [Demon Lord Lv.1] [Darkness Dragon - Zahhak Lv.1]

Title List:

Title List: Achievement Titles: [Reincarnator] [Titan Killer] [Fearbringer] [Black-Light Technique User] [Merciless] [Daredevil] [Destroyer] [Mystic Arts Master] [Rescuer] [Mysterious Killer] [Dungeon Raider] [Poison Technique User] [Dungeon Clearer] [Mountain of Corpses] Hunting Titles: [Dread Spirit Genocider] [Monster Slaughterer] [Insect Slayer] [Beast Slaughterer] [Arachnid Slayer] [Snail Slayer] [Slime Slayer] [Serpent Slayer] [Lizard Slayer] [Undead Genocider] [Zombie Genocider] [Inorganic Slayer] [Skeleton Genocider] [Ghost Slayer] NEW [Crucestean Genocider] NEW/ADVANCED Status Titles: [Migrant] [True Chaos] [Slayer of the Ultimate] [First Clearer of "Shadow Poison Jar"] [Liberator of Tir na Nog] NEW

Traits List:

Trait List:

Lesser Demon:

Decreased stats when exposed to sunlight: [Small] Increased stats when exposed to moonlight: [Small] Darkness-aligned attribute enhancement: [Small] Curse attribute enhancement: [Small] Received Holy- and Gold attribute damage increase: *3 Received Light-aligned attribute damage increase: *2 Received Darkness-aligned attribute damage decrease: *2 Negative Karma Value increase: [Small] Positive Karma Value decrease: [Small] Automatic MP Recovery-Type Effectiveness Increase: [Small] Nightvision.

Albino:

Reduced abilities when exposed to sunlight. Received Light-, Sun attribute damage increase: *1.1 Loss of pigments for hair, skin, and eyes. (Only when possible)

Arachnid:

Received Fire- and Ice-aligned Attribute Damage Increase: *3 Increased resistance and enhancement towards poison-related abilities: [Normal] Increased web-handling abilities: [Normal] Increased effect of Fear-inflicting abilities: [Small]

Evil Eyed:

Allows usage of Evil Eye-type skills in any eye (not multiple abilities in the same eye at the same time). Increased secondary effects of Evil Eye-type skills: [Normal] Decreased cost of Evil Eye-type skills: [Normal]

Empty Demon Vessel:

No effects.

Oooookay, I've grown a lot since the last time I checked this thing. All the fighting in Tir na Nog, plus the crab bonus round recently, is to blame for that. Actually...isn't this a little too much?

"Hey, Bloom! Get over here, pronto!" - Garami

"Yes, yes. Master, you are aware that I can come to you wherever you are? There is no need for bad manners." - Bloom

"Yeah, whatever you say. But for now, please explain this bug on my status page." - Garami

"Bug? ...Master, the only thing that looks like a bug here is your spider-related skills, and spiders are arachnids." - Bloom

"Good, you know that much. The arachnid-bit, not the part that my status page is a-okay." - Garami

"...? Seriously, Master, what is the problem here?" - Bloom

"It's not exactly a problem...if it turns out to be true, but..." - Garami

My skill levels are too bloated!! Sure, I've been working my butt off these last two weeks, but not THIS much! I'd be one of Iron's pals if I did..., okay, I'm still pal with him anyway, but you get what I'm trying to say.

"Oh, so that is what was confusing you. Master, you see, if a person has reached their highest racial level and earned even more EXP, the excessive EXP will go to their skill and class levels instead." - Bloom

For real!? That would explain why all of Revi's skills, outside those who could not grow due to that curse she had, were all maxed out. Sure, a few centuries is enough to train to reach such a state, but I think this trick also played a hand in it.

"I will warn you though, Master, that this method only gives an abyssal low increase to the other levels. In addition, you must not forget that evolving would grant you higher status values, access to stronger skills, and more AP each time a skill level reaches a multiple of 10, among other things." - Bloom

"Tch, that's true. Between this and evolving, the latter would be better in the long run." - Garami

Actually, since evolving requires clearing certain conditions, maybe this trick was prepared to make it easier for those who had reached their level cap to clear some of those requirements.

Thanks again, monster crabs~. But holy, I got enough AP for days now. I'm not gonna get more skills though, maybe except something to help my alchemy somehow? I do wish to have an alchemy-support Nightmare Item form as well...but not today. Evolving is on the agenda here, not skill shopping.

I mean, I've already obtained some stuff already. [Flash], which creates a sharp light that I want to use as a method of blinding targets in dark spaces, [Lockpicking] in case I ever encounter a locked treasure chest in a Dungeon or something and Mira isn't available, the Apport skills, restricted to user of Mage-line classes despite being tailored for warriors and rogues, that allow me to retrieve my weapons from a distance, and the last Ability-type skills that I wouldn't get from Hunting Titles.

Sure, it's not a lot, but my skill list is pretty big from the beginning, so my plan for now is to develop the skills I have instead of getting new stuff randomly. I did start by evolving [Concentration] into [Thought Acceleration] and [Parallel Thinking] into [Parallel Calculation], so continuing that trend won't hurt.

Or I could obtain the new skills with the plans for using them as components for new Nightmare Item modes. Speaking of those things, with the huge increase in my racial levels, I should have unlocked new "mode-change slots" for all of them. Not that there's a big rush for upgrading them or anything, but it's nice to have a plan prepared for the future.

Besides, if I had to force myself to think of a method to consume all that AP right away, my Skill List would be messier than Mira's bedroom. And boy, that place is the pits!

But for now, as I said before, it's evolution time!

Evolution Menu: Future: Kur Kigal (Rank D+) Mirage Djinn (Rank D+) Stygian High Executioner (Rank D+) Darklight Sphere (Rank D- (S)) Abyss Gazer (Rank D-) Current: Stygian Executioner (Rank E+) Previous: Reha Zera (Rank F+) Grey Demon (Rank G-)

And here we go~! Still just the top 5 evolution options available. Demons have a lot of variation, so not drowning in lots of options that are not suitable for me is a blessing. Time for the traditional "looking through my options" ritual! From the bottom to the top. Well, the top is the only answer here, but still~.

Race: Abyss Gazer Rank: D- Genus: Demon (Evil Eye Demon) Attribute: Gloom-category attributes Traits: Demon, Evil Eyed Description:

A demon with the appearance of a flying eyeball with tentacles and large, bat-like wings.

They are an extremely aggressive species that will try to attack anything that gets too close.

The Abyss Gazer uses its Mana and Magic stats to empower its Magic Eye-type skills.

It uses [High-Speed Flight] to swiftly move around in the air while using its [Evil Eye of Darkness] will inflict great amounts of Darkness-type damage to anyone in its eyesight.

Yeah, I remember this guy. Or at least his pre-evolved E-rank version. Even the description is pretty much the same as the "Dark Gazer"'s. How is this one of my top 5 evolution choices? I guess having even one Evil Eye-type skill, even if it's a perception type, is a big deal for demons. Obviously, this guy is a big pass. NEXT!!

Race: Darklight Sphere Rank: D- (S) Genus: Demon (Demonic Spirit) Attribute: Light, Darkness Traits: Demon, Demonic Spirit Description:

A paradoxical dark sphere made from light, created from demonic energies

A strange spirit with access to dual attributes of Light and Darkness.

It is strong with skills related to its attribute, but sloppy when it comes to magic. Some individuals take the appearance of humanoids and live in countries fitting for demons.

*Whistle*. This is an unexpected entry. Must be due to the [Black-Light Technique User] title. Just having Light and Darkness alone wouldn't be enough for this guy. And what is this "S" for?

"Bloom, what's your take on this guy's racial rank?" - Garami

"A Darklight Sphere? Master should indeed be able to evolve to it..., oh, you asked about the rank, yes? Ranks assigned with a Minus means that the species will have it easier to gain experience...but you already knew that, Master!! Oh, you were talking about the S-rank? It means the species is an exception to some of the rules of the World System." - Bloom

"What rules, exactly?" - Garami

"I do not know. That information is being withheld from the Kigal-Note. All I can say is that this rule only affects species above racial rank C, so Master is in no hurry to learn what it is, I suspect." - Bloom

Above C-rank, meaning a special rule for creatures that are stronger than even Fire Dragons or Liches. Since I doubt there are not at least a few of those boss characters, it should be reasonable to suspect there are some rules to prevent those guys from exterminating parts of the world's ecosystem. Not that it stopped the B-rank boss snake...unless he got weakened by those rules. Which might have had a hand in how Springwood managed to defeat him.

Well, a spirit creature in the shape of a ball isn't that interesting, so I don't think I would choose it even if I hadn't decided on my next evolution. Plus it doesn't tell about what skills it has, so it could possibly be only some random Light and Darkness skill that's given. Or the ability to transform into a humanoid that the description text mentions, but who knows for sure? NEXT!

Race: Stygian High Executioner Rank: D+ Genus: Demon (Humanoid Demon) Attribute: Darkness Traits: Demon, Evil Eyed Description:

A humanoid demon that looks extremely similar to regular humans except for demonic horns and a tail.

They are an evolution of the horrifying Stygian Executioner, killing specialists among the various demons on Terra Sol. The High Executioners act as both teachers and leaders, commanding the Stygian demons while they hide in the shadow of urban cities, never seen by the public, but their actions threaten their foes nonetheless.

Stygian High Executioners have high Dexterity and Magic, allowing them to use any trap or curse to finish off their opponents. Of course, they can also go for the kill personally if that is deemed necessary.

To create these traps, the High Executioners have access to the [Trap Expertise] skill as well as the [Darkness Trickery] skill to punish those who do the impossible and actually make an attack reach the High Executioner.

There it is! Stygian Executioner's standard evolution! It got that plus sign in front of its rank, so like with the Stygian Executioner, the High Executioner might be difficult to develop... But didn't I reach the level cap quite easily?

Still, those two skills it has seem useful. [Trap Expertise] is an evolved [Trap Creation] that also requires stuff like [Disarm Trap], so... Yeah, I can get this pretty easily in the future. Just need to take one trap at a time.

As for [Darkness Trickery]...wow. It can act as a decoy for the user AND inflict damage on the attacker. It seems to only exist in Gloom-category attributes, but this is nice. Too bad its 1st tier version, [Darkness Trick], doesn't provide the decoy effect and works more like a mine. I'll have to look into if I can somehow obtain it without having to go the long way in training a less-than-useful skill...

In any case, if I hadn't already made up my mind, then this one would be one heck of an evolution to go for. But I have decided already, so NEXT!

Race: Mirage Djinn Rank: D Genus: Demon (Humanoid Demon) Attribute: Glow-category attributes Traits: Demon, Acedia Demon Description:

A humanoid djinn demon that commands illusions.

One of the various evolutions of the demons of the lineage of Sloth. It tricks people with illusions of great riches, keeping them distracted while the djinn can either flee or strike the invader without worries about counter-attacks.

They are one of the Djinn species who does not live in a magic item, albeit one could say the desert these demons prefer to live in can be considered their "magic lamp".

Mirage Djinns' status distribution is aimed at magic and concealment. A large MP pool, high MP, and decent RES so as to not be caught in their own illusions.

[Mirage Creation] is the djinn's go-to skill, but if it is spotted, they will rely on [Hologram Decoy] to make a quick escape.

Djinn? Lineage of Sloth? Oh, right, I think I've read about it somewhere, that demons can be classified after the seven deadly sins and such. Gray Demon, the species I was reborn into at the very beginning of my second life, also belonged to that "demon lineage". I guess genetics(?) can't go away that easily.

Still, this isn't a species I'd want to evolve into. An albino like me, living in the desert? No way in hell, mister! ...Or do I?

In any case, I should take note of the two skills it mentions. They seem like good fits for me. Onto the NEXT!

Race: Kur Kigal Rank: D+ Genus: Demon (Humanoid Demon) Attribute: Darkness, Light Traits: High Demon Description:

A rare humanoid High Demon despite their relatively low racial rank.

The Kur Kigal is a being that can bring either the darkness of death or the light of salvation to those who are dying. However, despite their close relationship to the netherworld, enough to even share one of its many names, they are not inhabitants of it.

Kur Kigals are a rare species, but the few that exist seem to favor the urban areas of big cities. Especially in cities that are overflowing with art and culture.

These demons have a strong affinity for sneak attacks, having high SPD and DEX to allow them to move swiftly to their target, along with an impressive amount of STR and MAG to get the "job" done, regardless of methods.

Among their many methods of killing, the Kur Kigal possess [Soul Chase] to hurt even beings of undead origin, and [Enfeeblement Magic] that grants them access to any debuff magic, albeit they are required to learn the spells this skill allows them to use.

Oh, we're already here. Well, what can I say? "Hello again, my first masterpiece"? Yeah, that works.

Kur Kigal...among the several hundreds of designs I made back in Limbo, this one is the first of many. And despite being the first, it's my personal favorite.

And since I designed it, I knew exactly what requirements needed to be filled to evolve into it. High stats, Teachings of Killing class(es) (I only figured out they were assassination-type classes before learning about the sub-group for the classes), both Darkness and Light attributes, and most importantly, a long list of killed monsters, represented in the form of Hunting titles.

And finally, the [Empty Demon Vessel] trait, as having it is a condition for skipping ranks and turning into a "High Demon". Had Stygian Executioner been a normal "Demon" instead of a "Low Demon", I wouldn't have had to worry about that part. Boy, was I freaking out when I learned that when I was researching demons in the Union's library! But in the end, things went alright!

SYSTEM MESSAGE:

You have chosen to evolve into the race: Kur Kigal.

During evolution, you will not be able to move.

Do you wish to start the evolution into the race: Kur Kigal?

Y/N

Yes, please!

SYSTEM MESSAGE:

Commencing evolution to Kur Kigal.

And good night-*intense snoring*...