A few days later, Saphy finally had a moment to herself. The days following the party had been utterly exhausting. The King had been so taken by the potato chips that he practically begged—no, demanded—the recipe from her. She couldn't exactly refuse a royal order… but she wasn't about to give it away for free, either.
In the end, a deal was struck.
If His Majesty wanted her secret, then her future shops would be completely exempt from taxes in every city under his rule. On top of that, he would ensure no greedy merchant dared to inflate the price of Earth Fruits—better known as potatoes—now that their value might skyrocket overnight. After all, once the chips hit the market, it wouldn't take a genius to figure out what they were made from.
To truly show the full potential of these "Earth Fruits" to the public, the kingdom had to keep the merchants in check. Prices needed to stay reasonable so that even the common folk—the very people who depended on Earth Fruits as one of their staple foods—could continue to afford them.
It was, in Saphy's opinion, a very fair trade. After all, if she was going to revolutionize the kingdom's snack world… she might as well profit from it.
After the deal was struck, the kitchen staff taught the royal butler and maid how to make the chips—and, more importantly, the secret seasoning method. Both were left completely awestruck. Who would've thought that something as simple as slicing, frying, and sprinkling salt could taste like divine revelation?
Saphy, of course, was rather smug about it. She even gifted the King a peeler and a mandolin, showing him how to use them like a proud inventor unveiling her masterpiece. The King, impressed beyond words, praised her ingenuity at least a dozen times and declared that her concern for the common people was "truly admirable."
To Saphy, that was just basic economics—if the people could afford potatoes, her chips would sell more. But hey, if His Majesty wanted to call it "noble compassion," who was she to correct him?
Unfortunately, the King's admiration came with… side effects.
Apparently, a talent like her "must not be allowed to leave the kingdom." Which, in royal logic, translated to: make her the Future Queen
And that's how Saphy's life turned into a walking rom-com nightmare.
The Crown Prince began following her everywhere—like a loyal golden retriever who'd just discovered the meaning of life was "Saphy." Breakfast? He was there. Afternoon tea? Sitting across from her, staring like she was the last pastry on the tray. Training grounds? Somehow, he was there too, claiming it was "fate's will."
It would've been flattering… if it weren't so creepy.
Saphy's mind, however, was screaming.
Because in her previous life, she had been a man.
And though she'd been reborn as a girl, her brain refused to update its software. The thought of being wooed, flirted with, or—heaven forbid—princess-carried by a man made her want to yeet herself into the nearest volcano.
Every time the prince flashed his "royal smile," her soul left her body.
Every time he offered his hand, she twitched like she'd touched a live wire.
And when he once said, "Lady Saphy, I'd like to know your heart," she deadpanned, "It's busy pumping blood, Your Highness."
The palace maids whispered it was the start of a beautiful romance.
Saphy called it "daily survival."
If this kept up, she thought grimly, she'd rather face another demon than another date.
Now that the King and his entourage had finally left, Saphy could breathe again.
No more formal smiles.
No more royal "coincidences."
No more pretending she didn't notice the Crown Prince hovering like a lovesick pigeon.
She flopped face-first onto her bed, groaning into her pillow. "Finally… peace."
For the first time in days, she had a moment to herself. No nobles, no tea parties, no chip-related politics — just sweet, blessed solitude.
She sat up, brushed a strand of white hair from her face, and stretched her arms with a lazy yawn. "Alright, let's see how much all that royal nonsense boosted my stats…"
She held out her hand, focusing her thoughts.
"Status."
A faint chime echoed in her head — ding! — followed by a glowing blue panel materializing before her eyes.
Name: Sapphire Rosabelle Astley
Age: 5 years
HP: 100%
Mana: 2,000,000
Strength: 2
Agility: 3
Affinity:
Dark Magic Lv.10 (Max)
Ice Magic Lv.10 (Max)
Lightning Magic Lv.10 (Max)
Fire Magic Lv.10 (Max)
Water Magic Lv.10 (Max)
Earth Magic Lv.10 (Max)
Wind Magic Lv.10 (Max)
Light Law: 20%
Void Law: 5%
Skills:
Perfect Language, Appraisal, Inventory, Void Cultivation, Mana Manipulation, Purification (New), True Healing (New), Resurrection (New), Void Bullet (New)
Saphy looked at her updated status and immediately noticed the change.
Her Light Magic, which was once simply Level 10, now read 20% Light Law.
She frowned, tilting her head.
"Law, huh? I've read enough cultivation novels to know that's supposed to be a big deal… but what does it actually mean?"
Despite the confusion, she could feel it — a quiet hum beneath her skin, as though the light itself listened to her will. She didn't fully understand the concept, but she knew one thing for certain: her control over light-based abilities had grown sharper, smoother… almost instinctive.
There was also a strange, lingering sensation — a subtle awareness whenever she thought of light.
It was as if she could sense, maybe even influence, how others wielded their own light magic.
That realization sent a tiny chill down her spine.
"Enough of that," she muttered. "Let's check the description."
---
Ding!
[Law of Light: 20%]
> Host's control over light magic has reached another milestone.
Host can now command light-element particles to a certain extent.
Any light-based attack operating under 20% Law comprehension is ineffective against the host.
Saphy blinked at the glowing panel, her mind spinning.
"Okay… that's both awesome and terrifying," she muttered.
She still couldn't grasp the full extent of her ability, but she reassured herself that in time—and with enough practice—she would. For now, it was enough to know she was growing stronger, even if the details remained a mystery.
Saphy took a deep breath and shifted her gaze from the Law of Light to her skills section. Her fingers hovered over the shimmering list, almost as if touching it might somehow unlock some hidden tutorial in real life.
Perfect Language, Appraisal, Inventory… those she knew well. Void Cultivation, Mana Manipulation… familiar enough. But the new ones made her pause.
Purification (New)
True Healing (New)
Resurrection (New)
Void Bullet (New)
Her eyebrows shot up. "Whoa… okay, these are not small upgrades."
Saphy muttered, her eyes widening as she tapped on Purification.
Ding!!
Purification is the power to erase all filth. Mixed with the Law power of Light, it can remove most diseases, curses, and even cure plagues. Anything that is determined to be "unclean" can be purified. Anything can be purified under 20% Law power.
Saphy's mind raced as she read further. The skill could:
→Detect impurities in the physical body, spiritual essence, or magical constructs.
→Remove toxins, poisons, and infections at both cellular and magical levels.
→Dissolve curses, hexes, and malignant enchantments, leaving no trace behind.
→Purify corrupted mana or magical artifacts, resetting them to their original, harmless state.
→Neutralize demonic energy or dark magic within her Law comprehension.
A cautionary note blinked beneath the main description:
Overuse of Purification may severely drain mana. Extremely powerful or complex curses may require extended concentration or combination with other laws for full effect.
Saphy leaned back, blinking. "So… basically, I can make anything… clean. Like, really clean. Disease? Gone. Curse? Gone. Demon filth? Bye-bye."
She could practically feel the warmth of the skill emanating from her hands. It was subtle, comforting, and yet… awe-inspiring. Combined with her mastery of Light Law, the purification effect could radiate outward, cleansing areas, people, or objects.
Her mind immediately went to possibilities—and problems. "Hmm… if I accidentally purify someone's blood curse… that could be… messy. Or really impressive. Depends on the person, I guess."
A thrill ran down her spine. This was no longer just a new skill. This was a game-changer—a tool that could save lives, neutralize threats, and even turn the tide in battles where brute force alone wouldn't suffice.
Saphy's grin widened. "Okay, Purification… you and I are going to have a lot of fun together."
"Now it's your turn, True Healing!!'
Ding!!
True Healing. The final form of any healing-related skills or spells. There is nothing that can't be healed. The effectiveness of the healing depends on the amount of mana used. Even if the head is missing, as long as the body still contains life, it can be restored. Even deceased beings can be healed—but it cannot grant life to someone who is completely dead.
Saphy blinked at the glowing panel, her heart skipping a beat. This was… insane.
The skill could:
→Instantly close wounds, mend broken bones, and repair damaged organs.
→Stabilize critically injured or dying beings, restoring them to full health if enough mana is spent.
→Amplify the natural regeneration of magical creatures or beings with special physiology.
→Heal multiple targets simultaneously, limited only by the user's mana reserves.
A cautionary note flickered beneath the description:
Excessive use may completely drain the user's mana. Using the skill on multiple or extremely grievous injuries requires careful management to avoid exhaustion or magical backlash.
Saphy's fingers trembled slightly. "So… finally, I've got a proper healing skill," she muttered. Before, she'd had to rely on her control over Light Magic to mend injuries, which worked, but often required finesse—and frankly, it was tedious. She'd also seen healing-related spells in the library, but using them always felt like a chore.
Now, with True Healing, she could fix nearly anything, with the only limit being her mana. The sheer scale of its power was terrifying. One wrong move—or one moment of overconfidence—and she could easily exhaust herself or accidentally overheal.
She leaned back against the bed, a mix of excitement and apprehension washing over her. "This… this is ridiculous. I can heal almost anything. But wow… terrifyingly powerful. Yeah, I can see why people respect healers so much now."
Saphy's grin returned, tinged with mischief. "Alright, True Healing… let's see just how fun you can be. Hopefully without me accidentally nuking my mana in the first five minutes."
Saphy's eyes flicked to the next skill, Resurrection. The name alone made her stomach tighten. She held her breath as she tapped to view the description.
Ding!!
Resurrection. This is a skill that transcends human limits. It is proof that someone has broken the shackles of mortality. This skill can bring back the dead. Base mana cost is 100,000. Mana cost may increase depending on the strength and time of death of the person.
The description was simple, almost clinical—but the implications were utterly terrifying.
Saphy leaned back in her chair, heart racing. "Okay… wow. That's… that's on a whole other level." She could feel the weight of the skill even through its brief explanation. To actually bring someone back from the dead? That was… unnatural. Dangerous. And, frankly, not something she had any desire to test out for fun.
Life and death, she thought firmly, are the course of nature. Interfering recklessly could have consequences beyond imagination. She had no intention of using this skill unless it was absolutely necessary—if someone's life truly hung in the balance.
This skill wasn't just powerful. It wasn't just useful. It was abnormal, bordering on divine.
Saphy exhaled slowly, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "Yeah… definitely not playing God. Not today. Maybe… never, unless it's literally a life-or-death emergency."
Even as she said it, a shiver ran down her spine. The knowledge that such power existed in her hands was both exhilarating and terrifying. She made a mental note to treat Resurrection with the utmost caution.
"Alright," she muttered, forcing a grin, "next skill. Let's hope this one's less… soul-crushing."
Saphy took several deep breaths, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in her head. Once her heartbeat slowed, she moved her gaze to the next skill: Void Bullet.
Even from the name and the brief description, she could tell it was an offensive skill. Finally—a proper way to fight. Her hands twitched in anticipation.
"Let's check!!" she exclaimed.
Ding!!
Void Bullet
Concentrate Void energy to form a bullet shaped like a 50-caliber round and hurl it towards the enemy. Bullets can be made smaller if needed. Cannot be blocked by any means. Mana cost: 10,000.
Saphy stared at the panel, utterly speechless. Her jaw almost dropped. "Uh… wow. Okay… that's… way too broken."
She leaned back, trying to process the scale of it. A projectile attack that couldn't be blocked? That could pierce defenses effortlessly? And with a relatively low mana cost? Her mind immediately began racing with scenarios. A single well-placed Void Bullet could take down even powerful enemies. Combined with her other skills… she could be practically unstoppable.
A shiver of excitement ran down her spine. "Alright… Void Bullet. You and I are definitely going to have some fun." She grinned mischievously. "And maybe terrify a few people along the way."
Saphy leaned forward, already imagining how she might experiment with the skill—carefully, of course. After all, she didn't want to accidentally punch a hole through the palace walls… not yet.
Saphy stared at the full list of her new skills, blinking in disbelief. Each one was more abnormal than the last—more powerful, more terrifying, and… honestly, a little perverted in its sheer audacity. Purification could cleanse anything. True Healing could mend even the most grievous injuries. Resurrection could defy death itself. And Void Bullet… well, that could end anyone who dared oppose her without mercy.
She let out a long, low whistle. "Okay… this is insane," she muttered, half to herself, half in awe.
Her fingers traced over the glowing panel, almost reverently. The possibilities were endless. With these skills, she could protect, destroy, heal, and command in ways no ordinary being could ever dream of.
A foolish grin spread across her face. "I might as well take over the world."