The Dragon Blessing was one of the few traits that made the dragon race so tricky. Unlike the Dragon Speech, this Blessing could be recorded on other races. However, the number of these cases could be counted on both hands. One must accumulate a certain friendship with the dragon tribe and overcome a hidden quest in that state to penetrate it.
If you choose a dwarf as a character, with whom they do not get along, you will not even have the opportunity to try.
Of course, I was a barbarian, not a dwarf, but I had actually renounced the Blessing. The hidden search conditions were crazy in themselves, but according to my research, these searches had practically disappeared by this time. They had spent one hundred and fifty years in the game universe. The problem that was a headache for the dragon tribe in the history books was claimed to have been solved by a certain hero.
Wait, if you can do that for this, doesn't that mean the others aren't impossible either?
I remembered the few hidden pieces that were already blocked and organized my thoughts. Maybe it was still possible to take those routes. Even if that wasn't the case, there were things that were completely blocked by the game system.
«I'm just telling you just in case, but you can't choose multiples. Like a barbarian, your body won't be able to handle it».
«What do you mean my body won't be able to handle it?»
«Just like I said. You would die».
Hmm, so that wouldn't work. I could try if I insisted, but I had no intention of being so stubborn. The price was my life, after all. I heard that the number of people recording more than two Blessings was only a few, including Mr. Dragon. That was how much it cost the body.
«So, your decision? I can give you more time if you want».
«No, it's okay. I will continue with this». I shook my head and smiled. That was because the decision was made before I arrived.
Blessing of the Sea Dragon: not this, for sure. Soul power was an important resource, but if I distributed it properly for a hunt, I wouldn't feel like I was missing anything. It wasn't like I was a sorcerer in the first place. I just needed the minimum.
The Volcano Dragon Blessing was not bad. As the skill mix was adjusted for growth, the performance improvement would not stop at 30% and would be even greater.
«I will receive the Blessing of the Earth Dragon».
However, in the end I decided that it was better to increase stats than skills. The reason was simple. Many of my skills depended on statistics. If the statistic went up 20%, the skill's performance would be much higher.
«Good choice. I assume you are being aware of him». Mr. Dragon nodded at my choice. I seemed to think I was considering the dragon slayer in my decision, so I just agreed. After all, it's not that I didn't have that thought.
Silence of the Soul, Vagos' damned Cheating Dragon Speech, reduced MPs to zero and prevented one from using his abilities, which is why I had to fight him with the naked body. However, if you asked me if this was the deciding factor in my decision, it wasn't that either. The Earth Dragon Blessing had a hidden effect.
But there's no way these guys don't know...
I narrowed my eyes at Mr. Dragon and the boy. However, I wasn't particularly disappointed. They wouldn't have the loyalty to say that to someone of another race. For starters, I didn't need that kind of consideration on his part.
«That's all, then. I leave you with it». Once the decision was made, Mr. Dragon stepped aside with a delighted smile. «Have a good time with my daughter».
Man, that sounds bad.
After Mr. Dragon left, the boy and I talked until nightfall. The main topic of conversation was about my explorations so far.
«Do I have to talk about myself?»
«That would be the best. I told you before, there is power in words. The more you talk about your way of life, the easier it will be for me to detect your wavelengths».
«If you say so».
This was more comfortable for me than mindless rambling, so I told him my story while I leaked some things. It hadn't even been a whole year since I became an explorer, but I had more to tell him than I thought. Would it be because of that?
«It's already getting dark, how long until?».
We had even had dinner during the conversation and it was already night, but I figured it still wasn't enough to record the Blessing.
«...Not yet. Your wavelengths are strangely difficult to read. Yes... so keep telling me what you were saying».
«How far did I tell you?»
«Doppelganger Forest. You told me until you met the other explorers and realized that some of them were from the underground city».
Having arrived at this place in broad daylight and talking all day, he had already reached the latest events. After this, I had nothing left to talk about. I was a little worried, but when I told him honestly, it seemed like there was no need to read my waves anymore.
«Hmm, I think this is enough».
«Does that mean?»
«Follow me. Now I will engrave the Blessing on your body».
When I followed the boy inside, I saw a cave hidden behind a thin cloth.
A cave connected to the wall of a building, huh? It feels like I'm on a scan or something.
Upon entering the cave for a few minutes, a cavity of about forty square meters appeared, containing a bed and some furniture. The jewels embedded in the ceiling created soft light and smoke, giving the impression of a mystical space.
«Now, lie down here».
«The bed is too small to lie down on. I'll lie down on the floor».
When I lay coldly on the ground, like a barbarian, the boy chuckled and began to prepare to engrave the Blessing on my body. It didn't take long. It took the form of a tattoo, but ultimately the core of a Blessing was the shaman's special ability.
«Where do you want it?»
«How big is it?»
«More or less like this. The girl extended the palm of her hand and showed it to me. It was much smaller than I thought.
«Does location matter?»
«No, it doesn't matter. Why do you ask?»
«I want to record it in a place where others can't normally see it». After all, it was the Blessing of another race. Until I became chief and changed the tribe's rules, I would be in trouble if I was discovered.
«...Somewhere others can't see it?» Something came to the girl's mind and her gaze naturally moved towards a place. Then he grimaced. «That... is going to be a little difficult».
When I followed his line of sight, I was really scared. Holy God. Who the hell had gotten a tattoo there?
«...I can do it up to the ass area.»
Yes of course. «Okay, do it here». I told him the place I had in mind from the beginning.
«The sole of the foot? Oh, I see...» This world was closer to a Western culture. Since they wore shoes inside the house, there was almost no reason to show their bare feet.
The boy seemed convinced before expressing a doubt. «But I can't engrave it between your tattoos? I don't think it's noticeable much. Don't you always wear armor?».
«The shaman will notice».
«Ah, suongo.»
Of course, considering the shaman's personality, I wouldn't bother about it. But I still wanted to hide it as much as possible. It was unknown how things would end in the future, and the shaman was strangely distrustful.
«That's all, then. I can start?»
«Of course.»
«Dolerá a lot».
«Nothing happens. Finish quickly if you can». Despite the boy's warning, I didn't worry too much. Could it be as painful as the Soul Impression? Even if pain resistance didn't work on me, I wasn't afraid. «I'm a barbarian». Barbarians were those who always advanced after a fight.
«Hmm, is that right?» The boy smiled ambiguously before taking out a white flame on his finger.
¡Chhhhhh!
He spoke as he burned the sole of my foot with the fire. «You can scream».
Oh, ¿es así?
[The Blessing of the Earth Dragon dwells in your soul. All additional stats increase by 20%].
I screamed at the top of my lungs, «Aaaaaargh!» This was not the time to worry about the barbarian face.
***
[Bjorn Candle]
Level: 5
Physical: 555 / Spiritu: 198 / Special Ability: 191
Item level: 3,068
Overall combat power: 1,907.6 (New +176.6)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem – Rank 7 /Orc Hero – Rank 5 / Ogre – Rank 3 / Manticore – Rank 5
***
The process of engraving the Earth Dragon Blessing on the sole itself was short. Did it take maybe three minutes? Compared to the Soul Impression, which could take hours, it was only a moment. However, the time consumed was similar at the end. That was because as soon as it was over, I lost consciousness.
«Are you awake?»
When I slowly opened my eyes, I could see the boy sitting against the wall, reading a book. «...I must have fallen asleep».
«Haven't you fainted? Very funny, really».
I ignored his mockery and checked the time first. It was 9 in the morning, time to start a new day.
«They were».
I poured the water he had given me again and got up. I was very tired mentally, but I felt great vitality in my body. Since my stats had gone up 20%, I couldn't help but notice the difference. I was already looking forward to it. Aside from the corpse golem, my number of rank 5 or higher essences was currently only three. Just by filling in those gaps, my stats would increase as much as with a high-ranking essence.
«Boy.»
«Penityaurs are.»
Don't you want to be called a child?
«Okay, Penitaseauros.» Even as he recited her name, as she requested, it felt strange. Was it supposed to be a human or dinosaur name?
«... Just call me Pen.»
«Okay, Pen. Anyway, is it over yet?»
«Yeah. Fortunately, it ended well. But just in case, come visit me another time when you can. I had never recorded it in another race, so there could be side effects».
«Okay, if I have time».
«Make time. I've already told dad».
Giving it a half «okay», we both left the cave. To get back to where I was, I asked for the Dragon Lord's whereabouts.
«Dad will be where you were first. Do you want me to guide you?».
«I can find it myself».
After receiving guiding lessons from Rotmiller, he hoped to memorize the path. Just as I was about to leave, his voice came from behind me. «Sorry.»
«¿Eh?»
«I said I'm sorry. Yesterday... For being sincere and calling you ugly».
I chuckled. I was confused if this was an apology or looking for another fight, but as an adult, I decided to simply point out the facts. «I'm not ugly».
"¿What?
«I'm handsome like a man».
Pen watched me silently before nodding slightly. «...Okay.»
It seemed that he had managed to instill in her the correct ideology of beauty before the world stained her. «Until next time. Then I'll tell you more stories».
«...Okay.»
Saying goodbye to Pen, I went in search of Mr. Dragon. So after handing over the Dragon Slayer sword, I returned to the sewer I was originally in through Dragon Speech. The familiar smell of dirt made all appetite disappear. Contemplating for a moment whether to go back and get some sleep, I hurried my steps.
It really is connected to the city.
Just as I heard Amelia say, when I followed the secret tunnel, an exit appeared that led to the city. It was in District 8, next to District 7, where I lived. Initially, I was going to meet with Missha and Ainar to find out their current situation, but I was too tired for that.
Anyway, I'll see you in a few days.
I covered my face with the hood I had brought and bought the skewer Jingjing asked for before returning.
«Here is the skewer from the store you mentioned. I asked them for the spiciest flavor like a man». He stared. «Why don't you say anything? You're not happy?»
«...I'm happy.»
«Too quiet.»
«I'm very happy!» Jingjing rejoiced greatly, making it worth dragging my tired body to bring it back. Seeing this, I was able to take a weight off my shoulders. Now that he had warned him that he could return at any time, Bifron would not return to his previous state overnight.
«Are you crying?»
«It's... because the skewer... is spicy...»
«Tsk. It's because you cry so easily that your hair falls out».
«True...»
«Now I'm going to sleep, so don't wake me up.»
Having slept almost an entire day since my return, I spent more time sleeping as if I wanted to enjoy my last vacation. Thus time passed and the day finally arrived.
«¡Behell-aaaaaaaaaaa!»
It was the end of the short, but long, exile. Receiving an enthusiastic farewell from all the members of the organization, I headed to the city wall. I also had a moment of farewell with Jingjing.
«I will visit you from time to time».
«Yes boss! We will be waiting for you!» Still, Jingjing seemed to have regained a lot of his mental state from day one. After insisting again on keeping the passage secret between the two of us, I called the guard on the wall.
«Bjorn, son of Yandel. Confirmed».
So I walked into the checkpoint and went through a simple identification process. Once finished, the guard opened the door from the other side of the double door structure.
«A gentleman from Mozlan left you a message. He said don't get in trouble».
What problems? It was because of his problem that I got stuck here when I should have ended up with a fine. I grumbled as I entered the city and took a deep breath. Even the air seemed different here. Strangely, even the sunlight seemed warmer today.
...But where is everyone?
Upon returning to the city after twenty days of exile, I stayed on the street for a while, distracted. Even after a few minutes, none of my teammates showed up. Wow, I was hoping you'd come out and say hello.
Well, they wouldn't have found out the time.
I hurriedly grabbed a car and headed to the inn. As soon as I came back I knocked on Missha's door.
¡Bang, bang!
Even after several knocks, the door did not open. I couldn't hear anything inside either.
Hey? Is out?
We might have gotten lost when he came out to greet me. That's what I was thinking when a door opened.
Bang.
It was Ainar's room, not Missha's. «Bjorn...!» Ainar greeted me urgently, it seemed as if he had just woken up. Somehow, a sense of disparity blossomed.
¿What?
At first it started in the subconscious, but I soon realized what the cause of that disparity was. If Missha had come out to greet me, Ainar wouldn't be here alone, because I would have brought her with her.
«Why...! Why did it take you so long?»
«Calm down and tell me what happened». Suppressing my growing anxiety, I first asked what was going on.
«Missha...! Misha has been kidnapped!»
Something had gone wrong during my absence.