SWNOVELXO Chapter 80
TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 80
The ability I gained after being struck by lightning—Thunder.
As the name suggests, it is one of the Menace Abilities in the Soul World, “Lightning.”
Due to its nature, even if blocked, it isn’t truly stopped, and when it leads to an electric shock state, movements become sluggish.
Thanks to these overpowered characteristics and the unique charm of lightning, it is very popular. Most people choose Gulak solely because of Lightning.
“But I obtained it in a rather peculiar way.”
As far as I remember, the method to acquire Lightning is extremely simple.
All you need to do is offer high-quality tributes. Or, you can get close to Kara and receive her help.
In my case, it could be considered the latter. While Kara didn’t actively push for it, she did help me.
However, the message about my Faith increasing and the fact that Chaos intervened is practically half-confirmed.
“So, it wasn’t that you disliked me.”
It’s just that you’re mischievous; your heart leans closer to good. If you were evil, you would’ve sided with demons.
Still, I find Gulak a bit audacious. I can’t understand why he would strike me with lightning when I was perfectly fine.
Thanks to that, I did gain Lightning, but he could’ve used a more gentlemanly method. Now, it becomes troublesome every time I offer tributes.
“By the way, being chosen by Chaos and obtaining Thunder…”
This is also somewhat strange. Normally, in the Soul World, if you’re chosen by Chaos, you can’t choose another god.
Offering tributes at an altar or praying in a church would be meaningless. There shouldn’t be any response at all.
My memory is a bit hazy, but I recall even receiving a message saying nothing happened.
“Or maybe I was just mistaken.”
As I just mentioned, my memory is hazy. There might be parts I don’t remember.
They say, “What’s good is good.” Thunder has many uses, and as its rank increases, you even gain “Resistance.”
In other words, it means that the effects related to Lightning on me can be mitigated. In cases like Hector or Kara, they can even convert it entirely into mana.
“Could Gaia be the same?”
After obtaining Thunder from Gulak, I find myself desiring Gaia as well. As the god of life and earth, Gaia can grant direct healing abilities.
Being akin to a typical supporter, Gaia would be highly valued wherever I go. So, there’s no harm in learning.
However, unlike Gulak, you don’t offer tributes but must pray. This is quite demanding.
As demanding as it is, its potential is higher than Gulak’s, but the growth difficulty is nearly at the highest level.
“First, I need to figure out how to handle Thunder.”
I made it known to everyone that I had obtained Thunder. There was no reason to hide it, nor did I feel the need to.
“What? You got Thunder? Like me?”
“Didn’t Mr. Sivar say he was chosen by Lord Chaos?”
“A follower of Chaos with even the Blessing of Gulak?”
Naturally, everyone was astonished. I was surprised myself, so how could others not be?
To assure them, I extended my hand instead of answering. I had learned how to use Thunder after being struck by Lightning.
Crackle!
It wasn’t as strong as Kara’s, but fairly powerful Lightning flickered in my hand. Uniquely, it wasn’t blue but red.
The color itself was closer to a deep red, like mana, but it felt bright due to Lightning’s characteristics.
“The lightning… it’s red?”
“Isn’t Kara’s blue?”
Lee Yeonju and Grace exchanged puzzled looks. They were unaware of the existence of my Red Mana.
Rod had advised me to keep it hidden if possible, but these two were fine. They weren’t the type to carelessly spill secrets.
“Mine is blue. It’s probably influenced by mana. Sivar’s mana is red, you see.”
“Red mana? But mana is…”
“We know. Just don’t go around carelessly talking about it, alright?”
At Kara’s warning, Grace and Lee Yeonju silently nodded. Spreading it around wouldn’t benefit them anyway.
I gazed at the red Lightning flickering in my hand. With just this level of ability, I wouldn’t be able to execute a proper attack.
At best, it could enhance weapons like mana. If I used Ragnarok, its power would multiply.
[Ability: Compatible with Red Mana!]
Wait. Hold on. Why is this showing up now?
I quickly raised my head, startled by the sudden message.
The message appeared the moment I used Lightning. I grew anxious, wondering if even Thunder would disappear.
[Ability: Thunder’s rank has increased to A!]
“…Oh.”
Damn, this is amazing. Thunder’s rank skyrocketed in an instant.
A similar example would be Boxing, which once rose to rank B thanks to Wild Instinct.
But Thunder is even greater, reaching rank A. Its growth rate is extraordinary.
At this point, Kara’s Thunder stats should roughly be between S and SS.
I’m not sure what the true nature of Red Mana is, but for something that’s been condensed and engraved, it’s impressive.
“With this level…”
Could I land a blow on Rod or Rize? That thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Even Hector, whose martial prowess is far below Rod’s, has combat strength just one tier lower.
That single tier difference is still monumental, but it’s remarkable nonetheless. And I managed to claim victory against Hector.
Although it was a messy win due to Berserk triggering, we were evenly matched until then. So, I should be able to land an effective hit on Rod.
“At least I’ve surpassed Porori.”
The moment the truce ends, I’ll turn him into leather. That damn rat-like bastard.
Boom!!
Damn it.
Why do you hate me so much, Lord Gulak?
You cherish that wretched squirrel, yet you treat me worse than a beast.
[Faith Increases!]
As expected, there’s no one but Chaos.
*****
The fact that Sivar had obtained the Blessing of Gulak, Thunder, soon reached Rod’s ears.
Luna reported it as soon as all the field experiences(?) were over. Of course, she also informed him about the trouble Sivar caused today.
“I told him not to mess with things that aren’t his… Looks like I’ll have to teach him again.”
Rod sighed at the news of Sivar’s latest mishap, his expression filled with exasperation.
Luna let out a wry smile at his reaction. Moments like this made it clear that Rod had a soft spot for Sivar.
If he didn’t, he would’ve responded mechanically to the news of the mishap. Living under the same roof, it’s impossible not to grow attached.
“But it’s not without gains.”
“Gains?”
“Yes.”
Luna said this while glancing around. Currently, no one else was in Rod’s residence.
Sivar and the others had gone out for dinner. Luna stayed behind, saying she had something to discuss with Rod.
“Sivar takes a long time to eat, so…”
There’s plenty of time. Thinking this, Luna began to share information one by one.
“Sivar received the Blessing of Lord Gulak.”
“The Blessing of Lord Gulak? You mean Lightning?”
“Yes. It was red Lightning, but it was undoubtedly the Blessing of Lord Gulak.”
“Hmm. A follower of Chaos with the Blessing of Lord Gulak…”
Rod wore a contemplative expression. Even with his extensive experience, he couldn’t provide a clear answer to this unprecedented situation.
“This seems like something I should ask Rize about. This is her area of expertise.”
“Understood. Then next…”
This is the most important part. Luna, her expression tense, pulled something out of her pocket.
The item was none other than a Memorial Tower Model—the one Sivar had destroyed in the History Hall today.
When Luna placed the broken Memorial Tower Model on the table, Rod’s expression turned peculiar, as if questioning what it was.
“This is the model Sivar broke today.”
“Did they ask for compensation?”
“No. That’s not it… It’s because it’s a Demon’s Magic Circle.”
“…”
The air grew heavy at the mention of a Demon’s Magic Circle. Rod narrowed his eyes as he examined the model.
At first glance, it appeared to be a model based on the Memorial Tower. Geometric patterns were drawn on it, but these were also present on the actual tower.
It’s because it’s a sculpture with no color at all. It’s hard to suspect it as a Demon’s Magic Circle.
“…Is that true?”
“Yes. I’m certain.”
“As before, it seems you possess quite the peculiar ability.”
“… …”
Luna didn’t respond. She thought there wouldn’t be much point in answering.
If there was anyone to ask, it would be Rize, but she wasn’t here at the moment. She could ask her later.
Meanwhile, Rod carefully inspected the broken model. At a glance, it looked like an utterly ordinary model.
“To confirm whether this is truly a Demon’s Magic Circle… it seems Rize is the only one we can rely on. A small mercy amidst misfortune.”
“Is there no one else?”
“Even my trusted attending physician turned out to be a pawn of the demons. Who can I trust now?”
At his words, which could easily be perceived as sorrowful, Luna pressed her lips together. It was a statement that naturally left a bitter taste.
Rod, after examining the model for a long time, set it down again. Then, facing Luna directly, he spoke solemnly.
“If Rize confirms it, she’ll likely take notice as well. But as long as Rize remains at the Academy, the demons will abandon all their plans.”
“So even to demons, the Saint is a threat.”
“That’s part of it, but they’re probably waiting for the right moment. The current World Situation is dangerous.”
“Dangerous…”
Luna wasn’t foolish. She had heard plenty from her surroundings. The movements of the Hwan Empire were unsettling, and a revolution had erupted in Santia, among other things.
The current World Situation was spiraling into chaos. Relations between the Matra Empire and the Granara Empire were growing more hostile, and skirmishes of various sizes were breaking out everywhere.
Though the Academy was a strictly neutral zone, even here, if a major incident were to occur, it would cross an irreversible line.
“Perhaps the demons are targeting the Academy for this reason. Bringing down the Last Bastion, the Academy. If that happens, the world will no longer hesitate to plunge into war. After such a long period of peace, there’s much to be resolved through war.”
“Does it have to be war?”
“Since ancient times, conflicts that couldn’t be resolved with words have been settled through violence. It’s been the same since the dawn of civilization. The demons are likely exploiting that.”
“Hmm…”
War.
For Luna, who had lived in peace, it was a distant and alien concept.
If the demons truly aimed to incite humans to fight among themselves, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
But if they tried to stop it outright, the demons could simply feign ignorance and withdraw. Other nations would dismiss it as nonsense and move on.
“For now, the only option might be to let the demons proceed with their plan. Only then will they be recognized as a common enemy.”
“…Are you saying we should aim to minimize the damage?”
“To ensure a smooth operation, sometimes sacrifices must be made. However, if we can eliminate more of these Magic Circles, we can reduce the damage.”
A typical approach of sacrificing the few for the many. Regrettable, but unavoidable for the future.
If the demons weren’t recognized as a common enemy, it would be a never-ending cycle. Luna had no choice but to accept this.
Still, there was a way to prevent as much damage as possible. As Rod said, they just needed to find more of the demons’ Magic Circles.
“…Understood. I’ll do my best to locate as many Magic Circles as I can.”
“Got it. In the meantime, I’ll focus on the decoding. The herbs Ellie found have been effective.”
“How are you feeling now? Are you all right?”
“About 80%. A little more rest, and I should be fine.”
That was a relief. With Rod able to use his Navy-Colored Magic, he would be a significant asset.
“Oh, right. About Sivar’s adaptation period…”
Clatter-
Before Rod could finish speaking, the door swung open. It was a relaxed moment since everything important had already been said.
Beyond the wide-open door, Sivar and his group naturally entered. Up to this point, everything was fine.
However, for some reason, Sivar was at the very front. Normally, he should have been at the very back.
Step- Step-
To make matters worse, he strode forward with large steps. Though his face was innocent, his considerable bulk gave the illusion of a giant approaching.
As Luna and even Rod were visibly flustered, Sivar spoke confidently.
“Grandpa Rod.”
“Uh, hmm?”
Not just his name, but even adding “Grandpa” to it. Sivar had perfectly adhered to the “etiquette” Rod had emphasized.
“Fight me.”
The words that followed, however, were far from courteous.
Rod was left speechless after hearing those words. The others were no different.
Perhaps because it was so out of the blue, Rod stared blankly for a moment before quietly asking Luna.
“Did he get struck by lightning and lose his mind?”
“… …”
Luna couldn’t answer either. She was so dumbfounded that she was at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, Sivar revealed what he wanted.
“One punch, one candy.”
This was a moment that called for an etiquette enforcer.