Chương 148: Chapter 146

"Are you channeling through the Median Sky Vein in your brain?" Jacob repeats.

"What?"

"Am I having a stroke?" Jacob says.

"Am I not pronouncing it correctly?"

"I hear it good, Boss," Jacob's squire says.

"Professor?" Jacob turns toward Veythra again.

"Did you just say the Median Sky Vein?" Veythra trembles on the spot.

"Yeah?" That's exactly where I'm starting the Skill Loop. How the hell does he know?!

"Yes, Cloud. Why?"

"I just happen to have read something on this Skill. The Median Sky Vein is creating a massive imbalance in the way you channel your Skill. It's a vein we usually use for Ocular Skills, but the problem with that is that you're defaulting to it for that very reason. Instead, you should try the Nether Vein."

"You want me to start channeling an Ocular Skill through my lower abdomen, Cloud?" Veythra frowns.

"Are you stupid? I could blind myself. There's too much negative energy that--""Loop it thrice through the set of Nether Veins in your lower abdomen and groin, then pass it once through the most central Heavenly Heart Vein. That should solve the biggest problem." Veythra is about to offer a rebuttal when she frowns. All the negative energy accumulated in the Nether Veins would be partly purified by the Heavenly Heart Vein. That can't be, though, can it? This would...

She takes a deep breath and, against her better judgment, does what Jacob Cloud just suggested. She can feel a cold sensation forming in her lower abdomen and she grits her teeth as she starts channeling the Skill. If I go blind, I'm killing this stupid kid. She's an unparalleled expert when it comes to Mana circulation and soon she perfects which Nether Veins she should use. Right after, she starts circulating that very cold Mana into her centermost Heavenly Heart Vein.

After that, she brings it to the vein path that she used to follow before. This is a Skill that only the greatest experts among Infernals manage to master. Most of the Royals, including her very sister, haven't yet mastered it. And it's too much bad karma to have an expert teach you what they discovered themselves, therefore Veythra has been struggling for a decade to find a way to resolve the problems within the Skill since it's going to be so important for her next Class Rank-up.

When she opens her eyes, she expects a stinging sensation and the feeling of blood dripping down her cheeks. Yet, she sees the world in a much clearer light than before. And she can feel the Skill's main ability, which allows her to channel Mana in the real world through her eyes in an instant and then... [Devilish Sight (Mithril) - Level 14 > Level 45] Veythra takes a DEEP breath before looking toward Jacob Cloud. WHO IS THIS DAMN KID?!

"Did it work?" Jacob asks innocently.

"If you're channeling it through the Supraorbital Straight Veins, by the way, I recommend you try to switch it to the Infraorbital Fire Veins. It's unorthodox, I know, but..." Veythra tunes him out and immediately follows his advice. [Devilish Sight (Mithril) - Level 45 > Level 53] She takes an even deeper breath.

"That's as much as I know about the Skill, though," Jacob says.

"I'm sorry, I hope it's enough." YOU'RE SORRY?! THIS IS... THIS IS PRICELESS! I COULD SELL THIS KNOWLEDGE FOR SO MUCH I WOULDN'T NEED TO TEACH, ADVENTURE, OR EVEN DO ANYTHING FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! Shook, Veythra nods ever so slowly.

"Sure. This is enough."

"So, I just have to wait for Iskara to come back and then I go into a Dungeon with her? Is that it?"

"That is it…" Veythra says, not even bothering to try and obstruct Jacob Cloud's future anymore. She's too shell-shocked by the fact that she just gained fifty levels in a Mithril-Ranked Skill that is renowned for being incredibly difficult to level up. She cannot fathom how Jacob just did that.

"I will inform Iskara," Veythra says, still mentally looking at her Skill to make sure her eyes didn't betray her.

"So what exactly do I need to do?" Jacob asks.

"There's a Dungeon I wanted you to explore. It's a small Dungeon with an Intermediate Diamond Rank Boss."

"Wouldn't Iskara be able to take care of that alone?" Jacob asks. Veythra shakes her head.

"The problem is not the Boss. There are Early and Intermediate Diamond Rank Shadow Mimics infesting the Dungeon. Plus, there's a restriction on level. Only those at Early Platinum Rank and below can enter the Dungeon."

"The Boss," Veythra continues, "has some very interesting drops. Even for someone like me. I want you to bring me every single material that it leaves behind after its death. And I want my niece to come along with you and whomever you might choose for this mission." Veythra doesn't want to make it too obvious that she wants Iskara and Jacob to get closer. It isn't a matter of the heart as much as it is a matter of Karma for her.

She recognizes that Jacob Cloud is destined for something big—not necessarily good, but most definitely big. There is no way that this boy will be a nobody in the future. And hitching her own niece's Karma on his will ensure that Iskara goes through great events. Even if Jacob Cloud dies, that won't damage Iskara—if anything, it will still expose her to the windfalls of Jacob Cloud's Karma. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Sure," Jacob replies, shifting his weight and glancing around the room as if expecting something more.

"Is there anything else?"

"No, Jacob Cloud, that is all." * It is fascinating that all it took to convince Professor Veythra was to show her the flaws in her own Skill. I mean, I get it. She was probably stuck on that for a while and for me to just solve her problem... maybe she took it as a stroke of luck. However, even though I have the Headmaster protection, I don't want to push it. The less people know about my Rainbow Skill, the better.

Not even the Headmaster can be in all places at all times and I don't want someone to abduct me and try to steal my Skill. I don't think that King Baalrek will always be capable of saving my life like he did with Orrivane's aunt. * Three days later, I walk around the courtyard close to my dorm and I find Orrivane and Lancelot talking to each other and eating together. Surprisingly enough, the good-natured, lazy nature of Orrivane jives perfectly with Lancelot's.

What I find interesting, however, is not just the fact that they seem to have become friends, but there's a clear hint of respect in Orrivane's eyes for Lancelot. I know that he saw how strong Lancelot is, but it really feels like Orrivane saw something that even I haven't seen. I wonder what. But I don't worry too much about it.

"Jacob," Orrivane says, yawning.

"Iskara has come back. Also, you have a visitor." He points toward a shaded part of the courtyard and I see none other than Nimirea, the Elf. I walk up to her and I take stock of her new looks. Nimirea was pretty before, even in rags. But now that she's wearing an emerald green tunic and her hair is clean and gathered in a bun over her head, despite her tomboyish appearance, she's...

"My father came to visit."

"Huh?" I say, distracted.

"Sir Renquell?"

"I had not seen him in... a long time. My mother is a human. By protocol, he's not allowed to see a bastard, half-Elf heir he sired." The revelation washes over me and I raise an eyebrow, "I didn't know about that. It seems like Elves have a bunch of rules that should be changed."

"That's putting it lightly," Nimirea says, studying me from head to toe.

"He mentioned you, actually. Several times. He sees his daughter for the first time in almost a decade and he spends as much time making sure I was alright to ask about you. I didn't have much to tell him, however, since I don't know you."

"Other than I saved your life," I reply cheekily.

"Other than you saved my life," she nods.

"I have yet to thank you." She bows at me and gives a couple of coughs, embarrassed.

"The Headmaster told me that the only way for me not to be assassinated as soon as I put my foot outside the Academy is to enroll in the first-year. I had never planned on doing so. Only nobles and good-hearted idiots join the Knights thinking they'll be changing the world. I've always taken a more direct approach."

"Domestic terrorism, civil wars, and slaughter?" I ask.

"All good approaches," Nimirea nods curtly.

"I don't know about that, but sure. So, the Headmaster convinced you to join the Academy. Now, you'll be bound by Knights' rules, though. There are Oaths, etc."

"I will be bound by nothing and no one if I'm willing to die for what's right."

"Errr, sure," I say. She's one intense person, I suppose.

"So, why did you want to see me? If it was just to thank me, that's... I appreciate it. But I've also just done what was right in those circumstances. It wasn't about you, specifically. It was about justice." I see Nimirea narrowing her eyes and clenching her fists. I hear a slapping sound and I turn to see Lancelot slapping his forehead and Lancelot bending on his knees, looking at the ground and shaking his head. What's up with them? You truly understand NOTHING of the female kind, Jacob Cloud. What?

What did I say? You are hopeless. But lucky. Perhaps, a woman will one day force you into marriage. I don't see many other paths to you spawning children. Unless you can learn to do that on your own.

"I'm glad to know that you would have helped just about anyone in that situation. That is very noble of you."

"Thank you," I say.

"I would have indeed helped anyone." I hear another slapping sound and now Orrivane groans out loud. I see Nimirea's face becoming redder and I'm starting to get very confused about this whole thing.

"Anyway," I say, trying to salvage the situation.

"What can I do for you?"

"I need money," Nimirea says.

"Ok?"

"The Headmaster told me I must adventure on Quests with you."

"He said what now? Why would--" I feel a slap on the back of my neck which almost makes me faceplant and Lancelot, who's run up to my side, speaks on my behalf.

"What he means to say, milady," Lancelot says, keeping a steady hold of me and making me look to the ground in a half-bow, "is that he's honored to have you. We are about to leave for an Elite Dungeon, in fact. And we'd be happy to share the rewards with you."

"He was raised in a mine, milady," Orrivane says with the same mannerism of Fatty while kicking my heel.

"He doesn't know any better. You should forgive his bad manners."

"That makes sense," Nimirea sighs.

"I'll be happy to join. I don't mean to impose, however. I will be pulling my weight. When do we leave and who do I have the pleasure to fight along?"

"I am Lord Orrivane Nyxmoor," the Void Mage says.

"Champion. Void Mage. Breaker. This other fellow, instead..."

"I'm Lancelot and I'm Boss Jacob's Squire. I'm a..." Lancelot finally releases me and whispers, " what am I, again?"

"Dead," I say, cracking my neck and staring daggers at him.

"You're dead."

"He loves to joke," Lancelot says.

"I'm good at attack and defense, both. Maybe a bit more defense than attack? I have a thick layer of muscles all around as you can see. They're very good at blocking spells and blows."

"Muscles? A thick layer of--""We'll be leaving for an Elite Dungeon soon. We just need to fetch another Champion, milady Nimirea," Orrivane says, but then he suddenly stutters.

"O--oh. Wait. Milady, we need a word with Jacob. There are some... arrangements we need to take care of before leaving. We'll be back with you shortly." They drag me away from Nimirea before Orrivane puts his hands in his hair.

"You're dead. I didn't realize it yet, but you're dead, dead."

"Why would I be dead?"

"Iskara is about to see that you saved Nimirea," Lancelot realizes.

"And?" I ask, confused.

"What about that?"

"She's going to be jelly," Lancelot chimes.

"Jelly?"

"Jealous," Orrivane says pensively.

"Maybe... you should apologize in advance."

"For..."

"Saving Lady Nimirea," Orrivane explains as if it was completely normal.

"You want me to apologize to Iskara for saving Nimirea? Ok. Riddle me this. Why is that even a thing?" Lancelot and Orrivane look at each other.

"He's dead," the Void Mage says." Dead, dead," Lancelot nods along.