“SKREE! SKRREEE.”
“Hee! I’m full now!”
After eating their fill, the hatchling and the girl patted their stomachs and quickly fell fast asleep.
Kranol smoked the remaining boar meat and packed it away neatly.
It was a cooking technique he had learned in the real world before transmigrating.
‘I never imagined it would prove useful like this.’
Meat smoked over a fire could be stored for extended periods.
The following morning, Kranol held it out to the hatchling as it stretched on all fours.
“Put this in your Subspace Storage.”
“SKRREEE.”
As though telling him to leave it to her, the hatchling opened a rift and stored the smoked meat inside.
The ability to place cumbersome belongings in a subspace was extremely convenient.
He could have purchased a Dimensional Backpack, but one of those cost as much as an entire castle.
That was far beyond what Kranol could afford when ninety-five percent of his income constantly vanished into the cost of medicinal herbs.
‘The hatchling has saved me a fortune.’
She truly was a little bundle of good fortune.
In any case, he had no money left after purchasing herbs and travel supplies before his departure.
However, he had obtained various pieces of loot while conquering the dungeon.
Selling them should provide him with a respectable income.
The next day marked exactly eleven days since the group began traveling together.
At last, the Birsi Territory appeared in the distance.
“Then I’ll go rest in my subspace. Call me when you need me!”
The girl flapped her black-and-white wings, opened a rift, and disappeared.
That was also a skill that opened a subspace.
However, it served a somewhat different purpose from the hatchling’s ‘Subspace Storage.’
‘The Subspace Shelter Skill. This is extremely useful as well.’
Living creatures could not enter Subspace Storage.
The Subspace Shelter was different.
It created a separate resting place for summoned creatures and spirits.
‘Both the hatchling and the girl attract too much attention because of their appearances.’
He could not constantly travel with the two children in plain sight.
The Subspace Shelter Skill solved that problem.
Whenever he entered a village or city, he could simply send them inside it.
Of course, it was not an omnipotent escape skill that could be used anywhere at any time.
There were limitations preventing entry during combat or in certain urgent situations.
Kranol nevertheless looked puzzled.
“Are you not going with her?”
“SKRREEE.”
The hatchling shook her head from side to side.
She seemed to be asking who would protect Kranol if she left as well.
‘She has Level 7 Invisibility, after all. It should be fine.’
With the invisible hatchling accompanying him, Kranol entered the territory.
Not long ago, he had made an Oath of the Star with the Lord of Birsi.
It was a promise sworn upon the Guardian Star of the relevant safe zone.
Anyone who broke such an oath would suffer ‘Divine Retribution’ from the Star.
‘The request was to purify the corrupted western region.’
It was naturally an exceedingly difficult task, but the rewards guaranteed by the oath were highly lucrative.
The magical Sky Boots, along with one additional wish of Kranol’s choosing.
To cure his madness, he needed to seize every reward he possibly could.
‘There is effectively no established cure. That only means I have to search even harder for a solution.’
Even the original story had never described a method of completely curing this madness.
Kranol had eventually lost his mind and died at the protagonist’s hands without ever being cured.
However, Kranol could not simply give up.
‘Miracles capable of curing incurable diseases exist in this world.’
The Dimensional Labyrinth, the Netherworld Pilgrimage, Time-Distortion Magic, the Philosopher’s Stone, the Holy Waterfall, and more.
Of course, reaching any such miracle required a life-threatening ordeal and constituted a tremendous trial in itself.
A person needed to rank among the strongest on the continent merely to approach one.
Therefore, Kranol first needed to complete the lord’s request and extract his reward.
‘Rapid profit and growth are my only means of survival.’
After reminding himself of his current objective, he continued walking.
The first place he visited was the territory’s smithy.
CLANG! CLANG!
Heat shimmered through the air as the sound of hammering metal rang out.
Near the large furnace inside, lightly dressed workers were laboring intensely.
They were melting large pieces of metal and pouring them into molds.
“Well now. I’ve occasionally seen your face around the Mercenary Guild. What brings you to our smithy?”
An elderly man emerged with a stained cloth tied around his hair.
Age had narrowed his shoulders and carved deep wrinkles into his face, yet his muscles remained sharply defined.
Kranol calmly explained his business.
“I came to commission the crafting of some equipment.”
“Oh? What do you want made?”
“A sword and a helmet. I also brought demonic beast materials to use in their construction.”
He then made a composed demand.
“They must be finished by this afternoon. I’ll take only six gold coins. Pay me in advance.”
“...What did you say?”
The elderly blacksmith scowled as though wondering whether he had misheard.
His reaction was only natural.
Kranol had come to commission equipment, yet he was demanding payment from the smithy.
He was asking them to perform difficult work while also paying him for the privilege.
“Are you trying to make a fool of me? We have more work than we can handle these days. I have no time to deal with a penniless troublemaker.”
The old blacksmith’s gaze was as fierce as one would expect from a man accustomed to hard labor.
Even the invisible hatchling appeared slightly frightened and pressed herself against Kranol’s side.
Kranol’s expression did not change.
It was true that he had no money, but he was not making an unreasonable demand.
“These are the materials I want you to use.”
Kranol took the loot he had placed inside his backpack.
Ten-Year-Aged Knight Ant Venom Fang (☆).
General Ant Head Carapace (☆).
They were items obtained from hunting demonic beasts inside the Vortex Cavern.
The old blacksmith’s attitude changed completely the moment he saw them.
“Oh my! These are Star-Marked materials? You should have said so from the beginning!”
His face immediately brightened.
Even his voice became friendly, and he swallowed audibly.
“SKREE?”
The hatchling clinging to Kranol’s side cried softly in confusion.
Kranol was unsurprised by the contradictory reactions.
‘Blacksmiths can receive a Guardian Star’s blessing by creating equipment from Star-Marked materials.’
Guardian Stars.
They were the Stars that looked down upon the human world from the firmament, even higher than the Celestial Realm.
Star-Marked loot represented objects that had attracted their interest or become favored possessions.
If such materials were transformed into beautiful works of art or powerful armaments, the craftsman could receive a blessing.
‘That is also why Star-Marked loot sells for such high prices.’
Naturally, materials with more stars provided greater blessings.
A higher star count meant the item was either more powerful or had attracted the attention of more Guardian Stars.
However, even the blessing granted by a One-Star item was not something that could be dismissed.
‘The smithy might produce unusually high-quality equipment for an entire month. Its tools might become resistant to rust. The metal content of its ores might increase significantly.’
The higher the quality of the finished product, the greater the blessing.
The resulting benefits could easily exceed the value of several gold coins.
That was why every smithy and artisan’s workshop coveted Star-Marked materials.
This was especially true in territories like Birsi, which were not major cities.
Adventurers who brought Star-Marked loot to commission equipment were exceedingly rare.
“I’ll have the finest craftsmen in our smithy handle the work. Be certain to return this afternoon!”
The elderly blacksmith accepted the materials with a beaming smile and paid the advance.
Despite being the one commissioning the equipment, Kranol walked away with six gold coins.
The hatchling was astonished that he had managed to make them work while also taking their money.
“SKRREEE.”
Kranol ignored her reaction and continued walking.
His next destination was the territory’s herbalist, which he frequently visited.
The moment Kranol opened the door, the owner made a commotion and shouted at an employee.
“You! Treat that gentleman with the utmost respect!”
“Urgh! Who is that young customer?”
“Who else? He is our finest regular customer!”
Kranol purchased an enormous quantity of herbs.
He also replenished his travel equipment, including a bow, lantern oil, and dried provisions.
By the time he returned to the smithy, the equipment he had commissioned was complete.
[Name: Venom Fang Sword]
[Grade: ★]
[Effect: A weapon forged with the ground fang of a ferocious demonic beast. The first time it cuts an enemy, the wounded area will invariably become poisoned. However, this may not affect opponents with high resistance.]
[Name: Ant Carapace Helmet]
[Grade: ★]
[Effect: A sturdy helmet crafted from the carapace of an unusual ant demonic beast. Experienced artisans painstakingly created this item. The wearer’s Strength increases by 50% when lifting heavy objects.]
“Thank you! If you ever need more equipment made, be certain to bring the commission to our smithy!”
Kranol equipped his new gear, restocked his medicinal herbs, and secured additional funds.
He adjusted the black leather Gloves of Demonic Energy on his hands.
It was time to purify the corrupted region.
***
Demonic energy seethed throughout the corrupted western region.
Contact with demonic energy made a person highly susceptible to infectious diseases and curses.
Remaining exposed to it for long periods was dangerous without protection such as holy water.
After all, this was the place where the mercenaries who accepted the request had died en masse.
Before properly entering the region, Kranol therefore summoned a powerful ally.
“Come out, Plumpy.”
....
“Plumpy.”
....
“Girl.”
“Did you call me, Mister?”
A rift opened, and the girl appeared before him while fluttering her black-and-white wings.
The corrupted region was filled with swamps and earth saturated with demonic energy.
A Phantasmal Being who carried the blood of both an angel and a demon was therefore perfectly suited to operate here.
“Hatchling! It might be dangerous for you, so stay inside my subspace!”
“SKRREEE.”
The curious hatchling entered the Subspace Shelter.
Kranol proceeded into the corrupted region with the girl.
The forest stretched endlessly before them, filled with foul mud and reeking swamps.
The stench was overwhelming.
“Mister, why did we come here?”
“We’re going to purify this place and restore it to a healthy forest.”
Demonic energy capable of harming living creatures permeated the entire forest.
It could not be distinguished with the naked eye, but certain patches of air drained the body’s strength and induced nausea.
Whenever that happened, Kranol held the black leather gloves out before him.
The Gloves of Demonic Energy.
They were Two-Star equipment possessing the Exclusive Skill, ‘Demonic Energy Absorption.’
[‘Demonic Energy Absorption’ has activated.]
[The demonic energy currently being absorbed will be converted into a random stat.]
[However, a limit exists, and infinite growth cannot be achieved.]
The previously invisible demonic energy took on a violet form and was drawn into the gloves.
That alone refreshed the surrounding atmosphere.
The gloomy swamps and putrid stench disappeared, and the unpleasant scenery gradually began turning green.
[You have absorbed the demonic energy of the Rotten Swamp.]
[It will become a foundational source for Luck (Lv. 1).]
[You must absorb it 3 more times to increase the corresponding stat’s level.]
‘Repeatedly absorbing the swamp’s demonic energy will allow me to raise a stat level.’
The higher a stat’s level, the more demonic energy was required.
The efficiency was not extraordinary, but it was still more than sufficient.
Equipment capable of permanently increasing stats was exceedingly rare.
Most importantly, demonic energy was abundant throughout the region.
[You have absorbed the demonic energy of the Murky Mire.]
[It will become a foundational source for Strength (Lv. 2).]
[You must absorb it 7 more times to increase the corresponding stat’s level.]
Kranol continued roaming through the forest and absorbing demonic energy.
However, some lakes contained such enormous concentrations that he could not safely approach them.
Even with Demonic Energy Absorption, their lethality was too high for him to enter recklessly.
The girl beside him, however, did something audacious.
SPLASH!
“Ahahaha! Mister, this lake is enormous! Do you want to come in too?”
“....”
The girl openly splashed around in the lake filled with demonic energy.
Because she carried a demon’s blood, demonic energy did not harm her in the slightest.
She was even playing in the water as though it were an ordinary lake.
‘Her bloodline truly is absurdly powerful.’
She was immune to demonic energy while also capable of wielding sacred power.
The young Phantasmal Being had inherited the advantages of both demons and angels.
‘Of course, that hybrid nature also comes with disadvantages.’
As a cross between a demon and an angel, she belonged to neither side.
That was not a problem yet, but the main story would expand into the Celestial Realm during Act Three.
Once the path to the heavens opened, she would become an abomination rejected by both factions before anyone else.
However, that remained a distant concern.
“This refreshing energy helps you, right, Mister? Then I’ll help!”
The girl flapped only her black wing.
Demonic energy gathered together and flowed toward Kranol, where it was absorbed by the gloves.
‘She can even manipulate demonic energy freely. This is outrageous.’
This was automated hunting taken to an entirely different level.
Thanks to her, he could rapidly absorb demonic energy that would otherwise have required him to wander around collecting it little by little.
[The required demonic energy has been fully accumulated.]
[A stat’s level has increased!]
[Strength (Lv. 2) → Strength (Lv. 3)]
The purification work should originally have required several months of roaming throughout the forest.
Instead, the region was becoming clean far more quickly than he had anticipated.
‘Another absurd little bundle of good fortune has fallen into my hands.’
Kranol held great expectations for the girl as well.
He wondered what manner of calamity she would become after growing and evolving.
He continued traveling with her while absorbing demonic energy.
They walked together, leaped over tree roots, and even splashed in the purified lakes.
Then, at last—
[You have formed a bond with the young Phantasmal Being, 『The Child of Celestial-Demonic Blood』.]
[The Hidden Trait, ‘Catastrophe Affinity,’ has activated in response to this calamity.]
[You can now copy the calamity’s Exclusive Skills.]
The Status Window he had been waiting for appeared before him.
Kranol could now experience the benefits of that overpowered bloodline for himself.