Sitting in my apartment, I hummed a small tune while reading the flyer the presumed familiar had dropped.
Definitely Rias’s.
We will grant a wish.
Not sketchy at all.
Very obvious occult symbolism and a strange-looking spell circle.
Most mundane people would probably see it as cult nonsense.
The people who didn’t were already in the know.
Or maybe they were fated to know?
Even if they were dregs at the bottom of the bottom, they still had more purpose than a background NPC that had barely been defined.
Still.
I kind of felt bad for them.
Being trapped like that and not even knowing.
I paused in silence for a few seconds.
Then I shook my head, looked at the flyer again, and tossed it to the side.
I pasted a Weak Yang Ward on top of it.
I hoped that could repel any surveillance.
I was probably caught regardless, but I wanted to meet them on my own terms.
Things would not always go as well as they had with my only friend.
I began to draw another talisman.
[Extremely Weak Yang Cleansing Charm] Effect: Slightly cleanses spiritual impurities.
Quality: Terrible.
Duration: 2 minutes, 20 seconds.
Sigh.
This one was way harder than the other, and I didn’t even want to use it.
I guess I would go back to trying to finish the quest by making Weak Yang Wards or whatever the System called them.
[…] Yes?
[The flyer has reacted to your talisman.] [Both have burned away.] Huh.
I should have guessed that putting a talisman that basically screamed “go away, bad stuff” on top of a literal demonic spell circle, presumably a teleportation one, would cause an issue.
Ugh.
— [Your magical energy is starting to run low.] [5/5 Talismans crafted.] [Quest completed!
Selecting rewards.] DING Ohhh this is always so exciting.
I see why gambling is so dangerous.
[Rewards chosen.] [Your magical energy has been completly restored and solidified.] [You have acquired: Apprentice stage Mana Core.] [A mana core is a genius invention of an unknown magician, presumed to be Merlin.
A mana core is a pseudo organ that acts as a core for refining magical energy from the air.
This reduces consumption of the Hosts Od and grants a magical energy Regen factor.] [It was said that in the past, anyone who wanted to learn magic had to produce a mana core.
The practice has been reduced to a myth.
A mana core hasn’t appeared since the time of King Arthur.] [Your mana core is reacting with the Nascent Dragon Soul.] [The nascent dragon soul shows interest in the mana core and is trying to enter it.
Allow?] Huh?
That was a lot.
A mana core huh?
How interesting!
Ancient magic!
But back on topic.
Will that harm me or the dragon soul?
[Inconclusive but unlikely.
The Dragon soul will fully integrate with your body and you will be soul bonded.] Which means?
[Answering Query…] [The Nascent Dragon Soul will use the Mana Core as an anchor.] [The Mana Core will become partially draconic in nature.] [Benefits:] [Increased magical energy refinement.] [Improved magical energy regeneration.] [Improved compatibility with draconic power.] [Potential future access to draconic body refinement.] [Drawbacks:] [The Nascent Dragon Soul will become permanently bound to Host’s existence.] [Damage to the Mana Core may harm both Host and Dragon.] [Host’s magical energy may develop draconic traits over time.] [Host’s instincts may be influenced by draconic impulses.] [Removal after integration is not advised.] I blinked.
“Draconic impulses?” [Territoriality.
Pride.
Hoarding behavior.
Combat aggression.
Protective fixation.] Oh.
That sounded inconvenient.
Also kind of awesome.
No.
Bad thought.
“So, not instant dragon organs?” [Negative.] “Damn.” [Host is advised to stop attempting to speedrun body horror.] “You’re no fun.” [Host has already attempted to make magical ink out of root paste.] Fair.
I stared at the notification.
A permanent bond with a baby dragon soul from an abandoned timeline.
I hope it understands what it is doing.
A pseudo-organ invented by Merlin.
A magical foundation that could slowly turn draconic if I let it.
That was a lot.
But it was mine.
Not stolen.
Not swapped.
Mine.
“…Allow integration.” [Confirmed.] [Apprentice Mana Core is integrating with Nascent Dragon Soul.] [Unwritten Boosted Gear has begun defining itself.] [New Trait Acquired: Draconic Mana Core.] [Warning: Host’s existence has become significantly more noticeable.] Because of course it had.