A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 92

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 92

The voice did not reach my ears.
Bailys’s voice—or more precisely, the will he sought to convey—resonated directly within my mind.

-My strength has returned, however faintly.

This meant my first objective was essentially complete.

-Indeed, one who defies the laws of this world stands apart.

“…Is that so?”
One who defies the laws.
From Beta tester to Eternal Adventurer, all of them were irregulars who transcended the game’s rules, so his observation was hardly inaccurate.
Beyond that, Bailys seemed to possess considerable knowledge about the Adventurer.

-Adventurer Kael. The sustenance you offered carried the essence of life itself. I could even sense a faint trace of soul within it.

“I see.”
Bailys had not fully recovered.
It meant I would need to return here several more times.
Beyond the Quest itself, there was the anticipation that completely restoring Bailys’s power would grant me a formidable ally.
Therefore, for the sake of our future relationship, I resolved to continue cultivating his favor.
“Did the food suit your palate? If there is anything you particularly enjoyed, I shall bring more next time.”

-Such an offering is unprecedented. Every morsel pleased me.

“Then I must select something even finer for my next visit.”

-You intend to return to this place? You have already obtained what you sought.

“Hmm?”
All I had received from this place was a single Legendary-grade buff.
While this buff aligned with my desires, its four-hour duration made it a limited reward.
Yet Bailys seemed certain that I had already acquired what I truly wanted.

-Normally, one would require a period of training, but you have already attained enlightenment. Therefore, there is no need for you to return to this place.

I grasped the gist of it.
Bailys appeared capable of detecting buffs that persisted indefinitely.
Or perhaps she could sense buffs she had cast directly.
“That’s separate from this matter. I’ve simply grown curious. Besides, I’ve already promised substantial investment in Ath Village.”

-…In Ath Village?

“Yes. I wish to advance the practice of shamanism.”

-You walk a different path than the adventurers I have observed.

“Is that so? My pursuits simply differ, I suppose.”

-Young foreign adventurer. What do you pursue?

The atmosphere grew solemn, yet the question itself was straightforward.
My aspirations had solidified by now.
“Wealth and renown.”

-Kekeke! An amusing answer. And not a lie, no less.

There was no reason to embellish my words.
I had come to understand the true power wielded by wealth and renown.
“I shall advance shamanism and develop Ath Village itself, then deploy merchants I’ve cultivated to generate profit.”

-So that is your answer, Kael.

“It is.”
As I spoke, Bailys began to expand in size.
Had I made some mistake?

-Good. From this moment, this space is granted to you as well. Adventurer Kael.

The colors surrounding me began to swirl wildly.
The entire space trembled in resonance.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
“Hm?”
I felt some force being absorbed into me.
The status window message provided the answer.

[Great Achievement!]
[You receive powerful recognition from the Shamanic Origin!]
[The special status ‘Curse Force’ is created.]
[You are now able to harbor Curse Force within your body.]
[Curse Force is used in all shamanic arts and participates in interactions related to shamanic entities.]

Curse Force.
A special status had been added alongside Mana and Eternity.
However, unlike Mana which I had felt emanating from my heart, Curse Force radiated from my mind.

-Kael. Manifest the color.

“The color?”

-Concentrate your Curse Force and draw it out.

“I’ll try.”
I focused all my senses on the Curse Force dwelling in my head, that foreign sensation.
Having already wielded Mana before, and with the benefit of game-like assistance, it wasn’t impossibly difficult.
‘So this is how it works.’
I moved the Curse Force with the sensation of drawing it outward.
The color radiated forth.
A brilliantly luminous golden hue at that.
“…This is.”

-Golden light. Such golden entities are quite rare indeed.

“Is that unfavorable?”

-It’s uncommon. Red, blue, and yellow are the majority. Most of the Shamans in Ath Village connected to you manifest yellow.

In a sense, gold was also within the yellow spectrum.
It could be seen as a slightly more radiant shade of yellow.
If so, the shamanic entities I had witnessed in the village were likely connected to yellow as well.
From that perspective, the communication problem would likely be resolved.
“May I ask a question?”

-Speak.

“What are the characteristics of yellow?”

-Yellow symbolizes swiftness. Most shamanic entities associated with yellow are fast. Additionally, it has the characteristic of sharpening the practitioner’s senses even further.

“Speed and perception, then.”

-The children of Ath Village bearing yellow hues are the reason my existence has persisted all this time. I was fortunate. There have been times like this before.

Beyond this, I learned many things from Bailys.
How my existence was sustained through the periodic rituals of the Shamans,
and how at some point, instead of food, strange dolls and odd things like nails began to be offered as sacrifices, which I reluctantly permitted—various tidbits of information like that.
Having spent decades alone in this space, it seemed Bailys had been starved for conversation.
“Is it perhaps impossible for you to leave this place?”

-It would have been impossible originally, but not anymore.

“Pardon?”

-Adventurer Kael. I believe that one day, you will make it possible. Your potential seems superior to any other adventurer I’ve encountered.

Bailys had immediately recognized my permanent buff.
Eternity was undoubtedly a high-tier status in anyone’s assessment, and I shared that opinion.
As the very source of shamanic power, Bailys would naturally understand the pinnacle of shamanism.
If so, then Bailys’s words about eventually manifesting in reality must also be true.
“I will live up to your expectations.”

-Then do so.

A legendary buff intimately connected to shamanism.
And the core power of the Shamans themselves.
I had already obtained more than I could have hoped for.
All that remained was diligent cultivation.
“How would I revisit this place?”

-Hmm.

For some reason, Bailys did not answer immediately, seeming to contemplate something.
And the answer that followed was—

-Offer me delicious food five times.

“How should I offer it?”

-Infuse the food with your essence, and once you’ve made five such tributes, I shall open the door.

I grasped Bailys’s underlying intention.
It seemed the meal I’d prepared had impressed him far more than I’d anticipated.
“Understood. I cannot guarantee excellence with every offering, but I will endeavor to prepare rare delicacies for each set of five tributes.”

-Very well.

Fortunately, I possessed a means to procure rare ingredients on a regular basis.
That means was none other than Tuuram.
The ingredients he brought from the Ancient Dimension were all of Ancient grade, so I predicted they would make for fascinating meals for Bailys.
If that still didn’t satisfy him, I could always resort to money.

-Are you thinking of leaving soon?

“Yes. I have my own schedule to keep. Actually, that reminds me—how does time flow in this place?”

-Originally it flowed similarly to the outside world, but now I cannot say for certain. The timeline has become twisted.

Intriguing information had surfaced.
The hidden Dungeon I’d visited previously was indeed a Twisted Timeline.
“A twisted timeline?”

-Yes. Time’s flow has deviated from normal perception. It flows rapidly.

Could it be a tenfold acceleration, just like in the game?
For now, I’d best treat it as mere speculation.

-Are you interested in restoring the timeline?

“No. The faster it flows, the better. Ten days here equals one day where I come from. Though I suppose that’s a peculiar thing for a foreigner to say.”

-A unique perspective indeed. Yet not without merit. In terms of experience gain, the advantage is extraordinary.

“Are there any side effects from the accelerated time flow?”

-That is indeed a difficult question. In all my long years of life, I have never experienced such a phenomenon. Whether time accelerates or decelerates, one can only know by experiencing it firsthand.

Even if side effects emerge, I would be facing them for the first time as well.
To be honest, the higher the time acceleration ratio within the game, the better it is for me.
I can reap substantial profits relative to the time invested.
Of course, this assumes I remain logged in continuously, but being able to accumulate dense experience within the game certainly seems advantageous.
In the end, Bailys appears to lack detailed knowledge regarding the secrets of time.
“I see.”

-I have kept you far too long. Now go. Close your eyes, open your spiritual power, and recall the place where you originally were.

“Yes.”
The first time had been difficult, but the second was effortless.
Though not quite at the level of mana, opening my spiritual power proceeded reasonably smoothly.
It felt similar to the experience of wearing contact lenses for the first time.
“I shall see you again soon.”

-Yes.

I closed my eyes and recalled the Ritual Master’s Chamber where I had been lying before.

* * *

“Haaaaaah…”
The air filling my lungs felt distinctly different from before.
I’d describe it as far clearer than previously.
The chamber saturated with shamanic essence made it certain that something had changed.
“I have returned, Ritual Chief.”
Opening my eyes and surveying my surroundings, I realized the space was far more crowded than I’d anticipated.
They were all Shamans.
Each chanting incantations, and now I could perceive the colors they emanated with crystalline clarity.
Even the shamanic entities hovering around them.
“Oh! You’ve returned! And you’ve awakened your primary force, no less! My sincere congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
The other Shamans, though unfamiliar faces, seemed to know of me—I could hear them murmuring amongst themselves.
“A foreign investor, you say? In all my years, I’ve never seen such a thing. Weren’t all foreigners who became Shamans supposed to be impoverished?”
“It’s certainly unprecedented. The equipment he’s wearing looks expensive too, so it’s no fabrication. And the primary force I sense from him is far from ordinary.”
I would need to ask about these people.
“Ritual Chief, who are these individuals?”
“Ah, I summoned them to aid in your achievement. I believed they would prove instrumental in your awakening to your primary force.”
“Thank you. It seems their assistance was invaluable.”
Their help had clearly been effective.
Having received aid from Shamans whose essence bore a yellow hue, I had manifested a primary force of similar golden radiance.
“So, Kael. What color is your primary force?”
“See for yourself.”
I unfurled my primary force—a luminous, radiant golden brilliance.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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