Chapter 110: Item Presentation (2)

Chapter 110: Item Presentation (2)

During the days when Baek Yu-Seol played Aether World, there were a few occasions when he contracted with spirits due to his somewhat hardcore nature.

Although they were demanding, the spirits, who would grant contracts unconditionally as long as certain conditions were met, were indeed present.

However, there was a penalty for the termination of contracts if one failed to manage affinity properly, and he often found himself forced to terminate contracts.

Why?

Because spirits needed to absorb mana from mages to grow, and his Mana Accumulation Retardation Syndrome meant he had no mana at all.

Eventually, he completely gave up contracting familiars within the game.

But reality was different.

Even if he desperately grasped every possible opportunity, he didn't want to give up thinking, 'Oh, I've failed every time, so it won't work for me.

Therefore, before the familiar contracting ceremony, he received Celestias blessing to slightly increase affinity with the spirits...

*'I made a contract with Spirit Celestia!'*

**[Depending on affinity, you can inherit Celestias abilities and characteristics!]**

He never dreamed that he would contract with the once-great deity-like spirit.

He didnt even worry about contract termination.

After all, didn't Celestia propose the contract first, saying his mana leakage condition was actually beneficial?

*'Is this a dream or something...'*

Achievements that he couldn't even imagine in the game were coming true in reality.

He still couldnt quite believe it.

**[Grade 5 Spirit Celestia]**

**[Attribute: Nature]**

**[Affinity: Can even wager her heart]**

**[Inherited Traits]**

**[Gentle Embrace (Lv.3)]**

**[Whisper of the Wind (Lv.4)]**

**[Memories to the Flower Cluster (Lv.2)]**

Indeed, a familiar was a familiar.

Even though she lost all her attributes, she still had several traits.

Among them, he could inherit as many as three traits.

It must have been thanks to the high affinity he had with her.

Aether World's 'Affinity System' didn't exactly favor players.

Unlike other games that easily displayed favorability in numerical terms, here it was merely hinted at vaguely.

Still, it wasn't too difficult to gauge the extent of their relationship.

Perhaps it was thanks to him offering the heart to save her life, but the affinity seemed to have reached its peak.

Even if Baek Yu-Seol had mana, he could have tried skills like 'Spiritual Conversion' or 'Unity with Spirit,' but unfortunately, his mana leakage condition made that nearly impossible.

For now, he checked the inherited traits.

While they didn't greatly boost his attributes, they had quite distinctive effects.

First and foremost, **[Gentle Embrace]** possessed the effect of 'purifying a contaminated body into nature.'

He didn't understand it very well, but he guessed it might mean purifying toxins.

Secondly, **[Whisper of the Wind]** was an ability that allowed him to sense the flow of air...

*'This one seems quite useful.'*

When engaging in battles, he solely relied on his [Intuition] to defend against or evade enemy attacks.

Whisper of the Wind had good synergy with intuition, making his senses even sharper.

If he were to combine it with Tae-Ryung Breathing Technique, he wondered if the synergy could increase by more than tenfold.

Lastly, he checked the effect of **[Memories to the Flower Cluster].**

*'What's this?'*

**[When you smell the scent of flowers, you gain the ability to interpret flower language.]**

The effect of the trait was so vague that he couldn't grasp it.

Baek Yu-Seol asked Celestia, who was humming and in a good mood after the contract.

Hey, what does this mean?

When you smell the flower's fragrance, you feel happier!

Other than that, is there any other effect?

Huh? Um~ It makes you feel joyful!Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

Oh, I see... Thanks.

He didn't quite get it, but it didn't seem like a particularly useful trait.

Still, it was alright.

He had managed to acquire two practical traits.

As he continued, his attention was drawn to **[Gentle Embrace]** once again.

*'... Wait. It's called Gentle Embrace?'*

Thinking that he had seen a related phrase in Ha Tae-Ryungs divine scroll, he quickly retrieved it to check.

**[ Therefore, I began the process of cleaning my body thoroughly. It wasn't for the sake of living longer when healthy. It was because the more naturally I could accept nature, the longer I could live. As the human body grows, it accumulates impurities and contaminants, and such a body is sorely inadequate for embracing nature as is. To truly become 'one with nature,' wouldn't it be better to maintain the body that nature has bestowed?]**

*'Indeed.'*

Ha Tae-Ryungs divine scroll contained the content of purifying the body.

... Yes.

**Thud!**

Gracefully placing the teacup down, Milkenen pointed to the thesis by Hong Bi-Yeon that lay on the table.

I heard you'll be presenting this thesis at the Aslan Seminar. Is that correct?

Yes.

Cold sweat trickled down the back of her neck.

*Please, let this not be the situation I'm thinking of*

She prayed desperately.

Unfortunately, this thesis won't be allowed at the Aslan Seminar.

With a heavy heart, Hong Bi-Yeon bit her lip as she asked, ...Why?

As a last attempt, when she pressed for the reason, Milkenen responded without any emotion.

We found significant 'similarity' with the previously presented thesis

'...'

Did you not incorporate the 'Lagrangian Point Formula' from 'Pertin's Polyhedral Law' here? The one secretly included in the mock exam that Professor Colani assigned 37 years ago

*{TN:- The "Lagrangian Point Formula" refers to a mathematical equation used in celestial mechanics and orbital dynamics. Lagrangian points are specific positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system, such as the Earth and the Moon, produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.}*

Milkenen meticulously dissected Hong Bi-Yeons thesis one by one.

And... most of it was accurate.

Yes, truthfully, Hong Bi-Yeon had composed most of this thesis using the powers of other mages.

But that wasn't her fault.

For the magical elites attending Aslan, the 'permanent participants' all did the same.

How could they maintain their qualification for decades?

They all resorted to such tricks.

But now, they want to pick on her?

She could immediately grasp the reason without pondering.

The culprit of such deeds also swiftly appeared in her mind.

*'Hong Si-hwa...!'*

To some extent, she had anticipated facing some resistance.

After all, when Princess Hong Bi-Yeon of Adolveit was showcasing her abilities for the first time in the world, it was natural for the schemers not to hold back.

However, she could never have imagined that this situation, which she had considered since her time at Stella ten years ago, would involve Milkenen...

Student Hong Bi-Yeon, I know this might be hard to accept, but there's no other way. There's concern of significant backlash within the magical community.

After finishing his critique of the paper, Milkenen spoke, and without hesitation, Hong Bi-Yeon nodded.

Yes.

Of course, despite her words, she could still submit the thesis to the Aslan Seminar, ignoring all of this.

However, if that had happened, the situation could have become even worse.

Considering the influence held by Milkenen in the magical world... undoubtedly, it would have exploded like a bomb during the Aslan seminar, causing a 'plagiarism controversy.'

Perhaps, compared to the soaring achievements of Hong Si-hwa, who was on a winning streak, Hong Bi-Yeons status would have plummeted all the way to the abyss.

*'Since it's come to this... let's prepare another thesis before the Aslan seminar.'*

**Thud!**

Hong Bi-Yeon emerged from Milkenens office, and tightly bit her lips.

There was barely about two weeks left until the Aslan seminar.

It was a truly regrettable story, but Hong Bi-Yeon lacked the ability to write such an impressive thesis.

The feeling of despair kept creeping up from deep within her chest.

There was no other way.

Couldnt she do anything except be pushed around by Hong Si-hwa?

*'No, that's not it!'*

Hong Bi-Yeon clenched her lips with all her might. Blood dripped, but she didn't feel any pain.

*I know who I am.'*

Yes, surely that was the case in the past.

Before entering Stella University, Hong Bi-Yeon couldn't do anything without relying on those around her... If it were back then, she would have given up.

No, reality would have given up on her.

*'Not anymore.'*

Now there was a reason she couldnt give up.

So, she couldnt ruin everything from the very beginning.

It was laughable that this fact was revealed two weeks before the start of this seminar.

Hong Si-hwa probably thought she wouldnt be able to write another thesis on her own within two weeks.

She clenched her fist and turned around.

Not towards the dorm room, but towards the library.

*You... think I cant do it?*

11 PM.

A time when the pale moonlight illuminated the edge of the world.

Her day was about to begin from now on.