Chapter 158. Ripples (1)
The voice of the dwarves echoed through the square of the county.
It was so loud and resonant.
Even Seraphia, buried in documents in her office, could hear it clearly.
“Eh…?!”
Startled, the quill fell from her hand with a clatter.
She rushed to the window to look outside, and the square was already in complete chaos, as if a festival had begun.
Dwarves collided shoulders as they roared.
The people of the county celebrated alongside them.
“Khahaha! We did it! We really did it!”
“Congratulations!”
“This is all thanks to the siblings! Uhahaha!”
Everyone had gathered in the square, sharing their joy.
“I…! Me too!”
Seraphia felt her whole body heat up; she couldn’t stay still.
Without hesitation, she ran for the office door.
At that moment, the pile of documents stacked like a mountain on her desk tried to hold her back.
“…Eh, whatever!”
Seraphia closed her eyes tightly and dashed out of the office.
“Eh…? Countess?”
“Where are you going, Countess?!”
The maids’ panicked voices reached her, but she didn’t care at all.
The heat and excitement coursing through her left her mind in complete chaos.
Iliana was in the library of the White Castle, absorbed in a magical tome.
Dozens of magical books surrounded her densely.
With one hand she flipped pages, and with the other she drew magic circles in the air.
Splat!
Complex formulas etched into the air alongside the blue magic circle.
“Ah… the potential difference changes in the neural network—”
“There you are!”
“Eeek!?”
Startled by the sudden voice, Iliana jumped.
The formulas and magic circles she had drawn scattered chaotically and disappeared.
Iliana’s wide blue eyes lifted from the book she had been buried in.
Her silver hair shimmered, as if holding moonlight, cascading around her.
Her skin was pure and clear, like a dazzling snowfield.
Eyes as red as rubies and gentle shading on her face enhanced her beauty.
Eyelashes slightly lifted, lips as red as pomegranate.
The young woman, delicate and flower-like in beauty—
“C-Countess?!”
Seraphia Whitewolf, the Countess.
And Adrian’s younger sister.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, uh… I…”
“Good heavens, what’s all this?”
Seraphia glanced around at the dozens of magical tomes surrounding Iliana.
[On the Activation Conditions and Structural Changes of Blood Factors], [Topological Transformations of Neural Networks and the Flow of Mana], [Mechanisms of Cellular Fusion]…
All sorts of complex, difficult titles.
“…This looks incredibly difficult.”
“B-but… why are you here…?”
“Oh, right. Focus, me.”
Seraphia blinked and continued.
“My brother has awakened.”
“R-really?!”
“Yes. I just saw him training in the Frost Trial Grounds.”
“Thank goodness…”
Iliana let out a long sigh of relief.
It was no wonder—she had been shocked.
Adrian, who had been motionless while she explained about semi-mana, looked pale and weak.
His face had gone ghostly, his heart beating faintly.
Above all, foam bubbled at the corners of his mouth…
Wait a moment.
“Training?”
“Wasn’t he just awake?”
“My brother always does this. He never rests, even briefly.”
“Ah…”
“So it’s really amazing!”
Seraphia’s eyes sparkled as she exclaimed.
But soon, a worried expression appeared on her face.
“…But on the other hand, I’m a little worried too.”
Her bright eyes dimmed slightly, casting a small shadow over her face.
“I wish my brother would think a little about himself.”
Seraphia’s feelings were clear.
Genuine concern.
And deep affection for Adrian.
It was a feeling Iliana had never experienced—a love and trust unconditionally given in the name of family.
…In a way, she was envious.
This was something Iliana could neither receive nor give. She had no family to offer such love and trust.
“But… you really aren’t my brother’s girlfriend?”
“N-no way?!”
Seraphia’s sudden question caught Iliana off guard.
She quickly shook her head.
“N-no!! I’m just… uh, supported by him!!”
“I heard that too…”
“Besides, it’s ridiculous!! Me… being Adrian’s girlfriend…!”
“Why? You’re really cute and pretty.”
“P-pretty…?!”
Her face immediately turned bright red.
“B-But, Countess, you’re even more beautiful…”
“Hehe! Thank you.”
Seraphia smiled gently. Truly, she was stunning.
“You know what? Shall we be friends?”
“F-friends?!”
…Just like that?
“Yes. I heard from my brother that we’re around the same age.”
“I’m sixteen this year…”
“Me too!”
Seraphia’s eyes shone as she shouted:
“Let’s be total friends!”
“I-I can’t…!”
“Why?”
“I’m a concubine’s daughter…”
A daughter of a concubine, essentially a commoner.
Meanwhile, Seraphia was a Countess.
High nobility and a low-born.
An insurmountable wall existed between them—
“Then?”
“I-I’m also an adopted daughter.”
“B-but…! Y-you’re a Countess…”
“And a pant-countess at that.”
“Eh?!”
“So let’s be friends.”
“Oh, no… how could someone like me…?”
“Someone like you? You’re the one who healed me, Iliana.”
“Huh? Ah… that’s…”
“I bow again! Thank you for saving me!”
Seraphia bowed deeply at 90 degrees.
But honestly, Iliana was the one who was truly thankful.
Because thanks to her, Iliana could meet Adrian.
“In that sense, let’s be friends.”
“…Why all of a sudden…?”
“Won’t you be my friend? Please?”
‘S-so close…!’
Seraphia’s face was far too close.
Iliana’s mind went completely blank.
“So, we’re friends, right?”
“……”
“Yay! I have a friend too!”
Somehow—
‘I… have a friend.’
Iliana had made her first friend in her life.
“Then let’s go!”
“Eh…?”
“The festival’s starting now!”
“B-but—!”
Iliana’s eyes lingered on the tomes.
“It’s okay, we can do it tomorrow!”
Seraphia grabbed her wrist.
Not very forcefully, but enough.
Iliana was dragged along helplessly.
“Wait…!”
“I have tons of approvals pending. My brother will scold me… ah, whatever!”
Seraphia smiled brightly and ran, holding Iliana’s hand.
Iliana didn’t let go.
…A small, warm touch.
It felt strangely wonderful.
Iliana of the Segretus Marquis House, a concubine’s daughter.
She had always been alone in her family.
Not a single kind word.
No one ever called her by name.
“Lowborn girl, who do you think you are?”
“Your lowborn mother seduced the master, didn’t she?”
“That lowborn blood doesn’t change.”
“Get out! Even breathing the same air is disgusting!”
Iliana had always sat in the dark corner of her house.
Reading alone in the attic was her only joy.
Immersed in knowledge, she forgot all worries.
So she had grown accustomed to loneliness.
She no longer expected warmth.
If someone reached out to help, she first doubted it.
She didn’t trust anyone.
The helping hand often turned into mockery.
The kind words were merely a tool to use her.
She had forgotten how to trust anyone.
Until she met Adrian.
“Let’s go quickly, Iliana!”
“…Okay!”
Her once miserable life was now filled with unexpected happiness.
The excited atmosphere spread across the entire county, like a festival.
But there was no time for me to get carried away.
I needed to check on the newly mined Rune Iron veins.
And review plans to elevate the empire accordingly.
No time to waste—but—
I sat upright in the middle of the Frost Trial Grounds, alone.
Weakness Hunt [M].
I intended to meditate and mentally train for it.
Weakness Hunt [M] identifies targets at the atomic level.
It immediately detects all vulnerabilities, senses potential changes between cells, and predicts movements.
But the immense data and analysis exceeded my intelligence.
If Predator [M] caused “body overload,” Weakness Hunt [M] caused brain overload.
Even an evolved body from Ogre Predation [S+] was useless.
“Even if the body endures, the brain cannot.”
Intelligence. Brain-related abilities were nonexistent for me.
So I couldn’t use it yet.
But I couldn’t give up.
Weakness Hunt [M]—capable of surpassing Ian’s Lumen Pax.
Necessary before entering the empire, and for future battles with sovereigns.
It must be mine.
The question was: how?
“…Hoo…”
I exhaled and organized my thoughts.
Three methods came to mind.
First: Iliana’s peak intelligence [A+].
Absorb her heart via Predation [S+], and problem solved…
But that’s impossible. Not even worth considering.
“Discarded.”
Second: An alternative.
Absorb an intelligence-level ability comparable to Iliana’s.
Not perfect, but I could withstand some brain overload, like how Predation [S+] let me endure body overload.
“Pending.”
But intelligence is humanity’s most prominent evolutionary trait.
No intelligence-specialized monsters exist.
So I’d need to find a human…
“No candidates come to mind immediately.”
Even recalling past memories, none had such intelligence.
It wasn’t enough to be merely gifted; they must withstand Weakness Hunt [M] brain overload.
Minimum: comparable to Iliana’s [A+].
Grade [A-] and above, and you approach dragon-level abilities.
So practically, only dragons exist.
Not doable for now. Pending.
Third: Destroy and immediately regenerate damaged brain tissue.
Mechanism:
Use Weakness Hunt [M].
Brain overload occurs.
Intentionally destroy part of the overloaded brain.
Instantly regenerate [B+].
Regenerated brain resets damage.
Repeat Weakness Hunt [M].
A brute-force reliance on regeneration.
Problems abound.
The brain consumes the most energy.
Repeatedly using and regenerating it burns enormous calories.
With battle energy needs, it’s immense.
“Isolde’s help was crucial.”
Title: <Saint of the Black Moon>
Boosts recovery-related skill efficiency [+30%].
It didn’t solve calories completely, but made the impossible possible.
Still, my intelligence limits were clear.
Damage accumulates across the brain.
One misstep…
Failing to regenerate or over-destroying the brain could be irreversible.
Thus, this was the only current way to use Weakness Hunt [M].
“Lots of practice needed.”
…A long road ahead.
But this was a chance to grow exponentially.
“Let’s begin.”
I started training by using Dragon Burst [E] to destroy part of my brain, then regenerating [B+].
The festival mood gradually rose in the county.
Seraphia observed the lively square, catching her breath.
Only one thing left to trigger.
The first festival in her life as Countess.
The biggest obstacle:
Persuade my brother.
Adrian would undoubtedly resist, saying things like, “Check the Rune Iron veins first,” or “Clear the pending approvals,” and cut off any excuses.
Seraphia couldn’t do it alone.
She needed a solid strategy—others to immobilize Adrian.
Iliana is already recruited.
Adrian cared for Iliana enough to support her.
With her at his side, he wouldn’t outright refuse.
The Brumbar chieftain…
Currently away, resolving issues in the dwarves’ kingdom of Peracturm.
Returning soon, but not yet.
Then Isolde…
At that moment, a familiar face appeared at the end of the hallway.
A handsome man with flowing golden hair.
“Sir Kai!”
Kai turned his head.
Seraphia ran to him, flushed with excitement.
“Did you hear? The dwarves’ homeland issue is resolved!”
“I heard. That’s a relief.”
Kai nodded slightly, smiling.
Seraphia’s eyes sparkled.
“So there’s a festival now! Come with us, Sir Kai!”
“I’m fine.”
“Eh? Why?”
Seraphia blinked, looking up at him.
“You’ve been training nonstop lately. You need a break, so just this once—”
“I’m fine. If the Countess enjoys herself, I’m satisfied.”
Kai passed her, his golden hair brushing her cheek.
“Eh… Sir Kai!”
She called, but his back receded farther.
Calm, composed, unflustered as usual.
…Yet somehow different.
He seemed distant.
Seraphia reached to call him again, then let her hand drop.
Sir Kai…
…Something was off with Kai.
