Chapter 72: New Core
The voice was silent after he said that. It felt as though she was looking at Ken far too keenly, trying to see something that he was not sure of.
"Solution? The best solution would be to rid this world of you," the voice said.
"True, that would be best, but can you do that while I’m here?" he asked.
"I am not in contact with you truly. Only your consciousness is here," she replied.
"Then you understand that if I live here, killing me becomes an issue, and I’ll not allow myself to die," he explained to her.
"I expected that much," the voice replied and then went silent for a while. The situation right now was not something that she could easily control.
"What solution do you have?" she asked, willing to hear what he had to say.
"Help me get stronger. If something is coming and I am the cause, then it’s only proper that I defend the world from the damage that I am bringing, so help me get even stronger.
If you aid me, then I’ll make a promise to fight for you. I do not normally work under people, but for this, I’ll make a fair adjustment," he spoke like it was a business deal and he was trying to get a pitch in.
"Aiding you to get even stronger would be altering fate more. It could bring disaster even faster," she replied.
"It’s coming either way, is it not? So how about you help me be prepared? You don’t have to give me the whole thing, just set me on the right path. For instance, a mana core could work," he said. He did not have a mana core that was strong. Even his mana amount was pretty low.
"A mana core, hmmm? I believe I can do something like that. But for my help, you will swear an oath here to help defend and protect this world till you die.
You must also note that things of this world will try to kill you, and I cannot stop them. I must allow them to take the natural course of things."
Ken smirked. "Let them come. Whatever they are, I’ll make sure to take them down," he said with the same confidence he used to say things normally.
"Indeed, you are pride. Well, a core from me would mean rearranging your mana structure, veins and all. I promised to help, so I have decided to give you the best core possible, the pure white core.
Every being in this world that has a core has one of the many colors. It determines how far you would make it as a mage. It starts from purple, the weakest core, then a red core, then orange, green, blue, violet, and finally white, the purest form possible."
"I didn’t know that. Does this really affect the magic of a mage?" Ken could not help but ask.
"Yes, it does," she replied, but she didn’t explain further. "I will give you the white core so that I can communicate with you if the time calls for it. As for now, your body is beginning to call for your consciousness. I cannot keep you here anymore.
But the words that you have spoken have been sealed, and our deal has been made. So keep your part," she said.
Ken felt his consciousness getting dragged out forcefully. He looked over to the stream of light. "I always keep my word."
"Good. Also, there is a human that is destined to save the world from the demons. Find him."
After those words, his mind was yanked out with force.
[.....]
His eyes snapped open. He expected to see the sky above the town and smell the blood of those that had been slain in the battle of the town, but instead, his gaze met a ceiling made of wooden beams. His body was cradled by something soft underneath, and the grime and dirt he had on him were not there anymore.
He sat up too fast. His head instantly spun. He searched for anything to grab, and his hands found nothing. He slipped back and slammed against the bed.
"Where am I?" he muttered.
This time he rose carefully, allowing his body to adjust to the situation. He looked around, and he was inside a small room. It was small but pretty cozy. The bed sat in the room. On the left side was a study table and a small circular window. On the right was a shelf and wardrobe for clothes.
[Congratulations on Killing an Abomination]
[Level up, +4 to all stats]
[Level up, +4 to all stats]
....
The level-up messages continued. He had made it to level ten from killing that abomination alone.
[You have gained rewards, 3 Star Lightning Spell: Thunder Fall, 3 Star Earth Spell: Earth Lances]
Another message came, but before he was done reading it, another message followed.
[You have gained a new magic core]
[You have an affinity for all magic types]
’She really did it.’ Those were the first thoughts that came into his mind when he saw that he had actually gained the core, as she had said. He had struggled so hard to get even a simple increase in mana, and now he got a whole new core without the need for work.
"That’s why hard work is good, because if I didn’t train and get strong enough to kill that abomination, none of this would have happened."
As he spoke to himself, the door of his room opened and Luna walked in with a bowl of water and a rag. But the moment she saw Ken up, the bowl fell from her hand and she dashed forward. No words were said before she hurled herself at him, her hands wrapped around his neck and her whole weight coming down on him.
He fell backwards and slammed into the bed while she was on top. She buried her head into his chest.
’Well, this is a new feeling,’ Ken thought.
