Chapter 713: Choice

My days spent searching for information were rather boring, yet also not so boring.

During the day, I would keep traveling. I would practice swordsmanship with Leona whenever I got bored, and at night, I would enter Harloys’ Soul World to continue studying and improving my magic skills. At the very least, it felt like I was using my time productively.

Leona’s talent for swordsmanship was quite astonishing.

Her swordsmanship level would still require time to further improve. However, she really was quite talented, especially at imitating other Sword Saints’ styles.

This was especially more so whenever she imitated Karwenz. She imitated him so successfully that I was almost unable to hold myself back several times already…

Soon, it became time for me to make a choice for our journey’s next step.

“To the west is Bardi and the Mage Country. We can go to find a prophet to help us out there, but we might also get involved in trouble since Bardi is still currently at war with the undead. But with your abilities and connections, this shouldn’t be of any difficulty.

“To the southwest is San Antonio. If the calculations are correct, the Sun God’s mirror should be there. However, we also might get involved in trouble, the major kind of it. There’s a proper demon army there. Reputation won’t be as useful as violence there. Even the strongest individual might die if they get dragged into a direct battle against the demon army.”

Harloys kindly explained our options to me, while also exposing her preference that I would go to the Mage Country.

This wasn’t because of her personal desire or anything like that… I thought about it, but at most it was because Harloys wanted face.

“Yes, it’s about face. So what? I’m giving you supplementary lessons every night, yet you’re still unable to progress in power level? You’re truly the most idiotic student that I’ve ever taught!”

Fine, she even spoke the most taboo words for a teacher which would harm a student’s self-confidence. I couldn’t sense even one hint of joking in her tone. She was being serious! She really did think that I was the most idiotic out of all her students!

“…If you’re so skilled, then compete with me in undead magic and soul magic. I’ll even give you a free power level handicap.”

“Sure. If you’re so confident, then rank up to the next power level with undead magic!”

The silly cat was always able to come up with words that I couldn’t counter. Although I indeed wanted to power up via undead magic, not only did my incredibly dangerous death magic sword have extremely high requirements for the resources to craft it, the sword itself was also too dangerous. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to control it until I had enough power, which was why my death magic sword was lower in priority on my list of things I needed to accomplish.

Besides, it would be quite important to determine which type of power I used to achieve the next power level.

Myth-ranked weapons were still a part of the physical body. The power would naturally belong to the physical body and somewhat influence the body.

A Level 4 Holy Light user could have light that was blinding, warm and friendly, or solemn. But, any undead mage would appear as if they were surrounded by dark winds, giving them an ominous appearance.

In a way, this was a passive effect of one’s own power. I had yet to meet a single Undead Emperor who appeared like they were honest and on the side of justice.

The impression that one’s physical body gave others would also influence the spirit and the soul, creating a certain amount of change in one’s personality and aura.

Adam would appear to be the hot-blooded and passionate type. Margaret always seemed to be so mysterious. Although it sounded rather mystical to talk about the influence of auras, there really was such a thing.

I didn’t really care about my personal image. However, my death magic sword’s design was overly extreme. It would definitely have a strong influence on my body. If I accidentally transformed myself into a lich again, that would be far too embarrassing.

I was someone living again. I was a human, a species of Order. If I didn’t want to change my image, then my best choices would be to level up using the power of Law or the power of Holy Light.

Ice magic would only be my third choice. Leveling up using the power of ice magic would likely come with side effects such as always having a chilly aura and icy expression, but that was still acceptable.

I personally felt that Holy Light would be the best choice as Holy Knights seemed so shiny and proper, which would make it easier for me to find a wife… Ahem, I meant would make it easier for me to communicate with leaders of other countries!

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“You want to improve your luck with women? I think that if you choose the Holy Light path, you’ll only receive even more ‘You’re a nice person, but…’ rejections. Don’t you know how bad Holy Knights have it in this day and age? The sunny guy type isn’t that popular anymore. Right now, women really prefer icy but handsome CEOs. Your face is really suitable for going down the path of icy guy… Fine, I admit that I’m just spouting rubbish.”

Harloys was still trying to convince me to go to Bardi, but she was losing confidence as she kept saying so. The look in her eyes kept becoming more pitiful as if she was a comedy actress who was going to star in a tragedy instead.

Her expression was basically saying, “There’s no saving you. You’re just someone naturally born to be in a comedy.”

“Harloys, you bastard! You actually did say it out loud in the end! I’m really mesmerizing when I don’t speak! An adult woman has said that of me before!”

[You actually still remember what your elementary school teacher told you? You even glamorized her words in such a way… You’re really so pitiful. If only I had eyes, I would surely shed some tears for your sake.]

I now deeply understood just how devastating it was to have a mind-reading cat who was highly skilled at spreading salt on my wounds, along with having an “auntie” who knew all the darkest memories in my mind.

Cough, getting back on topic, the silly cat was concerned about the power type that I would use to level up, but it actually wouldn’t matter too much in the long run, since all four of my powers would still find a balance. It would only be a matter of which power affected my personal image more.

I understood why she would be so concerned, since she didn’t even try to hide it from me.

She wanted me to power up by using ice magic, which she had personally taught me, rather than leveling up through Holy Light which Estrada had taught me.

If I went to the Mage Country, she would be able to continue filling my mind with soul books. Plus, with the Cloud Tower’s tremendous number of magical texts and plenty of ice magic grandmasters there, it would be highly likely for me to successfully level up there.

If I instead went to go search for the Sun God’s magic mirror first, I would likely be able to level myself up if I found it. Naturally, that mirror would be a resource for completing my Holy Light magic sword.

This was why she wanted me to go to the Mage Country first as she would gain more face if I leveled up using the path that she taught me.

But in the end, I still decided to first go search for the mirror and complete Dawn, my Holy Light sword… And from then on, the silly cat stuck her teeth into my head for a complete week, even to the point where I felt like I was becoming anemic…

This wasn’t because I had chosen to favor Estrada’s path of Holy Light, but rather because of my simple overall assessment of the situation.

Indeed, Bardi looked to be quite safe. Emperor Halent of Bardi and I were on good terms, and we were even now “relatives” since his sister had become Reyne’s concubine. The Mage Country was sort of like a second home to us, and Sandro of the Undead Emperors was also allied with me.

However, I couldn’t just look at the good parts. I had to look at the bad. Although Bardi seemed to be quite safe, it would likely be the worst for my safety if my luck was bad.

“…Harloys, be honest. Are you certain that we won’t just coincidentally run into an Undead Emperor, and that Undead Emperor will ‘just happen’ to take a great deal of interest in me? What percent chance do you think we’ll have at winning in our current condition against an Undead Emperor?”

Since I was far too logical and reasonable here, the silly cat was unable to refute me.

Ice magic would be the worst possible choice against an Undead Emperor who didn’t have body temperature in the first place. It sounded far better to first complete my sword of Holy Light before going to an area where I might meet Undead Emperors.

“Can’t you think more optimistically?”

“I’ve gotten used to being a pessimist. Actually, things could get even worse. For instance, the moment that we try to get a prophecy regarding Karwenz, some Main God level demon will suddenly jump out to try and kill us…”

[Jinxer! Shut up! Don’t you think you’re already unlucky enough!?]

My System was so correct that I was unable to say anything.

And so, I promised that “As long as situation permitted, I would use ice magic to level up first”, and went to go search for the Holy Light magic mirror first.

Rather than some probably unreliable prophecy, this “treasure hunt” seemed to be far more reliable, after all.

However, I met with some small trouble at this time.