Soul Order: High Soul
Main Talent/s: [Draconic Blood (Special), [Codex of Spells (Special)], [Timer (Unique)].
[Observation: She holds a slight interest in you. Yet in her eyes, you are irritating because of what happened last time.]
Talents labeled as ’Special’ indicated one thing—it was something hereditary, which was one of a kind.
[Draconic Blood (Special)]
Description: [It was believed that the Aragon Family had originated from an ancient dragon, which abandoned its origin for the sake of seeking the thrill of what it meant to be human.]
Unique Effect (Passive): [Whoever possesses this ’Talent’ means that they have dragon’s blood. With its divine property, one’s soul and body will have absolute resistance against malicious magic and mental disruptions.]
[You cannot ’Plunder’ this ability because of the False Dragon’s Physique.]
Description: [A mysterious codex containing every existing magic of the dragon race. It’s something that could not be easily deciphered.]
Unique Effect: [Summons the Codex of Spells, and one can choose any magic stored in it as long as it can be comprehended by one’s mind.]
[You cannot ’Plunder’ this ability because of the False Dragon’s Physique.]
Seeing the details of her [Talents], though I already had a grasp of them as the reader of the original story, I found it somewhat unfortunate that I couldn’t take them even if it’s just temporarily.
Or perhaps my status was not enough to bypass the existing condition.
Well, in the first place, my goal was her ability known as [Timer]. And it’s something I didn’t plan on stealing either.
"Why did you seek me? Are you here to annoy me because of what happened last time?" Saleana asked as I faced her across the neat table.
On the other hand, Yuridika and Beatrice found their own table a few chairs away. Meanwhile, other customers, albeit few, glanced in our direction.
After all, Saleana was a daughter of Duke Aragon, and now, she was conversing with someone who looked like a nobody, which inevitably would garner unnecessary attention.
"I’m here to ask for your assistance," I said with a straight face, as if I had known her for some time—well, it was technically true.
But it was not the case for her, so her reply was something I had expected.
"After the humiliation I experienced last time. What makes you think I’ll help you with whatever you would ask of me? You have guts, I can give you that." Saleana’s crimson eyes gleamed as she didn’t spare me a glance. Instead, her gaze was fixated on the pre-prepared meal as if the staff already knew she would visit her own restaurant.
Her every movement had a lingering trace of elegance; her atmosphere was that of a mature noble, truly befitting as someone considered a noble in the truest sense of the word.
"It’s not for free. I just need access." I whispered, and with my tone alone, Saleana seemed to pick up that it was something that couldn’t be spoken freely with the eyes of many.
That’s why my gaze finally met hers, scrutinizing what might be running behind my skull, every thought running within.
"I would be rude if I didn’t at least hear you out. Shall we go someplace quiet?"
The single word ’access’ caused her to abruptly change her mind to at least listen to what I am about to say. After all, she had authority over many things throughout the empire as the daughter of Duke Aragon.
Most of it, moreover, was due to her own power and talent, and not merely because of her Family Name that most young, naive nobles abused for authority.
The eyes of many, even some nobles shying around whether to approach her, were focused on us the moment we changed spots.
With a signal from her, Saleana and I, along with Yuridika and Beatrice, were guided upstairs and on a private segment of the restaurant only reserved for VIPs.
After that, I went straight to business as we again faced each other.
"You want access to Baron Thaleburne’s territory? That’s a vague request. First of all, you haven’t even told me yet about your identity."
Baron Thaleburne’s, though was not militarily powerful on its own, was a vassal state of the Ducal House of Aragon.
An attack on it would be taken as an attack on the Aragon. In addition, it was a territory that highly respected Saleana as an external authority, strangely so.
"I’m the son of the former lord of Eshu County, Lugh of Eshu. You know what happened to my territory, right?"
That’s when Saleana scrutinized my appearance as her crimson eyes squinted, brows raised for a second.
She then said, "Hah. You’ve got to be kidding me. Are you asking for access to Baron Thaleburne’s territory so that you can use it to discreetly enter the County of Othenwald?"
Between the North and West of the Holy Empire, Baron Thaleburne’s territory was the closest independent land to Othenwald County. And Count Othenwald was helpless to touch this place due to the mere fact that it was a vassal of the Aragon Family.
Saleane, as expected, deduced what I wanted from the beginning the moment she had learned of my identity. She couldn’t care less that I was the son of the former lord of Eshu. But rather, she couldn’t help but question my motives that seemed to be suicidal in its right.
"I will lend you Clarissa. I might not know what you wanted from her, but I at least do know the potency and potential behind the Talents she possessed, especially the Mediator’s Gap that everyone ignored during the auction."
Her expression twitched for a moment as I specifically mentioned the talent among the three talents that Clarissa had, which she might need for something.
"You are quite perceptive... Lugh, right?" Saleana said as she pondered for some time.
"Let me think about it for now."
"That will be enough. Thank you for your consideration, Miss Saleana."
After leaving her alone, as Yuridika and Beatrice walked beside me, I heard the system as if it had celebrated.
[You have fulfilled the qualifications to Temporarily Plunder the Talent: Timer.]
[Temporary Plundering Condition: ’Make Saleana Aragon’ agree with any of your significant favor that aligns with the fate of your territory.]
[You have copied the Talent: Timer.]
[The mark of this Talent will disappear from your soul after 30 days.]
"So, we went through it because you wanted her talent, Young Master? But... to think she’s that beautiful.. It’s my first time seeing her up close." Beatrice mumbled.
"So what’s next? Shall we watch the finals of the Hero Tournament?" She added.
That’s right. There’s a reason why I wanted this Talent of hers. Moreover, I only intended to copy it from the beginning instead of permanently stealing it from her. After all, it was a double-edged sword that if one didn’t possess dragon’s blood, it was the same as accidentally killing oneself at any time of the day.
"Let’s go see the finals. You can consider it as your vacation before we roll to the next step." I said to Beatrice.
Yuridika, on the other hand, was deep in thought. Gazing at her, I asked,
"What’s the matter? Is something bothering you?"
Yuridika, with her attention at least full, answered, "No, I’m just wondering where you will use such a Talent... It’s fascinating. Should I learn about that spell?"
Hearing her, I was momentarily at a loss for words.
Yuridika truly was a genius.
The Hero Tournament was a place of skilled heroes, and only one would be crowned as Aladdan’s Symbol among the eight last participants.
Two students from every year level. And in the second year, the finalists were Delkira of Kang and Alana Sol Astraea. What’s more, it would be a battle royale in a projected terrain through magic, not in just a mere arena where space would be inadequate to contain the powers of these individuals.
With that said, being transported in an illusory virtual forest and mountains, the eight students began hunting each other.
With the vastness of this world, it would take at least some time to end. Moreover, apart from fighting each other, some objectives would benefit each other.
- Hunting a beast would give powerful buffs.
"This is incredibly boring. Maybe I shouldn’t have participated in this event. But it’s a chance to test Alana’s power to some extent."
It’s also one of the reasons why Saintess Lumen allowed Delkira to keep her disguise—it’s to witness Alana’s prowess against someone like her.
Because of it, Saintess Lumen would be able to judge the next step with the upcoming Hero Ascension Trial in the next two months.
"What are you mumbling about? Are you walking in a park?"
It was then that something jumped from the bushes, a female student from the third year holding a long spear, emanating a threatening aura of fire.
Laura Von Agnus—Zion of the former Class Mu’s elder sister.
When the spear filled with burning flames approached with such a quick thrust, Delkira didn’t bother turning her head.
Instead, she said with a boring expression,
"Why are you shouting when launching a surprise attack? Are you a fool?"
Laura’s body dissipated from the illusory world as something she was unable to comprehend cut her.