Royal Feud

Chapter 70

Chapter 70

“……certainly this isn’t a skill that improves one’s stat values but… Olivia……The Roundhart family, how should I say it…………are they stupid? How did they not know how to take advantage of this skill? Isn’t there a limit to how stupid one can be?”

“You can speak openly, Father. The people in that house couldn’t understand how great it was. To be honest, I was very surprised about that.”

“I suppose so. But even if the Roundhart’s are a warrior family, aren’t they being a bit too ignorant? “

They were being quite rude, speaking ill of the Roundhart family without end. I couldn’t say anything since they were speaking like it was as a matter of fact.

“…………When my mother-in-law, Isis-sama, learned of Ain’s skill, she said in a murmur: 『A failure』. That’s why I never gave them any explanation or advice on it. I didn’t feel like teaching them anything after showing an attitude like this.”

After hearing Mother’s words, the King and Warren-san, as well as Chris-san and the others held their head in their hand.

“Princess. Then, ever since he was born, you knew their treatment towards Ain-sama would be bad…… were you thinking about coming back to Ishtalika ever since then? Even with the Sea Crystal issue, don’t you think you were a bit too prepared?”

“Since I knew Ain wouldn’t be happy staying in that house, I probably could have taken steps to make Ain’s situation more ‘favorable’. But I just wanted Ain to be happy. Regarding the Sea Crystals, I was simply researching them in my free time, and at first, I did so thinking purely about Ishtalika. But I was glad that it could become useful for a time like this.”

Mother replied with a smile, as if she had successfully pulled off a prank.

“Seriously, the Princess is just……”

“Martha-dono. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve sighed today.”

Both Martha-san and Chris-san were sighing.

“……Uhmm, you said it’s amazing, but I’d like you to tell what part exactly is so amazing…… If at all possible.”

“……Gohon. Let me explain, Ain-sama.

Warren-san cleared his throat, it seems he will be the one explaining it to me. Ohh, please do.

“‘Poisons do not work on you, Ain-sama. This, you understand, right? “

“Yes, that I know. But it’s only that they don’t kill me……”

Ahh, I made a Star Crystal the other day.

It seems it might be a valuable skill in that regard.

“Certainly. That is great on its own…… but I think Ain-sama’s Toxin Decomposition EX will probably even nullify diseases.”

“Diseases? “

“We still don’t know if it’s just what the body classifies as poison, or if it’s what you, Ain-sama recognize as poisonous. However, we believe most of the diseases and poisons can be broken down. With this, many people can be saved.”

“T-That’s…… true.”

“There are a number of poisons that cannot be detoxified. If we can detox them, the demand for such a skill will naturally occur.”

That never even crossed my mind.

Since it has EX attached, I don’t think there will be a poison that can’t be detoxified, and the same might be the case for diseases.

“Another example would be a place that can’t be entered without being cleansed…… A dangerous, difficult to enter place that holds valuable resources within. There are many such places in Ishtalika. Although there are some that might be a bit too dangerous to allow Olivia’s child to enter, there are many options available, like securing a mine, or something similar.”

“Hahahahaha! It sure helped us out that the Roundharts were fools, Warren-dono! “

“Indeed, it worked out for us that they were ‘big fools’, otherwise it might’ve ended up having a huge impact in their nation’s power balance.”

I feel a bit flustered since the skill I thought of as garbage, turned out completely different and I’m even receiving a lot of praise.

But even so…… not being able to realize its usefulness, I guess I was also a fool……

It’s a complicated feeling.

“Speaking of which, Mother…… Some sort of absorption skill has been added, do you know what it is?”

Since I started to feel a bit ashamed, I tried to change the subject.

“Ahh, about that, since you’ve grown up, your race skill has developed, Ain. It’s okay, there’s no problem with that. And about the Absorb skill, it’s something you should’ve been able to use for a long time now, but it just appeared recently on your status card.”

“R-Race? “

What is a race skill?

Are the humans in this world also able to use skills like Absorb?

I’m not sure I’ve used it before it was listed on the status card.

“Ain-sama, there are a few things I want to confirm about the Absorb skill. Is it alright if we talk about it? “

“S-Sure, what is it, Chris-san?”

After thinking about the Absorb skill and asking Mother, Chris seemed to have something to add, and spoke to me.

“I’m sorry, but could you hold this and imagine it as a drink?”

What Chris-san picked up was a small magic stone…… It was about the same size as the ones I saw at the street stall in the Roundhart port city.

Seems like Chris-san also had that bad habit of imagining the magic stone as a drink.

It was similar to the magic stone I saw before, and it also had a sweet smell.

Wasn’t the power of a magic stone poisonous? Well, I guess it’s harmless since Chris-san gave it to me.

“Sure, I don’t mind. But, isn’t it better to just lick it instead of imagining it? “

“Y-You’re l*****g it? The magic stone……? There should be no problem as long as you hold it in your hand, but if you place it inside your mouth……”

“Well, it’s sweet and delicious like a candy, these magic stones.”

……When I told them that it was like a candy, the air in the room came to a still.

“Princess. Could you explain this?”

“Hey, Ain? l*****g magic stones is something dangerous…… I already told you about them before, right? “

I obediently decided to explain to my Mother.

“……It was at the street stall when I went together with you, Mother, at the port town and I was told about the magic stones. I reflected on my actions at the time. However, the magic stones gave off a sweet smell, so I licked one.”

“I see……I understand, I’m not angry, Ain. That’s why you don’t have to worry, I only wanted the truth.”

“I beg your pardon, Princess. Do you have any information about the magic stone sold at the port town?”

“Just that was a cheap magic stone of G, so it probably was from a Big Bee.”

If I remember correctly, a Big Bee is a large bee-like monster about cm in length.

It’s not too aggressive nor is it too strong, but they have a strong fertility and make big hives.

Therefore, they must be frequent targets of subjugation, and the magic stones obtained after such a subjugation would be sold at places like that street vendor.

Since the amount of those magic stones in the market is large, and they’re not particularly strong, they’re sold at a negligible price of G.

“I see. Actually, this is also the magic stone of a Big Bee…… how does this one smell, Ain-sama?”

She then took another magic stone out.

And then, she brought it to me.

“This one smells like Ripple . Like Ripple with honey, and a sweet and sour smell of pulp! “

It smelled the same as Ripple Juice, making me swallow down my saliva.

“……So, this one smells like Ripple, huh? It’s from a weak monster similar to the Big Bee, I see, so it has that smell……?”

While I was excited about the smell of the magic stones, Chris looked like she realized something.

……I wonder if it’s going to be something bothersome?

“Ain-sama, I might be able to explain your rapid growth in stats.”

For real?

======

Editor’s Notes:

– Kudos to Kari for this one, it’s a brand name for a drink. When I search for it a Ripple brand from California pops up, Kari found this though:

. - A High-Class Magic Stone is Eaten.

. - A High-Class Magic Stone is Eaten.

A High-Class Magic Stone is Eaten.

======

“Ain-sama unconsciously uses two skills and absorbs......no, he eats the magic stones.”

Everyone had a puzzled face that said “Even if you say that, we don’t really understand”.

“Chris, continue explaining.”

“Yes. I think you are aware of the reason why monsters fight each other, Lloyd-sama.”

“For food, and their own growth, these two reasons. With the meat they eat their fill, and when they eat the magic stones, they grow stronger.”

“That’s right. Ain-sama uses Toxin Decomposition to break down the toxic part of the magic stone, and eats it using Absorb. As a result, he becomes stronger the same way monsters do.”

After Chris finished explaining that, Olivia responded, “Why do you think that?” Throwing her a question.

“I had reasons to think this while escorting you both. But the main reason is after looking at his status.”

He ‘ate’ the magic stones using two skills.

Similar to cooking and eating a pufferfish.

“When a monster absorbs a magic stone, its growth value depends on the type of monster the stone belonged to. For example, if they absorb the magic stone of a monster with high magical power, the magic power will be the stat increasing the most.”

“Then, Chris-dono. What does Ain-sama’s growth value looks like? “

Lloyd, being able to understand the story to some extent, wondered about the type of growth Ain had.

“It is a characteristic of us elves that our Magic and Agility are high, but our Defense is hard to increase. And I’ve become sluggish several times. It all happened whenever Ain-sama was hungry, so Absorb might have been activated unconsciously to supply nutrition to the holder. That’s a characteristic of Absorb.”

As far as Ain was concerned, the raise in his stats was a big issue.

However, he was more shocked when Chris said she was an elf.

“C-Chris-san...... an elf? Is that true? But your ears are......”

“Sorry for not explaining it earlier, but I’m an elf. You already know that in Ishtalika, unlike Heim, there are many races living. However, we elves are especially hard to tell just from our appearance.”

“I never noticed since your ears weren’t pointy.”

For Ain, a characteristic of the elves was their pointed ears.

In fact, he had heard back in Heim that white skin and long ears were elven features.

“Ain-sama. Elves change the shape of their ears depending on the environment they live in. Since Chris-dono lives here in the city, she doesn’t have to worry much about the small sounds, contrary to the elves who live in the woods or mountains.”

Hearing Warren’s explanation, Ain was convinced such disposition existed and nodded satisfied.

“The number of elves living in Ishtalika is low. So, this is a misunderstanding that often happens here.”

“...Hey, Chris. If what you say is correct, then that means... Ain can use the magic stones to become stronger, right? “

Olivia joyfully asked Chris.

“It is as you say. However, I feel there is some upper limit to it. Ain-sama, could you absorb this Big Bee’s magic stone?”

As she said that, she handed a magic stone over to Ain.

“Uhmm, what should I do? “

However, Ain had absorbed them unconsciously up until now.

Therefore, he didn’t know how to do it.

“Imagine you’re drinking water, just swallow the magic power.”

That being said, Ain tried to make a mental image similar to what he was told.

Just after he imagined sucking the magic from the magic stone, its color changed, gradually becoming crystal clear.

“Wh-......What’s this!? “

“Ohh...... It seems Chris’ hypothesis was correct.”

“Lloyd-dono. I’ve never seen a case like this before.”

“Neither had I heard about this before. In the first place, if a person absorbs the power in a magic stone, they will soon lose consciousness, and it would turn into a dangerous situation.”

While everyone was reacting, Ain continued to suck the magic out of the magic stone.

After a while, and seemingly having its magic power completely drained, the magic stone became something similar to a glass ball.

“......It looks like it’s over.”

“Certainly. Then, Ain-sama, can you please check your stats in your status card? Did they rise even a little?”

“Uhmm......I don’t see anything different.”

After draining the magic stone, Ain checked his status card, but the numbers written on it remained unchanged.

Then, looking at the magic stone that had turned similar to a colorless glass marble, he licked it.

“Yeah, like I thought, it tastes sweet like a caramel, this would make for a good snack.”

Everyone but Olivia was surprised to see Ain l*****g the magic stone.

Speaking of her, Olivia was simply smiling as she looked at Ain l*****g the magic stone.

“No way, he really licked the magic stone......”