Chapter 80: Dread Mimic
Luke bent over the map.
"First, exterminate the monsters. Second, rebuild the town walls. They're only three meters tall and nearly collapsing. Third, expand the settlement. Right now, Azmar Town is barely a village—350, maybe 400 homes at most."
Raven nodded.
"The town spans only 25 hectares. Not bad for a small Knight Household… but I want an industrial city. Something on the scale of Giaris."
Luke blinked. "Then we must expand to at least three square kilometers."
The brown-haired engineer chimed in hesitantly:
"But a city for hundreds of thousands… your entire territory isn't enough for that, Mr. Holmes."
Raven's mind moved on instinct.
"How much would it cost to wall the entire territory?"
Everyone stared at him like he'd grown a second head.
"Several million gold coins," the engineer stammered. "And it's… not practical."
"Thought so," Raven said casually.
He adjusted the map.
"Then we start small. Build a town wall covering three square kilometers—seven meters tall, five meters thick."
The architect scribbled frantically.
Luke raised another issue.
"Mr. Holmes… people fear this region. It's the eastern edge of the Empire—far from major cities. Most prefer moving to Giaris. Rebuilding is one thing, but drawing people here… that's another challenge."
Raven knew this already.
"It won't change in a day. But I have plans."
He pointed to the very center of the map.
"First—I'll build a Magic Tower."
Luke blinked. "…A magic what?"
"A research hub for magic."
"You mean… a Wizard Academy?" Luke asked in shock.
Raven nodded.
"Yes, but not just for Wizards. For all Walkers."
Luke went silent, shaken.
"Second," Raven continued, "I intend to transform this place into the Health Capital of the Empire."
Luke frowned.
"You plan to build hospitals? Most nobles treat hospitals as charity. The common folk don't trust them."
"That's because they're badly managed," Raven replied. "Not everyone can afford expensive potions. I intend to fix that—and build profitable enterprises through the health sector."
Luke turned to his two civil engineers.
"Prepare a blueprint for an industrial town with the Magic Tower at its core. Ask Mr. Holmes for the exact specifications."
"Yes, Sir!" both engineers said, already pulling out measuring tools.
"One more thing," Raven said.
"We need a proper drainage system."
"That will be part of the blueprint, Mr. Holmes," the architect said, sketching quickly.
"We'll turn the manor and its surroundings into Main Street. Then divide the town into three sectors: Town Hall, Main Square, and Market Street.
– Town Hall will contain schools, government offices, hospitals, a police station, and residential quarters.
– The Main Square will contain worker homes, inns, and a public park.
– Market Street will hold shops, mills, and factories."
Raven nodded.
"How long does road construction take?"
"With our thirty road-crew workers, around three to four months, assuming consistent supply runs. As for the town wall… if we gather three hundred skilled laborers, it will take one and a half years. Including infrastructure, you're looking at two to three years for a functioning town."
"Two to three years." Raven tapped the map thoughtfully.
"Begin roadwork from Ythendale in two weeks. Until then, we'll focus on clearing monsters and wildlife."
"That eases my concerns, Mr. Holmes," Luke said with a relieved nod.
For more than an hour, Raven and the engineers debated layout, zoning, and long-term development. By the time they finished, the sky had turned a deep violet, shadows stretching long across the ruined town.
They descended the mansion steps and walked to the first floor.
The mansion had changed entirely at night. Without light, its corridors looked like hollow ribs of a dead beast. If not for the aether lamp in Raven's hand, the rest might have wandered blindly through its maze-like halls.
"You can all go rest in the tents," Raven said. "I'll explore the mansion a bit more."
Luke and the others didn't protest; they quietly exited, leaving Raven alone in the main hall.
Then—
Fzztt…
The lamp flickered once, twice—then died.
Darkness swallowed the hall.
Before Raven's eyes could adjust, a faint whoosh sliced through the air to his left.
He shifted back instinctively, narrowly avoiding the unseen strike.
A cold whisper echoed in his skull.
**"Come closer… *****"
A needle of pain shot through Raven's head, sharp enough to blur his thoughts.
"Ugh…" He staggered, gritting his teeth, pulling his spear from his inventory.
Something pricked his foot.
He kicked on reflex.
A mouse flew across the room, slammed into a wooden table—
"SQUEAK!"
—then rapidly expanded, bones snapping and skin stretching, until a goblin-faced imp crouched on the shattered table.
But Raven's vision blurred again.
[Oh? A curse-type spell, huh?] Zera's voice murmured in his mind.
Raven clutched his head, breathing hard.
The creature's power clawed at his memories, trying to pry open deeply buried ones—precious ones.
His focus blurred. Old memories surfaced, flickering uselessly in his mind.
[Snap out of it, kid.]
Raven inhaled sharply. His vision cleared.
The imp took full shape—yellow-green skin, needle teeth, a barbed tail.
'Thanks, Zera.'
Raven raised his spear. Its edges ignited in a blazing, sun-like radiance.
He glared coldly at the creature.
"It's rude to dig through someone's memories, Nok'Varin. Didn't Trelkazar teach you that?"
The imp froze mid-step.
"H-How do you know my name?"
But Raven had already moved.
He hurled his spear like a javelin—silent, precise.
Nok'Varin dodged left—
Then froze as his shadow twisted behind him, forming a tall silhouette.
A young man's outline.
A vertical golden eye on the forehead.
Reddish lightning crackling across its pupil.
The eye opened.
A beam of lightning fired—
—straight through Nok'Varin's head.
His skull burst like overripe fruit. The headless body collapsed, twitching grotesquely.
Raven shifted back to Thomas's face, exhaling.
"Thankfully, all you had was mind manipulation."
He crouched beside the corpse and placed a hand on its chest.
"Devour."
…
[Bloodline Devourer System Activated!]
[Rank-2 Dread Mimic's Bloodline detected!]
[Purity: 75%]
[Absorption possible.]
[Extracting compatible Bloodline Spell…]
[Host already possesses: Blood Demon's Mimic Morph.]
[Selected: Dread Mimic – Shapeshift.]
[Absorption complete!]
[Host absorbed partial Dread Mimic Bloodline Essence!]
+4.0 Vitality
+5.0 Strength
+6.0 Agility
[Host undergoing bodily mutation.]
[Estimated Time: 16 hours 4 minutes]
…
'Not this again…' Raven sighed, storing the corpse.
His knees buckled.
He collapsed onto a dusty sofa, clenching the armrest as the mutation rolled through him—
tiny worm-like sensations crawling through his veins and bones.
It was horrifying.
An hour later, Jacob and Quincy peeked inside to check on him.
Seeing him resting, they withdrew quietly.
The night wore on.
Raven remained frozen, feeling every shift of his mutating body.
Morning light bled faintly through cracked windows.
He sensed the knights cleaning the hall and kitchen, but he still couldn't move.
Evening descended.
Finally—
…
[Mutation Complete!]
[Host has obtained: Shapeshift Bloodline Spell]
[Status updated.]
…
The first thing Raven did after the mutation ended was focus inward.
Inside his Mind Space, the newly obtained Shapeshift spell model pulsed like a fresh brand on still-soft wax. When he concentrated, information poured into his thoughts like an opened floodgate.
To shapeshift, the user must obtain the target's blood to form an identity imprint… The spell allows transformation into the target's physical appearance, voice, and even a portion of their strength. Unlike Mimic Morph, this spell creates a complete transformation—an entirely new identity.
Raven's eyes narrowed.
Restrictions… three main points.
He scanned through the floating script.
One: Only one form can be maintained at a time.
Two: Duration depends on spirit power, strength, and vitality.
Three: Higher-ranking targets require deeper comprehension.
Then came the limitations:
Current Limitations:
• Max identities: 5
• Voice imitation accuracy: 88%
• Shape imitation accuracy: 89%
• Spirit wavelength accuracy: 78%
• Overall strength: 80% of the original target
• Transformation time: 10 hours (1 rank lower), 10 minutes (equal rank), 10 seconds (1 rank above)
• Cannot imitate abilities
Raven exhaled slowly and blinked awake.
It was already noon.
What caught his eye next made him pause.
The mansion's interior—once a gloomy wreck—was now cleaner. Lanterns flickered along the walls. Even the half-broken chandelier glowed softly.
He turned.
Only Quincy sat on the opposite sofa, reading a book with her legs crossed.
"Where is everyone?" Raven asked.
Quincy flinched, startled.
"You're awake, My Lord. It seems the journey exhausted you."
She closed her book.
"The knights are clearing monsters near the town with Reece. Rebecca, Florence, Site Manager Luke, and Leader Jacob left for Giaris early this morning."
Quincy hesitated, then remembered something.
"Ah. Mr. Luke left a letter for you."
Raven took it, broke the seal, and read.
The letter detailed road construction costs and procedures.
Once he made the initial payment, Lucas Company would begin construction from Ythendale.
Either I pay for land rights directly… or convince Baroness Elara herself.
But Azmar Territory was barren. Worthless in the eyes of nobles.
Then I must bring something valuable—something she cannot turn down.
He glanced at the bracelet Daley Findlay had gifted him.
My gift must be at least this good…
But Daley's gift easily exceeded 50,000 gold coins—nearly two-thirds of the entire road budget.
Raven tapped the table.
I'll craft an Uncommon Artifact myself.
He lifted his gaze to Quincy.
"Quincy. I need new armor—silver if possible. Do we have any?"
Quincy blinked, then nodded.
"Leona purchased new armor before we came here, My Lord. She used it during the battle at the outskirts. It didn't even scratch."
"Good. Fetch it. Tell her I'll replace it later."
"Yes, My Lord."
She left immediately and returned minutes later, silver armor in hand.
Raven accepted it, weighing it in his palm.
"Dark silver… durable. Perfect."
"Where's the study?" he asked.
"Second room to the left, My Lord."
"Do not disturb me unless it's urgent. I may be inside for days."
Quincy bowed. "Yes, My Lord."
Raven entered the study.
It was bare—one wooden table, one chair.
He set an Aether lamp on the table and lit it. Warm light filled the room.
He placed the silver pocket watch beside it.
Now… which spells should I engrave?
He checked his inventory.
Elemental Crystals:
– Life ×2
– Darkness ×1
– Fire ×1
– Wind ×1
– Ice ×2
He entered the Memory Library and searched through shelves of spell models, flipping through mental tomes.
He selected two:
Flame Ward (Rank-1)
A fiery ring that shields and burns approaching enemies.
Rejuvenation Shell (Rank-2)
A dome-like spell that heals the caster and allies within the area.
A true life-saving artifact.
"Let's begin."
From his ring, he produced a diamond-tipped engraving stylus—0.02 mm thin and light as a feather.
He'd bought it years ago for 500 gold coins.
He pressed the armor plate onto the table and began engraving.
First: a magic array circle on the underside.
Then: rune words to stabilize it.
Then: two rune circles—one small, one large—linked by bridge runes.
Finally: the Rune Vessel—two complex hexagonal matrices, each linked to a rune circle.
Connecting each piece of the formation required delicate precision, steady breathing, and unwavering focus.
Time blurred.
By the time Raven leaned back in his chair and stretched his fingers—
A full day had passed.
'Next is the final step.'
Raven shifted his attention to the large rune circle and began engraving the Rejuvenation Shell spell model. It was enormous—over two thousand rune characters, each one shaped with its own nuance and pressure. Even with his heightened senses and the support of Mind Eye, every character demanded a full minute of perfect concentration.
The world around him vanished.
The Aether lamp dimmed and brightened several times as hours spun into one another. Raven's hand never trembled, never lost focus. For thirty-three continuous hours, he engraved rune after rune, his breathing steady, his posture rigid.
When the final symbol settled into the metal, a gentle glow rippled across the armor.
'Success.'
A faint smile appeared on his lips before he immediately moved to the smaller rune circle and began inscribing the Flame Ward spell model.
While Raven was locked away in the mansion, the outside world began shaking.
News of Azmar Town's reclamation exploded across Giaris City. The moment Florence convinced the Legacy News editor, the entire front page was dedicated to Thomas Holmes and the battle that reclaimed Azmar. Citizens devoured every word.
But the real shock came from the mention of Casper's death.
The former Frostvale knight-turned-fugitive had evaded the Empire for decades. He had robbed nobles, murdered Watchel's mayor, and made enemies across every town he touched. His death brought relief—genuine relief—to thousands.
Nobles were less relieved.
Count Andres, Viscountess Rowina, Baron Gideon, and other aristocratic houses were rattled. A knight killing Casper was shocking enough, but the reports of a wizard siding with Holmes were even worse. Florence's photographs—Sepoy mercenaries, young knights, spell casters, and the aftermath of fifty enemies crushed—spread like wildfire.
Legacy News also published the names of the missing victims recovered from Azmar. Many finally recognized loved ones, relatives, or neighbors who had vanished years ago. People rushed to the Holmes Mansion, desperate for answers.
Meanwhile, Rebecca formally charged Crest Merchandise with criminal occupation and illegal activities. With solid evidence, the Magistrate ordered a full raid.
Police stormed the Crest headquarters, arresting high-ranking members and uncovering documents about bribery, the Vipers Syndicate, and hidden communications with Duskbane House of the Viser Kingdom.
Only Crest's leader remained missing.
Rebecca returned home.
Luke returned to Lucas Company and immediately began hiring stonemasons, foremen, engineers, and dozens of workers for the road project between Ythendale and Azmar.
Inside the mansion, Raven continued working without pause.
Three days after he began engraving, he finally placed the last rune of Flame Ward. A soft hum resonated through the armor—everything clicked perfectly.
'Now for the final touch. Let's call it Life Battleplate.'
He lifted his monocle and scanned the artifact. Information surfaced clearly in his vision—two spells bound into the steel, perfectly engraved, stable.
Raven put the armor on, made a small cut across his wrist, and whispered the activation incantation.
"Burktā d'Ḥayē."
A soft green radiance pulsed outward. Warm, soothing energy wrapped around him. The wound on his wrist closed at visible speed before sealing completely without leaving even a scar.
"Impressive."
He wished he could create one for each of his knights, but time wasn't on his side. He still needed Baroness Elara's approval for the road project—and a convincing gift.
He left the study and stepped into the hall.
Quincy immediately closed her book and stood.
"You're awake, My Lord. The knights are clearing monster nests with Reece. Rebecca, Florence, Luke, and Jacob have returned to Giaris."
"Any updates?" Raven asked.
Quincy nodded.
Marcellus and the others had found multiple monster settlements—goblins, kobolds, orcs, and trolls. All cleared. Lucas Company workers had been renovating the mansion, cleaning the underground dungeon, repainting bloodstains, and restoring rooms.