MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC41: Magic Shop
Chapter 41: Magic Shop
'I still need nine more pairs of eyes,' Richard thought, gazing at Apple Town while wondering where he could obtain them.
To acquire such things meant he had to blind nine more people. It sounded cruel, but he could always do it to criminals.
In Apple Town, criminals were not hard to find.
Almost everywhere, gangs could be seen harassing merchants for money.
In this city, they were practically untouchable, always backed in secret by officials who took their share of the profits.
Richard didn't even need to search—he could find their lairs easily.
One such hideout was a large, two-story abandoned building. Richard only had to stand before it to smell the heavy stench of alcohol.
It was empty for the moment—the gangsters were out collecting money.
The door wasn't even locked. Richard simply stepped inside and was greeted by piles of jars and bottles.
Torn women's clothing littered the floor.
Bloodstains could still be seen.
Richard slowed his breathing, unable to stand the stench of alcohol.
But his curiosity won out, and he climbed the stairs to the second floor.
There were two doorless rooms.
He peeked inside each and found beds—not bad ones, but messy, clearly used for all sorts of worldly pleasures.
He entered one of the rooms and approached a slightly open wardrobe, sensing a faint aura within.
When he opened it, he was startled to find a pile of glowing stones—fifteen in total.
"Nature Spirits," he whispered, never expecting to find such treasures in a gang's lair.
Fifteen wasn't much, but to someone who had none, it was priceless. At the very least, it meant he wouldn't need to hastily sell the hilt of the Obsidora Wood Sword.
With his current amount of Aether, even five of them could quickly replenish what he spent.
Without hesitation, he moved them into his ring. To him, this wasn't theft—he had come here to slaughter.
Besides the Spirits, Richard also spotted a book.
Opening it, he realized it was a Codex titled Codex of Giant Human.
But it could only absorb Tier 1 Aether. Its sole advantage was the ability to enlarge one's body.
Richard wasn't interested, yet he stored it anyway.
"Mm..."
His eyes narrowed at the sight of a chest under the bed.
With a swift pull, he dragged it out. It wasn't even locked. Inside was a pile of copper and silver coins, filling nearly a third of the chest.
For common folk, it was no small fortune.
"I'm rich, hahaha..." Richard couldn't hold back his laughter—it even came out rather loudly.
"Who's there?" a sudden shout came from below, making Richard snap his mouth shut.
"Are they back?" he muttered, quickly storing the chest before standing near the door as heavy footsteps approached.
Moments later, a burly middle-aged man appeared, thick mustache and beard making him look like a bear in human form.
Both froze in shock—the gangster, seeing a child in their room; Richard, seeing such a large man.
Even the bravest men didn't dare intrude into their lair. Who would've thought a boy would?
Soon, more men arrived—this time younger, in their twenties and thirties.
"Who's this kid? What's he doing here?"
"Can't you see? He's clearly stealing."
"What? A brat daring to steal from us?"
The gangsters muttered in disbelief.
But Richard only gave a faint smile.
Quietly, he released a small wave of power. Too large, and they would simply explode.
This one, however, struck directly at their hearts—making them burst.
One by one, they collapsed, eyes wide open.
Richard didn't bother speaking with them. He killed them quickly.
Then he walked over.
"I suppose I'm starting to get used to this dirty work," he said with a bitter smile before plucking out their eyes, collecting nine pairs.
Afterward, he left casually, slipping out the window.
What followed was something he hadn't expected.
DING!
(Your mastery over Codex of Moonshadow has increased from 8% to 11%!)
(Your mastery over 100 Shadow Monster has increased from 8% to 11%!)
(Your mastery over Lighting of Darkness has increased from 7% to 11%!)
[Codex:
Codex of Dragon Emperor (31%)
Codex of Moonshadow (11%)]
[Arcane Arts:
100 Shadow Monster (11%)
Lighting of Darkness (11%)]
One notification after another appeared as he stepped out of the window, bringing a wide smile to Richard's face.
'I can finally begin the ritual. I've gathered everything I need—except the virgin's blood still in the Fire Spirit Queen's body,' he thought.
Of course, he could find such blood in the city, but there was no need. He planned to perform the ritual in his ancestor's hut, where it would be far safer.
Richard didn't rush home. He strolled around. After all, he still hadn't disposed of Damon's gruesome corpse.
Now he was free, able to wander wherever he wished—eventually reaching the district lined with Magic Shops.
Though Apple Town was small, its people studied magic, and it even had a school. Naturally, the city had shops selling magical wares, though all of them were modest in size.
They traded in Codices, Arcane Arts, Weapons, Artifacts, and Mystical Plants.
Richard had originally intended to sell his sword hilt here, but now that he had both money and Nature Spirits, he decided against it.
He came only to browse.
The first shop he saw made him pause, watching from outside.
It had a single display table filled with ancient books mixed with strange objects, while swords and spears hung along the walls. He even spotted Sky Armor—something Magi often wore for protection.
"What's that?" Richard's eyes narrowed at a plate-like object inside the display, feeling a strange connection to it.
It seemed tied to one of his powers—but with so many elements at his disposal, he couldn't be sure which.
Richard suspected it might be something that could help one of his elements perform in a more amazing way.
As far as he knew, when elemental affinity reached 90%, one did tend to be able to sense things that were beneficial to them.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC42: Shopping
Chapter 42: Shopping
Richard couldn't resist taking a closer look at the plate-like object, so he stepped into the shop. A few others were also browsing inside, most of them middle-aged, around forty years or older.
For people in such remote regions, it was usually around that age when they first managed to step into the Aether Will Realm.
Even so, that was enough to turn their previously ordinary lives into extraordinary ones.
Most visitors were there to examine weapons or books containing Arcane Arts. They seemed uninterested in the artifacts on display.
The reason was simple—almost all the artifacts being sold had unclear functions.
Buying them was like gambling: paying a high price first, only to study them later, and in most cases, discovering nothing of value.
Of course, if someone actually understood the true function of one of these seemingly useless artifacts, then the price asked could be considered dirt cheap.
Richard finally stood in front of the display case, getting his first close look at the plate.
At first, he thought it was made of glass, but upon closer inspection, it was actually clay that had been hardened and polished until it became so smooth.
Its price tag read fifty Nature Spirits—far more expensive than Richard had expected, since he only carried fifteen.
"Boy, are you interested in this plate?" The shop owner, a thin old man dressed in luxurious robes, asked with a broad smile.
He probably assumed Richard was the son of a wealthy family, already being trained in magic, and even given Nature Spirits to shop for magical items.
After all, despite his shabby clothes, Richard's delicate face and clean skin often gave him an air that overshadowed his poor appearance.
Moreover, the Nature Spirits stored in his pocket were something the old man could sense, so naturally, Richard seemed capable of making a purchase.
When coming here, Richard had intentionally moved his Nature Spirits into his pocket.
"I want to buy it, but I once saw an item like this in Night Valley City for only ten Nature Spirits. I thought it would be cheaper here, but who would've thought it'd be so expensive," Richard replied, causing the old man's smile to freeze.
"Nonsense! Who would sell it for ten Nature Spirits? I bought it myself for forty!" the shopkeeper said in disbelief, though his eyes betrayed the feeling that he might have been duped by whoever sold it to him.
He thought this way because Richard didn't seem like he was lying. After all, a seven-year-old child wouldn't make up such a story just to lower a price.
"Hahaha! Ford, looks like you're not that great at the artifact business after all! If something like this was being sold for ten Nature Spirits in Night Valley City, that means it had no value whatsoever. Shops there often put items on display at such prices just to fill their shelves, without any expectation they'll ever sell. If you ask me, you should just give that plate to the boy," one of the older visitors laughed, mocking the shopkeeper.
Ford's face turned purple and red, as if his head had been set ablaze.
"Impossible! I bought this from a trustworthy magus!" he retorted.
"Even if you bought it from a magus, that doesn't mean he knew it wasn't useless. But if it's from a Night Valley City shop, then there's no doubt. Hahaha..."
"..."
Meanwhile, Richard quietly made his way toward the door.
"Boy, wait!" Ford suddenly called out.
Richard stopped and looked back with an innocent, questioning expression.
"If you really want the plate, I'll sell it to you," he said.
"It's too expensive," Richard replied.
"Then what price do you want to pay?"
"I can only afford five Nature Spirits."
Upon hearing this, Ford's face twitched as though he were about to cry.
But who could he blame?
Before he realized it, his head nodded even as his mouth spoke the words.
"Fine, five Nature Spirits."
Richard quickly pulled out five Nature Spirits from his pocket and handed them over, while the old man accepted them with a scowl.
"Give me the plate," Richard said.
"Calm down," the old man muttered, taking the plate from inside the display case before handing it to Richard.
It wasn't very large, but it turned out to be surprisingly heavy.
Richard carried it with a smile and left the shop, while the shopkeeper glared at the five Nature Spirits in his hand with an expression full of resentment.
"Damn it..." he cursed.
"Ford, you've only got yourself to blame," the older man from before remarked again.
"Hmph, better than ending up with nothing," Ford said bitterly, trying to comfort himself.
Richard wandered into another part of town, already wanting to return to his village.
He could feel an even stronger connection to the plate now, but this wasn't the right place to examine it.
Nor was he sure he could uncover its mysteries on his own.
What he needed was a safe place where he could study the plate properly.
But before that, he had to dispose of Damon's corpse.
That was tricky, considering how crowded every part of town was.
It didn't take long, however, before he found a spot—a noble's abandoned carriage by the roadside.
Passing by it, he only needed to slip his hand through the window for a moment. Damon's corpse fell inside from his Storage Artifact.
With that done, Richard left Apple Town quickly.
Outside the town, he gave a whistle, and Athena came trotting out of the forest toward him.
Meanwhile, back at Ford's shop, a startling figure arrived—the city lord himself, Liam, a man with neatly combed blond hair.
Ford rubbed his eyes in disbelief that the city lord had come.
But even more shocking was the guest who accompanied him—the young man with messy curly brown hair, no more than fifteen years old, who had previously visited the shop without buying anything.
Ford remembered him clearly; he had come before Richard.
"Ronan, where is it?" the city lord asked the youth.
"Here." Ronan pointed at the display case, only to freeze in shock when he saw it.
"Where is it? Old man, where's the plate that was here earlier?" he demanded of Ford.
The city lord's brows furrowed as his eyes shifted toward him.
Ford stammered in confusion before answering truthfully, "It was just purchased... by a child."
"What? Where is that child?!" the city lord suddenly barked.
"He left a while ago," Ford said nervously, finally realizing something was wrong.
That plate... could it actually be priceless? To the point where even the city lord himself came looking for it? Ford couldn't help but wonder.
"Describe him to me..." the city lord ordered, already knowing what needed to be done.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC43: Ritual
Chapter 43: Ritual
And so, Boss Ford began describing the boy, estimating his age to be around seven or eight.
He told everything without daring to add or omit a single detail, even mentioning to the city lord that the boy had said the plate was being sold for only ten Nature Spirit in Night Valley City—and that was why he ended up selling it for five.
The usually calm city lord staggered when he heard this, calling Boss Ford an idiot before leaving without giving him the chance to ask what the plate really was.
Of course, Ford finally realized he had been deceived by that boy.
Slumping back in his chair, his mind replayed everything that had just happened—how the boy had entered, how he had studied the plate, and how Ford himself had approached with the gaze of a predator looking for profit.
BANG!
He slammed the table hard as the memory struck him again.
"Damn it, I'll kill that brat!" he roared, his voice carrying across to the neighboring shops.
***
Richard had no idea that the item he had just bought was also being sought by the city lord.
Right now, he was focused on resisting the gusts of wind generated by Athena's speed.
If he didn't hold on tightly, he would have been thrown off entirely.
Only when they arrived at Red Wheat Village did Athena finally slow down.
They passed through the village at a leisurely pace, and Richard couldn't help but glance at Old Bear's house. It stood silent.
There might not even be corpses left. So how could the other villagers ever realize that Old Bear and his family had been slaughtered?
Richard shook his head. He could only say Old Bear's fate had been truly unfortunate.
After passing the village, Athena picked up her speed once again.
In the sky, Richard noticed many birds flying back toward the mountains.
They seemed like migratory birds returning now that their territory was safe again.
By the time Richard reached his village, the sky had already turned dusky. After greeting Sister Lisa briefly, he hurried straight toward his ancestral hut.
As night fell, the old man was busy lighting bonfires and torches around the hut, roasting a massive fish that looked freshly caught.
Seeing Richard arrive, he said, "You look quite spirited..."
"Of course, I've collected one criminal's brain and ten pairs of eyes," Richard replied.
"Now I can start the ritual. How about the old woman's blood, Grandfather?"
"Don't worry, I've already taken it..."
Aldric showed Richard a tightly sealed jar.
"Excellent..."
Richard couldn't be happier, forgetting the plate-like artifact for now.
He stepped up onto the porch of the ancestral hut and pulled out the brain and all the eyes he had collected.
"So, you already have a Storage Artifact..." Aldric said, slightly surprised.
"Yes, I took it from the owner of this brain. He's the one who planted the beast eggs to massacre the village. His brain should qualify," Richard replied.
"Your luck can be said to be rather high," Aldric nodded.
"Alright, I'll be watching. You can begin the ritual. If something goes wrong, I'll stop you."
"Yes..."
Richard sat down.
He knew exactly what needed to be done.
At this moment, Aldric placed the jar in front of him and removed its lid.
Inside, Richard saw a clear, crimson liquid—it looked less like blood and more like water dyed red.
Its scent even surprised him; strangely fragrant, despite being blood.
"This is the blood of the second greatest beauty of the previous era," Aldric remarked.
Richard rolled his eyes at that.
From his guess, his ancestor must have been a playboy, though clearly he had never managed to capture the most prestigious targets.
Richard then placed each pair of eyes into the jar, which was fortunately large enough to contain them all.
If he also put Damon's brain inside—along with its dark element—it would transform into something capable of summoning malevolent souls.
Taking a deep breath, Richard began releasing his dark element. The jet-black energy seeped into Damon's brain until it too turned dark.
He then mixed the corrupted brain into the blood already mingled with the ten pairs of eyes.
Boom!
Suddenly, a plume of black, evil smoke erupted from within the jar.
At the same time, Richard saw shadowy humanoid figures emerging. They looked like silhouettes, but their glow was crimson, as if made of blood, their faces endlessly distorted.
In Richard's imagination, such beings could only be called wraiths—feral specters.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
They suddenly lunged at him, straight into his chest.
Yet instead of an attack, they merged with him—slipping directly into his chest.
Immediately, Richard felt something gathering within his heart, making his chest unbearably heavy, an utterly uncomfortable sensation.
The only good thing was that there was no pain.
Even so, the heaviness grew and grew.
He could feel hatred and malice seeping into his heart, spreading into his mind.
For a moment, his thoughts grew chaotic—he nearly lost himself—but just as quickly, another force cleared the corruption away.
Minutes after minute passed and Richard could feel a kind of change in his heart.
Buzz!
A black light suddenly radiated from him—not ordinary light, but his very soul.
The black radiance expanded, swelling larger than Aldric's hut.
When it reached its limit, it began to take shape—forming a massive black dragon with icy red eyes, clad in shadowy armor that seemed made to fit its body.
Richard stared in shock.
A special soul was different from an ordinary one. A special soul could take form, but it wasn't something one could simply shape at will.
Its form had to correspond to a person's inherent power.
Richard had merely thought fleetingly of its shape, and it had manifested instantly.
Then the dragon's mouth opened wide.
ROAR!
The deafening roar shook the land and space itself, rattling trees, scattering animals, and snuffing out every flame.
Even Aldric leapt in surprise.
The roar echoed all the way to Purple Rose Village, extinguishing the torches the villagers had just lit.
From such a distance, they couldn't be sure whether it was a roar or thunder. But one thing was certain—it was the most terrifying sound they had ever heard.
DING!
(Your soul has transformed into the Black Heart Soul, turning your heart into the Black Heart, capable of storing the hidden power of wrath and resentment!)
(Status:
[Name: Richard]
[Magic Realm: Aether Will]
[Aether: 144/10,000
[Aether Accumulation: 2144
[Soul: Black Heart Soul]
[Black Heart Hidden Power: 0/10,000]
(Notice: Black Heart Hidden Power can be used to increase your Aether Accumulation when activated!)
DING!
(Your Black Heart Hidden Power has increased from 0 to 1!)
(Your Black Heart Hidden Power has increased from 1 to 2!)
(Your Black Heart Hidden Power has increased from 2 to 3!)
[Black Heart Hidden Power: 3/10,000] +3
Richard, "..."
How was he supposed to know that the System would even increase the hidden power of his heart—something he thought could only be obtained through slaughter?
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC44: Soil
Chapter 44: Soil
The process was faster than Richard had expected.
His soul had changed, and he could feel his thinking speed increase drastically.
The Codex and Arcane Art, which had once felt like a dead end when he tried to master them on his own, now became clear.
If before he felt as if they were tangled threads impossible to fix, now he could see the strands and their paths.
Slowly, he would surely be able to mend them.
Of course, he realized the existence of the Holy Flame played a major role in speeding up this process.
Otherwise, he would have had to endure a much longer and more painful path.
Not long after, black smoke seeped out of his body.
Those evil souls had perished from exhaustion, dispersing from his body, leaving behind only the changes they had made.
Richard then looked at his ancestor, who gave him a gaze full of interest.
"Have you obtained the inheritance of the Dragon Knight? A soul forming a dragon... as far as I know, only the Codex cultivated by Dragon Knights could achieve that," he said.
Aldric knew Richard had cultivated a Codex that absorbed Tier 3 Aether before he gave him the Codex of Moonshadow. But he hadn't known what kind of Codex that was. Now he understood.
Considering Richard had also gained the method to cultivate the Black Heart Soul, which belonged to the Dragon Knight, it could only be said he had indeed inherited it.
Richard smiled and nodded lightly.
"But it's only the Codex I cultivated and the Black Heart Soul book I obtained," he said.
"Compared to my inheritance, the Dragon Knight's inheritance is still greater," Aldric replied.
"I can train both," Richard answered.
"Yeah, that's the amazing part. You're cultivating both well. Even while practicing the inheritance of the Dragon Knight, you're cultivating it better than the Dragon Knight himself."
As he said this, Aldric seemed truly astonished at Richard's talent.
The boy could only chuckle with a shy expression.
"By the way, grandfather, do you know what this object is? I feel like it has a specialty, so I bought it at a Magic Shop." Richard pulled out a plate-like object he had purchased.
The moment he took it out, Aldric snatched it with such speed that Richard couldn't even see the movement.
He stared at the plate with wide, astonished eyes.
"You're truly lucky, boy. How much did you pay for this?" he asked.
Richard's eyes lit up at those words, for his ancestor clearly recognized this plate-like object, and it was obviously a treasure of great value.
"Only five Nature Spirits," he replied, causing Aldric's eyes to bulge.
"Grandfather, what exactly is this?" Richard asked.
"You must realize this is soil?"
"Yes, it is soil, but it seems extremely dry."
"Correct. It's called Cymora Soil, something that enhances affinity with the earth element. With this, one might be able to raise their Earth Element affinity to 90%."
"Really?" Richard was somewhat astonished.
Such an item, its value was immeasurable.
Anyone possessing earth-type power would surely desire it, for their strength would become extraordinary if their Earth Element affinity reached 90%.
But Richard furrowed his brows, wondering what use it had for him, who already possessed 90% Earth Element affinity.
"Of course, you can't just use it directly. One needs to slowly absorb the essence of this Cymora Soil to increase their Earth Element affinity," Aldric continued.
"To produce more essence, feed it with Nature Spirit's Energy."
"And if someone's Earth Element affinity has already reached 90%, can the essence of Cymora Soil still raise it further?"
"Unfortunately, from what I know, not even Cymora Soil can help beyond that. It's need something greater than that."
"Ohh..." Richard felt slightly disappointed.
"Does it have any other use?" he asked.
"Yes, it can be used to cultivate Magical Plants. This is extraordinary, for normally it is very difficult to cultivate such plants. But with this soil, there's no effort needed—only time."
As he said this, Aldric handed the object back to Richard, who stared at it in wonder.
"How can soil this hard be planted on?" he asked.
"It's not like that. You only need to bury it beneath the soil you plant on. What matters is the essence of the Cymora Soil," Aldric replied, and Richard finally understood.
"Later, seek out seeds of Magical Plants, you can try it."
Richard nodded but still wasn't sure if he needed to.
His training path was different. He didn't always need what others needed.
Such a treasure might end up being only part of his collection.
Of course, he could also exchange it for another treasure of equal value.
He stored the object away again.
"Grandfather, I'll return for now," he said.
---
Back in the village, Richard found some villagers still lingering, talking about the loud sound they had just heard until their torch flames went out.
There were two opposing opinions—some insisted it was thunder, others claimed it was a terrifying beast.
Richard couldn't care less. He entered the orphanage and joined the others for dinner.
Tonight, unexpectedly, they were eating beef, something incredibly rare.
Richard didn't know where Sister Lisa had gotten it.
He couldn't help but eat a lot.
The only problem was the limited portion.
As Richard was about to enter his room to train, Sister Lisa suddenly called out to him.
"Richard, will you accompany me tomorrow?" the woman asked.
Richard was somewhat surprised to hear this, as it was the first time.
"Where?" he asked curiously.
Sister Lisa rarely went anywhere, and usually she went alone.
Since this time she wanted him to accompany her, Richard couldn't help but think this might not be an ordinary trip.
"Night Valley City," Sister Lisa replied, causing Richard's eyes to tremble slightly.
"I need your horse so we can get there faster," she added with a soft laugh.
"Alright, I'll go with you," Richard answered, filled with anticipation.
The city where he was born, where his fate had begun—why not?
Having only seen it as a baby, he wasn't too clear about the city itself, but he knew it was magnificent.
Hearing his agreement, Sister Lisa looked pleased.
"Go to bed early tonight, we'll begin our journey before sunrise," she said before walking away.
Richard entered his room and immediately went to sleep.
He had done far too much today. He couldn't deny he was tired and wanted to rest well.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC45: Journey
Chapter 45: Journey
Because he had gone to bed so early, Richard also woke up early.
He already felt refreshed, and became even more so when he received a notification from the System.
(Your Black Heart Hidden Power has increased from 3 to 10!)
(Your affinity with the Cloud Element has increased from 58 to 60!)
[Black Heart Hidden Power: 10/10,000] +7
(Cloud: 60%)
'Looks like the System will be giving nine upgrades now,' Richard thought with a smile.
He stretched his body before standing up and heading straight to the bathroom.
To his surprise, Sister Lisa was already ready before him, even looking as if she had already bathed.
She was standing at the orphanage gate, talking to a middle-aged woman who lived next door.
Whenever she left, she usually asked this woman to take care of the orphanage temporarily.
The woman immediately went to the kitchen to cook breakfast for the children.
It seemed Sister Lisa wanted to leave before the children woke up.
Richard hurried his bath, abandoning his original plan to enjoy it leisurely.
Since they were going to a big city, he chose good clothes. Of course, he had a few—gifts from Mrs. Wilson.
What surprised him even more was that Sister Lisa had actually prepared a carriage.
It seemed to belong to a villager whom she had borrowed it from.
"Richard, harness your horse to this carriage. The journey is very long, so it's better if we travel inside," the woman said.
Richard naturally preferred this. After all, sitting on horseback for long periods was no easy matter.
Athena didn't mind being tasked with pulling the carriage. She followed Richard's instructions well, so nothing was complicated.
Sister Lisa didn't seem to be bringing much. Other than some clothes and fruits for the road, she carried a sword, likely anticipating possible danger along the way.
As a former Sky Armor Knight, she practically possessed combat skills.
Even though she lacked superhuman strength without the Sky Armor and was only an ordinary Magus who hadn't reached the Aether Will Realm—having only Tier 1 Aether—Sister Lisa might still be able to defeat them.
"Didn't you bring any clothes?" Sister Lisa asked after letting Richard board the carriage first.
Richard shook his head—he hadn't packed any clothes at all in his Storage Artifact.
He planned to buy new ones later.
Sister Lisa didn't say anything more. She climbed onto the carriage and then went to sit in the driver's seat.
The carriage wasn't that big, but for Richard, who was still small, it was spacious enough.
He could even lie down if he wanted.
Sister Lisa, seated on the driver's bench, quickly guided Athena to move.
Carriages in this world weren't that bad. They were designed well enough that the vibrations weren't too noticeable.
Once they had left the village, Athena began to move quickly.
In no time, her speed surpassed even the fastest horses, astonishing Sister Lisa.
"Sister, what exactly are you going to do in Night Valley City?" Richard asked, curious about her destination.
"To obtain a Sky Armor," Sister Lisa replied.
"Really?" Richard was very surprised to hear that.
"Though I retired from the Sky Armor Legion long ago, that doesn't mean I stopped training. I've continued practicing every day. After all, the training isn't that complicated—one can do it anywhere. I've improved several times over while managing the orphanage. Yesterday, an old friend who had been traveling the world sent me a letter, saying she would give me an unusual Sky Armor. That's something I can't refuse. Perhaps she heard about the crisis this village just faced and took pity on me for not being able to rely on myself." Sister Lisa chuckled.
Richard immediately grew curious about the friend she mentioned. Someone who traveled the world?
"Also, we'll be watching the finals of the Young Magus Tournament. This tournament is joined by the best young Magi from the Eight-Star, Nine-Star, and Ten-Star Provinces, so the two competing in the finals are the strongest under twenty years old. It's held in Night Valley City," Sister Lisa added, surprising Richard again.
"Sister, what kind of tournament is that?" he asked.
He truly had never heard of it, not even in Apple Town, even though it seemed like such a major event.
Perhaps he had simply never happened to overhear anyone talk about it.
"Of course, it's a tournament of combat and power... It's held once every five years by the kingdom. The champions of the three provinces are then sent to the capital to compete in the final stage of the tournament, against the champions of the other three provinces," Sister Lisa explained.
"There's something like that..." Richard hadn't expected it.
"It's a grand festival—the biggest one, in fact. Of course, villagers like us rarely attend, but people from the major cities in this province and the other two will come to watch."
---
Richard was filled with anticipation, but he didn't want to waste his time.
Since he hadn't trained last night, he planned to train relentlessly during this journey.
He even ignored Sister Lisa when she asked if he wanted to stop for food.
Since he gave no response, Sister Lisa was forced to keep going.
Richard was quite excited while training, as his absorption speed for Aether had increased by about 50% since his soul had transformed.
In just over ten hours, he managed to gather 39 Aether.
Adding what he received from his Aether Bottle, he obtained 78 in total.
[Aether: 222/10,000
[Aether Accumulation: 222
The reason he stopped training after gathering 39 Aether was because he began to hear many voices around them.
Curious as to where they were, he opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was the towering wall ahead, visible even from afar.
He could never forget that wall—knowing it belonged to Night Valley City and stood fifty meters high.
All around, he noticed many other carriages heading in the same direction.
They were traveling along a road so wide that twenty carriages could move side by side.
On either side of the road, Richard saw vast open areas that had become a beast market.
His eyes no longer blinked as he saw all kinds of beasts, some so massive they had to be chained or locked inside giant cages.
He even saw a lion ten meters tall, becoming the center of attention in the market.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC46: Night Valley City
Chapter 46: Night Valley City
"Hehehe, isn't it amazing? Here, everything has sellers—even humans," said Sister Lisa.
"What? There's human trafficking too? Is that even allowed?" Richard wasn't surprised by this, but he pretended to be, wanting to know more.
"Of course, it's not allowed, but there will always be black markets that are hard to eradicate," Sister Lisa replied.
Richard only smiled quietly at that.
The reason it was so hard to stamp out was most likely because those in power also profited from such businesses.
"By the way, Sister Lisa, isn't it dangerous to buy those wild beasts? Couldn't they attack their owners?"
"Not always. Many of those beasts were raised in captivity, so they're somewhat tame. As for the wild ones, people usually buy them for research or entertainment, so they keep them locked up."
"Ohhh..." Richard nodded.
This beast market was outside the city, but even after passing it, the city walls were still quite far away.
Of course, many other businesses lined the road to the city, with the most common being pleasure houses guarded by beautiful women.
Night Valley City seemed overcrowded already, so many couldn't find a place to open businesses inside.
When they finally arrived in front of its towering 50-meter-high walls, Richard realized just how tall they were.
Even the gates were 40 meters wide, yet despite their size, people still crowded desperately to get in.
And that was only one of its gates. In fact, there were more than fifty.
The good thing was, there was no entry fee. Perhaps only during these few days, since the city had become a destination for people from three provinces.
Once through the gate, Richard finally saw clearly the grandeur of this vast city, so wide that the walls on the far side couldn't be seen at all—which meant they were extremely far away.
However, faintly, Richard spotted a rocky hill in the distance, a sight that made him narrow his eyes.
How could he forget that he had been brought from that rocky hill?
But seeing it from afar clearly meant nothing. He focused on his surroundings instead, observing the newcomers who looked different from those of Apple Town.
In this city, that ancient atmosphere was less pronounced—people's clothes were more vibrant, the buildings painted in various colors, and life itself seemed so lively.
"Richard, let's eat first. I'm far too hungry," said Sister Lisa, and Richard nodded without protest, for he felt the same.
Sister Lisa stopped the horse carriage in front of a large restaurant that seemed inexpensive, since many outsiders were eating there.
The food sold seemed to consist of meat soup and roasted meat, but the most intriguing thing was that they had ice for their drinks.
Sister Lisa picked a table and ordered two servings.
"Here, we can drink iced water. You've probably never tried it before. Even in Apple Town, it's hard to find. Bringing in ice from other regions is practically impossible, but in this city, there's no shortage of Magi with ice powers," explained Sister Lisa.
Richard only chuckled at her words, feigning curiosity.
Their order came quickly.
Along with two bowls of soup and two roasted meats, there were two pitchers emitting a frosty mist.
Looking into the pitchers, Richard saw water mixed with chunks of ice.
Though ice was common on Earth, he hadn't tasted it in over seven years in this world.
Without hesitation, he drank the iced water first, which instantly refreshed his body.
Sister Lisa did the same, drinking first.
"Amazing, isn't it?" she said.
Richard only nodded and began to eat.
"You heard? Damon's corpse has been found in Apple Town. They said it was without eyes and a brain."
Richard suddenly caught an interesting conversation from the table next to theirs.
"Really? Was Damon killed? Who killed him?"
"No one knows. His body was apparently dumped in a noble's carriage. Some people said that earlier, he'd been wandering around villages near Apple Town."
"Hmph, perhaps he provoked someone he shouldn't have. In Night Valley City, he could act like a tyrant because he was protected by many noble families, but elsewhere, there are plenty who could kill him—and they wouldn't be afraid."
"..."
Sister Lisa, who also heard this, furrowed her brows.
She didn't seem unfamiliar with the name Damon.
"Richard," she said quietly.
"Mm? What is it?" Richard asked, pretending to be surprised.
"You were wandering around yesterday. Did you see a Magus fight?" Sister Lisa asked.
"No..." Richard shook his head.
"Sister Lisa, do you know this man named Damon?" he asked.
Of course, it was natural for him to ask since he'd heard the talk about Damon as well.
"Not personally, but I know quite a lot about him from my aunt."
"Ohhh..." Richard grew more interested.
"He did bad things for Wren. Wren is the governor's son. He's one of the ones who will fight in the finals," added Sister Lisa.
"Wren..." Richard repeated the name.
He hadn't expected to get this information from Sister Lisa.
Now, he knew who the true mastermind was.
Though he had no interest in getting involved, since his focus remained on his own growth, knowing was better than not knowing.
And Wren had no idea that it was Richard who had killed his lackey.
Richard continued eating, finishing his meal quickly.
But truthfully, he still felt unsatisfied—he wanted more.
Without telling Sister Lisa, he called a waiter and ordered another portion, surprising Sister Lisa enough that her expression turned uneasy.
But Richard calmly pulled out a few copper and silver coins.
"Sister, I'll be paying," Richard said casually.
He knew Sister Lisa's finances were limited. Naturally, he couldn't let her pay for everything.
"You?" Sister Lisa was stunned, taking a coin and examining it closely.
"Where did you get this?" she asked.
"I have power. Earning money isn't difficult for me," Richard replied calmly.
"You didn't rob anyone, did you?"
"I did rob, but what I robbed was a group of criminals who deserved to suffer."
Lisa, "..."
.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC47: Arrived
Chapter 47: Arrived
Richard and Sister Lisa continued their journey deeper into the city.
The streets here branched out too much, but just because the buildings were beautiful, Richard couldn't say the city was well-planned. Many streets were slanted or uneven in size.
As they went further in, Richard realized things were not as good as he had imagined.
The city was not without its poor. In fact, they looked even poorer than villagers, as if the word Suffering was etched onto their faces.
They lived in slums with houses made of old wood, wearing robes that were worn-out and patched all over.
Many children begged for money from passersby or scavenged food from the trash.
As Richard observed, he realized the slums in this city were not few in number.
They just weren't visible near the city gates.
But when entering the elite district, Richard easily forgot those slum areas.
So many luxurious restaurants, gown and jewelry shops visited by charming young women.
From time to time, he also saw massive Magic Shops visited by many Magi, and Magi of the Aether Will Realm were actually quite common everywhere. Many were only in their twenties, with some even reaching that realm at age seventeen or eighteen.
"Richard, the Aether Will Realm is fairly ordinary here. Of course, it's impossible to find someone as young as you. Among the many Magi in the Aether Will Realm, those who can fight Primordial Beasts of Tier 8, 9, or 10 are the rarest.
"Most Magi in the Aether Will Realm, even if they have enough Aether and are only lacking one piece of the Aether Framework, at most they're equal to Tier 6 or 7 Primordial Beasts.
"If they have Tier 2 Aether, they're equal to Tier 8 or 9 Primordial Beasts. To fight a Tier 10 Beast, it takes some extraordinary Arcane Arts," Sister Lisa explained, giving Richard knowledge he had already learned from Olivia.
Perhaps Sister Lisa assumed he didn't know that much yet.
Richard nodded a few times in response.
"Are there any Magi with Tier 3 Aether in this city?" he asked.
"Lady Rebecca, my aunt's master..." Sister Lisa answered with an expression full of admiration.
"Also Wren. Though some rumors say his Aether isn't that stable. He seems to have forced himself too much to master a Codex that absorbs Tier 3 Aether."
After saying that, Sister Lisa gave Richard a strange look.
"What is it?" Richard pretended to be confused, though he knew Sister Lisa was simply curious about him, since he wasn't only in the Aether Will Realm—he even had Tier 3 Aether.
"It's nothing..." Sister Lisa shook her head.
"Sister, what about Magi in the Life Aether Realm?" Richard asked, curious about those in the stronger realm.
In that realm, a person's Aether becomes alive, and that was why Magi needed the Aether Framework—to allow their bodies to control living Aether.
Living Aether was, of course, different from the Aether of Magi below the Life Aether Realm.
It could be released to carry out tasks on its own in battle without further command from its Magus.
The transformation wasn't huge, but besides having much greater power, their fighting style became far more troublesome.
"They are the true holders of power," Sister Lisa replied. "For all noble clans, they are revered elders—except for the Moonshadow Clan, since their standards and strength are still higher even though they are considered in decline. Aunt Wilson is in this realm," Sister Lisa said.
"Above them, there's no need to mention. They are the leaders. Half of them in this city are from the Moonshadow Clan."
"They're really that strong even though they've declined?"
"Yeah, they are that strong because they once had an ancestor who reached the very peak of the world. You understand how powerful that clan is, so you'd better avoid them if you ever encounter them. If we get into trouble with them, even Mrs. Wilson would find it hard to help, despite being Lady Rebecca's personal maid."
Richard nodded but inwardly smiled.
That clan—he was the original young master of it. He was merely abandoned.
"Mm..."
Sister Lisa suddenly turned into a street lined with houses of similar appearance, medium in size but seemingly luxurious.
It appeared to be a housing complex, something he hadn't found in Apple Town. But since Night Valley City was so large, it was likely there were many complexes built by those in the property business.
Soon after, Sister Lisa stopped the carriage in front of one of the houses.
Richard couldn't help but feel strange when he saw the house, as its roof was full of crows resting there.
Some flew away, but others came to take their place.
This complex clearly wasn't some gathering ground for crows, since none were perched on other roofs.
"Don't be too surprised. Lilith can be considered an odd Magus, but she's very kind—and very strong as well," Sister Lisa said, noticing Richard's bewilderment.
She got off the carriage from the front while Richard got down from the back.
Just as Richard landed on the ground, the house door suddenly opened.
A beautiful young girl, about the same age as Richard, with black hair and blood-red eyes and straight bangs stepped out of the door along with a young woman in her twenties wearing a maid uniform.
"Is that the woman?" Richard asked instinctively in surprise.
He was stunned because to him, the girl was far too beautiful for her age.
"No, they're guests," Sister Lisa answered, and Richard then noticed another carriage besides theirs.
The difference was, that carriage was too luxurious, seemingly made of gold, its windows covered with silk curtains.
The girl and her maid headed toward that carriage, their eyes briefly glancing at Richard and Sister Lisa.
The girl looked very cold, yet she still carried an air of curiosity toward them—especially Richard, who was the same age as her. She stared at him long enough as if observing him.
After that, she entered the carriage, and it soon departed.
Richard kept watching the carriage until it disappeared.
He could sense the uniqueness of that girl and knew she was extraordinary.
"Hey, Richard, do you like her? That girl really is too beautiful. When she grows up, she'll surely become stunning and pursued by many men. If you're truly interested in her, I think you should approach her from this age. You know, there's always a different feeling for women toward men they've known since childhood."
Richard, "..."
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC48: Lilith
Chapter 48: Lilith
Meanwhile, in Apple Town, Liam, the city lord, was doing everything he could to investigate the seven-year-old boy who had purchased the Cymora Soil.
He gathered every person who had seen Richard in Apple Town.
He even went as far as hiring the best painter, then ordered those who had seen Richard to describe his features to the painter.
The result was a sketch that was strikingly accurate.
Liam studied the sketch intently, trying to recall Richard's appearance.
'A seven-year-old boy able to fabricate such a lie, who taught him that?' he wondered.
'But, he must have sensed that plate—or there is no way he would want to obtain it. And he's only seven years old.'
The longer Liam stared at the sketch, the deeper his suspicion grew.
He suspected this boy was the very Richard who had caused such a stir in Apple Town.
First of all, despite being only seven years old, he had easily cleared the challenge in the Dark Forest.
Then, he had exposed Olivia's crimes, forcing her to flee to who knows where.
'I suppose there's no doubt. There's no way two such extraordinary children could appear in Apple Town,' Liam thought.
"'But...'
Liam furrowed his brows. If he wished, he truly could locate Richard using the sketch.
Some Magi possessed that skill.
As long as they saw an image of the person they were searching for, they could track them.
Of course, there was a limit to the range they could trace. If the target was too far, the attempt would fail unless the Magus's power was greater.
Liam wanted to track Richard, but he was still worried about the boy's background.
In fact, he had entered the Dark Forest after Richard, attempting to investigate the battle there, and the result had shocked him greatly.
He realized that Richard actually possessed Aether Tier 3.
How could he dare underestimate such a boy?
He did not believe Richard was truly without background—his talent was simply too inconceivable.
The background Liam suspected was not some powerful clan, but a powerful teacher.
'I suppose I must give up on the Cymora Soil. Sigh, it's useless to me anyway, but I could trade it for something that is.'
Liam was the type who disliked getting involved in dangerous conflicts. Even greed found it difficult to push him into one.
What he truly enjoyed was training in peace. That was why he chose to become the lord of a small city, even though he could have pursued a more honorable duty from the kingdom.
'Yes, it would be better to approach him as a friend. If he continues to grow and becomes very powerful, I could benefit from him...'
An idea sparked in Liam's mind, making his eyes gleam.
After all, so many factions were eager to recruit Richard, including the Moonshadow Clan.
Wasn't it because they preferred to let him grow and become stronger first, so they could reap the benefits later?
But they did not know his appearance—only his name and age.
---
Richard and Sister Lisa then stepped toward Lilith's residence, whose door had already been shut by the young lady and her maid.
However, as they arrived before the door, it opened once more, revealing a woman who looked even younger than Sister Lisa—she seemed barely twenty.
She had long golden hair, a beautiful face with captivating blue eyes, and a pair of red lips shaped like a smiling heart. She wore a luxurious, tight red dress that did nothing to conceal her alluring curves.
Richard had been wondering what kind of woman this Lilith would be. Unexpectedly, she was a stunning blonde, resembling a top Hollywood actress from Earth.
"Lisa, you've finally arrived," said the woman with a charming smile before lowering her gaze to Richard, since her tall figure towered over him.
Her smile widened when her eyes locked on Richard.
Her gaze was sharp, as if she were counting every strand of his hair.
Somehow, Richard felt utterly horrified under her stare, as though she could see through every part of him—including his power.
He did not doubt it.
Even his instincts screamed at him to run.
It wasn't a matter of whether the woman was good or evil, but her power was simply too overwhelming.
Sister Lisa, unaware of what he was feeling, looked delighted to meet her old friend.
"Lilith, hehe, it's been so long. You've changed so much after ten years of wandering. I still remember clearly when you won the Young Magus Tournament of the entire kingdom—it had everyone talking for weeks," she said.
"But unfortunately, you vanished for so long. People even forgot about you and assumed you had died."
As Sister Lisa spoke, Lilith turned her gaze back to her.
"The outside world is far more fascinating, so I had no desire to return. Unfortunately, something forced me to come back, and then I heard some Sky Armor Knights—who were once your friends—talking about you," Lilith said.
"But fortunately, it seems everything has been resolved well. By my estimation, if that issue hadn't been dealt with, you might have died."
Sister Lisa gave a thin smile and instinctively glanced at Richard for a moment, for he was the one who had resolved that issue.
On the other side, Richard finally realized why he felt such a great threat from this blonde woman.
The champion of the tournament ten years ago?
Number one in the entire kingdom?
Now, they were about to witness the finals across three provinces, with the winners being sent to the capital for the final stage.
Considering that the Holy Star Kingdom had over a hundred provinces, nearly forty participants would be sent to the capital—each one a champion of three provinces.
Even Wren, who was considered outstanding, was still far from being the number one in the kingdom. Yet this blonde woman had once claimed that very title.
After ten years had passed, how could her strength not have grown drastically?
"Lilith, what was the matter that made you return?" Sister Lisa asked, clearly curious.
"We'll talk about that later. For now, why don't you introduce me to this handsome and sturdy little boy? I think when he grows up, he'll suit my taste perfectly," Lilith replied, her eyes once again fixed on Richard, smiling and winking her left eye at him.
Richard was stunned, his mouth falling open.
Cough!
Sister Lisa pretended to cough.
"Lilith, please don't joke around. He's only seven years old, one of the children raised in my orphanage..." she said, her tone sounding uncomfortable.
"It doesn't matter if he's still seven. Ten years later, he'll be seventeen. By then, he'll definitely suit me. Besides, even ten years from now, I won't grow any older," Lilith replied without taking her eyes off Richard.
"So, how about it, handsome boy? Would you be interested in starting a special relationship with me when you grow up? If so, I'll give you something great as a gift—something that will surely help you a lot."
Richard: "..."
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC49: Ask for Help
Chapter 49: Ask for Help
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Sister Lisa coughed again.
"Richard, don't take Lilith's words seriously. She sometimes likes to spout nonsense just to mess with people's minds," she said.
"So his name is Richard. In that case, he must be the Young Magus who shocked Apple Town by reaching the Aether Will Realm at the age of seven," Lilith said with a chuckle, while Sister Lisa could only show a helpless expression.
From the start, she knew it was impossible to hide Richard's strength from Lilith, so there was no point in concealing his identity.
She had originally hoped that by introducing Richard to Lilith, Richard could learn many things from her.
But who would have thought that Lilith would be so insane, desiring Richard even though he was still a child?
And here, Richard chose to hold his tongue.
"Lisa, where did you find him? I don't think some random person just dropped him off at your orphanage," Lilith asked.
"From my aunt," Lisa replied.
"Ohhh..." Lilith suddenly looked very intrigued when she heard that Richard had been brought by her aunt.
Of course, she knew Mrs. Wilson well.
"Hahaha..." After that, she laughed spontaneously, then gestured for Richard and Sister Lisa to come inside.
"Come on, I'll show you the armor. But you really can control a Tier 8 Sky Armor, right?"
"Of course. Even if my talent isn't that great, I keep moving forward," Sister Lisa replied.
"Your talent is still quite impressive by this city's standards. If only you hadn't quit the Sky Armor Legion, you might have advanced much faster, perhaps even already capable of controlling a Tier 11 Armor," Lilith said.
"How could I not quit? That legion is filled with arrogant nobles who constantly exploit us knights from common backgrounds..." Sister Lisa complained.
"Hahaha, it must have been tough for you. But with the armor I'm giving you, you can rise again," Lilith chuckled.
Her house was rather dark since the windows were tightly shut, illuminated only by candlelight.
Richard noticed many paintings hanging on the walls, all of them of crows—various kinds of crows, each with crimson eyes.
"Look," Lilith suddenly said before waving her hand. Something emerged from her Storage Artifact—a pitch-black female-shaped armor with small folded wings, and a helmet in the shape of a crow's head.
Faintly, the armor radiated an ominous black glow.
"This... is this really a Tier 8 Sky Armor?" Lisa asked.
"No, it's on a higher level, though someone can begin controlling it from Tier 8," Lilith answered.
"An armor with layered tiers," Sister Lisa muttered in shock.
"That's right. But the best part—this armor can transform into a giant crow with a shadow of hundreds of crows," Lilith said with a smile.
Sister Lisa took a deep breath upon hearing that, staring at Lilith in disbelief.
"Are you sure you want to give this to me?" she asked.
This armor was undeniably too valuable. Normally, Sky Armors had no such special abilities. They were pure raw power.
But this one... this was special.
"In my hands, it's useless. And I'm too reluctant to sell it. It's better if I give it to my old friend. I'm sure you'll be able to bring out its full power one day," Lilith smiled.
"Come, drop your blood on the armor. I want to see it move," she added.
Although Lisa considered the gift far too precious, when Lilith urged her to accept it, she no longer hesitated.
With one of her long nails, she easily cut her own finger, letting the blood drip.
She then placed the blood on the black armor with the crow helmet.
Buzz!
It shone, and the light swallowed Lisa before the armor separated into parts that simultaneously attached themselves to her body.
Its size shifted, adjusting to Lisa's physique.
When the light faded, the armor had fully merged with Lisa.
But the first thing Lisa did was remove the armor's helmet.
"How does it feel?" Lilith asked.
"So powerful... I doubt I'd have an opponent among Tier 8. But it seems I'll need training before I can transform into a crow," Lisa replied.
"At most, you'll need twenty-four hours," Lilith said.
"Yeahhh..." Lisa agreed.
"By the way, you're not going to ask anything from me, right?"
"Don't take me for that petty. Besides, I'm far too powerful already. Forget Tier 8—even if you reach Tier 11, you still wouldn't be able to help me with my affairs."
Lisa, "..."
"Anyway, that armor can transform into a ring, and it also has internal space that functions as a Storage Artifact. So you won't have to walk around in full armor all the time," Lilith added.
Lisa nodded. With a mere thought, the armor transformed into a ring that fit snugly on her finger.
Without the armor, the oppressive aura she released vanished.
"In truth, if you needed help, I would surely lend it," Lisa said.
Of course, her earlier words were just a joke.
After being given something so extraordinary, how could she be so petty as not to return the favor?
"Speaking of help, maybe Richard can lend me his," Lilith said, causing Richard, who had been silent all this time, to raise an eyebrow.
"What do you want?" Richard asked.
"Finally, you speak. I thought you were mute..." Lilith chuckled again, and Richard furrowed his brows.
"Lilith, what do you want from Richard?" Lisa asked curiously.
"It's not anything troublesome, it's just training. Anyway, Richard's talent is too high, I want his help mastering an Arcane Art that I haven't been able to master at all until now. If Richard can master it even just a little, I want to see the power generated by that Arcane Art and receive that power attack. That should help me overcome the final hurdle of mastering it since I feel like I'm so close," Lilith replied.
"What do you think, Richard? Do you have confidence?" she asked.
"What kind of Arcane Art is it?" Richard asked back, somewhat curious.
This woman's talent should be extremely high. She probably also possessed a great soul—perhaps even more than one kind of soul. For her to be unable to master it at all...
'If that's the case, then even with the Black Heart Soul, it might still be difficult for me to master it,' Richard thought.
Of course, it wasn't a serious problem since he had the System.
"Take a look..." Lilith pulled out a book in response. "I've already shared this with ten geniuses who could have won the Magus Tournament if they had been born in this kingdom, even with Lady Rebecca, who is considered a phenomenal talent here. Yet not one of them could master it."
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC50: New Arcane Art
Chapter 50: New Arcane Art
Richard quickly received the book, glancing at the title written on its cover.
(Mind Attack Arcane Art!)
"What is this?" he asked spontaneously, surprised by the words.
"As its name suggests, it attacks the mind. At its best, it can control the opponent's thoughts if they cannot resist it. And if they can, they'll still be forced to split their power, weakening their combat ability. This is an Arcane Art that requires intellect to master and doesn't rely on any elemental affinity—only one's mind, and everyone possesses that," Lilith explained.
"Something that shouldn't exist except in my own hands," Richard said while nodding, as he began to understand the Arcane Art.
"Mm..." Both Sister Lisa and Lilith gave him an unblinking stare.
"Ehmmm..." He cleared his throat quickly, realizing how wrong his words had sounded.
"I mean our hands," he corrected himself with a wry smile.
He had spoken that way by accident, since in his opinion this was an Arcane Art far too dangerous.
After all, even if an enemy resisted its attack, they would still weaken by splitting their focus between fighting and defending their mind.
"Richard, I've always thought my man would be someone who harbors a selfish streak, since being kind—like I've done—only leads to being taken advantage of. But I think you're a little too early in developing that trait," Lilith commented.
But her words only earned Richard a strange look from Lisa, which he immediately answered with a thin smile.
"That doesn't apply to you, Lisa. Besides, even though my help to you has always been invaluable, the times you've helped me far outweigh mine," he said with a chuckle.
"To be honest, I really did hope to make use of you. When you were still a nobody—I mean, when you were just a discarded princess with no detectable talent—I, who accidentally discovered your identity, deliberately helped you in the hope that you might miraculously change your fate, reveal the true talent of a princess, grow strong, and then I would benefit from your power. It was a gamble that I happened to win. If I had lost, perhaps I would have cursed you instead."
Richard, "..."
He gave Lilith a strange look.
Princess? Is she a princess of the kingdom?
Still, he couldn't be bothered to think too much about it.
The two women seemed to talk without restraint, but their friendship was clearly deep.
He began flipping through the book.
The first page contained a description, much as Lilith had explained, with the addition that for every 1% mastery gained, one could target one more person simultaneously. In other words, dividing the attack into two without diminishing its strength.
If mastered to 100%, one could transform the Mind Attack into a vast domain that assailed everyone within it.
It was somewhat unimaginable, yet the requirements were far too high.
Although mastering an Arcane Art to 100% was easier than a Codex, it was still extremely difficult.
Richard wasn't sure if the System would grant him higher mastery if both his Codex and Arcane Arts were already above 90%.
After studying the description for a while, Richard flipped to the second page, beginning to absorb the book's contents.
DING!
(You have obtained the Mind Attack Arcane Art!)
(Your mastery of Mind Attack has increased from 0% to 3%!)
[Arcane Art:
100 Shadow Monster (11%)
Lighting of Darkness (11%)
Mind Attack (3%)]
"What do you think? Is there a chance you can master it?" Lilith asked after he finished reading and pondering for a moment.
Richard stared at her blankly, then replied, "I need time to reflect. I can't say right now."
"That's fine. Just let me know if you ever manage to master it," Lilith said.
"You'd better not put too much hope into it," Richard replied.
"It's not that I'm obsessed with mastering this Arcane Art, but I need it to save someone."
"Who?" Sister Lisa asked spontaneously, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Though Richard had only just met Lilith, he was also somewhat curious.
By his own reasoning, this Arcane Art could indeed be used to save someone. Any power could serve that purpose—like fire, which could help someone escape the cold. And this Arcane Art might help free someone from madness.
"Evan Moonshadow, Lady Rebecca's half-brother. Evan's mother was a Werewolf. Unexpectedly, Evan inherited the Alpha bloodline. Several accidents caused him to fail in returning to human form.
"The Alpha Bloodline, even for pure Werewolves, requires careful control so it doesn't awaken before they reach a certain level. If it awakens prematurely, their power will skyrocket, but they'll become a bloodthirsty wolf, slaughtering everything until their energy is spent.
"Evan, having a human father, has even worse control over the Alpha Bloodline, and now he cannot return to his human form.
"Before long, he will eventually lose control. His power will surge to terrifying levels, but she will also descend into madness.
"At present, the Moonshadow Clan keeps him imprisoned in their dungeon. But when Evan loses control, he might dig his way out from below. When that happens, even this city could be massacred.
"Do not underestimate the power of an Alpha. In this city, I fear that aside from Lady Rebecca, no one could survive."
Hearing all of this, both Richard and Sister Lisa fell silent.
Who would have thought that this city, which seemed so prosperous and peaceful, was actually overshadowed by such a terrifying catastrophe?
'Ohh, isn't he my uncle?' Richard thought.
"Is that what brought you back home?" Lisa asked.
"Yeahhh... I returned after receiving the news. In the end, I can't bear the thought of this city—the place where I was cast aside and grew up—being destroyed. If the worst comes to pass, I still have another trick to handle it, though at a steep price. Who else would take on this problem? People from other provinces certainly won't help, not even the kingdom itself. They'd all rejoice if the Moonshadow Clan were in trouble."
"What about Lady Rebecca? Do you think she can't deal with it?"
"Hahaha, her..." Lilith suddenly laughed.
"I respect her incredible talent, because even during my time outside the kingdom, I only met one person whose talent truly matched hers. She really did inherit her ancestor's legendary gift," Lilith said, pausing for breath before continuing, "but who doesn't know her personality? In my view, she'd be the first to flee—as if she cares whether this city or her clan is destroyed. She has nothing but boundless ambition, consumed by the desire to obtain the World Magic Aether."
"..."
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC51: Mind Attack
Chapter 51: Mind Attack
Richard and Sister Lisa stayed at Lilith's house so they wouldn't have to look for an inn.
When night came, they had dinner together, listening to Lilith's stories about life outside the kingdom—tales far more interesting than hearing Olivia, who often only read books.
For Richard, who had just witnessed the grandeur of a provincial capital and had yet to even visit the royal capital, everything beyond the kingdom sounded unimaginable.
There were kingdoms far stronger, and even empires.
In this harsh world, it was impossible to establish a kingdom unless someone of that era obtained a World Magic Aether.
Yet even kingdoms were still a level below empires. For a kingdom to evolve into an empire, more than one member of the royal family had to obtain a World Magic Aether.
Aside from the many kingdoms and empires, there were also vast lands without lords—regions in complete chaos where crime was impossible not to encounter at every moment.
And all of this was still within the Land of Human.
That dinner became quite long, as Lilith's stories captivated both Richard and Sister Lisa.
However, after dinner, Richard chose not to head to his bedroom. Instead, he decided to go outside.
How could he miss the chance to explore this city early?
As soon as he stepped out the door, a row of notifications from the System appeared.
DING!
(Your mastery over Codex of Moonshadow has increased from 11% to 14%!)
(Your mastery over 100 Shadow Monster has increased from 11% to 14%!)
(Your mastery over Lighting of Darkness has increased from 11% to 14%!)
[Codex:
Codex of Dragon Emperor (31%)
Codex of Moonshadow (14%)]
[Arcane Art:
100 Shadow Monster (14%)
Lighting of Darkness (14%)
Mind Attack (3%)]
'Too bad it's not Mind Attack,' he thought, a little disappointed but not too concerned.
At this point, he truly understood how to use the attack.
He walked on, leaving Lilith's housing complex behind until he reached the city streets.
It should be around 10 at night, yet the city was still bustling.
Of course, most of those he saw looked like delinquents. They were just ordinary humans—likely because Magus were busy training at night. Richard did not spot a single Magus as far as his eyes could see.
Though it was said there were many Magus in the Aether Will Realm, their numbers were still minuscule compared to the countless ordinary humans.
Richard then noticed a bald young man who looked like he had just lost a gamble, scratching his hairless head over and over.
The young man wore fairly luxurious robes, yet had even lost his shoes.
He didn't notice Richard at all, even as he walked right past him.
But Richard kept staring—more precisely, staring at his head.
Silently, his Aether transformed into something invisible within his mind, resembling the Wave Element, but even more mysterious. The Wave Element was invisible yet had a tangible sensation and effect.
This, however, was subtler than air itself.
It slid from Richard's head, piercing directly into the bald man's.
As an ordinary human, the man had no defensive power whatsoever.
It entered his brain without leaving a trace, immediately seizing control of his mind.
Through it, Richard could completely dominate his thoughts.
'So this is how it works...' He chuckled.
What astonished him most was that after controlling the man's mind, he felt as though the man had become a part of his own body, something he could move at will.
He could even freely decide the man's condition—whether he remained conscious of it, or whether he would remember it or not.
'It seems I can attack from any distance as long as it's within my line of sight,' he thought.
The bald man then turned toward him, expressionless.
Richard simply waved his hand, signaling him to leave, before releasing the Mind Attack.
Its use needed further study, especially regarding its effects against Magus of comparable strength.
Richard kept walking, seeking a more worthy target to strike.
He wasn't too worried, since this type of attack was completely undetectable.
Though it was a bit difficult to find Magus at night, he eventually spotted one—a man in his thirties riding a horse, seemingly just returning from outside the city.
Richard predicted that this man was fairly strong, most likely in the Aether Will Realm.
In terms of Aether count, he was probably already above five or six thousand.
His power was far greater than Richard's, though Richard still had the advantage in quality.
Richard let the man pass by first.
When he was about ten meters ahead, Richard sent a Mind Attack at him.
Like lightning, it shot straight into the man's brain, trying to seize control.
"Not good." The man's eyes widened instantly, realizing something was attempting to take over his mind.
He channeled as much power as he could into his own head to resist.
His expression darkened. He managed to hold it back, but it required him to continuously devote a portion of his strength to keep his mind from being overtaken.
He leapt off his horse, scanning his surroundings—but at the same time, the strange attack trying to dominate his mind had already vanished.
"What was that? What exactly was it?" He calmed down, though curiosity still filled his eyes.
Meanwhile, Richard had already walked away with a smile.
Now it became clear what Lilith had said.
A person could still resist the attack if they had enough strength to hold it back. But this meant they had to split their power.
Even for that man, Richard thought he had to use more than half his strength.
Fighting effectively would be nearly impossible for him.
Richard couldn't feel more satisfied.
As he continued walking, something caught him by surprise.
He actually saw the same girl from earlier—the one who had left Lilith's house.
She was wearing a full black robe with a hood that covered her head, walking alone along the roadside.
If she hadn't been right in front of him, and if he hadn't accidentally glimpsed her face, Richard would never have recognized her.
The girl noticed him, and seemed to recall that he was the one she had seen at Lilith's house.
She frowned slightly but kept walking, passing by him.
'What is she doing out at this hour?' Richard wondered.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC52: Crazy Girl
Chapter 52: Crazy Girl
Richard was curious and without a clear destination, so when he was far enough, he followed her, wanting to know what she was doing.
To his surprise, she entered a narrow alley that led into a slum area even larger than the Purple Rose Village.
Richard peeked in while leaning against the wall of a building beside the alley.
It was dark, but his sight was sharp enough that he could still see the girl.
To his astonishment, a sword appeared in her hand—a red sword that looked as though it had been painted with blood.
Her arrival startled the slum's drunkards.
In their eyes, all they saw was a figure in a black robe. Though the girl was fairly tall for her age, she was still too short compared to an adult, so anyone could tell she was still young.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, she lunged at the drunken men.
Her speed was still astonishing even though she had yet to reach the Aether Will Realm.
It was something no ordinary human could possibly resist.
Richard's eyes widened as the girl, without hesitation, slashed her sword at the neck of a heavily drunken man, severing it completely.
What followed was a horrifying massacre.
The girl did not stop for even a moment, continuing to swing her blade, each strike cutting the throats of the slum dwellers regardless of whether they were young or old.
Blood splattered everywhere, but strangely, though they screamed, not a single sound spread beyond the alley.
Passersby hardly glanced inside, so how could they know?
Even if they did look into the alley, they would likely see nothing, given that their vision was nowhere near as sharp as that of a Magus.
Richard observed more carefully and finally noticed a faint light cube radiating from the girl, covering the entire slum area. It seemed to function as a sound barrier.
'Is she planning to slaughter everyone? What a mad girl, she's truly abnormal.'
Richard was stunned as the girl began targeting even the women and children who had just stepped out of their homes.
A chill ran down his spine—this felt far too excessive.
Yet he simply continued to watch.
The girl then entered people's houses, apparently intent on leaving no human alive.
When it was finally over, she calmly returned.
Richard noticed her red eyes glowing brighter before narrowing.
'So she sees me...' Richard smiled, though he hadn't planned on hiding anyway.
Whoosh!
The girl suddenly rushed toward him, arriving in front of him in an instant. She moved quickly, grabbing his hand and trying to pull him into the alley.
Richard could have easily resisted, but he allowed her to drag him.
After pulling him into the alley, she shoved him against a door, which turned out to be unlocked.
The door opened and Richard was pushed inside, into nothing more than a storeroom filled with various worthless scraps.
It wasn't dark, as several torches hung on the walls.
The girl entered and closed the door, pulling back her hood.
"Why are you following me?" she asked, her tone cold, though her voice was still that of someone too young.
Richard hadn't expected such a cold voice from a girl this young, but considering she had just carried out a massacre, it wasn't too surprising.
"Young lady, couldn't I have simply been walking this way and happened to glance into the alley?" Richard replied casually.
But the girl immediately pointed her red sword at him.
Its tip even touched his neck—one push, and it could pierce through.
Of course, Richard didn't panic in the slightest. He continued smiling, causing the girl to furrow her brows.
"I only wish to get to know you," he said again.
"Young lady, why did you slaughter those people?" he asked afterward.
"So you saw it? But that's none of your business," the girl replied. "If not for the fact that you are Princess Lilith's guest, I would have killed you already."
When she said that, Richard took a step back.
However, the girl immediately stepped forward, as if she wouldn't feel at ease unless her sword tip was once again touching his neck.
"Young lady, I think I understand you. You live under heavy pressure, burdened with countless worries, and have no one who cares for you. Nor do you have anyone you care for," Richard said.
As those words left his mouth, the girl's expression suddenly shifted—dark, angry, sorrowful, frustrated, disappointed—countless emotions mixed together as if she had just been struck by the heaviest blow. Her red eyes widened, and her hand trembled.
Yet she regained her composure quickly.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Unless... you don't know who I am?" she said.
"Having a grand background doesn't always mean living the life one dreams of," Richard answered nonchalantly, unconcerned with her identity.
From any perspective, she was clearly a top noble daughter in this city.
"You..." The girl was clearly struck at the most sensitive part of her soul.
She trembled so violently that even her sword nearly slipped from her hand.
"It seems we can't get properly acquainted just yet. Let's wait until you feel comfortable..." Richard said again, chuckling without hesitation before taking a step toward the door.
He didn't need to do anything else—the girl merely glared at him coldly, making no move to strike him again.
Richard left easily, somewhat surprised at how he felt a strange sense of concern for the girl.
What he felt was as if there was a faint link between them.
Richard continued walking, following the flow of the crowd. He headed toward the livelier districts.
He even had to choose between several areas, each equally bustling.
Perhaps it was because the city bore the word Night in its name, but the night here was truly alive.
One thing that caught his attention was an academy of immense size.
Even at night, it was full of life.
Many of its students were out dating.
Richard had heard that Wren, one of tomorrow's finalists, not only studied at this academy but also lived there. He was now in his final year.
This was the royal academy. Even those with strong backgrounds chose to study there, as the kingdom recruited the best Magus instructors to teach.
Though he had no interest in studying at an academy, Richard still admired its grandeur.
He circled around, observing the buildings and watching the students—some of them dressed in academy uniforms, which surprisingly looked quite modern. They consisted of trousers, skirts, and purple shirts with red stripes, adorned with the royal emblem on the chest.
Perhaps the academy accepted students from as young as five years old, but children below ten were rarely seen—likely already asleep—leaving only the older students still awake.
Richard's wandering drew no disturbance, only curious glances from the students.
Conflicts often occurred among the academy's students, with many of the strong bullying the weak. But clearly, none would bother a mere seven-year-old boy.
However, as Richard continued to stroll and happened to pass through a quiet area, something startling occurred.
A soft hand suddenly covered his mouth and wrapped around his waist.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC53: Gray
Chapter 53: Gray
Richard glanced upward instinctively and found that it was done by a beautiful woman who looked around twenty years old, with short black hair, wearing an academy uniform but in different colors—blue with white stripes.
It was clearly also a royal academy uniform, but perhaps from a different branch.
Richard suspected it was from the royal academy of another province since there was only one in each province.
After covering his mouth, the woman pulled him into a narrow alley before running while dragging him along.
Richard was not incapable of resisting, though he felt this woman was indeed stronger. She seemed to be among the top ranks of Magi in the Aether Will Realm.
However, Richard was somewhat curious about who this woman was, so he allowed himself to be taken for now.
If there was danger, he would rampage for a bit before shouting.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the woman leaped through the window of a luxurious inn room, a window that happened to be open—or perhaps it had been her room from the start.
"Darling, I caught one of the students from this province's royal academy. He's only seven years old. You can use your disguise skill to become him and sneak into the academy building. After all, with his age, fewer people would be suspicious of his movements. As long as you can find Wren and sabotage his preparations, you'll definitely win tomorrow. The important thing is that you win here, then my father surely won't refuse you anymore as my husband." The woman spoke after entering the room.
Richard saw the luxurious room, brightly lit, with a large bed seemingly covered in silk.
A young man of about twenty with white hair sat on the bed, wearing the same uniform as the woman except he wore trousers.
He was very striking for a man, in a different way, with a few sword scars on his handsome face that actually added to his charm.
For a moment, he seemed surprised by what the short-haired woman had brought.
"Darling, why did you do this? I won't lose to that Wren," he said with a wry smile.
"I know you won't lose, but it means you'd have to pay a heavy price. You are indeed stronger than Wren, but he has a vile trick that is very dangerous. Our intelligence has discovered that Wren has prepared everything so his vile trick could defeat you," the woman replied.
At this point, Richard finally realized he had been kidnapped by the lover of a man named Gray, one of the finalists, Wren's opponent.
He was from the Nine-Star Province, rather phenomenal because he came from an ordinary background and was now dating the daughter of that province's governor, Laura.
Richard had heard quite a lot of people talk about him tonight because many commoners preferred to support him.
After Laura spoke, Gray seemed to ponder while staring at Richard, who had now been released by her.
She then approached the man and touched his face.
"I just don't want there to be any more obstacles between us," Laura said softly.
As she spoke, Gray, who initially didn't want to resort to cheating, suddenly looked hesitant.
"Wouldn't this mean I wouldn't be passing your father's requirement in a fair way?" Gray said.
"Why do you care about that? From the start, this has always been about our relationship," Laura replied.
"Come on, copy this boy's appearance," she added, glancing at Richard.
Gray looked at Richard, doubt still on his face.
But in the end, he nodded to Laura.
"Boy, don't worry, this won't hurt and won't affect you at all. I'll only store the data of your appearance in my memory," Gray said to Richard.
After saying that, he placed his finger on Richard's forehead, which suddenly glowed and enveloped his whole body.
Richard realized it wasn't dangerous because it only touched the surface of his skin, not penetrating into his flesh.
In just a moment, Gray withdrew his finger from his forehead.
Without sending his power into Richard's body, he did not detect that Richard also possessed immense strength.
Of course, Richard would never allow foreign power to enter his body.
He would rather rampage even if it exposed his identity.
"Eh..." He was then stunned.
The tall Gray suddenly shrank, and his appearance changed exactly into Richard's.
Even his clothes turned into the same as Richard's.
"What did you do?" Richard asked instinctively.
"I promise this won't cause you any trouble. I'll only use your appearance to enter the academy, and I'll make sure my actions won't be detected," Gray replied.
"You can't do that, I'm not a student of that academy," Richard answered.
"What?"
This time, the pair were the ones stunned.
"Boy, I caught you at the academy," Laura said, only for Richard to cut her off.
"I was just wandering around there. If you don't believe me, go ahead and try. The academy building definitely won't let you, who's using my appearance, enter."
Gray, "..."
Laura, "..."
Gray returned to his original form, looking at Laura, and she now seemed awkward.
"Darling, I can kidnap another one," Laura said, but Gray shook his head.
"I always follow the guidance of fate, and this clearly proves fate wants me to stay on my path without cheating," Gray replied with a look full of determination.
When he had shown that gaze, Laura could only open her mouth without speaking.
"Can you both let me go now?" Richard asked.
Gray nodded, saying nothing, but headed toward the door.
"Thank you," Richard said with a smile before walking to that door.
Just as he opened it, he saw the white-haired man already embracing Laura, as if trying to comfort her for making the mistake of catching the wrong person.
And Laura returned his embrace.
Soon, it might begin, but Richard, who had already left their room, was too lazy to close their door.
He saw the stairs and went down.
Now, he decided he would just go home to Lilith's house and sleep.
Wandering alone in this city at night didn't seem entirely good.
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