For a moment,
Ren felt his head teeming with ideas about "traits."
By pushing [White · Basic Fistwork] to LvMAX, he had fused all the technique-type traits he'd learned into [Purple · All-Arts Mastery].
So here's the question:
What if he drove every technique-type trait he had to very high levels? What if he learned a lot more of them? What would that look like?
And what about sorcery-type traits?
Then…
Could energy-type traits like spiritual power and yokai power be leveled up too?
Ren's mind was the kind that ran wild the instant it caught a thread. With even a faint direction to think in, he followed it and spun out a dozen possibilities at once.
"Eh?"
Kaguya blurted in shock, "Father, you mastered Eirin's sorcery 'World-in-a-Jar'?"
"That spell is something Eirin researched for countless years. Within the 'World-in-a-Jar,' what's created is a real heaven and earth."
"Your Highness,"
Eirin gave a small shake of her head. "That isn't quite precise. The sorcery can only encompass this bamboo forest. Beyond its outer rim, it no longer holds."
"So?"
"You created a true world inside the bamboo grove?"
Ren found it hard to put into words. Was this what a being who'd survived from the divine age was like?
Absolutely absurd.
"I've mastered it."
He answered at the right moment. "I did grasp the sorcery—but raising it further will probably take a very long time."
"Work hard and get stronger?"
"Father!"
Kaguya's tone turned grave as she cautioned him. "Please promise me you won't tell anyone about that ability. It's too outrageous."
Ren nodded with a smile. Saying something like that out loud wasn't "asking for trouble," it was begging for dissection.
Don't assume the divine age fading means the gods died off. Plenty of deities left their marks in myths by one method or another. In his case, they'd probably itch to cut him open and study him.
Until he finished "growing up," he had to hide everything and take it slow.
"As I thought,"
Eirin inclined her head. "Ren, I brought down compendiums of divine-era sorcery this time. Study them at your own pace. You can also begin trying onmyodo and other sorceries, as well as yokai arts."
"Your fighting skills and techniques have already been consolidated."
"Next."
"Your sorcery can likewise go from learning and grasping to consolidation."
"And finally—"
"I'm very curious whether you can reach higher tiers—divine power above spiritual power, yokai power—and whether you can consolidate many kinds of energy as well."
Ren looked at Eirin.
As expected of Eirin—she didn't know his trait system, but just from the traits he'd shown, she'd guessed nearly all of what he'd been thinking a moment ago.
"Study slowly, and try things," Ren said. He knew that no matter how eager he felt, this wasn't something to rush.
Eirin was pleased with his mindset.
She knew what her princess was thinking—and truth be told, she was thinking much the same.
That infuriating best friend of hers had driven herself straight into a dead end—and might need a fierce slap across the face to wake up.
The likeliest person to deliver it was the earthly father she had so carefully chosen for her princess.
"Next,"
Eirin continued, "under the pretext of watching over Her Highness, I'll remain here on the surface for the next one to two centuries. Those three women—send them to me tomorrow. I'll teach them to wield spiritual power and train them along lines they each excel at."
If she intended to deliver that slap, then she had to build up the father's faction. Otherwise, when the crunch came, a shortage of hands would be a headache.
The Lunar Capital had more than one Lunar Sage, and lunar folk were not easy to deal with.
"Good."
Smiling, Ren asked, "Eirin, what's the real situation with the Apocalypse world?"
"On that matter…"
Eirin thought a moment, then said, "Come inside and we'll talk."
She led the father and daughter deeper into the bamboo, where a Japanese-style manor stood.
The three reached the rear courtyard and took their seats.
"Eirin, did something happen?" Kaguya seemed very familiar with the place and asked Eirin directly.
Ren let his eyes roam.
Mm—
This should be Eientei.
Empowered by "Eternity and the Instant," Eientei would never undergo any change.
Ren could more or less see it.
In the original Gensokyo storyline, Eirin hid together with Kaguya not only under the concealment of the Great Hakurei Barrier; she also used "World-in-a-Jar" as a veil.
Otherwise,
evading the Lunar Capital's searching gaze would not have been so easy.
"As for the Apocalypse world, there's no rush. Its problems won't be solved by fretting."
Instead, Eirin produced a detailed form. "Ren, would you mind if I gave you a thorough checkup?"
"Hm?"
Ren tensed on reflex. Eirin's "checkups"—if you knew, you knew.
Once you went into that exam room, whether you came out in one piece… that was another question.
"Relax."
Seeing his wariness, Eirin explained calmly, "You're the princess's father on the surface. I won't do anything untoward. Your body is special, and I need to examine you carefully to craft a far more detailed growth plan."
"…All right."
Ren hesitated for a beat, then decided it should be fine.
His aunt's guidance came from the rough road; the Lunar Sage's "perfect, detailed growth plan," on the other hand, would be invaluable to him.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]