Sotiro U Tigres.
A villain who appears in Part 2 of Reca Chronicles.
In the original novel, he identified the cult leader of the Dragonhorse Church who freed him from slavery, “Hagel Vinter,” with the prophet “Ecatl” from beastman legends and faithfully obeyed his every word like a loyal limb.
And there is one thing Hagel and I have in common.
We both extended a saving hand to Sotiro when he had fallen into slavery at the hands of beastman hunters and was simultaneously being hunted by Safaria’s enforcement department, living a bleak life.
In the main story, there was never clear evidence to equate Hagel Vinter with Ecatl.
Even before that, it was uncertain whether the legend of Ecatl was merely folklore passed down among beastmen or a prophecy based on historical fact.
It’s nothing more than reader speculation, but after digging through the beastman-related setting book, I concluded that the former was more likely… that the legend itself was fabricated.
I got sidetracked and the story got long, but to sum up the core point: Sotiro is the type who is easily deceived by such monstrous nonsense.
And that type, once you earn their faith, can be controlled with ease.
To make this boy useful, I first needed to properly awaken the talent he possessed.
I borrowed the kitchen for a while.
The head chef’s expression when he allowed it was strange, as if he were looking at a once-in-a-millennium oddity, but I paid it no mind.
BUBLLE BUBLLE!
“Bring out everything you bought at the black market.”
“Yes, young master.”
After confirming the water in the pot was boiling vigorously, I received a heavy basket from Linia.
Mana Rampage Pill (B+)
Alphanium Universal Potion (B+)
Root of Vajra Water (B)
Leaves of Westwind Grass (B)
Claw of Magical Beast Dricoraksh (B)
Fragment of Star Iron (B)
Sea King Mushroom (B)
Everything inside was none other than the seven elixirs and materials I bought at the black market.
Each one boasted an exorbitant price, yet I poured them all into the boiling water without hesitation.
SPLASH!
As if dye had been added, the boiling water turned various natural colors.
They mixed and mixed until it finally became a murky blackish mess.
Confirming this, I added the herbs I had prepared in advance according to the recipe, one after another.
Then I stirred round and round so the various ingredients would blend properly.
After finishing the process, two final ingredients remained.
These.
Firebird’s Remnant (A-)
– Greatly maximizes self-healing for a certain period upon ingestion
– Temporarily increases fire attribute resistance upon ingestion
– Temporarily increases fire attribute dominance upon ingestion
– Low chance to increase potential level upon ingestion
※ Efficacy disappears if not ingested within one month
First, a chunk of flesh five times larger than the Firebird’s Remnant (B-) I ate when injured during the instructional spar with Ebel; an upgraded version.
Essence of Fixation (A-)
– Grants strong permanence when combined with other materials
※ Slows metabolism when ingested
Second, the Essence of Fixation (A-) purchased from the Alphanium general store, just like the other seven elixirs.
I tossed the Firebird’s Remnant into the pot and stirred.
Instantly, the mishmash elixir inside turned red like magma.
Linia cried out in alarm.
“Young master, it’s starting to look dangerous!”
“Indeed, if we delay any longer the pot might melt. Linia, put that in.”
At my words, she threw the unidentified black-bean-like material, the Essence of Fixation (A-), into the huge pot.
FSSSSSSSSSS!
In that instant, the contents of the pot flashed brightly once, then rapidly compressed to the size of a 50-won coin.
SHRIVEL
I waited briefly for the heat to subside, then picked it up.
Fixation Element Crystal (S-)
– Grants the trait 『Vitality Storage Body (S-)』 upon ingestion
– Slight improvement to potential level and stats
– Temporarily increases elemental resistance upon ingestion
※ During the effect duration, all other elixir efficacies are nullified
This elixir, the Fixation Element Crystal (S-), appeared in Part 1 of the original novel.
A creation of the genius alchemist Alerus 300 years ago, it became the seed that sparked a conflict between two great territories in the story.
Its role in the novel ended there, but amazingly, the recipe for this lost elixir was recorded in the setting book.
So, as long as the materials are available, it can be made, just as I did now.
Compared to other S-grade elixirs, it is relatively easy to obtain.
If I put my mind to it, mass production would be possible, but the drawbacks are equally numerous, so there’s little merit.
It’s S-grade, which is nice, but there’s a “-” symbol beside it that usually means severe conditions or time limits.
Compared to the genuine legendary Firebird’s Heart (S), the performance is miserable.
It’s probably safe to say it’s the lowest among S-grade.
The biggest penalty is that no other elixirs can be taken while its effects last.
Of course, even this is an elixir an ordinary person would never see in their lifetime… but from my meta perspective, it’s a hard pass.
Still, since I’m not the one eating it, it doesn’t matter.
I held out the element crystal to Sotiro.
His eyes widened enormously.
“This… I can feel extraordinary mana dwelling in it. It looks incredibly precious at a glance. Is it really okay for me to eat this?”
Seeing him suddenly speak politely, unlike before, made me chuckle.
He was completely bewilderedified after receiving inexplicable kindness out of nowhere.
I grinned and said.
“I made it for you to eat.”
“…GULP!”
Afraid I might take it back, Sotiro hurriedly swallowed the element crystal.
Soon, changes appeared on his sheet.
<Sotiro U Tigres>
[Level: 6/50]
[Stamina: 03]
[Strength: 02]
[Agility: 06]
[Mana: 09]
[Spirit: 03]
[Sense: 06]
[Divinity: 01]
[Traits: Dual Magic Core Heart (S), Vitality Storage Body (S-), Magic Genius (A), Beast’s Acuity (B), and 2 others]
[Skills: Beastman Martial Arts (C), Basic Mana Circulation Method (D)] [Description: 12 years old, human race. A boy of outstanding talent, formerly a black-market slave. He sharpens his claws while dreaming of a shining future.]
Mana increased by one, potential level rose by just one.
It’s common sense that the higher the numbers, the harder it is to expand limits, so nothing strange.
Above all, the trait 『Vitality Storage Body (S-)』 was added.
Vitality Storage Body (S-)
– Greatly corrects mana growth
– Allows accumulation of mana beyond body limits
– Greatly increases elemental attribute dominance
※ Trait fully deactivates around age 15
I’ve said it so many times my mouth hurts, but the “-” symbol usually means severe conditions or time limits.
As detailed in the penalty (※), the minus on Vitality Storage Body signifies “time-limited.”
Similar time-limited traits include the extreme growth-promotion trait『Prodigy (S)』that loses all effect the moment one enters their twenties, or its lower version『Precocious (A-)』.
In short, if I, who have already passed 15, ate the element crystal now, the Vitality Storage Body trait would activate and immediately deactivate.
But for 12-year-old Sotiro, nearly three years remain.
Soon, having digested the elixir, Sotiro trembled with overflowing vitality.
“Ah, ahh… This must be an elixir comparable to the Dragon God’s Tears.”
Nope~ Not even close.
Safaria’s national treasure, 『Dragon God’s Tears (S+)』, is a top-tier elixir on a completely different level even among S-grades.
It’s not something my hastily money-dumped element crystal can be compared to.
Of course, an ignorant kid like Sotiro wouldn’t know the hierarchy among elixirs, so he was simply that moved.
Soon, he looked at me with eyes full of both gratitude and doubt.
“…I was swept up by the momentum and even received such a treasure, so I truly feel unworthy. But personally, I have one question for the benefactor.”
“What is it?”
“How does a human like you know my name and circumstances? I still haven’t heard the answer to that.”
I shrugged and replied.
“I have the ability to foresee the future through dreams. I saw a future where you appeared, and I thought you’d be very useful if I took you in, so I stopped by the slave market. That’s all.”
His eyes widened in shock, then his body began trembling.
The reaction I expected.
Because prophetic dreams are said to be one of the abilities possessed by the prophet Ecatl in oral tradition.
To Sotiro, who had endured each grueling day clinging only to the legend of a savior, my existence must feel like a ray of light.
He asked me.
“H-how is such a thing possible? Could it be… you are the savior Ecatl, the Dragon God’s proxy?”
“I don’t know what Ecatl is, but I think I’ve heard the name in a dream.”
I gave a deliberately ambiguous answer that was neither confirmation nor denial.
It’s better to maintain mystique with an appropriately vague response than to affirm outright.
Sotiro’s eyes became dreamy.
“…No. You are definitely Ecatl.”
“It’s up to you what you believe. So, will you become my subordinate?”
“I will follow with this body and soul.”
An answer that came without a moment’s hesitation.
I smiled triumphantly inside.
My conscience stings a little, but there is one thing that works in Sotiro’s favor.
Compared to Hagel, whom he originally followed, I am far closer to the real prophet Ecatl, at least morally.
Only two days after returning to the mansion, I had to cross the border of the Croa Kingdom again.
After entering the Utland territory governed by Elvio and traveling a bit farther, I finally arrived at the Utland mansion located in the heart of the city.
The opulence of the mansion rivaled any palace.
“This guy seems to live better than my father, the grand duke.”
“Well, the lands governed by His Grace the Duke and His Highness the Grand Duke are similar in scale. But the Utland territory is a golden land at the center of trade, so economically it may actually be superior.”
Linia explained to me after I muttered in amazement.
Though the Stroke Grand Duke wields strong influence as a prince ruling an entire nation, it is ultimately a vassal state of the Croa Kingdom.
Compared to a great lord like the Duke of Utland, the difference in real power was negligible.
Soon, Linia cleared her throat and spoke to Sotiro beside her.
“Sotiro! We will soon be meeting someone of considerable authority, so watch your behavior carefully, understood?”
“Yes, Sister Linia.”
In just two days as my subordinates, the two had already become quite close.
Sotiro then looked at me and asked.
“By the way, Prophet. Exactly how high is a human duke?”
“If you convert it to Safaria terms… roughly comparable to your father, a tribal leader. The land he rules is far larger.”
“I-I see.”
After hearing my explanation, Sotiro finally tensed up and swallowed dryly.
Soon, the carriage we were riding stopped at the main gate of the mansion.
Linia spoke to the guards in a businesslike tone.
“This carriage carries Aiden-nim, the second son of the grand ducal house that rules the Stroke Grand Duchy and the fiancé of Lady Chesa, the second daughter of the Utland family.
We have a prior appointment today to meet His Grace the Duke, her father.”
“C-confirming.”
The visibly nervous guard went inside to announce our visit.
“It hits me again every time— the introductions are ridiculously long.”
“It is a necessary procedure to maintain the family’s and young master’s authority.”
“W-well, yeah.”
Linia can be surprisingly sharp at times like this.
It’s no coincidence that a half-elf like her has survived alone in the hellish aristocratic society while assisting Aiden.
A short while later, we were warmly welcomed by the duke’s servants and led straight to a reception room inside the mansion.
There, a stern-looking middle-aged man greeted me.
“I greet His Grace the Duke of Utland.”
“Yes, Aiden. I am glad you kept your promise to visit.”
I sat facing Elvio.
Now the real game begins.
“I’ll be direct—I have something to say.”
“Hoh, interesting. What is it?”
“It concerns Chesa.”