Chapter 41: Growth

Wooooong!

As soon as I gripped the ★ gem in my hand, I could feel a mysterious—no, almost sacred—energy radiating from within.

「Your rank is insufficient to accept this.」

‘Uhhh.’

Apparently, it’s possible to absorb the energy sealed inside this ★.

But it seems I’m lacking the required rank.

‘No way…’

I shifted my gaze toward Dania and the Guardians.

[Lv 124]

「Dania」

[★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆]

Just a moment ago, after eating Mandragora Soup, Dania’s level rose from 119 to 124.

Her level had increased, but as before, only one of her stars was filled in.

[Lv 111]

「Popo」

[★☆☆]

……….

‘Lv 149’

[Popo]

[★★☆☆]

……….

[Lv 255]

「Vellerin」

[★★★☆☆]

……….

Lv 252

「Arkeron」

[★★★★☆☆]

……….

It was the same for the other Guardians.

Popo and Chuchu, who had also leveled up after eating Mandragora Soup, still had the same number of filled stars.

And Arkeron, who had gained a level for the first time after dealing with the outside intruder, likewise had no change in the number of filled stars.

All of them had one or two empty stars.

‘Can those empty stars be filled?’

I approached Dania, holding the Star in my hand.

「Would you like to use the ★ on <Dania>?」

‘Oh!’

It could be used on Dania.

Just as I guessed.

I quickly checked the other Guardians.

They, too, could receive it.

‘Should I try using it on Popo?’

I wondered what would happen if all the stars were filled.

“Popo?”

As I stared at Popo, lost in thought, Popo bounced up and down with a ^_^ smile.

Popo was always adorable, no matter how many times I saw it.

‘If all the stars are filled, could they evolve into another species or something like that?’

….Hmmm.

I had no idea how likely that was, but if it really happened, it would be quite a problem.

Popo’s role was too important right now.

At present, all spiritual herb cultivation revolved around Popo.

If Popo changed so much that the current system couldn’t be maintained, my own growth would take a huge hit.

So for now, I decided to pass on Popo.

Next, I considered using it on Arkeron.

Arkeron had played a huge role in repelling the intruder this time.

No one knew what sort of invader might appear next, so it made sense to strengthen Arkeron as much as possible.

Also—

When it came time to explore outside the lair,

The more powerful Arkeron became, the easier that exploration would be.

‘But…’

『Wooong, Seojun! I want Ice Cold Fruit!』

My instincts whispered.

Right now, the best choice was to use it on Dania.

‘Alright.’

Dania.

It’s you!

“Sure. I’ll give you Ice Cold Fruit in a bit. But before that, do you want to try absorbing this first?”

“This?”

When I offered the ★ to Dania, she blinked her big eyes.

Tap!

She reached out with her tiny, adorable hand and grabbed the ★.

[This is warm! So much energy!]

“Can you absorb all this energy, Dania?”

[Mhm. I can!]

At Dania’s words, I immediately started the absorption process.

Then—

KWAHHHH!!

A mysterious energy erupted from the Star in Dania’s grasp.

Waves of color surged forth, wrapping around her body, and then were drawn straight inside her.

GOOOOO!!

An incredible outpouring of energy.

“Ah…!”

“Popo!”

“Chuchu!!”

@Grrrraaaah.

Everyone watching gasped in awe at the sight.

「Dania’s rank has increased.」

A message floated before my eyes.

……….

‘Lv 124,

「Dania」

[★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆]

……….

Dania’s star had really filled in!

And it wasn’t just the star.

‘There’s a change in her appearance too.’

The rainbow-hued scales covering Dania’s body—

Their colors had become even more vivid.

Which meant—

‘The density of mana flowing through her scales is much richer than before.’

Her level was the same, but the mana she possessed had become far denser.

It really felt like her “rank” had leveled up.

‘Whoa, this is crazy.’

Dania’s mana density had already been astonishingly high.

And now it’s even denser?

But that wasn’t all.

Beyond the scales, the biggest change in Dania was the First Horn growing from her head.

Wooooooong!!

It was now thicker and longer than before.

That mysterious aura I felt from the Star’s gem now lingered around it.

Was there a functional change too, not just outward appearance?

“Popo!”

At that moment, Popo was the first to rush to Dania.

“Popo, Popo!”

With a worried o_o look, Popo checked Dania all over for any sign of trouble.

「I’m okay!]

At Dania’s words, Popo finally relaxed, n_n beaming as she nuzzled against Dania.

But then, it happened.

「Dania’s First Horn (Horn of Potential) is resonating.」

「Guardian <Popo> is affected by the First Horn (Horn of Potential).」

A completely unexpected event!

KWAHHHH!!

The five-colored energy swirling around Dania’s horn flowed straight into Popo.

「Guardian ’s <Popo> potential has greatly increased.」

“…!”

With that message,

A brilliant aura of five colors wrapped around Popo, reaching its peak.

When it finally faded, I checked Popo’s updated status window.

[Lv 111,]

「Popo」

[★★☆☆☆]

‘Unbelievable.’

There had been three stars in total.

Now, suddenly, there were five.

‘Amazing.’

Dania’s First Horn truly had the power to increase the number of stars!

‘And the system called it potential just now, didn’t it?’

Just as I thought, the Star represents potential.

‘Wow. So it can increase potential?’

I had been a little disappointed that even after Dania passed Lv 120, a second horn hadn’t appeared.

But the First Horn becoming even stronger more than made up for it.

“Popo!”

Popo, too, realized her number of stars had increased and bounced for joy.

“Chuchu!”

“Popo, congratulations!”

@Grrrraaaah!

“Arkeron. Congratulations.”

Everyone offered their congratulations to Popo.

“Popo!!”

Popo gave all the credit to Dania.

♥ _♥ With hearts in her eyes, she clung tightly to Dania.

[Hehe, Popo warm!]

Dania, who had looked a bit tired, let out a pleased laugh and hugged Popo right back.

“Dania, that light just now—can’t you use it on the other Guardians?”

[It’s hard… I have to gather more energy…]

“I see. As expected.”

That’s a shame.

It seemed she couldn’t use it repeatedly.

Still, you did so well, Dania.

I patted Dania’s head, then immediately picked an Ice Cold Fruit and handed it to her.

[Kyuu!!! Ice Cold Fruit!!]

Chomp chomp!

She beamed with happiness as she munched away at the fruit.

Seeing her eat so happily, I couldn’t help but smile like a proud dad.

Eat lots and grow up strong, Dania!

Now then, maybe it’s time for me to eat too?

Because of all the commotion earlier, I hadn’t taken a single bite yet.

‘If I finish this, I might hit level 40.’

When I reached level 40, I felt sure the third passage would open.

I couldn’t help but be excited, wondering what the third passage would be.

‘Let’s hope it’s the Mineral Chamber.’

Then, I’d finally have a way to explore outside the lair.

With that hopeful thought, just as I was about to take a big spoonful of Mandragora Soup—

Chuchu scurried over to me.

“Chuchu!”

She reached into her belly pouch and pulled something out.

Thunk!!

“Oh!”

It was Nagattara!

It was much bigger than the Nagattara that had invaded before.

“Was the intruder just now another Nagattara?”

“Chuchu!”

Chuchu shook her head and gestured with her hands and feet.

There had been another intruder.

I realized that being had dropped a Star.

‘That means there could be more like that outside the lair.’

My eyes sparkled.

Once I could explore outside, I decided to add hunting those creatures to my list of goals.

“Chuchu!”

Then Chuchu snapped me out of my thoughts.

She reached both hands into her belly pouch and pulled them out again.

Saaaa—!!

A golden, mana-imbued core, about the size of a small rock, appeared!

“Wow!”

That’s right.

Last time, the Nagattara also had a core!

‘This one’s at least three times bigger than the last!’

It was longer and thicker—clearly a much stronger specimen had come this time.

“Nice.”

I approached the core.

At that moment—

“Popo!”

“Chuuu!”

“Ah… what incredible mana.”

「Core tasty!!]

Everyone was drooling at the sight of the core.

‘Let’s see.’

Arkeron didn’t seem interested.

But me, Dania, Popo,

Chuchu, and Vellerin.

Five in total.

Even split five ways, each person would get a huge portion.

I immediately used my newly learned Tier 3 magic, , and sliced it into five equal pieces.

@Grrrraaaaaaah!

Just then, Mandrian waved both arms and cried out toward the core.

‘What the—’

Mandrian, that guy.

A mere elixir, and he wants the core…?

@Grrrraaaah! Grrrraaah!

“Shut it, you!”

@Grrrraaaah…

He drooped his shoulders, looking dejected at my words.

But no meant no.

“Just have some more soup.”

I poured more Nagattara Soup for him, and he dipped his feet into the broth, still looking downcast.

“Chuchu!”

Chuchu, after glancing at her share of the core, broke off a piece and offered it to Mandrian.

@Grrrraaaaaah! Grrrraaaaah!

At her kindness, Mandrian jumped out of the soup with arms wide open.

@Grrraaah! Grrrraaaah!

He even knelt and bowed to Chuchu in gratitude.

“Heh.”

Geez.

I let out a helpless laugh at their antics.

Well, let’s see how he eats the core.

@Grrrraaaaaaah!

Poke!

He stabbed the end of his root—serving as both hand and foot—into the core fragment.

Wooooong!

Golden mana began flowing from the core straight into him.

“Ohh..”

He really can absorb the core?

If I’d known, I would’ve given him a piece earlier.

Curious, I watched him a while longer, then finally started eating my own share.

Crunch!

“……!”

The moment I bit into it, bliss filled my mouth.

Even the last time, when I’d just nibbled a fragment, it tasted incredible.

But eating a whole core—the flavor was incomparable, overwhelming my senses.

‘Ah…!’

I devoured the core in a trance.

It wasn’t just me enjoying it—everyone else was exclaiming in delight as they ate, too.

After we finished off the core,

A fiery energy erupted within me.

“I have consumed the inner part of it.”

[<Dragon Blood> is reacting.

[ <Magic Absorption Rate> is maximized.]

[Magic power held increases greatly.]

[Your level has increases!]

[Your level has increases!]

[Your level has increases!]

[Your level has increases!]

[Your level has increases!]

[Your level has increases!]

[Your level has increases!]

System messages flooded my vision.

“Wow.”

Unbelievable.

How many levels did I just gain?

***

As Seojun rocketed through a storm of level-ups—

“Awooo…!”

“Woooooo!

The Shadow Wolf Clan, flickering like living shadows, arrived before the Elatrium.

“What are… these… creatures…?”

『State your business… wanderers…』

At Elatria’s words,

“Awooooooooo~!”

The largest of the Shadow Wolves let out a long howl before Elatria.

That cry was filled with worry and desperation for its child.

The howl echoed deep through the forest and earth, carrying the Shadow Wolves’ urgent plea for help and the crisis they now faced.