Deadmeat Saga

Chapter 35 – Skills are cheap. Is the relic trolling me?!

Chapter 35 – Skills are cheap. Is the relic trolling me?!

After the trio cleaned themselves, Havre gave Albatia instructions.

"Albatia, pretend that you never had a relationship with Gerhart. It would hamper our plans if you counted toward his quota." Havre said. "Also, you will work with Irene for now."

"Yes, I understand." Albatia nodded.

"By the way, I am interested in your talents, so I will reverse bless you," Gerhart said to Albatia.

"It would be my honor, my husband." Albatia bowed to Gerhart.

"Hm." Gerhart nodded and checked his remaining energy.

Energy: 3,142

"It was 3,155 before, so she cost 13 points, hah? That's a bit more than Irene. Is it because her stats or level are higher?" Gerhart wondered but didn't idle.

Placing a hand on Albatia's shoulder, he made his wish. "Reverse blessing."

Immediately, Gerhart received information.

Thrall: Albatia Elkington's worthy qualities:Base Stat - Agility B-grade: 1,271

Talent - Contortionist: 50

Talent - Beginner Archery: 9

Talent - Beginner Aura Control: 9

Skill - Beginner Archery: 1

Skill - Beginner Aura Mastery: 1

Skill - Beginner Aura Body Forging: 1(Requires Beginner Aura Mastery)

And that was it. Albatia had seven qualities Gerhart didn't have - A higher base stat, three talents, and three skills.

"Wait, Contortionist aside, don't I have Archery and Aura Control? And why is it showing Beginner? Does that mean I have an even inferior version?! And why are the skills so damn cheap?! Is Beginner Swordsmanship that cheap, too?! Doesn't that mean, by the relic's evaluation, a Beginner Skill Book is worth a lousy Silver Coin?! Were I, Mylo, and Hazel murdered for 1 Silver Coin worth one stupid 1st-floor Magic Stone?!" Gerhart was shocked. "And I absorbed over ten people, yet they didn't have any skills! Were they that incompetent?! Or were they just that lazy?!"

This revelation made Gerhart doubt life. But then, he had a conjecture. "No, wait... It says Worthy Qualities. Perhaps the relic merely ignored their skills because it saw them as flawed or too inferior. That would explain why it didn't absorb them. Meanwhile, Albatia had proper teachers, and her talent is higher, so she received a worthy evaluation." Gerhart reasoned.

"My husband? Are you displeased?" Albatia worriedly asked.

"Oh, no. I am pleased. Just a moment." Gerhart reassured her and decided to copy everything except for the higher stat. He didn't take it because he figured he might absorb it from a monster. It was never too late to get it later.

"It's only 71 points. I can afford it." Gerhart reasoned.

With that, Gerhart reverse-blessed himself. Immediately, pain flowed through Gerhart's body, and muscle memory flashed in his mind. His understanding of Archery improved, and he also gained years of experience in repetitive shooting. He felt that his ability to control Aura became natural, and he learned Aura Body Forging despite never trying it. A minute later, he let go of Albatia.

"My husband, are you satisfied?" Albatia asked.

"Very. You can go home now. For the time being, pretend we never met. We will contact you when needed." Gerhart said.

"Yes. Good night." Albatia said and left the massage room.

Gerhart and Havre also left the massage room. However, they were careful not to be seen as they quietly returned to their house, where Hope oiled their gear in the living room.

"Oh, you returned! How was it?" Hope asked.

"Albatia is on our side now," Havre smiled. "Although not much, it is a good start."

"Good to hear! Also, Irene came over and said she convinced Libby to spend time with you in the afternoon. However, she gave a peculiar request." Hope said with a troubled look.

"Peculiar?" Gerhart raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Libby wants you to massage her and not Havre. She doesn't mind if you are new to this, but she wants you to do it." Hope had a bitter expression.

"Well, that is indeed a problem. While I can give a regular massage, I can't give an Aura Massage," Gerhart muttered.

"My lord, if I may. You can receive the skills I honed through reverse blessing." Havre said.

"Oh, right. I haven't tried it on you yet, have I?" Gerhart nodded. "Okay, let's see what I can get from you."

Gerhart placed a hand on Havre's shoulder and activated Reverse Blessing.

Envoy: Havre Elkington's worthy qualities:Talent - Initial Sword Saint(Severely Damaged, Repairable, Upgradable): Not Viable(Must be repaired)

Skill - Intermediate Footwork: 10

Skill - Intermediate Hand-to-Hand Combat: 10

Skill - Advanced Aura Mastery: 99

Skill - Advanced Massaging: 100

Skill - Perfect Swordsmanship: 1,000

Skill - Advanced Aura Body Forging: 99(Requires Advanced Aura Mastery)

Skill - Advanced Aura Massage: 100(Requires Advanced Aura Mastery + Advanced Massaging)

Skill - Intermediate Aura Swordsmanship: 100(Requires Intermediate Aura Mastery + Intermediate Swordsmanship)

Skill - Beginner Flash Step: 10(Requires Intermediate Footwork + Intermediate Aura Mastery)

Skill - Beginner Aura Sword Hand: 10(Requires Intermediate Hand-to-Hand Combat + Beginner Aura Swordsmanship)

"Monster! Are you sure you are 18?! Is your talent truly damaged?! I got murdered over a lousy Beginner Swordsmanship skill book, and you self-taught yourself Perfect Swordsmanship?! What is up with all of those scary-looking skills!?" Gerhart was horrified.

Envoy: Hope Farrington's worthy qualities:Base Stat - Intelligence A-grade: 6,889

Base Stat - Instincts SS-grade: 121,792

Talent - Advanced Intuitive Precognition(Upgradable, Evolvable(Locked)): 1,000

"Hoh... Now I am interested. How much is it to upgrade it." Gerhart muttered.

Immediately, Gerhart received the information.

Upgrade - Advanced Intuitive Precognition -> Perfect Intuitive Precognition: 5,000

"Okay... Yeah, that is expensive." Gerhart said. "To upgrade it, I need 5,000 points."

10,000 was about the amount needed for Gerhart to reach lvl 50. 5,000 wasn't cheap by any means.

"It is up to your judgment, Gerhart," Hope said.

"My lord, how much is required to repair my talent?" Havre hopefully asked on the side.

"Ah, let me check," Gerhart replied and checked it.

Repair - Initial Sword Saint(Severely Damaged): 20,000

"20,000 points. I have enough for it." Gerhart smiled.

"Truly?! That is great!" Havre beamed.

"However, we must wait until we control the village. If you physically change, it would be a problem." Gerhart added.

"Hah... Right." Havre calmed down a bit.

"By the way, Gerhart. I was thinking about it, but how do you know our talents? To my knowledge, I only know you can use reverse blessing." Hope had a thoughtful look.

"Yeah... Weird. Before, the relic didn't show me anything when I was blessing you. No, rather, why is it only showing things I can get and not your whole status?" Gerhart frowned.

He then attempted to check Havre's status, but it didn't show anything.

"Damn... is the relic fucking with me?" Gerhart frowned.

"Perhaps it wants you to acquire the power to see other's status yourself, and it only shows you acquirable talents to help achieve that goal." Hope conjectured.

"Possible. This power is so unfriendly." Gerhart shook his head and checked his remaining energy.

Energy: 1,529

"Hm... I think it is time I absorbed the other stones." Gerhart decided.

With that decision, he went to his room and began an absorption frenzy. By the end, Gerhart looked at the pile of dust and his energy.

Energy: 57,480

"That should be enough. I should reserve 15,000 for enthralling the villagers and 25,000 for Hope and Havre's talents. The remaining 17,000 will be for personal use." Gerhart decided.

However, it was already late by the time he finished, so he didn't rush to upgrade Hope's talent yet.

"Maybe tomorrow or the day after..." Gerhart thought.

At this time, Hope entered his room, wearing only her loincloth.

"Gerhart, would you like night service?" Hope seductively asked, her tail swishing.

"... Yes, please."

Half an hour of exertion later, Gerhart and Hope comfortably slept together.

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The next day, Gerhart, Hope, and Havre left the village after an early breakfast to hunt monsters in the outer forest.