Chapter 208: Dora D. Na and the Inheritance of Justice (Patreon)

• Except for Unique Magic, the clone retains skills and Magic.

• Shares Excelia.

Chant: "Turn, Wheel of Time."

Skill:

[Spark of Civilization]

• Adds the Unique Development Ability "Science."

• "Science" gains a large amount of experience as research results accumulate.

The effects of the Development Ability "Science" are:

• Production-type ability.

• Takes effect when creating technological artifacts.

• Infusion Sublimation: can imbue any item with a completed scientific theory.

"Awesome!"

"Way too strong!"

"Christina, this is completely outrageous!"

The moment Natsuka saw the result, he got so worked up he reached out and clapped his assistant on the shoulder.

"Time magic plus a Unique Development Ability? That's pure cheating!"

Makise Kurisu's face flushed red in an instant, and she smacked his paw away.

"Don't tack on 'tina'!"

But the more Natsuka talked, the more excited he got. There was no stopping him.

"Do you have any idea how insane it is to summon your future self?"

Forget the stats for a moment.

For someone like Makise Kurisu, the scariest thing about a future self was never the raw numbers. It was the knowledge and the research progress.

That was the truly terrifying part.

Sure, a future on a different timeline was uncertain, stuck in a kind of Schrödinger's state.

But if Makise Kurisu decided to spend one year devoted to a single experimental topic...

And then cast this Magic to call in the version of herself from a year later, who had already finished the research...

Wouldn't that mean skipping a whole year of development and going straight to the conclusion?

Even scarier, in theory this could be stacked in a loop.

And then there was the "Science" ability on top of that.

Honestly, this thing wasn't science anymore.

Calling it "unscientific" would fit better than "science."

"You still don't get the point, Christina!

"What kind of monstrous qualitative change happens when this Magic is paired with 'Science'!"

Natsuka was dead serious, his eyes practically glowing.

"'Science' is a lot like Development Abilities such as 'Mystery' and 'Forge.'

"They can all attach a fixed logic to whatever they create.

"Say you've researched the complete theory of the railgun.

"After that, you could carve the railgun's effect into any item you like."

The more he talked, the more his whole body got into it, hands flailing. "You know conceptual enchantment, right?"

"You know those '05-era god dramas, the ones with the steamed-bun bombs, right?"

"And at the very least, you know Doraemon's Bamboo-copter, the Shrink Flashlight, the Memory Bread, right?"

"As long as you actually research the finished product,

"its effect gets recorded by your ability.

"After that, you can transfer those effects onto other items."

Natsuka got more and more worked up, and in the end he even pressed his 4D Pocket against Makise Kurisu's stomach.

"Christina—no, Doratina!

"You've gone completely beyond reason!

"Calling you a god wouldn't even be an exaggeration!"

Makise Kurisu listened in a daze. She looked down at the pocket pressed against her front, and her ears turned red.

"Who's Doraemon?

"I'm not some earless chubby robot cat."

She turned her head away, pouting as if sulking.

But after a few moments of calm, she got her composure back.

"And it's not as exaggerated as you make it sound.

"When it comes down to it, all of this still requires me to do the research first, doesn't it?

"How far I can take it depends on the level of my Development Ability.

"It's not as all-powerful as you think.

"I'm a long way from becoming an overlord of the universe."

Natsuka snickered.

"The future's looking bright, though.

"It's only a matter of time."

Then he suggested, completely straight-faced,

"Then let's start by making everyone a Bamboo-copter.

"That should be pretty simple, right?"

Makise Kurisu froze for a second, then gave him a look that said, "Do you even understand anything?"

"You think a thing like that flies just because you stick a little propeller on it?

"At the size of a Bamboo-copter, no matter how fast it spins, it could never lift a human body.

"To get a similar effect, you'd need research results on the level of a gravity-regulator engine at the very least before you could enchant anything.

"Do you think you have the money for that?"

Natsuka fell silent.

A simple, honest question popped into his head.

Wasn't a little propeller or basic helicopter principles enough?

The academic dunce's soul was thoroughly confused.

That confusion didn't last long, though.

Soon he tossed the whole matter aside and went back to being cheerful.

"Anyway, I'm leaving the tech tree to you,

"Doratina!"

"No 'Christina' nicknames!"

…

Even though Makise Kurisu felt Natsuka was getting carried away, she had to admit that both the Magic and the new skill made her research far easier.

The savings in time were downright frightening.

A top-tier researcher who could already build a time device, now paired with a Magic that directly shortened development cycles.

The future Makise Kurisu might really end up sprinting toward Doratina territory.

But the Familia's upgrades weren't finished yet.

After sending Makise Kurisu back to her lab in Sword-Forging City, Natsuka went to find Ryuu, who was still dithering.

"Ready?"

Ryuu's face was faintly flushed and her eyes kept darting away. She was clearly still hesitating.

"Could we... wait a little longer?"

Natsuka stifled a laugh.

"What's wrong?

"You really don't want to see Lady Astraea that badly?

"She searched the whole world for a Sprite for your sake.

"She even went against her own divine will.

"The first Familia members she recruited were all blacksmiths.

"All so she'd have the most suitable weapon ready for when you finally came around.

"You still don't understand the goddess's heart?"

The more Ryuu listened, the redder she got, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes without her noticing.

"I..."

In the original course of events, Ryuu might have forced herself to be brave only because she had no choice but to see the goddess.

But now everything was changing.

Relationships were changing too.

She simply hadn't fully adjusted yet.

"I know.

"Let's go."

Natsuka reached out and caught her hand.

A second later, the two of them teleported to Sword-Forging City.

When Ryuu actually stood before Astraea, she still couldn't keep her breath from trembling.

And the moment Astraea saw her, her gaze softened like a lake in spring.

"It's been a long time, Ryuu."

"Seeing you looking so well now puts my mind at ease."

Ryuu immediately lowered her head and dropped to one knee.

"I'm sorry, Lady Astraea.

"I was too rash these past few years.

"But I have never regretted what I did."

Astraea simply watched her quietly, her expression as gentle as ever.

"Then let me ask you this.

"Have you ever killed even a single innocent person?"

Ryuu raised her head and answered without a trace of hesitation.

"No!"

The people she had killed included merchants in league with Evilus, moles inside the Guild, and vicious men among the thief gangs and mercenaries.

Every one of them had hands stained with evil.

Of course, that didn't mean they all deserved immediate execution.

Some of them, perhaps, hadn't reached the point where they had to pay with their lives.

And that was exactly why Ryuu had never wanted to go back and see Astraea.

She knew she had overstepped.

And she had done it anyway.

Astraea didn't reproach her.

She only smiled at the corners of her eyes and continued.

"Then.

"Have you found the path you'll walk from now on?

"Or rather, have you found a place where you belong?"

The tips of Ryuu's ears turned red at once.

Still kneeling there, her eyes stole a glance back at Natsuka without her realizing it.

"N-not yet.

"But I already know which way to go.

"This time, I won't stop."

Astraea saw it all clearly.

She caught Ryuu's tiny gesture at once and couldn't help covering her lips, her eyes narrowing, her smile deepening.

"Is that so?"

"Then what do you plan to do?"

Ryuu drew a soft breath.

"I will inherit Alise's will.

"As their senior, I'll carry on the justice they entrusted to me, and pass it down."

Astraea nodded with a smile.

"I see."

"Then, Ryuu-chan, please keep a good watch over Natsu-chan for me.

"That boy really can't sit still for a moment.

"Please help me keep a close eye on him."

She deliberately stressed the word "eye."

The loaded meaning behind her words turned Ryuu's face even redder.

Astraea shot Natsuka a sidelong glance.

"All right.

"I'm going to update Ryuu's Status now.

"Natsu-chan, wait outside for a bit."

Natsuka nodded obediently and turned to leave.

After a while, the door opened.

Ryuu walked out glowing, her whole aura different.

She handed him a sheet of parchment, her expression earnest, with a hint of confidence she couldn't quite suppress.

"Captain.

"I think I should tell you my current attributes."

Natsuka took the paper, looked down with eager anticipation, and read.

Ryuu Lion, Lv5

[Strength] S999 → I0

[Endurance] S999 → I0

[Dexterity] S999 → I0

[Agility] S999 → I0

[Magic] S999 → I0

Development Abilities: [Hunter] G / [Magic Conducting] I / [Abnormal Resistance] G / [Magic Defense]

Magic: [Luminous Wind] / [Noah's Heal] / [Astraea Record]

[Astraea Record]

• Inherits the will of past Familia members such as Alise.

• Can inherit and cast the Magic of past Astraea Familia companions.

• Grants a shield during the chant.

Skills:

[Fairy Serenade] / [Mind Load] / [Aero Mana] / [Justice Inheritance]

[Justice Inheritance]

• Activates when fighting alongside members who share the same Falna.

• When fighting together with Familia members, always obtains the maximum stat gains.

• Slightly boosts the growth speed of Familia members.

• Shares part of the stats raised by this skill.

Natsuka read the whole sheet and went numb.

"Holy crap...

"Are you hacking?

"Where do I go to report you?"

Her original [Dharmas Argo] had now evolved straight into [Justice Inheritance].

And it was a team growth-boosting buff, too.

That was absurd.

It was even more outrageous than the cheat he had himself.

Thankfully, there had been no level skip.

Otherwise, even going by the original story, where she took down both the Asterius and Ein, two Lv7s, back to back, it would've felt like forcibly inflating her combat power.

As it stood, trading a full level's worth of stats for a growth-accelerating divine skill was no loss however you counted it.

What's more, Ryuu had gotten [Astraea Record] just as she'd wished.

For a Sorceress Elf, this was a massive boost.

It was fair to say that from this moment on, the Astraea Familia had truly stepped into the ranks of the top Familia.

Watching Natsuka's expression shift bit by bit from shock to complexity, Ryuu couldn't help the corners of her mouth curving upward.

She even puffed out her all-but-nonexistent chest and deliberately put on senior airs.

"Do I look a little more like a senior now?"

"And one more thing.

"No more calling me Useless Elf.

"You call me Senior."

Natsuka was so thrilled he almost dropped into a sliding kneel to hug her leg right there.

"Boss!

"Carry me!"

Outside the Stardust Garden.

On the lawn by the villa entrance.

Natsuka sat on the ground with his legs splayed, gasping for air, his clothes soaked with sweat. As soon as his Status update was done, he had dragged Ryuu straight into special training.

He mainly wanted to personally test the effects of [Justice Inheritance].

After several rounds of genuine, fist-to-flesh sparring, Natsuka finally had a rough grasp of how the skill worked.

The greatest strength of [Justice Inheritance] was that it pushed the penalty of sparring against another person down to nearly nothing.

As everyone knew, when fighting people, stats only grow fast if you're truly fighting for your life.

If it was just friendly, playful sparring, the gains were usually tiny.

But Ryuu's skill bypassed that restriction entirely.

It even added a little extra boost.

While the tavern was quiet, he and Ryuu went back and forth for three brutal rounds of training.

After each round, he updated his stats right away to see the changes.

But from the third time on, the growth dropped off noticeably, as if he'd hit the daily cap.

Natsuka panted as he summed it up.

"Looks like.

"The cap is roughly fifty points per day."

Ryuu's forehead was drenched too, her silver hair plastered to the sides of her face, though her breathing was still fairly steady.

"That's already a lot."

"It really is quite a lot."

Natsuka looked down and did the math, getting more excited the more he calculated.

"Say we could steadily gain between one and fifty points of stats every day.

"Then in about a hundred days at most, couldn't we pile up a whole squad of all-S-stat adventurers?

"That's insane."

"Sis, you're way too powerful."

As he spoke, he handed Ryuu the parchments from his last few updates.

Strength: I50 → G271

Endurance: I78 → F301

Dexterity: I77 → G211

Agility: I61 → G271

Magic: H130 → E487 → G212

One set was the gain from killing the Juggernaut.

The other was the data from sparring, with each stat rising by roughly ten points on average.

Of course, the drop in Magic was mostly because he'd applied Constant to the last batch of players and had casually made three 4D Pockets, which cost a fortune.

Still, for now, all his stats sat steadily around G.

At this rate, as long as she was willing to train him every day, ten days from now his stats would naturally climb to F rank, three hundred points, even if he did nothing else.

Ryuu wasn't nearly as optimistic.

After reading, she burned the parchments on the spot to keep anything from leaking.

Then she warned him seriously.

"Not everyone has your kind of fighting power.

"You can last this long against me and still reap these gains even without skill support.

"But those kids might not be able to."

Natsuka just grinned, not worried in the slightest.

"But they have more room to grow.

"As long as they learn something while sparring with you, even if they can't hold out as long as I do, it'll show up in their stats.

"Technique, tactics, adaptability... those convert into growth just the same.

"Worst case, they take a few more beatings from you and max out their daily quota."

The more he thought about it, the brighter the future looked.

Just imagine.

Every day, a few rounds of the gains that normally only come from fighting a Lv5 for your life.

Who wouldn't drool over that kind of boost?

He thought of how Bell's stats jumped by a point after Ottar gave him a savage beating.

And Natsuka felt more and more that his daily morning training with the Useless Elf was just too good to pass up.

Evening.

The hall of the Stardust Garden.

At the dining table, Natsuka finally cornered Lefiya, who had spent the entire day slacking off in the Great Library.