Shielded by Seals [Chapter 11] (Patreon)

ToC: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132353583

“Father, I want to go outside.” 

Argyle lifted his head. He seemed surprised to see me in his study. It had been two months since his epiphany and, since then, he shuffled out of the room in order to prepare food and relieve himself, and then he returned to the study to engage in more occult studies. He engaged in no other activities, so far as I could tell. 

Obviously, I loved him becoming a hermit. And I wanted to take better advantage of his distraction.

I decided to gamble; after all, for all his threats and calling me a parasite, Argyle didn’t appear very concerned with my actions. Therefore, before he suspected I wished to escape the manor, I should gather information from the surrounding area. Isn’t it rather common that children my age wish to play outside?

Plus, I really had no sense of context for the outside world. Was this a fantasy world with monsters running everywhere? How did people Level up, after the Child-mode was removed? What sort of country did I live in?

With all this swirling in my mind, I marched into the room and made my announcement. Argyle considered it.

“Troublesome…” He muttered. From his eyes hung grey and purple bags of exhaustion.

I felt a sinking sensation in my chest. I tried to act innocent. There’s no way he knows I want to escape, right…?

His gaze sank into the middle distance for almost thirty seconds. He seemed lost, either in memories or madness. It had gotten to the point that I considered slinking back out of the room and pretending like this never happened when he roused himself. “Yes… heh. You crave a sense of adventure. Good, good… I’ll just need to make some preparations…”

The sensation in the air changed. The shadows around the room rippled and solidified. As blood drained out of my face, I looked up into the gaze of my father… and found his eyes entirely black.

He raised his hands. Faster than I could follow, his fingers carved sharp-edged sigils into the air. They were made of the same pitch black power that filled his eyes, so I didn’t even get a good look before they shot forward and sank into my skin. I flinched, but the symbols shimmered briefly and settled across me. It felt like… nothing at all. If I hadn’t witnessed them, I wouldn’t have even known they were there at all.

I felt a sinking feeling in my chest. This man possesses the means to keep me here… without me even knowing. 

What other restrictions has he already put into my body…?

Suddenly, I wondered if it wouldn’t be better to be completely asleep less often.

The pressure in the room eased. Father sat back into his chair and waved his hand. “Go, then. You can move freely about the grounds. Catch a fish or something. Some fish for dinner sounds nice…”

I fled as soon as Argyle’s gaze settled on the desk and didn’t move for over ten seconds. Even out in the hallway, with sunlight beaming through the windows, I couldn’t find it in me to relax. I looked down at my little arms and rubbed the skin uncomfortably. The fact that those symbols had sunk so seamlessly into my body was not a sensation I would forget.

A shiver rocked my body. But I bit my lip and forced my body to move. The priority is going outside and exploring. Time sitting still is time I’m not grinding. And more than anything else, this just proves I need to become as strong as possible as fast as possible…

I strode out to the front door and pressed my small hands against the massive double doors. To my surprise, I feel a hint of warmth and the doors swing easily open. Another shiver quaked through me, but it didn’t slow me down. Even as I blinked in the sunlight, I stepped through the web of seals that restrained me from leaving the previous attempts.

To be outside, even with the new knowledge of restrictions, allowed a little of my tension to ease.

Wind brushed against my skin. Sunlight warmed me; my skin tingled from the exposure to the outside elements after two years of being locked away. Around me stretched the fantasy world I had reincarnated into--

I looked around and the novelty dwindled: the surroundings… looked like a normal meadow.

My mouth scrunched together. Normal was actually a glossy coating on a rather drab area around the house. The trees nearest to the drawbridge… they were leafless and dead. The dirt path snaked away, down toward a more forested area. In that direction, I assumed, would be human habitation. I did want more information in that direction. But first, I twisted and looked up the gentle slope of the meadow. A hill sat above the manor, with a few wisps of mist hanging around it.

If nothing else, I thought to myself as I controlled my legs to begin the climb up the grassy meadow, I’ll at least see the surrounding area and have a lay of the land.

Very quickly, sweat beaded across my forehead. My legs trembled from the exertion of climbing the slope. After a few more minutes, I began to pant. Still the meadow stretched above me, an endless hill I had no choice but to climb. I could feel the boost from Mana-Adjusted Physique, yet it could only improve my base specs so much; I was still a toddler.

A vein in my temple throbbed. “Damnit! When I’m an adult again-”

With a gasp, I stumbled over the lip into a small flat area. A stream cut diagonally across the meadow, meandering around the back of the manor but also down, following the slope to curve around the building and disappear into the forested area. The ground was muddy, but I sat down and rubbed my legs.

“Grrk?”

The unexpected grunt spiked adrenaline through my system. I tried to hop to my feet, but as a toddler, I just flailed and collapsed backward. After worming on the ground in the mud for a second, I straightened to face my first fantasy world foe.

Mud-Guzzling Hog Lvl 12

A large pig blinked at me from its position, firmly entrenched in the mud around the stream. It seemed extremely contented, wrapped in its cocoon of filth. We looked at each other for several seconds. Gradually, my tension decreased. Considering the fact that I was Level 3, perhaps fighting against a monster that was Level 12 was a bad idea.

Plus, considering I was a toddler and it was a fully grown hog, the thing dwarfed me. It could probably swallow me whole.

“Ahem, sorry for disturbing you,” I said. “I’ll just-”

“Hunnhhhk.” The Hog replied. Yet rather than letting me go, it rocked its body and leveraged itself up out of its mud cocoon. It shook off a few clods and trotted toward me.

I scrambled backward. Mud dribbled off the hog’s body, dripping from the dense hairs that covered its skin. More than that, the hog radiated an unpleasant stench. Perhaps it was due to my own failures in the past, but I felt sick when the smell reached my nose. Almost instinctively, I raised a hand and unleashed Clean.

Clean has been used to get rid of a mess attached to a higher-Level neutral monster. Proficiency +7%. Due to Genius, Proficiency +2%.

Such a boost in Proficiency? I thought. Instantly, I began to wonder about the feasibility of moving outside the manor and cleaning the surrounding wildlife. Long term the gains would likely fall off, but in the short term-

My calculations stuttered. The hog twisted and sniffed itself. It snorted in distaste and looked at me with red eyes. I could practically see the monster thumping its chest and complaining that I’d deprived it of its natural musk. It pawed the ground, in preparation to charge.

I froze as the hog leapt forward. Only at the last second did I realize the danger and throw my body to the side. 

It bulldozed its way forward, skidding and falling in the mud behind me. As I scrambled to my feet, it tried to do so at first, then seemed to realize it was in the thick of the mud. It flailed around for a bit and covered itself once more with a thick layer of the stinky muck. The monster released a snort of triumph and hopped back to its feet. It gave me a vindictive look.

So this is the price of greed… I felt exhausted just looking at the giant hog. I tried to think of escaping, but half a meadow had already exhausted me. In terms of fighting…

The hog pawed the ground again. I grimaced. My hands trembled and all the anxieties of this world condensed into a vicious unwillingness.  “You aren’t leaving me any choice…!”

I raised a hand. As the monster dashed forward, I unleashed my Usable-Tier Emit Mana.

A powerful bolt of energy sizzled forward and smacked against the side of the hog’s body. Its eyes widened. It opened its mouth and unleashed a powerful oink that shook my bones. I repaid this display of aggression by stuffing another bolt of Emit Mana directly into its mud-guzzling mouth.

The hog staggered sideways. The look in its eyes changed. From the anger…

I grinned at it. “Oh, now you know fear? If you surrender- gah!”

The hog launched itself forward. In my panic, I shot a few more Emit Mana’s forward. One smashed against its shoulders, but the others it bit into mid-air. Horror filled me. I remembered the gulf of death. The sensation of my ‘self’ being eroded. A part of my existence that had been constant suddenly hadn’t existed. The first arrival had been harrowing, nearly breaking my spirit. If I had to go again-

I couldn’t help but shudder. Everything had begun to leak away. ‘I’ had steadily seeped out through that hole, gradually becoming hollow. Whatever magical process brought me to be born again had saved me.  And if I were killed now-

Would I be lucky enough to reincarnate again…?

My pupils dilated. Adrenaline flooded my body. I raised my hands. The hog rushed forward, only a short distance away. I could feel the vibrations through the ground-- it would soon trample me. My feet sunk into mud and made it impossible to dodge again. Fear made me choke.

Yet I forced myself to focus. I stilled the trembling hands. I took aim. Emit Mana.

Three sharp bolts of cobalt power sizzled forward. The first smacked against the hog’s forehead. It didn’t even flinch. The second went into its mouth and was chomped again. Even as its mouth opened again to devour me, the third shot out-

Due to repeated actions, you have earned a Trait!

You have gained the Trait Accurate: You have received a small boost in your accuracy. Your eyesight experiences a minuscule boost with Level and Trait Proficiency.

Sudden clarity filled my. My third bolt zapped forward and smashed into the beady little eye on the right side of the hog’s face. 

Notifications appeared in the corner of my vision, but I mostly cared about the way the hog flinched. Its charge veered to the side. Rather than crushing me direction, the hog scrambled, slipped on the mud, and then slammed against my side and spun me away. I didn’t even really feel the impact; the next thing I knew, I was flung sideways to land face-first in the mud.

“Can’t take a break…!” I pushed myself up and winced at the aches of my body. Yet when I finally managed to look around, my heart sank. The hog stood above me with an open mouth. It was about to devour me. To my great shame, I flinched and closed my eyes.

I didn’t want to watch as I died.

I trembled, eyes closed.

…yet after a few seconds…

I peeked. The hog was still there, panting. Its eyes were bright and… friendly? And if I looked around at the hog… Its butt was wiggling back and forth, like a pleased dog?

I checked the notifications in front of me, bewildered by the developments

Accuracy has been utilized against a higher-Level monster. Proficiency +100%. Due to Genius, Proficiency +12%.

Due to repeated actions of feeding concentrated Mana to a monster, your friendliness with the monster has increased!

Your Trait Accurate has reached a new Proficiency! Worthless-> Basic. Accuracy triggers slightly more often. Effective at a longer range. 

There are no benefits reaching the Proficient Tier.

For increasing Trait Proficiency while a Child, the Role Child has gained Proficiency! +10%.

For increasing Trait Proficiency while a Genius, the Role Genius has gained Proficiency! +4%.

Your Role Child has reached a new Proficiency! Usable-> Proficient I. Your Mana Pool deepens. Your Mana Pool deepens again! Due to reaching the Proficient I Tier, you have gained access to additional Proficiency Tiers! The Tier “Proficient III” has split into Proficient III and Proficient IV. Please continue to develop the Role Child for further improvements.

For increasing the Proficiency Tier of a Role, the Role Genius has gained Proficiency! +8%.

The monster has continued digesting your Mana… due to your actions, the Mud-Guzzling Hog has grown to Level 13!

Your Friendliness with the Mud-Guzzling Hog Lvl 13 has increased!

Your Trait Accurate has reached a new Proficiency! Basic-> Beginner I. Accuracy can now affect a wider range of activities. Your Mana Pool deepens.

For increasing Trait Proficiency while a Child, the Role Child has gained Proficiency! +10%.

For increasing Trait Proficiency while a Genius, the Role Genius has gained Proficiency! +4%.

Accuracy has been utilized against a higher-Level friendly beast. Proficiency +16%. Due to Genius, Proficiency +2%.

The Mud-Guzzling Hog has taken the initiative to enter into a Tamer Bond with you! Because you do not have the related Skill, you will have incomplete control of your Tamed Beast. 

“Actually… this whole time…” I looked down at my hands. “I’ve just been feeding the hog…? My powerful attacks…”

The hog panted and shook its ass at me. Its eyes sparkled, waiting for more treats.

Inwardly, my dissatisfaction only grew. Also, what about these seals on my body? Argyle! Do they not provide any protection at all?!

Still… I looked at the hog again. I tried to remain positive. There didn’t seem to be any drawbacks to this Tamer Bond…? I made a muddy fist. And when I gained the Taming Skill later… This would just be the beginning.

You have agreed to accept the Taming Bond with the Mud-Guzzling Hog Lvl 13!

Due to your unique actions, the Proficiency of the Genius Trait +5%.

Because you have accepted a Taming Bond without the Taming Skill, your number of tamed beasts has been permanently locked at 1! Effect will not change even with the Taming Skill.

“What the hell is this!?” I couldn’t help but shout at the notification.

In the next instant, a flood of confusing emotions smashed against my mind. A nascent connection formed between me and the Mud-Guzzling Hog. Via the connection, it sensed my rage and disappointment directed forward, toward it-

The Mud-Guzzling Hog raised its head in confusion. Then, with a flash of clarity, it realized the issue.

It spun around and released a domineering grunt. What fool behind it had angered its new contracted master?!?

The Mud-Guzzling Hog looked at the stream behind it suspiciously. It trotted forward and nudged the mud with its nose. Then it forgot what it was doing at the pleasant sensation of the mud. It flopped on its back and rolled around in mud. Then, thoroughly covered in filth, it trotted back up to me with its sparkling eyes.

My head spun. I was exhausted, battered, and coated in gunk. And… my tamed beast… is an idiot…