As Aono explained how this world is currently and about each of the [Stigmas] while we walked, it began with the idea that [Stigmas] can be strengthened by gathering magic essence. I probably understand this better than he does.
[Stigmas] and [Makhon] serve as vessels for gathering magic essence. Training them to expand their capacity is quite a challenge. After pushing the [Stigmas] and [Makhon] to their limits, it seems that special items or rituals are required.
The stronger one is, the easier it is to absorb the surrounding magic essence without any loss. Furthermore, magic essence has a property that allows it to increase when it reaches a certain density. Powerful beings spread magic essence around them.
The existing magic essence is mine as the Demon King, and the essence that increases is also the Demon King’s. I thought that the increased essence might belong to someone else, but that wasn’t the case.
I wanted more practical information for everyday life, but it seems that for Aono, combat equates to everyday life. This is troubling.
“So, there are water and fire attributes, and they can be strengthened, but in battles against magical creatures, the darkness attribute can hinder progress, making it difficult to achieve greatness. If you have no particular attachment, focusing on production might be easier for your livelihood,” he explained.
Right now, he was discussing my future. It’s not water but ice, but I decided not to interject.
“The darkness attribute can be used to create tools that hide you from magical creatures, and you can manipulate presence in combat as well. It’s not necessarily a bad attribute,” Kontei-sensei added, following up on the attributes.
No worries, I chose this attribute because I didn’t want to participate in combat.
“Production… First, I need to figure out how to obtain materials and tools. It feels like I’m still dreaming and can’t grasp it.”
As a Demon King, I can’t just raid a nearby town. I’m completely broke.
“It’s because you’ve been soaked in magic essence for so long that you can’t grasp it. In exchange, you won’t be confused for a while. Once you are separated from the magic essence pool, it will gradually come to you. Before that, it’s important to establish a foundation for living.”
I’m calm because I’m the Demon King. Or perhaps he was referring to that drowsy state I was in.
If I were just tossed into this without any knowledge, it wouldn’t be surprising if I panicked. With a certain degree of a living foundation established, I could manage even if confused, which is a kind system. Is this also the influence of the saintess who melted into the magic essence?
For most of the people who woke up first, perhaps the direct explanations into their minds were a form of kindness. They say it was imprinted while their consciousness was still vague.
“This mountain has rich magic essence, so we can obtain good materials. We’re here for a gathering request. We already finished one location, but we’re heading to the second now. Just imitate the gathering. Also, that clothing you’re wearing, selling those soaked in magic essence will bring in a decent amount of money. I’ll introduce you to a selling place — or rather, let’s do it in exchange for teaching you various things. Don’t worry; you won’t be cheated,” he concluded.
That’s what it came down to. Right now, we were at that gathering location.
Still enveloped in magic essence, it seemed to dazzle the magical creatures, making it convenient for the two of them. Nevertheless, we still encountered several battles with magical creatures.
Aono’s fighting style was a combination of martial arts and dual short swords. It was more refined than powerful.
Both of them are strong… I think, though I can’t tell for sure. Only Aono was fighting, and Kontei-sensei hadn’t needed to intervene at all.
The parts that sell for high prices are those with concentrated magic essence, usually fangs or claws that magical creatures use to capture their prey. After defeating them, these parts kindly separate from the magical creature’s body.
As magic essence escapes from the magical creature’s body, the connection between the parts with concentrated magic essence and the body is severed, causing them to detach.
“There are times when parts with strong magic essence are found within. Also, fur and meat, which are essential for daily life, can fetch good prices. However, they require proper processing,” Aono said as he picked up a fang.
Ah, yeah. Processing here, like skinning and tanning the hide, sounds unpleasant. I get it.
After a while, we arrived at a ravine filled with a large rolling rock and small pebbles.
“Here we are. We can gather from here—ah, there’s one right there. Let’s collect this,” Aono said.
“Stone? No, is that crystal?” I asked, looking at the stone Aono picked up and showed me.
Can we even gather this?
Knowing everything about this new world all at once wouldn’t be interesting, and more importantly, I didn’t know when I might slip up and raise suspicion, so after gathering basic information about the [Sleeper], I stopped the flow of knowledge from the magic essence.
I feel like an average person; I’m unaware of the saintess’s chuunibyou world. Besides, my future seems incredibly long. I don’t even know if I have a lifespan or not.
“This is called fluorite. The larger and more square it is, the higher the price it will fetch,” Aono explained.
“I can gather it from a place like this?” I replied, surprised.
I had an image of it being relatively inexpensive, but I remembered being surprised to hear that its price can vary widely and that people collect it.
“Not just fluorite, but gemstones can be found in various places. There are color affinities with attributes, but for now, you don’t need to worry too much about that,” Kontei-sensei said, reaching down to grab something at his feet.
“…Gemstones can be found everywhere?” I wondered.
“Maybe I exaggerated. It’s more accurate to say they’re found in places with concentrated magic essence. It’s normal for people like us adventurers to avoid areas with dense magic essence. Stones can also come from magical creatures; stones from strong opponents have strong magic essence and fetch high prices,” he explained.
It seems they resemble the gemstones I know, but they are different in some way. As I listened to Aono and Kontei-sensei’s conversation, I continued searching for fluorite.
If I remember correctly, fluorite glows fluorescently under a black light. Wouldn’t it be a problem if I came at night and shined a black light on it?
Broken stones were scattered all around my feet. I searched among them for fluorite, spotting some dull green ones, a few brownish-purple ones, and two each of pale blue ones with purple edges and pink ones.
The flow of water was weak and unreliable to be called a river. The stones around here, including the fluorite, must have been washed down from the river due to heavy rain, right?
“There are several strong magical creatures living upstream. If you get too caught up in gathering and head upstream, you’ll enter their territory,” Aono warned, noticing that I was looking up.
I see, strong magical creatures also mean strong magic essence. So this fluorite was formed there?
Understanding this, I returned to my search for stones. It’s a hassle, but if I can gather a lot here, it will surely make things easier later on, so I worked diligently.
