CHAPTER 57: 57 - FAMILIAR MOUNTAIN

(Raven’s POV)

It’s now Saturday, [10:05 AM]... And I’m back to a very familiar place.

Trees that are as tall as a one-story house with bright and healthy green leaves, grass as tall as a man’s waist, and the surrounding air filled with denser mana.

"The Red Wolves’ Mountain."

I mumbled while looking at the tall mountain in front of me.

I have no good memories of this place—this is the first place where I almost died.

"Well, this time it will be different."

I muttered as I dashed inside the mountain.

FWOOSH~

I’m emitting a strong and majestic presence using my mana and Monarch’s Presence, so no monster or beast blocked my path.

I’m alone this time as I left Levina and Yuki at the academy.

I left Levina with Keara so she can protect her.

While I gave Yuki a task that she’ll do while I’m away.

Anyway, when I entered deep enough into the mountain that I’m sure no one would see me—

SWISH—

A pair of black wings grew on my back, then I flew toward the top of the mountain.

"This way, I won’t need to take complicated paths."

I said as a satisfied smile appeared on my face.

...

...

*****

Not long after, I reached my destination...

Tap-

I landed gently on the ground, took a bottle of low stamina and mana potion, then drank them.

"Phew..."

Flying is indeed faster, but it’s more exhausting.

’And here I thought when I was a kid that I wouldn’t get tired anymore if I could fly...’

I thought as I recovered some of my mana and stamina.

Then, looking in front of me, I saw a familiar stone wall.

I walked toward it and went to a specific area that I still remembered, then...

Click—

After flipping something, the ground shook a bit, and a path appeared from the stone wall after a while.

Not wasting any moment, I entered it.

...

...

I came back into a familiar messy room with books scattered all over the floor.

Then I saw a familiar skeleton.

I glanced at every corner of the room, making sure there was no oversized wolf dyed in red.

I’m already traumatized fighting it once, I don’t want to see any more of that.

Moving on... After making sure that there was none, I slightly lifted my right hand and aimed it at the floor where the books were.

Fwoosh~

Then I stored all the books scattered on the floor in my spatial storage.

’I can use every book here to practice magic. I can also sell some of them and use some to bargain with Alec and the other mages.’

A mischievous smile appeared on my face as I thought of that.

Then after storing all of them, I walked to the skeleton still sitting lifelessly on a wooden chair—just like it was the last time I saw it.

"..."

Looking at the skeleton, I opened my mouth.

"System, can you appraise it now?"

[As I said before, I can now appraise almost anything and everything.]

I nodded and spoke again.

"Appraise the skeleton."

[Okay.]

The system immediately answered, and then a transparent bluish system window appeared in front of me.

Swish~

=====

[Skeleton’s Description]

Name: ???

Rank: ???

Mana Control: SSS

Strength: ???

Agility: ???

Stamina: ???

Intelligence: SSS

Luck: ???

Charm: ???

Race: ???

[SKILLS]

Mana Path Preset Lvl.???

Spell Memorization Lvl.???

[TRAITS]

Legacy

The One Near The Truth

Servant of Gods

=====

"What the fuck is this?"

I muttered in shock as my eyes widened at what I was seeing.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the window even if I wanted to.

Even though most of the skeleton’s stats are just "???"—I can tell how strong this person was when they were alive just by looking at their Intelligence and Mana Control!

[That’s the only information I can get.]

The system’s words snapped me out of my daze.

I shook my head before thanking it.

"No, it’s enough. Thanks."

I said and looked at the skeleton’s stats again.

Looking at its skills, what caught my attention was Mana Path Preset. It’s the skill I want to acquire—one of the skills I need to make [Nyx] stronger.

The skill lets you set or record a path for your mana in advance. Then, when you pour mana into the path, it will automatically flow through it. You can change the recorded path anytime.

"Though it’s a rare skill and really hard to find, it’s also expensive as fuck even in the system shop... I didn’t expect the skeleton I made just for extra detail to have it."

I mumbled in disbelief. I feel very unlucky at the moment... A dead person has the skill that I want, while I don’t.

It also has the skill Spell Memorization, which lets you record or store a spell in advance, then cast it anytime without chanting and consuming mana.

It’s a rare skill, but easier to acquire than Mana Path Preset. As a matter of fact, Adelle already has that skill, and Alec will have it in the future too by practicing a certain method of mana circulation he created.

Well, he didn’t actually create it... In the story, Alec just mixed the mana circulation method from his past life and another from his current. He adjusted the two until they became compatible with each other, then they merged and became a single efficiency-focused mana circulation method.

’I can just ask Alec to teach me that later in the future after he learns the skill...’

I thought and shrugged.

Anyway, after checking the skeleton’s skills, I looked at its traits.

"[Legacy], [The One Near The Truth], and [Servant of Gods]."

I can’t read the traits’ descriptions and effects, but I know they’re awesome.

Just reading their names made me excited.

’My traits’ names look like a joke compared to these.’

I thought, still looking at the skeleton’s stats.

Then after some time, I closed the skeleton’s status window since I didn’t have anything more to see.

I also couldn’t get anything out of it.

"If you were alive, you’d be strong as hell."

I said.

"Don’t know why the fuck you chose to live and die like a hermit..."

I added before placing my hand on top of its skull with the intention of brushing some dust off it.

F W O O O S H–!!

But as soon as I made contact with it, a bright light erupted and wrapped around both the skeleton and me!

"W-what!?"

I was startled and soon confused—I didn’t know what was going on.

"Ugh...?!"

It was too bright, so I changed my eyes into a cat’s using Partial Transformation from the [Cat’s Earring]. It is said that cats’ eyes can see well in both dark and bright light.

And after doing that—I saw a message from the system.

[The skeleton’s traits, Servant of Gods and Legacy, are reacting to your trait, ???.]

’Why are those traits reacting to mine?’

’In the first place—what even is this ??? trait?!’

I asked, confused as fuck.