Removal of the essence.

For priests of bishop rank or higher, the ability to remove an essence is essential, but there is one condition.

It can only be done inside a ‘temple’...

This is why many of the Noirak who mistakenly consumed essences became ruined characters.

Removing an essence once requires risking one’s life.

Especially if one’s face is well-known.

“Whew...”

I swayed slightly and returned the blue dagger given by the priest.

I always felt a considerable emptiness each time I removed an essence. It wasn’t just due to stats decreasing.

It’s hard to explain in words...

‘A sensation as if part of my soul is breaking away.’

If I had to describe it, this would be close.

Now I understood why MP in this world is called soul energy.

Swish.

Hoping to fill the void with something else, I quickly took out test tubes from the pocket dimension.

Arbet and Uumdal.

And the customized essence combining the [Gigantism] of the Orc Hero.

I popped open the cap and poured it into my mouth like a potion, curious.

If this were a game—

How would such a synthesized monster be represented?

「[???? Essence] is seeping into the character’s soul.」

Hmm, well... it probably wasn’t just question marks carelessly displayed and done.

Setting that aside, I focused on the bodily changes I felt.

Among explorers, there was a slang called ‘taming.’

The more one focuses on bodily changes while consuming essence, the easier it is to adapt to new abilities.

「Strength +100 increases.」

A vitality that could lift anything filled my body.

Of course, compared to an ogre, this strength was nothing...

「Jump power +120 increases.」

My thigh muscles tightened.

「Physical resistance +80 increases.」

My already tough skin became even tougher.

「Hearing +60 increases.」

Sounds scattered in the air became clearer.

These were the main noticeable immediate changes no matter how much I concentrated.

But this was not the end.

「Dark resistance +40 increases.」

「Soul energy +50 increases.」

「Natural regeneration +80 increases.」

「Endurance +60 increases.」

「Bone strength +60 increases.」

「Absorption +60 increases.」

Ogres have very high base stats, but in total ability score, Arbet couldn’t be matched.

Of course, Arbet’s drawback was his skill trap...

But since I stored only stats in essence using the underground 1st floor system, that didn’t apply to me.

“Phew...”

Having almost adapted to the stat changes, I cautiously opened the pocket dimension.

By the way, I had placed all the Numbers items I was wearing into the pocket dimension because of Uumdal’s passive skill’s characteristic.

[Soul Link] – The first acquired equipment becomes bound and grants additional abilities.

The first equipment obtained.

Though labeled so in-game, in reality this passive only works on ‘Numbers Items.’

Also...

‘If linked wrongly, it can’t be undone.’

Linking is possible only once, so Uumdal’s essence must always be handled carefully.

If consumed while fully equipped, one random item becomes bound...

Swish.

I reached into the pocket dimension and imagined specifically what to take out.

My hand closed around a large, solid ‘thing.’

‘No.87 Kraul’s Demon Crusher.’

...Of course, it wasn’t that.

Though the Demon Crusher is a high-performance weapon and choosing it would also make me strong.

But...

‘Not worth spending a passive slot on.’

There are countless passive skills suitable for shield barbarians. Normally I would have inserted one of those.

If only I had not had this at hand.

「Character equipped No.3 Aegis Barrier.」

「Total item level increases by +18,600.」

The ultimate shield normally only obtainable much later.

“Guidance of the soul.”

“No.3 Aegis Barrier is permanently bound to the character.”

“Bound equipment cannot be destroyed.”

“All effects of the bound equipment are increased by 10%.”

“Upon defeating monsters, the bound equipment gains individual experience, and at a certain level, unlocks unique effects.”

This shield grows from now on.

[Soul Link].

A mandatory skill when raising a shield dwarf synergizing with Numbers Items.

I had naturally done extensive research and knew almost all unique effects of high-tier equipment.

‘Unique effect unlocked at level 9.’

Even without unlocking, it was a very good skill.

Item performance increased 10% per level.

‘Still, having overlapping indestructible options is a bit wasteful...’

But since most high-tier Numbers have indestructible options, it’s not much of a loss.

The binding option... since I don’t plan to sell, it’s not a downside.

‘Gigantism.’

After confirming the active skill works well, I glanced around.

Looks like everything nearby was finished.

Not just me needed to reorganize.

「Amelia Rainwails’s soul is imbued with [???? Essence].」

「Misha Kalstein’s soul is imbued with [???? Essence].」

「Elwen Fornaci di Tersia’s soul is imbued with [???? Essence].」

The three dealer sisters(?) each received a customized essence.

And...

「Ainard Pnellin’s soul is imbued with [???? Essence].」

「Ainard Pnellin’s soul is imbued with [???? Essence].」

Removing the essences of [Smug] from [Mandel Oil] and [Bitlan] from [Wild Control], Ainard was able to insert two customized essences into his slots.

The change was immediate.

‘The two essences together raised fighting spirit to 100, right?’

In theory, perfectly covering the fighting spirit lost due to Hiphramagent’s essence.

And in practice, it wasn’t difficult.

Recognizing Ainard was back to normal was easy.

“Behel—raaaaaaaah!!!!!”

Yes, this is a battle roar, this is a barbarian.

Feeling proud watching Ainard roar powerfully, shaking the entire hall, Amelia approached me.

“How do you like the new essence? Do you like it?”

“We’ll talk about that later. For now, we must move on to the next step before time runs out.”

He should have been more excited after consuming the new essence.

“...Fine.”

“Hah... Since you like it, stop making that sulky face.”

“Oh, really?”

Anyway, Amelia was right that there was no time °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° to waste, so I hurried to the next plan.

“Everyone, drink up!!”

Before raiding another prison, there was a prior task.

“A historic moment!”

Feeling the sign of my speech beginning, everyone quietly looked at me.

No one seemed bored.

Rather, many wore slightly excited expressions.

“Lapdonia is currently in crisis. The filthy rats living underground are now daring to threaten our city.”

Having lived as a barbarian, I knew I had a talent for speeches.

Amelia said I was just naturally gifted.

“And! We were lucky to be living here!”

“Lucky...?”

“Of all the cities, why did ours get hit? That’s incredibly unlucky, isn’t it?”

My speech caused question marks to appear in the crowd’s eyes.

All reasonable doubts.

But that’s why...

‘Now.’

The moment the atmosphere warmed enough,

“No! We are all lucky! At least we got a chance! To save this city in crisis, and to make a ‘great achievement’ no one can challenge!”

I continued.

No need for long speeches here.

After all, they were all explorers.

No one knew better than me what they wanted.

“Also, I promise now.”

“When all this is over, I, Bjorn, Yandel’s son, will stand before the royal family and say!”

“I was not alone.”

“That saving this city was thanks to all your blood and sweat!!”

At that, I raised my clenched fist, and the awaited cheer erupted.

“Waaaaaah!!”

Was it because my fame grew?

Or was it that I got better at provoking such cheers?

Either way, it felt easier to get those roars day by day.

‘Anyway, with this performance, no one will doubt my sincerity later...’

Contrasting with my passionate speech, I coldly scanned the crowd, then raised my voice again.

“But!”

Thinking the speech was starting again, the explorers kept quiet and listened.

“The enemies are strong! The rats grew by stealing our stores, and driving them out will cost us blood as well!”

“No problem!!”

“I’ll kill them all!!”

Despite my warning, the explorers saw the crisis as opportunity.

Which isn’t a bad thing...

But it was time for the main topic.

“Clear throat! I recognize your courage and spirit. But! As a Lapdonian noble, warrior, explorer, and one who loves this city more than anyone else, I hope as little blood is spilled as possible. I want you to survive and return to your families.”

The speech was just groundwork for now.

“So, I, Bjorn, Yandel’s son, have made a decision.”

“...?”

“From now on, I will distribute essences to you!!”

There’s that famous saying about growing stronger the more you share.

This was exactly that case.

“...Huh?”

The explorers’ expressions twisted oddly at the offer of free essences.

Understandable.

They must have wondered why that barbarian was spouting such madness.

Even my comrades didn’t react much differently.

“If you’re giving out essences...”

“You mean the ones obtained from the first basement floor?”

“Why on earth would you give away such precious things...”

Only Amelia remained calm.

That’s because Amelia knew.

That this free distribution would ultimately bring me great benefit.

Of course, not simply because it would reduce loot going to the royal family, who are potential enemies.

Think about it.

‘If I just hand out essences recklessly here, how would we know how many essences remain?’

Simply put, by throwing away worthless essences to the explorers, I could secretly pocket the valuable ones later.

There’s no way for the royal family to find out we only distributed the cheap essences.

Saying this sounds a bit scummy, but...

‘Casualties during war are inevitable.’

How else would they investigate?

How would they know if the dead got the cheap essences or the expensive ones?

The justification is clean.

It was an investment to save the city.

‘Yeah, in war, things just disappear and get lost.’

The technical term is ‘shucking.’

Interestingly, the word’s origin is Japanese.

Anyway, that’s not important...

“Come on, everyone! Gather here! Don’t push! There’s still plenty of essence!”

I started the distribution in earnest.