Chapter 2

Chapter 2. Brave new world.

Steal the loot!

From the precepts of the Hamster.

Damn, but there is no night vision! Okay, let's cover our eyes with Simba , there is nothing wrong with vision. I knew where the dark ones had settled - confident of their impunity, they did not even bother hiding their tracks, so go to my caves - the base was there. But I had to solve a couple more problems before getting into the bear's den. And the first, though not the most important, is the question with the name. I decided to act the same way as in the past world - to look for the answer in reflection. I don't remember what I came up with last time, but I seem to like it, so why reinvent the wheel? A puddle on the road served as a mirror. From the looking glass, a gloomy man, 19-20 years old, with silver hair and a look that promised very big trouble was looking at me. I was reminded of the cosplay of Sephiroth from ' Finals '. So, now I would take the first place there, and without straining. Hmm, and what - a good name, and he had an amusing character. Any objections? There are no objections (There are objections! But I was sent by the forest. Note of the owner of the section.), So now I will be Sephiroth , fortunately, there is a katana, albeit not of such monstrous dimensions.

With this question sorted out, now the task is more complicated - how to clean the bandits' den? Something I do not want to break in there with a sword bald. There were magicians among them, and I don't know what they can oppose to me, and I would rather not find out. So, first, let's examine the cave and the approaches to it.

Well, yes, they are not as idiots as we would like ... sorry. The place for the base was chosen very well. A cave in a small rock. There is a clearing in front of the entrance - you cannot sneak up unnoticed. Even the laziest sentry will notice the saboteur - made invisibility a pen along with the rest of the buns (oh, I feel I will remember my past opportunities with bitterness more than once, but alas - the day is clearly not a good one), except to go down straight from the cliff, but it's so easy to go there not to climb ... an ordinary person. But I have a chance. Okay, let's say I climbed in there and didn't even break my neck along the way. What's next? Then we carefully eliminate the sentry, climb into the cave, cut out the magicians and cut everyone else. Mages will still come in handy for me to explain some points, and promises should be kept ... And if there are more than one sentry? Or are some of the magicians awake? Hmm, why would I knock out the sentry when it can be taken under control? Yes, perhaps I will.

'The whole world in the palm of your hand! You are happy and dumb

And only a little envy of those

Others who have the top still ahead '(Vysotsky' Top '* author's note)

It was spinning in my head as I climbed this fucking rock, and even trying not to make noise. The blade in the scabbard behind my back did not interfere and did not cling to each ledge - at first I did not think to hang it there and climbed as it was - with a sword on my belt. That's what it means - I'm used to flying. Be that as it may, but I still got to the goal. Downstairs only one sentry was on watch. So, now I need all the computing power. Combat mode.

The goal is to eliminate the enemy. Restrictions - no. An additional goal is the collection of information from biological media. Proceed? Attention, unknown radiation detected. What's that for? Okay, then I'll figure it out. Proceed to execution.

A blade sank into the unsuspecting sentry's skull. The brain died instantly, but the attacker did not need the victim's brain. The black substance ran down the blade, filling the wound. The man jerked several times, and then walked with a wooden gait into the cave. There was another sentry inside, somewhat surprised at the arrival of his colleague from the street, but he did not have time to express his surprise aloud - the former comrade, with the same calmly indifferent face, stuck his knife into his neck, not forgetting to support the falling body, so as not to emit too much noise. And then there was a monotonous job - to go up to the sleeping man and stick a blade under his jaw, clamping his mouth just in case. After a couple of minutes, the gang of fifteen people ceased to exist. There were still three magicians, but they spent the night separately. The task was completed, albeit in part, the need for the current performer was no longer required. The bandit with a punctured head lay on the stones and stopped moving. A symbiont flowed out of the wound and slowly crawled towards the magicians. A few minutes later he was at the sleeping quarters. Having divided into three parts, it penetrated into human organisms. Mission accomplished.

That's it. I came to myself at the entrance to the cave. Oh, brains are boiling. Even though I remembered how to control Simba's cells , it turned out to be much more difficult in practice than in flashbacks. Features of the world, or just not yet mastered? Okay, this is later. But what kind of information about the unknown radiation? Obviously not radiation - I would have identified it. After the combat mode, my brain worked with a creak, but, at the same time, a veil seemed to fall from my eyes. That desire for vigorous activity and the feeling of energy was not mine, or rather mine, but inspired from the outside. Well at least the guy's body had a large supply of adrenaline - he experienced a lot that day, a lot. But if this had not happened, he could have fallen into a coma from exhaustion or something worse. It's getting weirder and weirder , as one girl in the rabbit hole used to say. On the other hand, this could explain some of the plot twists of the anime (more precisely, the bruising of all local magicians on the head), if you are constantly exposed to this, then you will start thinking and acting ... outside the box. But again, there is too little data, maybe it only covered me that way. Yes, and it seemed to gradually began to move away. Little data. It is worth asking my new acquaintances. Although, why ask them. I'll just gut everything they know in the most painful way, you still have to keep your word. Sighing heavily, I went to the cave - there was a lot of work to do, and not so much time.

It took three days to obtain information in a barbaric way through a forced merger. And after about ten hours they had to interrupt and drag the bodies of the 'dark' away from the cave - the guys began to smell, however, in such heat it is not surprising. In the cave, of course, it was cooler, but still not a freezer. Hmmm, the 'magicians' in the 'Blades of Darkness' turned out to be nothing ( noticed a strange tendency - the more pretentious and louder the name of the guild, the weaker the fighters there. No, there are, of course, exceptions, but rare. So there are raid bosses, if some 'World Eaters' would come to me, I would just laugh and send idiots to the next world, but any at first glance ridiculous, such as 'Blue Pegasus' or 'Fairy Tails' will definitely make me break out in a cold sweat), D - rank , by local standards. And if we speak in plain language, they have just begun to differ from ordinary fakirs. One knew how to 'control the earth' - in fact, it looked like throwing stones.

He could not lift especially large stones , nor give the shells a normal acceleration. In fact, an average teenager with a sling could do more deeds than this 'magician'. His companions were about the same level. One could cause fear a little, and the last one could weaken opponents, but only close and, again, very slightly. Further worse - they did not know any spells or rituals. They conjured 'on a whim'. Only then it is not clear how the so-called 'rune circle' was formed? They themselves did not compose it and did not calculate it. He just was, and for some reason no one wondered, but actually, where did it come from? Another interesting detail was learned from the important - most local magicians used one or two schools. And if you look at the combat aspect, they preferred close combat or medium distances, as a maximum. They could only fuck with something a hundred or two meters away using 'eerie ancient artifacts and knowledge', in any case, my captives thought so, and the anime indirectly confirmed this. This was the end of the usefulness of my captives. In any case, magically. Nothing particularly interesting in terms of social status. They had several points with merchants who were not very interested in the origin of the goods, information about the gang 's common fund . Yes, probably all. With documents in this world, too, everything was extremely simple - if you are a magician, deign to register through the guild or magistrate. If a simple person - live as you want and be called as it comes to mind. If you violate the outrage, they will call you dark and announce a reward, however, if the outrage is small, then you can simply pay a fine or work out, compensating the city for losses. Only murderers, rapists, sadists are not forgiven here, and recidivist thieves are outside the law. Here is such an interesting world. A bit weird (okay, very weird), but so addictive.

It's all about information. Now let's move on to the fact that always warms the soul of a true role player and tirelessly supports the fighting spirit of his inner Beast - the Hamster, the Great and Terrible. I mean, to collect trophies. I did not take the bandyugan's weapons - its quality, to put it mildly, left much to be desired, however, what else can you expect from such rabble? The only thing - I took one more or less decent-looking knife, well, I can't cut the sausage with a katana, really? Finances were better. The gang managed to save (but not squander, for which I am sincerely grateful) about 100 thousand precious. The amount sounds impressive, and for a simple peasant it is really great, but by the standards of magicians it is not even funny. As I found out, the most primitive artifact cost 2-3 thousand, and something a little more complicated - already tens. Imagining how much Elsa had to pay for her entire arsenal, I fell into a slight shock. My Hamster - too (although there is more of a sacred thrill). The only consolation was that I would get another 150 for the heads of these 'magicians'. There was already blood behind them, but still it was not enough for a separate order to be issued for the 'Blades of Darkness' - so, they printed leaflets with the leaders and calmed down.

Well, the most important thing in all the trophies was a book describing the ritual for determining magic. Anyone with at least D rank can conduct it. You can also go through the procedure in almost any city by paying in a magistracy purely symbolic - 500 precious ones (one lunch in a cafe, albeit very modest). In theory, the results of such a test will only be recognized by the pod ... uh , in the sense that it goes through the ritual, but I am tormented by vague doubts. No, if there is a predisposition to Cold, Water, Creation, then it's okay. But now I will not believe that a potential magician of Darkness or Blood will not be taken on a pencil by local 'organs', and this is at least. After Zeref , the word 'dark' evokes fear, hatred and other joyful feelings. And with my luck and past way of life, I will be surprised for a long time if such a test does not show Darkness (I really didn't want to think that the test could show a complete lack of ability). Hmm, I still have three D rank mages, albeit not in the best condition. I hope for a not very difficult ritual they will be enough.

Let the ritual be simple, but I did not succeed in drawing the diagram correctly on the first attempt, and not even on the fifth. But now everything is ready ... it seems. For the sake of verification, I sent the comrade who owns the land first. 'Horror' performed the ceremony. Well, yes, that's right, the results were not long in coming - predisposition - Earth.

Holding my breath, I entered the circle of dozens of school names. Well, let's start. The ritual with my participation took an unexpectedly long time. I was already beginning to fear that nothing had worked out and in magic I was a complete zero, when in the Circle the names of schools to which there was a tendency flashed for me. Yes, precisely schools, and such that just right to declare themselves the second Zeref . Darkness and Absorption (and it's not a fact that this all-given ritual determined only the schools that exist at the present moment, in what relationship I am with the Ancients - no idea). Your maaat ... Okay, tendencies, these are not the Schools themselves. Even one is very difficult to master, and only Absorption ... If sclerosis does not change me, with the proper skill, memory and will, the magician can absorb the school of his opponent, thereby opening up new opportunities in himself, I'm not talking about an increase in magical power for mana ' grab ' account .

But there are very good chances both to go with a roof, and in general to stop being a man, Elfman almost killed both of his sisters, and how he returned to consciousness in general is not clear, and it will be very difficult to master the Schools thus obtained. But this is my only chance. It is unrealistic to master magic from books. To improve knowledge - yes, but not to learn the basics, in any case, not for the first School in life. A teacher is needed, moreover, highly desirable, with the necessary magic. So to look for a magician of Darkness ... of all I remember only Aida, but I definitely won't go to him - for ideological reasons, so to speak. So it turns out that you need to learn Absorption, and then everything else. One thing pleases. I can absorb not only magic, but also knowledge, thanks to Simba , otherwise it would be completely sad. There remains a mere trifle - to find at least some teacher, and to earn money on bread and butter (and a layer of caviar, preferably triple). But sitting in such a cozy cave will definitely not achieve this, and therefore go ahead. Hold on, world, I'm on my way!