Chapter 50: Knowledge is Power.
Chapter 50: Knowledge is Power.
~Mash B. POV~
*Kreee*
Opening the door to Roswaal's current residence after having him explain himself to everyone I wanted to be sure of something I had in my mind. Hopefully something that the clown would HAVE to listen to our orders now.
I walked through the cabin and made my way to his bedroom and with a flat expression I walked inside to see him silently staring out of the window as I gave him a command, "Get up and face me."
Roswaal hearing my words suddenly stood up and turned around showing the face of a broken man. And with his body being forced to face me, he just let out a bitter chuckle going straight to the point in a dead tone, "Hahaha… I guess you won. So what~ do you want from me…?"
Roswaal said this with the sunken and dull eyes of a defeated man, "What use~ will I have~ to you? I already can't harm the~ others no?"
Nodding understanding everyone got to see his promise- keeping his word I bluntly asked what I wanted to hear from him eyes widening at my knowledge, "The Book of Wisdom. Where is the true Book of Wisdom?"
Processing what I just said, his mouth began to quiver as he desperately tried to keep it closed. His eyes showed panic and anxiety as his lips slowly parted against his will.
Yet a few seconds of straining a glint showed in his eye probably a certain idea as he soon gave up resistance telling me about the location in a calm tone, "Sealed away in the mountains of Gusteko. But why~ do you want the book? If you know~ of its existence, then you should know that 'humans' can't read~ it."
Pausing at this he was right. But then that leads to my next question in a curious tone how to use it, "In that case how do I unseal the book and how can I use it? You would know how too since Echinda would probably say it for your curiosity's sake."
Maintaining his confident grin Roswaal caved explaining to me the criteria needed to use the book and unseal the seal to obtain it, "Simple~ you simply need the Witch Factor of Greed from my master herself. After all, my Master created it using her Authority and you would need her or Witch Factor of Greed to accomplish it~"
Hmm… I looked towards Roswaal tilting my head curiously asking my question in a curious tone, "You do realize you just called Echidna a monster… Right?"
With absolute conviction Roswaal rebutted my words not happy at my choice of words in clear disdain, "She's not a monster! She just has an innate~ genius that we as humans~ will never have or see~ again."
Probably true in more than one way. But I want to try how good these oaths are out of morbid curiosity, "She's dead Roswaal. She would've been a wonderful friend if it wasn't for the fact she became my enemy. Such a shame…"
However, not believing my words he said again in the same conviction as before in a proud tone, "She's not dead. My existence is proof of that."
I sighed revealing my Life Sword Zeam explaining to Roswaal how Echidna died by my hands in a saddened tone, "No she's certainly dead. I made sure to kill her in her new body with Zeam. Then I crushed that necklace of hers to kill the other Witches of Sin too gaining their Witch Factors. Went the extra length to destroy the body once I killed the soul. One can't be too careful after all. So yeah Roswaal…. She dead."
Staring at me in dead silence Roswaal had a mixture of shock, confusion, frustration, and ultimately sadness on his face. But he soon mellowed out to a despair so deep, he seemed calm losing any life in his tone, "I-I see… how…. Unfortunate…."
Oh, now I feel almost bad for him… almost considering his teacher tried to eat my memories so not that sorry. Time to test how absolute or obedient the oath between us is patting him on the shoulder, "Don't worry Roswaal, you'll forget about it in a second. Forget about Echidna dying."
When I finished saying my words, I watched a bit afraid of how effective the Oath was watching the dim in his eyes before suddenly regaining clarity. And with confusion, he looked around the room before looking back at me to the previous question, "Why do you need the book? You can't~ even read~ it anyway."
Whew… I'm so glad I didn't lose to this bet. With a confident smirk, I decided to answer his questions in a confident tone, "Who says that I can't?"
His eyes widened in the realization I wasn't buffing as his head was down, I commanded him what I needed from him in a calm tone, "Roswaal you're going to teach me all you can about the [Flow Method] teaching me what I could. So might as well get comfy because we have some time before returning to the Mansion."
After all, I have now had plenty of time to stay in this world. Roughly 1 year from now the events of Arc 5 will kick start the events to come. I'll plan my stay here for about say… 2 months to grind.
By then hopefully, I can travel outside this world fully prepared for what this world has in store for me. Now comes the important part learning all I can and training before then but till the promised time…
I have some things to collect. Powerful weapons and brushing up on my skills that need to be done. Time to grind. But before that… I placed my left hand over his face wanting to test out my [Gluttony] skill of 'sharing' a meal.
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*Shiii*
Opening up a portal after Roswaal had given me the location of where to find the Book of Wisdom all I had to was teleport in the barrier after he so graciously helped me teach me the [Flow Method].
Skill List.
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Description: The [Flow Method] skill is a method of handling mana within one's body and utilizing it to enhance their physical strength. Mana-based marital art techniques can be created and performed with mastery.
+Increases Physical/Magic Attacks by 75%
+Increases Physical/Magic Speed by 75%
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Now one must wonder how I managed to obtain such a high mastery of a passive skill like this correctly just a few moments ago discussing it with Roswaal.
Well… I would have to thank my Authority of Gluttony for that one. [Gluttony] for one allowed me to eat what I wanted from Roswaal but I found an interesting use for this skill… 'shared' eating.
Essentially, I took a nibble of his talent, memories, and experience of his skill [Flow Method] as my own. And made him simply 'forget' by using our Oath against him.
I have to say this is going to be a VERY handy skill. I mean it's essentially a skill that takes other skills so long as I eat them and if possible to recreate them. Honestly, that sounds terrifying.
I can see how the Sin Archbishops of Gluttony could use this often. It even left me craving for more, but I reframed thanks to that my [Indominable Spirit] skill kicked in dissuading any thoughts of continuing my hunger.
Really a dangerous skill. But regardless my attention was towards the magic barrier seal that Roswaal mentioned that he kept safe for his Master.
In the dimly lit cave was a room containing the book in question separating me was the barrier. It's identical to the same room that had Ryuzu original body inside the core of Mana Crystal.
*Pzzzz*
Merely walking toward the seal, I managed to bypass the barrier in place simply by walking through. Finally, I found my main target objective seeing Echidna's pride and joy in her creation… the Book of Wisdom crafted by the Witch of Greed colored in white just like her hair.
[Observe].
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Item: Book of Wisdom
Rarity Item: S
Type: Book of the Past/Present/Future
Description: The Book of Wisdom is a white book crafted by Echidna that allowed her to draw knowledge from the world's memory using the Authority of Greed Witch Factor. The book didn't just know the present and past, it also knew what would happen in the future, and drew its needed information from there.
The mind of an ordinary person attempting to read it would be fried by the sheer amount of knowledge flowing into the reader's mind unless they have the Witch of Greed's Factor.
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*Tap*
Grasping the Book of Wisdom I felt something foreign invade my head but then I received a notification stopping the sensation in my head instantly.
[Ding!]
[Book of Wisdom is overwhelming the user with knowledge of the world!]
[Due to containing the [Authority of Greed] you can perceive through the World's memories!]
Blinking in surprise I smirked soon opening the book and trying to ask where I could find the legendary swords in an excited tone, "Alright then Book of Wisdom… where exactly are the location and users of the Ten Enchanted Swords."
*Shiii*
The Book of Wisdom shined as runes shined brilliantly off the pages entering through my eyes realizing I could obtain them with a smirk spreading across my face, "Interesting, so the majority is all but collected except for the Shadow Sword. And it works oppositely from the Yang Sword huh?"
Reading the knowledge transferred into my head The Yang Sword, also known as the Yang Sword Vollachia, is a sword that appears out of thin air when the user wishes to use it and it cuts and burns whatever the user wishes in the atmosphere.
It is mentioned by Berstetz Fondalfon that only those who have the necessary qualities for the throne of Vollachia can wield the sword. The sword chooses its wielder and is normally sheathed in the atmosphere when not in use, as it requires a great amount of mana to wield.
The known worthy wielders of the sword are Priscilla Barielle, Vincent Vollachia, Drizen Vollachia, Lamia Godwin, Palladio Manesque, and Eugard Vollachia. It has been shown that several Yang Swords can be materialized at the same time.
But the Shadow Sword or by its other name The Yin Sword can be sheathed within the shadow of the world and unlike Yang can be soul-bound to the user who draws it. And to summon the Shadow Blade…
*Wooosh*
Using my [Unseen Hand] to phase through my body according to the Book of Wisdom I grinned as my hand pulled out the Shadow Sword behind my Gate with genuine surprise to draw this sword out, "I have to say to hide sheathed behind the shadow of the world. Or in other terms behind the Od that connects to Od Laguna."
Have to say those who created this sword were very picky in their sheaths. The Shadow Sword sheath is practically behind the shadow of our Od since it connects to Od Laguna similar to the Yang Sword sheath is in light while the Shadow Sword or Yin Sword is in the absence of light.
I'm surprised no one found this yet. But then again no one would look for a shadow nor draw from it unless they have potent Mana or an Authority like mine to forcibly draw it out from its hiding spot.
[Ding!]
[Would you like to soul-bound [Shadow Sword] to your Od? [Yes/No].]
[The [Shadow Sword] has been bounded to the host!]
Clicking on the yes icon I felt my Od waver lightly as the shadow sword in question merged within my shadows. Extending my hand out I called upon its power summoning it to my side in its form impressed, "Okay… summoning a legendary weapon like this will come in handy. Handy I say."
The Shadow Sword's appearance is the form of a katana with a black blade and a bandage-wrapped hilt. [Observe].
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Item: Shadow Sword (Soul bound)
Rarity Item: SS
Type: One of the Ten Enchanted Swords.
Description: The Shadow Sword known as the Yin Sword is a part of The Ten Enchanted Swords. This sword follows its user till death by soul binding to its host providing the powers of [Yin Magic] increasing its potency, attack speed, damage, and the ability to manipulate the shadows using its [Shadow Manipulation] skill.
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Oh yeah… this is what I'm talking about. Now all that's left is to prepare for the long journey ahead…
As the saying goes… Knowledge is power.