Author's Note: I haven't abandoned this fanfic, but I've had some difficulties (no health issues, but my computer broke down).
I'm even struggling to post chapters of my DxD story regularly (my priority)... so, rip.
But I'm going to start publishing again a bit this week.
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The mention of a Demon General's name surprised Wiz, but she quickly regained her composure.
She displayed a face torn between hesitation and inner conflict, before finally expressing her opinion regarding the service I had just asked of her.
"S-sorry, but I don't know where Sylvia is currently located... I have access to limited information, because of my... somewhat complicated relationships with my former colleagues," she explained in a troubled voice, before bowing slightly.
She seemed genuinely sorry about her inability to help me, but that didn't change my situation.
I need Sylvia's power.
Otherwise, how could I become stronger at an insane speed?
"No big deal... but can you at least try to contact her? You must have a 'friend' among your former colleagues, right?" I asked in a slightly pressing voice.
I had to get to that damn island within a week, so I could wait for Wiz to contact Sylvia.
"Hm... if I contact Vanir... then... maybe I could reach Sylvia."
After placing her finger on her chin, Wiz finally gave a satisfactory answer, after thinking a bit longer.
I nodded without hiding my satisfaction upon hearing her words.
"Hey! What are you guys talking about?"
"I admit that... I'm a bit lost, like Megumin."
It's true that the identity of the Demon Generals isn't always known by the population in the Konosuba universe.
This element is demonstrated several times in the story: for example, Hans and Wolbach were able to infiltrate a city under Aqua's cult control, and even take a bath without arousing suspicion.
The same thing applies to Wiz and Serena.
Thus, a case like Beldia, whose identity was revealed publicly, remains somewhat rare among their ranks.
"Sorry girls, but... it's a bit complex to explain now and..." I glanced toward Wiz.
I wanted to know if mentioning her former membership in the Demon King's army would be awkward to reveal in front of Megumin and YunYun.
"No..." Wiz replied silently, in a way that I could read her lips.
As expected, she didn't want her past to spread beyond Aqua, Kazuma, and me.
"And Wiz doesn't really seem to appreciate me talking about her youthful mistakes."
After my words, Wiz suddenly seemed dejected, for no apparent reason... at least at first.
It didn't take me long to understand my error.
A woman's age is a delicate subject in the Konosuba universe, never to be approached lightly.
Another taboo subject is that of a woman's purity once she's past twenty.
Unconsciously, I had touched on the first point by talking about "her youthful mistakes."
"Sigh... I'll let it slide... but only this time, Renji."
"B-but Megumin! This woman has been clearly identified as undead, and she seems to have questionable knowledge!"
YunYun tried to make her point, but honestly, who was going to listen to her here?
I simply ignored her, and Megumin did the same.
Our behavior was effective, as I could see from the corner of my eye that YunYun was becoming distraught at our indifference.
"Apart from Sylvia's case, I'd also like to learn some magic and certain skills you possess."
Wiz might be shy, but she's nonetheless a seasoned adventurer... and especially a powerful Lich.
An undead king (Lich) masters a wide variety of versatile abilities, but it's especially their colossal power that makes them formidable and valuable.
"Aren't you a wizard? No... you have the characteristics of a Crimson Demon clan member, so you should be an archwizard, right?" asked Wiz, slightly intrigued.
I immediately refuted Wiz's assumption.
Technically, she wasn't wrong to have this idea in mind. Crimson Demons all possess a class related to magic, and it's logical to associate them with archwizards.
In this universe, magic classes can learn spells and skills through a sort of "shop-system" accessible through the guild card.
Thus, unless you want to study magic in detail to improve it beyond the limitations imposed by the system — like Megumin did with her unique Explosion spell — it's considered illogical for a mage to "study" magic.
Generally, you simply need to obtain a spell through the system shop in the guild card, then use it for its intended purpose.
"My class is adventurer. So... I need help from other classes to learn certain skills and magic."
Information that wasn't really a secret in this universe.
Wiz seemed slightly surprised by this revelation, before nodding with understanding.
"Alright. I'll tell you about my skills and my magic. You can choose which ones you want to learn."
Fortunately, Wiz didn't show herself too sensitive to the idea of revealing her personal information.
An act of naivety? Perhaps.
But I prefer to believe it was a sign of trust, both in her own strength and in me.
After all, as a high-level adventurer, her skills could anyway be known by the adventurers' guild, or other colleagues working in this dangerous field.
It's therefore normal to expect to face, sooner or later, enemies having global knowledge of your strength, especially when too great a reputation ends up preceding your steps.
Thus, Wiz showed her trust in me by openly displaying her personal information, right here, without the slightest hesitation.
"I'm going to learn [Teleport], [Cursed Necromancy], [Drain Touch], [Hand of the Immortal King] and [Cursed Lightning]," I declared, after a brief moment of hesitation, while going through Wiz's skill list.
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Name: Renji Takamura
Age: 21 years old
Lvl: 26
Strength: 26
Agility: 39
Intelligence: 40
Luck: 50
Magic Power: 70
Vitality: 40
Skill Points: 48 → 3
Basic Magic:
• Tinder: Lvl 4
• Freezer: Lvl 4
• Create Water: Lvl 5
• Wind Breath: Lvl 1
• Create Earth: Lvl 1
Intermediate Magic:
• Lightning: Lvl 3
Advanced Magic:
• Cursed Lightning: Lvl 1
Magic Buff:
• Blessing: Lvl 2
• Powered: Lvl 3
• Haste: Lvl 4
• Protection: Lvl 1
• Resistance: Lvl 2
Auxiliary Magic:
• Teleportation: Lvl 1
• Cursed Necromancy: Lvl 1
• Dimensional Travel: Lvl 1
Skills:
• Archery: Lvl 5
• Drain Touch: Lvl 1
• Hand of the Immortal King: Lvl 1
Items: [Magical Thought-Revealing Hat], [Explosive Potion x17], [Lightning Strike Orb], [Stat Enhancement Potion x5], [Wiz's Rosary] and [Insect Choleran]
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"I've used up almost all my skill points..."
I let out my honest thought, without hiding my frustration, as it would be difficult for me to accumulate such a quantity of points again without taking new risks.
It seemed I would have to hunt solo from time to time.
"H-how many points did you have? No... what's your current level?!"
Megumin and YunYun looked at me like an alien after seeing Wiz display a long series of skills that I had immediately learned.
"Did you forget? I'm level 26, and I had 48 skill points..."
I hadn't even finished my sentence when the three women displayed a shocked expression on their faces.
Is it weird to have accumulated so many points?
"Tell me Renji... did you start your adventure with a lot of skill points?"
At Wiz's question, I nodded.
It's completely normal to start with several skill points in Konosuba, as geniuses and ordinary people don't start from the same starting line in life.
Am I a genius? In this universe, yes... but technically, I cheated.
So I'm not a real genius.
"Yeah, I actually received starting points from level 1, and I'm used to saving them up."
At my words, the people around me began mumbling interesting information that I had ignored until then.
It seems it's not normal to get three skill points with each level up, as Megumin had implied that ordinary people only receive one.
However, they didn't notice the anomaly in me and simply assumed I had saved up my points too much.
This situation made me realize that Aqua's website hadn't just given me new youth, but had offered me... something more, beyond my dimensional travel skill.