"Leah-sama?"
Shaka held the towel blankly, unsure what had happened. Looking down, he saw Sanae Dekomori hugging his waist, fast asleep.
He had countless complaints but no idea how to voice them.
Astraea said softly: "This child never left your side while you were unconscious."
Shaka paused, then asked: "What happened? How long was I out? And the fairy Is she alright?"
As he spoke, a burning sensation flared up in his arm. Looking down, he saw his right arm covered in crimson flame-like tattoos that flowed slowly across his skin.
Did I awaken some kind of superhuman arm?
"What is this?"
Astraea smiled: "A strange plant had invaded your body. The fairy stabilized your wounds with her own blood first, then burned away the foreign matter with her flames.
"Though she was freed from the magic stone's control, her body was gravely injured. To thank you and save herself, she chose to merge with you, she now resides temporarily in your arm."
"...Well."
Shaka was stunned. So when I'm practicing my family's traditional crafts later...
Recalling her delicate, ethereal face, a strange excitement fluttered in his chest until his arm flickered faintly, as if expressing disgust.
"If you don't like it, you can leave..."
The red light flashed again: No.
Proud and aloof even now.
Shaka felt like a carefree life was slipping away. He looked up at Astraea and muttered: "If that's the case, what use is she? I can't expect her to cling to me just because I saved her.
"Everything else is fine, but having someone watching would be awkward, unless..."
He coughed violently as a small flame shot from his arm, singeing his cheek.
"She tried to kill me?!"
The flame trembled as if sticking out its tongue in defiance.
Astraea's lips twitched to hold back a laugh. She handed him a piece of parchment: "Take a look, your stats have changed."
Shaka set aside his "negotiations" with his new inhabitant and read the attributes:
Shaka Lv1
—Ability Values—
Strength: H177 → I90
Durability: H181 → H151
Dexterity: H173 → G259
Agility: G211 → G271
Magic: G237 → F387
—Magic—
[Gate Master]
—Skills—
Mysterious Longing
[Justice_Wing]
[Hero_rush]
[Fire Essence Blood Pact (Fairy_Contract)]
Shaka nodded in satisfaction: "Almost dying was worth it. Aside from strength and durability still recovering from depletion, everything else has improved.
"Especially durability, I remember reducing it nearly to zero to exchange for resources before, but now it's risen again."
He knew he'd been reckless, but with a Level 7 like Leon nearby and the [Flying Thunder God Blade] as a spatial tool, he'd felt confident he could take the risk. He'd anticipated injury, counting on Leon and panaceas to pull him through, never expecting to be ambushed by the plant.
"If only we had more time to plan, we could've come up with something perfect," he thought wryly. No pain No gain, huh?
Growth wasn't something that came from following set paths. To be strong enough for the world-destroying war four years from now, Shaka had to push himself to grow so how could he pass up such a valuable experience?
Though things had gone awry, the result was good. And he'd gained a new skill...
Fire Essence Blood Pact? What did she do?
Shaka read on:
[Fire Essence Blood Pact]
• Blessing of the Fire Fairy's essence.
• Increases elves' favorability toward you; can sense nearby fairies.
• Enhances fire magic effects and boosts fire resistance.
• Power increases slightly when ignited.
"Wow great ability! Combined with [Red Flower Bloom], my combat power will be even stronger."
"I've got four skills now! Great Achievement skills are really something. If I keep fighting higher-level foes, could I collect a hundred skills and take down the Black Dragon in one strike?"
He happily burned the parchment to destroy the evidence.
The fairy's gifts didn't end there. Shaka sensed the fairy's essence hidden in his arm; with a thought, flames erupted from his right hand, and a sword materialized its blade covered in fire rust like burnt coal.
"What is this?"
"It's her incarnation," Astraea's expression softened. "She's become a weapon, and as her contractor, you have the right to wield her. Though she's still badly injured, so the weapon can't unleash its full power yet."
Shaka nodded. With a mental command, the tattoos on his arm flowed toward the blade, igniting into a steady flame along its edge.
"For now, fire enchantment is all she can manage."
He held up the swaying flaming katana with delight: "Since we'll be fighting together, we need a name. How about Blazing Blade? Or Zanka no tachi?"
The flames flickered restlessly, she clearly wasn't impressed.
"You don't like those? I thought they suited you..."
Buzz, The sword vibrated in protest.
"Then how about Pinoch? Flame Pinoch!"
The flames subsided to a warm glow, settling back on the blade.
"Looks like you like that one," Shaka smiled.
The experiment complete, the katana dissolved into sparks and vanished, the crimson tattoos creeping back up his arm. Shaka wrapped his arm tightly in bandages and flexed his hand in satisfaction.
"Now it won't draw too much attention."
Seeing Shaka safe and sound, Astraea pulled him into a gentle hug.
"Leah-sama?" Shaka was startled.
The goddess thought of the children who'd returned to the heavens... But Shaka was different, a transmigrator. Would he be able to come to heaven realm one day?
"Don't be a hero anymore," she whispered, stroking his head. Her warm presence pressed against his cheek, and Shaka felt only peace wash over him.
Is this what being cared for feels like? Not bad.
His brows relaxed, and he leaned into her embrace. After a long moment, a muffled voice came from her chest:
"Okay."