Chapter 68

Before the excitement of obtaining the 9th Tier had even faded,

the Permanent Frost displayed its presence by popping up a notification window.

[9th Tier Skill Card - ‘Permanent Frost’]

[Acquisition Limit: Possession of Ice Mastery, Magic Power Status 100 or above]

"Hmm? As expected, there are a lot of conditions for a 9th Tier skill."

The mastery condition was fine thanks to the Elemental Mastery, but the stats were somewhat lacking.

"I guess I need to invest in my magic power."

Since entering the Elf Forest, other players of the same level had leveled up to an extent that was hard to imagine, leaving him with plenty of stat points to spare.

However, just as Carpe was about to invest in the stats, another notification window appeared.

[You have met the acquisition conditions. Would you like to acquire the skill?]

"Huh? Met the conditions?"

-Usually, when such stats are the acquisition conditions, it includes the stats boosted by titles or items, not just the pure stats.

"Really? That's a good setting for exploiting loopholes."

Could I borrow an item that boosts stats from acquaintances or guild members to meet the conditions?

-Actually, many players do that. However, if your stats drop below the acquisition conditions after acquiring the skill, the skill's power will drastically decrease. In severe cases, the skill might not even activate.

"Hmm. Still, it's nice that they've blocked some of the loopholes. Not that it matters much to me."

After all, most of his stat boosts were due to the title 'Three Firsts (+33 to all stats).'

Unless there was a bug that suddenly deleted the title, his magic power stat would never drop below 100.

[Would you like to acquire the 9th Tier skill - ‘Permanent Frost’? Acquiring the skill will reduce your skill points by 2.]

"Huh? 2 points?"

What is this?

Until now, he had only needed 1 point to learn any skill, so why suddenly 2?

-Oh, 9th Tier skills are treated specially and require double the points.

I didn't mention it earlier because I thought you'd get a 9th Tier skill later.

"Really? That's a bit much. When I learned the puppetry skill, it only cost 1 point."

-That's because it's a job-specific skill that only you can learn. Normally, 9th Tier skills that all players can learn require double the points.

This applied not only when acquiring the skill but also when leveling it up.

"Seriously, what kind of ridiculous system is this?!"

While it was a system that Carpe, and indeed all players who had 9th Tier skills, complained about, it was necessary for power balance.

8th Tier and 9th Tier.

There was only one tier difference, but the power was far from just one tier apart.

-Think back to the fight with Sebingje. The difference between 8th and 9th Tier. Did it look like just one tier difference?

"…No, it didn't."

The 8th Tier skill Blizzard Nova, which summoned a snowstorm, was powerful, but it couldn't compare to the overwhelming might of Permanent Frost.

A wave of ice that froze everything.

It was truly a skill of a different class.

The Demon King wasn't wrong to call 9th Tier skills 'special treatment.'

"Ugh… I understand that 9th Tier skills are special, but it still feels unfair."

-You're complaining even though you have overflowing points. You're not going to skip learning it, are you?

"Of course not."

He just complained reflexively when he heard about the double points.

After all, it wasn't a penalty that only applied to him; it was a system that applied to all players with 9th Tier skills.

[You have acquired the 9th Tier skill - ‘Permanent Frost’.]

Finally!

This was the moment he acquired his second 9th Tier skill after the Dretschryu Puppetry.

"Skills at the 9th Tier should be mastered without hesitation."

-Of course. You'll use Permanent Frost until the end of the game. Don't worry about the points, and feel free to double down.

Carpe immediately began investing skill points into Permanent Frost.

He then distributed the remaining points to where they were needed.

"Done!"

His status window now looked like this:

Ding.

[Name: Carpe]

[Level: 37]

[HP: 2130/2130]

[MP: 990/990]

[Strength: 32 (+60) Agility: 52 (+50)

Vitality: 21 (+58) Dexterity: 21 (+53)

Magic Power: 71 (+79)]

-Available Bonus Stats: 37

[Titles (15)] (Details)

-13 others besides 'Three Firsts'

-Blessing of the World Tree (New!)

-Murderer of the Four Seas (New!)

[Background Command]

0th Tier - Demon King Supreme (Irregular)

[Skills]

10th Tier - Unlock (解禁) Lv. 37

9th Tier - Dretschryu Puppetry Lv. 10 (M)

9th Tier - Permanent Frost Lv. 10 (M) (New!)

8th Tier - Magic Engineering (魔道工學) Lv. 10 (M)

7th Tier - Elemental Mastery Lv. 10 (M)

5th Tier - Castling Lv. 1 (New!)

4th Tier - Wind Cutter Lv. 10 (M) (1 Enhancement)

4th Tier - Haste Lv. 10 (M)

3rd Tier - Elemental Arrow Lv. 10 (M)

3rd Tier - Striking Lv. 10 (M)

[Background Command Skills]

0th Tier - Repetition Lv. 37

-Available Bonus Skill Points: 24

"Phew. Just looking at it makes me feel full."

-You're not just full; you should be bursting. How can you still have points left after investing so much?

Carpe looked at his status window with a satisfied expression.

Since he was a magic fist fighter (魔拳士) who moved between close and long range, rather than a pure firepower cannon-type mage, he prioritized magic power and then distributed the other stats evenly.

-As I said before, if you make a mistake with your stats, you can cover it with other items, so you don't need to overthink it.

Of course, the locations of the excellent items that could cover such mistakes were all in the Demon King's head.

-So, please don't try to be an all-vitality mage. Just don't.

"I won't, don't worry. I don't need to be told that."

In fact, he had considered it, but the inconvenience would be too great compared to the fun of obtaining it, so he gave up on the idea.

"I should master all the skills I can from now on."

Watching Mirage's battle as the Magic King, he realized something.

Even minor skills could be used effectively.

A 3rd Tier skill used at the right time and place could be more effective than a 5th Tier skill.

-Low-tier skills, when mastered, can deal surprisingly good damage. While other players can only dream of it, you might actually be able to master all your skills.

"The triple skill points are really a game-changer."

Except for Castling, which only increased in range as he leveled up, he had managed to master all his skills to the maximum level and still had over 20 skill points left.

He planned to keep these 20 points.

"Who knows when another 9th Tier skill might drop? People always carry some cash in case of emergencies, right? It's the same thing."

Opportunities usually come to those who are prepared.

"Think about it the other way around. Would you want to give a 9th Tier skill to someone who doesn't even have 20 points? They'd probably run away as soon as they got it."

-...I'd run away too. Did you catch some disease that makes you complain once a day?

The Demon King muttered in a tired voice, but unfortunately, it had no effect on Carpe.

"Oh, by the way, I still have one beginner skill pack left. Should I use it now?"

He had reached level 35 by completing various quests in the village, and the beginner skill pack he received at that time was still in his inventory.

"Let's test my luck one last time..."

But Carpe's intention was not to be realized.

"Your Majesty! Magic King! Are you safe?!"

A group of elves led by the defense captain Croze appeared.

They had discovered the traces of the intense battle around the World Tree and rushed to Altear in shock.

"Wh-What is this?"

"Croze, calm down. What about the monsters?"

"Yes, Your Majesty! They have all retreated."

The monster army, which had been charging madly at the fortifications, suddenly started to flee in confusion.

"I assumed the mind control had been lifted. That's why I left the minimum number of people at the fortifications and came here..."

The area was already a mess, and the implications were clear.

"The fragment of Sebingje must have hidden here. Did it escape?"

"No. It did not flee as expected."

"…What?"

Then, could it still be lurking around here?!

Just as Croze was about to be on guard, Altear continued.

"I defeated it."

"…What?"

"Exactly as you heard. With the help of my descendants, I managed to defeat it."

"Wh-What?"

"The fragment of Sebingje?"

At first, the elves couldn't accept Altear's words.

'Sebingje' was such a nightmare for the elves.

But as Altear smiled brightly and continued,

"Freedom from Sebingje! Cyas! Prepare the festival!"

"Yay-!"

"Long live the Queen!"

"Long live the Magic King!"

The elves, finally realizing the reality, began to cheer.

Peace finally returned to the Elf Forest.

* * *

After that, everything went smoothly.

While the other elves prepared for the festival, Carpe enthusiastically hunted the monsters in the forest.

"What's the point of resting? Leveling up is the true treasure."

-That's a great attitude.

Carpe began to thoroughly eliminate the monsters whose mind control had been lifted.

As countless war histories have proven, there is no easier enemy to deal with than a routed army.

"Permanent Frost!"

Crack!

Carpe gathered the forest monsters and then detonated Permanent Frost in the center.

"Kroooa-?!"

"Kaaaah!!"

The routed monster army was swept away by the wave of ice, turning into ice statues.

Crack!

Soon, the ice statues shattered under the powerful dot damage.

"…This is it. This is what RPGs are all about!"

Carpe trembled with excitement at the impact of the area-of-effect spell.

Yes, the true joy of being a mage is the satisfaction of wiping out a group of enemies in one go!

He regretted not realizing this sooner, feeling like he had lost half his life.

"I've been relying too much on physical attacks. I'll reflect on that. A mage should act like a mage."

-...Where did the guy who said close combat was better because of the feel go?

"9th Tier area-of-effect skills can change your preferences."

The cooldown was too long to use it frequently, but it was that much more thrilling.

"I won't miss a single one."

Carpe scoured the forest, eliminating the remaining monsters, and the other elves, watching this, were deeply moved by his efforts on their behalf, significantly increasing their affection for him.

He then went to the sap worm's cave and hunted all the remaining worms, even collecting the meager experience points.

[Level Up! You have been granted bonus points.]

He finally managed to level up again, reaching level 38.

That said, Carpe didn't just hunt; he also enjoyed the elves' festival.

"Wow, this is really delicious. What is it made of?"

"It's a pie made from apples that the elves have cultivated. I'm glad you like it. I'll give you a few more."

[You have obtained 10 Elf-made Apple Pies.]

[Consuming one will immediately restore 10% of your HP and increase your Dexterity by 3 for 30 minutes.]

"Ooh? I don't usually like alcohol, but this goes down smoothly."

"Haha. It's a fruit wine made by distilling the dew and apples from the World Tree. I'll give you a few bottles."

[You have obtained 10 bottles of Elf Dew Wine.]

[Consuming one will immediately restore 5% of your MP and increase your Magic Power by 5 for 30 minutes.]

Small rewards were a bonus!

"This… this is what a game is all about!"

A private hunting ground that guaranteed rapid leveling and the steady stream of rewards.

He wanted to stay here for a long time, but he couldn't.

"Carpe, do you have a moment?"

It was time to leave the Elf Forest.

Altear, or rather Mirage, led Carpe's party to a place.

A massive chamber inside the World Tree.

The real Altear's resting place.

The 10th Tier player who had become stronger through the lottery.