As Kael regained his composure, something odd caught his attention.
It wasn't the fact that Lucien had an Item Box. What unsettled him was what he saw.
His gaze drifted back to the severed head.
"…Wait a moment," Kael muttered with his eyes narrowing. "Young master… you stored this in your Item Box right?"
Lucien nodded slowly. "Yeah. Why?"
Kael's brow furrowed deeper as he crouched to examine the head.
"But… how can it still look this fresh? It's warm. And there's still blood... Fresh blood!"
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "What's the problem?"
Kael straightened, clearly baffled.
"The Item Box is a spatial container but time still flows inside it. Organic things decay. And liquid seeps out and mixes with other items. But this… this head looks like it was just severed. Still full of warmth and blood…"
His voice rose with excitement and his eyes lit up like he had discovered a divine secret.
"Could there be a secret in Item Box? If I could learn this then... hehehe... I could sell fresh meat and goods across kingdoms! I'd be rich!"
Lucien stared blankly at him.
He's off-track again…
"…Ahem. It's nothing special," Lucien said, clearing his throat. "It's not the skill, it's the person. I'm just... built different."
Kael's dreams of becoming a merchant king crumbled on the spot.
His shoulders slumped in despair. But then he caught himself talking too much again.
"Ahem. My apologies, young master. I got carried away. I'll take care of the Coalhearts' delivery. I'll be happy to do so after what they've done to me haha."
He paused, then added,
"Actually, I'll be heading out to other border territories soon to sell goods. They rely on me for supplies too. Would you like me to pick anything up for you while I'm out?"
Lucien paused for a moment, considering his next move. Then he gave a small nod and reached into his drawer. Lucien reached for a leather sack and began scooping handfuls of gold coins into it from his INVENTORY.
"Great, great! Take this," he said, handing Kael a hefty sack of gold coins. It contained around a thousand gold coins, all that dropped from the fallen Coalheart forces. "Buy me as many Spatial Bags as this can get."
Kael couldn't believe how rich Lucien was.
'Weren't they struggling just a while ago?'
He glanced at the sack. It was packed with gold and heavy. So heavy, in fact, that it startled him.
As a matter of fact, using an Item Box didn't make items weightless. Its capacity still relied on the user's mana reserve.
Fortunately, Kael was born with a naturally large mana pool.
Carrying more than his mana could support would force the items' weight back onto his body.
If he miscalculated, he wouldn't just stumble... he might be crushed to death!
Kael blinked, then tilted his head curiously. "May I ask what you're planning to use them for, young master?"
Lucien leaned back slightly. "My Item Box has limited space. I figured I could expand its capacity by storing Spatial Bags inside it... Like nesting containers."
At that, Kael's eyes widened in alarm. He hesitated.
"Umm… young master… space-attributed items like Spatial Bags can't be stored inside another Item Box. That's been tested before. They reject each other. It simply doesn't work."
Lucien raised an eyebrow. He hadn't heard of that restriction before.
But then again, his inventory wasn't a regular Item Box. The system's Inventory function was a different beast altogether.
"It's fine," he said calmly. "Even if that's true, I have a different way to make use of them. Just bring as many as you can. It'll help either way."
Kael nodded. "Understood. I should be able to return in a week or two. I hate to be away for so long but the other territories rely on me as well."
He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess I'll have to start learning higher-level Space Magic if I want to cut travel time."
Lucien chuckled. "Hah. I know you'll figure it out."
With that, their business was concluded, and Kael turned to leave.
Lucien was alone again in the quiet room.
The door clicked shut behind Kael, leaving only the soft rustle of the curtains and the faint chirping of birds outside.
He exhaled slowly and leaned back.
Now that his body was no longer trembling and the pain had dulled to a manageable throb, his curiosity returned in full force.
It was time to check the results of that hellish battle.
He raised his hand and muttered,
"STATUS."
***
Name: Lucien Lootwell ♂
Age: 12 years old
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Job: Drop Out
Level: 19
Title/s:
• Young Lord of Lootwell
• Menace to Society
• Side Hustle Hero
• Underdog Champion (NEW!)
Skill:
• Drop Rate: MAX
• Auto-Collect
• Slime Beast Mode (NEW!)
• BURROWER'S Eye
• Scan
• SLASH
• Deception
Charisma: 50
***
Lucien nodded to himself as he browsed through the system interface.
He had gained several levels. After all, most of his enemies had been far stronger than him. The system rewarded that kind of madness.
One particular notification caught his attention. A new title unlocked through an achievement.
You weren't supposed to win… but you did!
Description: Increases overall strength by 10% of original for every enemy beyond the first. Max stacks: 10.
Lucien's eyes gleamed.
"A power boost based on how outnumbered I am…?"
If used right, it could double his strength in chaotic fights. A perfect skill for a lone fighter taking on groups.
It made all the effort, pain and risk feel worthwhile.
"And the drops... oh, the drops!"
They made him feel even better.
***
Assets:
• 1000 mana core (Lowest Grade)
• 500 gold coins (1 gold coin = 10 silver coins/100 copper coins)
• 1 silver coin (1 silver coin = 10 copper coins)
• 8 copper coin
Inventory Slots (35):
• Memory Core (NEW!)
• Manual of Flowing Fist (NEW!)
• Flame Heart Crystal (NEW!)
• Fireball Talisman (NEW!)
• Iron Will Necklace (NEW!)
...
***
Among the loot, one item in particular caught Lucien's eye. A skill card dropped by the second son of Coalheart.
It was decent and many would kill to obtain it. But Lucien passed it over.
'I already have Scan,' he thought. 'And it's a higher rarity.'
He decided to keep the card for now. Maybe he could find a unique use for it later.
Unfortunately, none of the others had dropped skill cards. Not even the burly man whose Strength Boost had impressed Lucien.
He had been hoping for that one.
Still, three items stood out above the rest.
Type: Consumable
Rarity: Epic
Description: Contains fragments of the foe's memory.
Type: Instructional Manual
Rarity: Rare
Description: A preserved martial arts manual filled with detailed illustrations and combat teachings.
Type: Consumable
Rarity: Rare
Description: A crystallized core that holds the essence of fire magic. (Crush to use.)
The Memory Core would be invaluable. If it contained even fragments of the Coalhearts' knowledge...
Layouts.
Secrets.
Plans.
It could become a powerful asset.
The Manual of Flowing Fist, on the other hand, sparked a different vision.
Soldiers!
Not just any soldiers. His soldiers. He imagined an undead army trained in disciplined martial arts, marching under the banner of Lootwell.
Lucien's lips curled.
A bubbling, gleeful sound escaped him.
"Kukukuk…"
He couldn't help it. Just imagining the future of his territory made him giddy. A land feared, respected and ruled by him.
But even with all these treasures, one item tugged at his curiosity the most.
Flame Heart Crystal.
He reached into his inventory and summoned it.
A brilliant red crystal shimmered into existence in his hand. It was heart-shaped, smooth yet pulsing faintly with energy.
It felt like it had a rhythm... like it breathed.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
The kind of thing one couldn't ignore.
After a brief pause to steady his breath, Lucien made up his mind.
He clenched the Fire Elemental Heart in his hand... and crushed it.
The crystal cracked with a sharp snap, releasing a surge of warmth and a flash of red light. From the shattered pieces, a glowing crimson fluid spilled out.
It was thick and radiant like molten fire.
It didn't fall to the ground.
Instead, it began to swirl around his fingers, coiling like smoke, slithering up his arms in a spiral of living flame.
Lucien's eyes widened. "W-What the—?!"
He instinctively tried to shake it off but the fluid clung stubbornly to him, pulsing with life.
It slithered up his shoulders then his neck and finally...
Zing!
It pierced into his forehead, sinking into his skin like liquid fire.
Lucien froze.
Then came a wave of clarity. A cool, refreshing sensation spread through his mind like a breath of fresh air after drowning.
And then…
[Ting!]
[You have gained an affinity in Fire Magic.]
[CONDITIONS MET]
[ ... ]
[MAGIC BOOK is now unlocked.]
[Launching system interface...]
< STATUS >
< INVENTORY >
< SKILLPEDIA >
< MAGIC BOOK > (NEW!)
< ??? > (Conditions not met)
< ??? > (Conditions not met)
Lucien's jaw dropped.
"Oh crap," he muttered, blinking in disbelief. "…Here it is."