Chapter 36: The Aura of Beasts

Chapter 36

The Aura of Beasts

To further her understanding, Ellie touched several other devices and found that they didn’t provide any significant information. Thus, she began looking for other items that might be useful for cultivation. Unfortunately, even this high-level treasure vault didn’t have many items harnessing the power of botany. So, Ellie instead focused on other types of weapons.

She was interested in a magic wand that, when worn, would reduce the amount of power used while maintaining the quality of the spells. This magic wand was actually supposed to belong to the story’s heroine, but due to her falling out and now that Aman knew she was crucial to the Setter family, though the heroine would save his life in the future, she was unlikely to be overly favored by the Setter family. This meant the wand would definitely not be given to the heroine.

Ellie chose this wand as her second item, while for her third choice, she picked a set of armor that appeared light and strong. She wasn’t sure of its level, but the armor was displayed at a high level comparable to the wand, so she chose it instead of other heavier armors.

Her fourth choice was selected because it’s said it was a high-level magical tome that served as a template for creating various magic scrolls, including those involving other elements in high-level, which Ellie was not interested in. She chose this book because it contained magical scripts similar to those she had received from Professor Medik, which enabled her to access her own plant-summoning dimension.

The book stated that to craft these scripts, one must be a user of level 6 botanic elemental power or higher because of the complexity involved in stimulating a person whose power was just awakened to find plants that compatible with them—meaning it required a high level of stimulation.

Ellie intended to keep this book for herself. She hadn’t forgotten that besides the purple mushrooms, she had seen many adorable plants in her dreams. It would be great if she could enhance her abilities, and this meant she could become even stronger.

After selecting her 4th item, the last thing that caught Ellie’s interest since she entered was a collection of eggs grouped together in a special treasure chest.

From the story she read, Aman Setter had received one of these guardian beast eggs as a gift when he was young. It was a tradition that children in the Setter family would receive these beast eggs immediately when they had a power level above 3, or upon graduation. However, since Aman was the son of the family head, he did not have to wait until graduation. He received his egg as soon as it was clear what his elemental power was, to help him fully harness his powers.

Knowing his power was of the fire element, Aman received a fire elemental beast egg. While testing his powers, he discovered that his fire element was more suited for attack than defense. The aura of beast he received was that of the Infernal Turtle, which could help cover his weaknesses.

The aura of beast was actually the spirit of the beast within the egg, but since it could not hatch into a physical form, only the spirit remained.

These auras of beasts had different capabilities; they were lifeless but could be activated according to the strength of the aura itself. All these auras could also be enhanced in level. The process was straightforward. From what she’d read, it seemed that one must raise their own magic power to enhance the corresponding spirit aura. Or...the training for a person who received the aura would be slower than others.

For instance, if they train their power to level 3 but then give 1 level to the aura of beast, they would only retain a power level of 2, while the aura attained level 1.

Ellie had always admired the cunning training methods of the Setter family since reading the novel. If she had the chance...she had always intended to request an aura of beast egg suitable for her, and who would have thought this opportunity would come so quickly?

Unfortunately, she did not possess the same power as those of the Setter family who had skills in detection. Therefore, Ellie could only rely on her own luck. But as soon as she touched a small egg, the details about them surprisingly appeared.

- Wind Elemental Aura of Beast

Gwinkon, Level 0: Capability to double the speed using the aura.

Action Panel

Make a contract with the Gwinkon aura -

Though it’s unusual, Ellie was truly happy to see this. It meant she didn’t have to ask the Setter family to choose an egg suitable for her or to reveal what aura she received from them. Ellie could select it herself and keep it as a trump card.

It took a while for her to find the aura she liked, and the smile at the corner of her mouth clearly showed how much she favored this particular aura.

- Botanic Elemental Aura of Beast

Point-Stop Butterfly, Level 0: Capability to immobilize targets around using the aura.

Action Panel

Make a contract with the Point-Stop Butterfly aura -

The botanic elemental aura of beast wasn’t abundant in this chest. Nonetheless, she found an aura immensely beneficial to her. Her mushroom power could help decompose various things or identify locations, but it had its vulnerabilities. If enemies became aware of her ability, they would undoubtedly prepare to avoid her spores or purple mushrooms. At such times, her mushroom power would seem futile.

On the other hand...if she used the power of the Point-Stop Butterfly aura, and her enemies couldn’t flee in time, Ellie would disperse spores quickly and let it work efficiently. She believed that after that, the decomposition by the purple mushrooms would surely enable her to defeat her enemies.

Ellie didn’t think further; she greatly liked this item, so she chose to make a contract with it right there in the treasure vault. This ability would be kept secret, a trump card she would not reveal unless she was certain the enemy would be defeated instantly and had no chance to disclose this secret to others.

Seeing Ellie emerge from the treasure vault, Steven did not ask for details about the items she chose. He respected the young girl greatly, and Ellie felt profoundly grateful to this Lord of the Setter family.

As for the treatment of the Eldest Young Lord of the Setter family, it remained a secret. They aimed to protect Ellie’s abilities and did not want to disclose that the Eldest Young Lord has been treated since Ellie arrived. It was fortunate that Owen’s illness was well-known, so no one suspected anything when he disappeared during dinner.

The Setter family head shared the details of the operation with Ellie during the evening meal. Ellie’s only task was to send her spores to the body of the Masqueraded Steeds and then track them to the location of those horses. Once the location was identified, the Setter family would take over immediately.

Ellie was given a luxurious guest room, even grander than a 5-star hotel, allowing her to have a pleasant time there until the early morning, around 4:00 AM, when the sky was still dark, lit only by artificial lights and the moon, as she made her way to the entrance of the Tower of Eternity.

The entrance here, at the first checkpoint, was manned by officials who checked the identities of those entering, mainly screening for any criminal history to prevent criminals from fleeing and hiding in the tower. As a student on a mission, Ellie needed to present official documents; otherwise, those below level 4 could not enter the Tower of Eternity alone.

"A mission with the Setter family, huh?" The gatekeeper raised his eyebrows after seeing the mission of the little girl, noting Ellie’s non-white hair, clearly indicating she was not from the Setter family, which usually didn’t involve outsiders in their affairs. It was particularly interesting since they heard that the other party wanted to hunt an important Masqueraded Steed and was taking the little girl along.

"Is there a problem?" Steven noticed the gatekeeper’s suspicions about Ellie’s mission entry and approached with an aura of authority, prompting the gatekeeper to quickly hand back the mission paper.

"Sorry, sir. After checking, the mission is real. Please, go ahead," realizing the family head exerted such pressure, he didn’t think to hold the group back any longer.

Steven nodded at the little girl, who thought little of it and followed him inside immediately. Their target was the ancient transfer gates that appeared since ancient times, which would lead them directly into the Tower of Eternity.

However, behind Steven and Ellie, Aman slowly approached the officer who was lost in his thoughts. He nonchalantly placed his magic sword at the officer’s neck while the latter was off-guard.

The gatekeeper flinched slightly as the cold steel touched his neck. Looking up, he only saw the cold gaze of Aman staring down at him.

"L-Lord Aman, what is this..."

"Hmm? This? Just a warning," a wicked smile appeared on the young man’s face as he stared down into the eyes of the soldier with a domineering look.

"A warning..."

“Yes, a warning...you know what I mean," Aman glanced at Ellie, who was about to enter the ancient transfer gate, and whispered into the officer’s ear.

"Don’t let me find out there’s any odd report going to the palace...understand?" Aman grinned after saying this, lifting his sword, holding it, and giving a threatening glance that seemed as if he had already slit the officer’s throat.

After the Setter family members had all left, the duty officer felt as though he could breathe again. He looked at his colleague, who seemed unable to regain his composure after being threatened.

"Y-You, what do you think?" the gatekeeper asked his colleague’s opinion, whose head slowly turned towards him and then shook.

"I don’t want to die, so..."

"I get it, so...the matter of the student doing a mission with the Setter family doesn’t need to be reported to the palace, right?"

"Mmm, I think so, but if you want..."

"Of course, I don’t want to!" Seeing his friend about to throw the burden of death onto him, he immediately refused!

Working as a security guard and checking the credentials of those entering the tower like this, he also had a special duty assigned by the palace to act as an informant. If anything interesting occurred, it was necessary to report to the palace so that those in power could be aware of what any nobles were scheming or use the information for the palace’s benefit.

For instance, the presence of this specially cared-for girl by the Setter family.

Initially, they just wondered why the Setter family would take a girl who had just started her first year at the institute on a major mission. If he reported this, the palace officials would investigate further into the girl’s background. If she proved useful enough, they might offer benefits and recruit her to work together; otherwise, they’d just let it go.

However, the immediate presence of the Setter family head, as if he didn’t want them to bother the girl, suggested she was no ordinary child. Especially with the behavior of the second young lord who even threatened to kill if today’s events were reported.

Even though he was assigned this special duty, who would want to risk their life!

Remember, they were only paid as gatekeepers, not given extra money worth risking their heads for the Setter family!