24 Hearts

Chapter 51

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The Twenty-fourth Fragment, Carpe Diem

The seal was released. Judah flipped the open pouch to shake out whatever it contained. Something fell out.

‘It’s a ring!’

The moment he emptied the pouch, he found a ring that looked like a whole piece of the obsidian mineral. It was made of protruding pieces like scales and no other adornments, but the more he looked at it, the more he found its beauty. It was smooth and sized like a normal ring, and as he gazed at it, he found uninterpretable letters engraved inside its surface. Suddenly, a holographic message appeared in front of Judas just as he picked up the ring. It stated that his progress was saved as the current point in time.

[The twenty-fourth fragment-Carpe Diem, has been acquired.]

[Resurrection time is saved based on the current location and current time.]

[The save points used have been restored.]

Judah looked at the autosave message, turned it off, and focused on the ring again. He felt intimate energy pulling him into the ink-colored ring as if it was seducing him.

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[Name: The 24th Fragment-Carpe Diem]

[Rating: Legend]

[Equipment: Ring]

[effect]

Health +3, Magic Resistance +3, Charm +3

HP and Magic Recovery Speed ??+250%

[Explanation]

This is the last fragment of Pernern’s heart. It looks like it was carved out of minerals, but this is the heart itself. After processing a piece of heart with magical treatment, it was shaved to give it its shape. The ring has the power to seduce others and can also dominate the object. The powers granted are “fascination” and “domination.”

‘If you don’t want to die, it would be better to break it in moderation, Artemia.’

‘Oh, you? Me? It won’t happen. If we did, we would only kill each other. Stupid.’ -During the conversation between the 4th and 7th monarchs.

-Active: A defeated enemy can be permanently recruited into your five allies.

└Absolute obedience: The subordinate cannot do anything that harms the person who became the master.

└Conditions of use 1-You must inflict a wound equivalent to non-resistance or fight in a battle to win. It can also be used when the opponent admits defeat.

└Condition 2-If the sum of all stats is higher than the opponent’s; the probability of success increases.

└Condition 3-However, there are certain characteristics or skills and items where subordination is impossible, and if you die and resurrect, all subordination and hypnosis are canceled.

-Hypnosis (Active): Once the enemy is defeated, this ring can change their way of thinking and even make them do specific things. However, it may be canceled if the opponent’s magical resistance power is high or the hypnotized target realizes its power and manages to resist.

-Doppelganger (Active): You can summon dependent NPCs by unlocking the power of the fragment. The summoned NPC has the best-armed state and acts as an alter ego. It disappears when it is far away from the player or when it receives immediate death damage. When it disappears, the alter ego’s memories, and experiences are absorbed by the body, but if the body is within a certain distance, it cannot be summoned.

(Maximum number of summons is 1, shares a certain amount of magic power after summoning)

-Passive: You can become likable in the eyes of others. Of course, this depends on the individual’s preferences and may not work.

-Magical Defense (Passive): The mystical power in the heart reduces the damage of magic inflicted on the user.

-Increased resistance (Passive): Increases resistance to various attributes such as flame, cold, poison, and curse.

-Among the twenty-four hearts of Pernern, the twenty-fourth (Passive): The last of the twenty-four hearts has the powers of “domination” and “fascination.”

-Passive: If you collect all 24 fragments made of Pernern’s heart, you can inherit the power of the Demon King Pernern.

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Wow.

He knew it. Judah but his tongue as he studied the ring. The hologram window floating in front of him was showing the stats of the fragment. A total of 9 points increased his stats by simply wearing it. Considering that there are three accessories out of the 24 fragments… he gawked at the huge number. The maximum ability that an item can reach was up to 99 (S), but some special items can be raised to 100 (SS). And included in some of those items were fragments. In other words, if he could collect them in time, raising the stats that lacked potential than most was of big help to him.

“?”

Something piqued his vision as he moved his gaze toward the skill and its details.

The tremendous ability to increase the stat of 9 points was no different from what he remembered, but some of the skill effects turned out to be completely different. He didn’t know if the game changed as it became his reality. Perhaps Xian had written this himself.

He remembered putting in the skill -domination-. However, he had no memory of adding the imposing effects of -hypnosis- and -absolute obedience- under it. It was a side effect that could be harmful if abused, but these were still good conditions.

It was worth using once the conditions were met. It was worth more than that. This meant that if Judah used domination, he could make five completely loyal companions in this world. It was essential for him, someone who had dealt with issues of betrayal.

‘Well, a lot has changed when I became Judah, so that I won’t be betrayed this time.’

Still, it was better to make affiliations sincerely than to force them out of their will. Since -hypnosis- and -absolute obedience- were added, the likelihood of making sincere connections could be easily set aside. Just seeing the word hypnosis already gave him a lot of wicked plans. Although it was limited to one person, it was tempting to make another person do whatever he wanted.

‘I don’t know if I can do it with my conscience, but… ‘

And -Doppelganger- below it was a technique he had in his game that could summon a companion from your inn if your current one is to ever die in battle. In this world, it could be the same method of summoning allies but with fewer conditions.

Judah sighed with relief to find that it was the same as he remembered it. He kept it on his left index finger without much concern, then sat up to admire its beauty in the moonlight pouring inside his room.

It was time to leave Serenia Castle.

+ + +

He woke up in the morning and went for a walk after having a usual breakfast with Tia. As he stepped out, he found a carriage right outside their lawn. He approached it and met a butler sent by Kaseun. He was told to get in the carriage, as he was summoned into the mansion instantly. Tia had noticed what was going on, and she urged Judah with a smile.

He dreaded that they might have prepared something for his coming-of-age ceremony. When the carriage pulled into the mansion, he saw the crowd gathered in the garden. Librarian Assum, Alumni Guard Captain Charles, and other soldiers, Paladin Seron from the temple… All those he knew came, and he couldn’t believe it.

Even Lord Chapelin Peerchen was there holding a drink. They all celebrated Judah’s fifteenth birthday, and now that they had a coming-of-age ceremony, he was now an adult and could wine and dine with them.

The first drink he had in this world tasted super sweet and striking. Everyone took their drinks as well, but whether it was the ring’s effect or because of the player’s characteristics, he couldn’t get himself drunk, nor could the crowd. People were amused by him, who remained sober, saying it was a natural drinker.

He thought there was something else special about a coming-of-age ceremony, but there wasn’t much.

It was just a day and its meaning. Judah thanked Kaseun. He thought there would be no tears, but when he faced him and talked, tears fell from his eyes instantaneously.

Without his help, he was sure to have lived through really difficult and miserable days. No one could do anything to him because Kaseun looked after him, and he lived with getting what he wanted.

Since he became his mentor and taught him many things, he could have the strength he had now and met Tia in the process. With his help, many things that could not be easily obtained by himself were blessed upon him.

Kaseun hugged Judah in tears. Until sunset, people were merry in drinking and eating delicious food. As the people returned to their homes one by one, the lord and Kaseun called Judah and gave him a present.

The gift that the two had prepared together was a suit made of black wolf skin.

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[Name: The dignity of “Black Wolf’s Leather Clothes Set” with the magic of regeneration and balance]

[Rating: precious _ luxury]

[Equipment: top, bottom, shoes, belt]

[Durability: 20/20]

[Defense: 45]

[effect]

Agility +2, Charm +2

[Explanation]

Clothes were commissioned by the swords “Kaseun Sabrak” and “Chapelin Peerchen” to celebrate Judah Arche’s coming-of-age ceremony. Top, bottom, and shoes are one set.

-Black Wolf Skin (Passive): Made of black wolf skin that resists physical and magic attacks. The quality is very good, and the effect is a little stronger because it was created with magic.

-Craftsman’s touch (Passive): A master craftsman and a talented mage made it with power. You will not look like a clunky adventurer or a mercenary, but a classy scion. The craftsman’s secret and the magical knowledge of the mage are combined, so it is cool in summer and warm in winter.

-Passive: When walking or running in a forest or battlefield that is not in a safe zone, the probability of being detected by others is reduced, and the sound of the footsteps decreases.

-Before Code: Infused with the magic of regeneration and balance

└Recovers durability per hour +1, adjusts the size of clothes to fit the body.

-Code 後: the dignity of(?)

└Purification-No smell and no dirt.

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Judah gawked at the unexpected gift. After receiving it, they talked a little more before returning home. It felt like the time Tia came home all drunk and soggy.

He threw himself on the sofa. Judah and Tia started to make out. Even when their moment ended, Tia refused to leave Judah for a moment. When he used the bathroom, even as he changed clothes, and even in the morning as he cooked, she was there. Judah wanted to go out early in the morning. Yet he sat there on the couch with her. He held Judas tightly in her arms and did not think of letting go.

“Tia, I want to go out.”

“Where are you going? You’re leaving now?”

Like saying, “I’m not letting you go,” she used her legs and arms to keep Judah’s restrained. Judas smiled bitterly. How did she become so cute like this?

“No, I’m not leaving yet. Just wait for me. I have a business to do in the Western Forest.”

“Western Forest? Why are we going there?”

Judah thought about her for a moment, but he shook his head afterward.

“I’m going alone. I’ll be back within 3-4 days. And I’m an adult now, and I’m going to come and go there for the last time, before I really leave. Don’t worry too much.”

“Judah.”

“Yeah.”

“Judah.”

She kept calling his name dearly. Judas couldn’t get mad at her. Every time she called his name, regrets began to guilt him.

“Judah.”

“I’m listening, Tia.”

“If you go… Can I come with you?”

“I’m just heading to the Western Forest…”

“No, I know. You’re leaving. You’re going to the western forest, but you’re leaving this place in the next few days, right?”

Judas was speechless.

“…”

“Can we go together? Why can’t I come?”

Her fragile voice made him want to say, “Yes, let’s go.” And he almost said it. Facing this in person was heavier than he thought. He envied those who can draw the line as easy as it was to draw a sword. Judah always had problems in maintaining boundaries. He was afraid that the other person will be hurt or that the other person will suffer. He didn’t wish to do that to Tia, but he needed to be strong.

“Tia, do you remember the story we talked about here years ago?”

Tia had no answer. She just hugged him tightly from behind. Judah felt weak in her warm embrace, but he continued.

“At that time, you said you would wait for me, remember?”

“No, I don’t remember.”

Tia replied quickly. She had remembered. Judah didn’t react. He simply held her hand around his heart. They were pretty, long, thin fingers. As Judah remained silent, she mumbled in a whimpering little voice, with her head buried under Judah’s nape.

“…I actually remember. But perhaps it’s because I love you that I want to follow and be with you rather than waiting for you here.”

“I love you too, so much.”

“I know.”

“That’s why I can’t take it anymore.”

“Why? I need an explanation. I can understand.”

Judah’s expression darkened at her words.

* * *

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Tip19. Players can use level-up points to distribute stats up to 99(S) beyond their potential. It is also possible to increase to 99 through an item’s effect, and for some special items, it is possible to increase it to 100 (SS).

However, from 101 to 109 (SS) and 110 (SSS) are special areas, and this area can be distributed only with special points that can be earned through achievements.

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[Stockpiling for the increased upload rate! I apologize for the lower rate today; we’re in mid-orientation- just double checking everything is on-point.]