MagiCraft Master: A Mass Isekai LitRPG, page 19
Once there was no more Numa to siphon, Levemoth turned, and a portal appeared through which it vanished.
CHAPTER 38
Malcolm Specter sat alone by the fire, keeping it alive. Dusk was encroaching on the camp, and only a few men and women were still going about their business or chatting in the moonlight. All of the agents were in the den. His men needed sleep.
He was too involved with his project to sleep, however. Relying on Logan to make them things with this precious resource had been foolish. But using Numa was not only difficult in general; it was impossible for most people.
He had gone through every individual in the camp—a total of forty-eight people—that day, checking them for affinity for Numa. There were only three in total. Four if you counted the boy, but Logan was nowhere to be found.
As long as he hasn’t gotten himself killed. I’m used to him going off the grid for weeks on end, but the environment is hostile here. Then again, I must admit he seems to be able to handle himself.
Malcolm held an [E-grade Numa crystal, 23%] in his hand. He had asked people to perform whatever action came to mind on a leaf. That young woman Kat had made it crumble. Dr. Rosenberg had cut it cleanly in half. Freya had made it sprout a branch from the stem.
It had cost a significant amount of Numa energy, but they were necessary tests. It seemed that performing actions with Numa was costly when it didn’t directly relate to your class, yet people could use their skills and level up in their subclasses even without Numa. But from what Malcolm understood, such was not the case for Logan. Perhaps his class was like that. Malcolm’s own class seemed to work off passive effects. He got a sense of a person’s feelings and whereabouts when they were done with a task, telling him approximately how well the task had been done and how the person felt about it. Listening to this feeling and working in accordance with it had leveled up his subclass of [Management] to 9, while talking to people individually about their Numa affinity and their classes had brought his [Leadership] up to 5. But Malcolm felt the need to understand classes and Numa better, that much was clear.
It was fortunate they had a [Healer] with affinity to Numa. That would stave off most injuries and make even the agents braver in their exploration. If there were ever trade with other groups as Malcolm hoped, Dr. Rosenberg would be an extremely valuable individual. Meanwhile, that young girl Kat would be a powerful pawn in terms of military power, be it monsters or other people.
But while fighting ability was necessary for survival, they needed the basics first. They had set up another building, since their group was rapidly growing by the day.
We really need that damn boy to show up and bring those crystals he stole.
Despite Logan’s shortcomings, he was resourceful, and they could use resources. Their food situation was sorted for the time being, as long as there was fish in the river and mushrooms to be found. But on Earth, mushrooms were mostly seasonal. If they were to run out here …
Clothing was also a major issue. Whatever they had had on when they had come to this world was starting to tear apart at the seams. They had three crafters working on their levels, and one of them even had the [Tailor] class. But it would take a while before they would manage to produce something they could use.
We need to find more people. Those who can use Numa are high-value individuals. We need to trade the goods they can produce and accrue resources.
Their campfire smoke kept attracting people. Malcolm had also sent out a group of agents to post signs around the area to convince even more. It was working well. Soon there might even be enough for another settlement.
Malcolm decided he would send agents as envoys to find other settlements or groups of surviving humans. There was strength in numbers, and they needed every Numa user they could get.
Attracting more people would be better than finding settlements to trade with. They couldn’t specialize yet. And only Logan had a class with Numa affinity that they could leverage. That was a damn shame, considering the boy’s personality.
Freya had still not picked up a class, so she had potential to produce something valuable. Malcolm was reaching the end of his leniency toward the girl, however. Such indecisiveness bothered him. They had many jobs to fill, and the girl was smart enough to do something important well.
For now, the girl had been doing whatever menial tasks were needed around the camp. Malcolm had been doing the same things and, to a lesser extent, still was. But now the amount of people in the camp warranted some actual management. He was the captain of this ship, and the crew needed to be doing the right things.
Malcolm admitted that he had a soft spot for Freya. The girl was too good for Logan, that was for sure. But she had kept him out of trouble countless times, and always tried to make him see reason when he was being ridiculous.
Malcolm thumbed the crystal in his hand. Why could they use this power when he could not? Was there a way to rectify that? He wasn’t so concerned for his own sake. Not that the crystals didn’t intrigue him, but he could do his job without them.
Suddenly Malcolm heard a dry stick snapping behind him. He had decreed that they scatter them all around the immediate perimeter as a safety measure. Malcolm drew in a breath and felt his senses sharpen.
“Who’s there?” he called and got up.
Three short figures wearing black cloaks and carrying arms emerged from the shadows and into the flickering light of the fire.
CHAPTER 39
Logan gasped as he was startled back into reality. What he had seen he could never unsee. The Levemoth had already been frightening, but Logan had had no idea what manner of a calamity it could become.
King Sluikumar nodded at him gravely. “The Great Thief must never be allowed to grow. It must never be given a chance to pillage the Spirit.”
“What is it?” Logan asked. “What does it want?”
“To consume,” the king said. “It seeks to wither the Spirit Goddess of Numa and all her grace.”
“It was so powerful …” Logan said, shaking his head.
“It slumbered for a long time,” Sluikumar said. “ ‘Tis now weak and still half-asleep. But the arrival of you Tall Folk has awakened it.”
“I thought it came and went whenever?” Logan asked.
“It would float by, and its wretched spawn would wander off to the dwellings of the First Folk to bother the Dorves or starve,” the king said. “Our communion with the Spirit is hidden from its sight, yes.”
Logan gave him a sharp look. “But now something is different?”
King Sluikumar nodded. Gone was the grandfatherly demeanor. All of the Faelves now seemed as ancient as stone and grave. There was no playful hopping, no childish chatter.
“Never has the Black Rain fallen within such a short span.”
“We have handled it well so far,” Logan said.
Sluikumar let out a humorless laugh. “This is but the beginning, my young friend. The Black Rain will fall frequently now. The Great Thief will grow more watchful every day, henceforth. And were you to grow mighty, like the First Folk, it will come for you.”
Logan swallowed. “What can we do?”
“The Dorves and the Faelves have chosen to hide. If the First Folk could not defeat it at the height of their might, how could anyone?”
Logan slammed a fist at the table. “Hell, no. To skulk in the shadows forever? I refuse!”
“You are truly a warrior people,” Sluikumar said. “But we must be careful. The Great Thief will rain down death if you keep to your foolish ways.”
Logan sobered and pressed his palm into a fist. Then he realized what he was doing, got angry again, and opened his palms, pressing them hard on the table. “What makes it tick?
“Using Numa,” Sluikumar simply said. “If it’s raw, like the crystals within living beings, the effect is amplified. Even relatively small amounts in use will draw the attention of the Great Thief. The Dorves use the constructs of the First Folk. The Great Thief cannot go underground, but its spawn has infested the dwellings of the Dorves. They are not a warrior people by nature but have become such.”
“What about you guys?” Logan asked. “With the Numa fruit trees and the wellsprings and whatnot?”
“Yes,” Sluikumar said and smiled conspiratorially. “We have classes given as a boon by the Spirit. Her grace has taught us to use her gift in secret.”
“So the Leve—” Logan started, but King Sluikumar gave him a sharp look. “The Great Thief … it attacks when people fiddle with Numa. But when it’s infused through plants and drink, like this internal charge I went through, the big bastard doesn’t notice it?”
King Sluikumar nodded. “ ‘Tis precisely so.”
“There is no way in hell I am going to hide under a rock and let this thing bully me for the rest of my life,” Logan declared. “I don’t care what it takes, I’ll bring this beast down, and you guys will help me.”
The whole court of the Faelves fell mute. They looked at Logan in stunned silence for several seconds. It was only when King Sluikumar burst into uproarious laughter that the rest of the Faelves joined in. It was not a mocking laugh but one of joy and mirth. The somber mood was completely broken, and now the room was filled with tinkling laughter and chatter.
“ ‘Tis such a ridiculous boast, young friend,” King Sluikumar said, wiping his eyes. “I almost want to believe it. To live without fear. To settle and cultivate anywhere. Oh, the Fae Folk have dreamed of this for many a year. Yes, we brought you here for alliance, for friendship.”
“I’m all for it,” Logan said immediately and smiled with an open heart. He was nothing if not lucky to have found these good people. “But so far we’re still struggling for food and shelter. We can’t be of much use yet.”
“This we understand,” Sluikumar said. “We aren’t in need of any goods you might produce. At least not now. What we would like is knowledge and skills.”
Logan nodded and smiled. “That’s fine. We have a lot of skilled people with us. We can teach you engineering, construction and—”
“No,” the king snapped. “No. Absolutely not. We should not have these … machines. These are foul things, these … devices. We urge you not to build them. The Dorves have incurred the wrath of the Great Thief multiple times with their creations.”
“Huh,” Logan said. He wasn’t sure they had all the facts here. For one thing, Logan very much doubted that saying Levemoth’s name would do any harm. “What do you want, then?”
“Your warrior arts. You will teach us how to fight the fiends that the Great Thief spawns. We are but masters of illusions, charms, and tricks. Often we escape the foul creatures, but to fight and slay them would be a great boon to this world.”
“Sure,” Logan said. “We’ve got folk who can fight well.”
“We have observed. Most of you Tall Folk are warriors, you chief among them.”
Logan laughed. “No, I’m no fighter. But I can make a mean weapon. I’ll make you some. Or teach you how to make them.”
“Good,” the king said. “Which brings us to the next condition you must accede to for our friendship.”
“Sure,” Logan said. “What is it?”
The king grew serious. His voice went lower and he looked at Logan with an old, wizened, steadfast stare. “Anything you have created so far is tainted and should be discarded. Any form of Numa which is impure is a breach of our friendship, for you would risk the death of my kin with your greed. You must promise not to use Numa crystals anymore.”
CHAPTER 40
You’re kidding, right?”
The king pulled at his blue beard and shook his head. “You cannot use what you have built so far, lest you bring down the wrath of the Great Thief upon you. Any Numa which was not blessed by the Spirit is dangerous. That goes for the machines of the First Folk, the bastard imitations of the Dorves, and even the natural crystals found within living creatures. All of this is what the Great Thief thirsts for. Only the Spirit Goddess of Numa can conceal Numa from the enemy.”
“What the hell do you want us to do? We need Numa to survive!”
“You will learn our ways, my impatient friend,” the king said and smiled amicably.
“You mean like growing Numa fruit trees?” Logan asked, pressing his hands into a fist to cool himself down. “Could we even make one of those springs to receive blessings from?”
“We shall teach you all of this!” King Sluikumar said. “ ‘Twas our hope to begin with, for if you avoid arousing the interest of the Great Thief, life will be more peaceful for all of us, yes! We are in agreement? A new friendship is formed!”
Logan understood he was making a decision on behalf of his whole group, Malcolm Specter included. But surely his father would come to the same conclusion.
“Are there other humans around these areas?” Logan asked.
“Yes, plenty! Many groups like yours,” the king said, clearly excited now that Logan seemed that he would agree to his terms. “Tall Folk are numerous. Few are my people compared to yours. We watch you with great interest.”
“I can’t make this agreement on behalf of all the humans,” Logan said.
“No, of course you cannot,” King Sluikumar said and scoffed. “I am a king, not a fool, my young friend. I ask friendship of you, and of those within your care.”
“I want friendship with you guys too,” Logan said. “But I will need to bring back all this information and talk to my people. I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. But as far as I’m concerned, we’re allies. But I do need you to teach us your ways, so we aren’t all dead by next week.”
“ ‘Tis agreed!” the king said and the crowd around them cheered.
Then Sluikumar offered his tiny yellow hand of porcelain skin. Logan took it and they shook.
“Now then,” King Sluikumar said, rising up in the air to float above the crowd. “Let us revel! Bring us wine, bring us more cake. We shall show our guest all the best dances and songs of our people. Get up now, yes! Get busy!”
The crowd around them cheered and left in all directions to do work, the King included, leaving Logan to sit there with a stunned look on his face, a plate of a half-eaten piece of pie in front of him. Soon came the wine and what followed was a long but cheerful night.
Logan left the Faelves late the next day. His new friends didn’t have much in the way of culture and technology, but they sure could make a wine that packed a punch.
As Logan walked through the jungle, he looked at his crossbow and his shield-watch.
The Faelves are superstitious. Which is an interesting concept when you have magic …
[It is noteworthy that you too are superstitious, Logan. You have 714 different biases in your psyche, which could be considered assumptions made with insufficient data. Would you like for me to go over them?]
Logan groaned. “I already have a headache, Tumor.”
[My apologies.]
“It’s fine,” Logan said as he grabbed a hanging vine and tugged it. It held, so Logan used it to cross the swamp, swinging from one patch of grass to one on the other side. “What do you think of their superstitions?”
[The likelihood of Levemoth’s interest being aroused by crafting or using a simple device such as a crossbow is low. After a quick variable analysis, I would estimate it to be 2.33%.]
Logan looked at the crossbow in his new pouch that the Faelves had gifted him. It was made of brown leather, and on it were engraved artful swirling patterns. Yeah, there was no way just having a crossbow was dangerous. Hell, even something simple like a fishing rod was technology.
“The Faelves had rope, ceramics, ovens for cooking … I don’t know how they did their carpentry work, but there sure was plenty.”
[Precisely. However, there are two things that might arouse the interest of Levemoth.]
“I really wish you would stop saying ‘arouse.’ ”
[It is possible that the civilization, which the Faelves called ‘First Folk,’ had cities and technology on such a massive scale that the Levemoth couldn’t help but notice. It is, of course, possible that the higher the technological advancement it perceives, the more aggressive it becomes. In fact, I postulate there is a 64.8% chance of this.]
“So, in other words, just stay out of sight and don’t build Hadron colliders,” Logan said as he circled a tree. “But that’s just raw logic. There could be something going on with the Numa.”
[Both of Levemoth’s attacks that we have experienced happened immediately after you used Numa crystals.]
Logan pushed a heavy branch aside. “You’re saying I caused the Black Rain?”
[It is likely.]
Well, that wasn’t good to hear. Logan hadn’t exactly had time to take in the damage the last attack on their camp had caused, but people had died.
[The data is not conclusive, and there are not enough data points. There have been instances such as building the shelter and healing your friend Kat which did not prompt an attack from Levemoth. My conclusion is that using Numa inappropriately is likely, but not certain, to draw attention from the Levemoth.]
Logan stopped to look at a lamb-sized yellow frog that was staring dispassionately at the black and green swamp. A white centipede as thick and long as Logan’s arm came up for air. A long, barbed tongue curled around the insect. It squirmed and bit at the tongue, but slowly and surely the yellow frog, looking as bored as ever, dragged the insect into its mouth.
Logan looked at the swamp water. Suddenly the patch of grass he was standing on didn’t feel so safe. His feet felt itchy. Fortunately, the old, heavy trees were thinning as Logan worked his way through the swamp. How awesome his water-resistant socks were couldn’t be understated.
“They told me to destroy everything I’ve made with Numa, especially if it was [Enchanted],” Logan said. “What do you think of that?”
[There is not enough data to—]
