The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 116: Poetic Justice (2)

As Kai touched Aosa's corpse, a luxurious platinum chest appeared before his eyes.

“Hmm... something feels missing...”

Feeling a bit uneasy, Kai tilted his head and decided to open the chest right away.

Inside the chest were two books and some unidentified materials.

The books are likely skill books.

While others would cheer at finding a skill book after defeating a boss, the now professional looter Kai casually picked up the books as if he were a jobless man visiting a local comic book store.

[Skill Book - Poison Master]

Grade: Unique

Gain extensive knowledge about poison.

Immunity to poison significantly increases.

Requirements: None.

“Oh, poison resistance? That's nice.”

Generally, stats or skills that provided resistance to status effects were traded at high prices.

In Kai's case, he had previously acquired the special title Queen Slayer after defeating Fermi.

The Queen Slayer title gives a poison resistance of 30.

If he learned the Poison Master skill on top of that, he wouldn't have to worry about getting poisoned anymore. Knowing the dangers of poison better than anyone, this was especially pleasing for him.

Thanks to Fermi's poison, I was able to easily take down the Orc Lord. Continuous damage over time is terrifying.

Most battles in MID Online were a straightforward choice between kill or be killed. However, inflicting the annoying status effect of poisoning introduced a dilemma where the opponent had to either kill or be killed within a time limit. A time limit induced anxiety, and anxiety led to mistakes.

That's the scary part of poison.

Even if the poison damage wasn’t severe, the constant tick of poison damage itself was stressful.

But from today on, I can lay my worries about poison to rest.

Kai made a reverent prayer and immediately used the skill book.

[You have learned the Poison Master skill.]

Feeling like he wanted to grab a passing treasure hunter or assassin and ask to be poisoned just to test it out, Kai turned his attention to the other book.

The next skill book is... Could it be related to Aosa's abilities?

When he had defeated Fermi, who dealt poison, he received the skill book Black Widow's Venom, and after taking down the magic-resistant Orc Sorcerer, he received the skill book Skin of Magical Resistance.

Judging by this, there's a high chance that boss monsters drop skill books containing their unique traits.

Of course, Poison Master was also related to Aosa, who dealt with poison.

But Aosa's most notable feature wasn't just any poison; it was the Blue Plague. I don’t think Poison Master fully contains Aosa's unique abilities.

Having come to this conclusion, Kai checked the book with a nervous expression.

[Skill Book - Blue Plague]

Grade: Unique

You gain the ability to control the power of the Blue Plague.

Requirements: None.

“Just as I thought! My prediction was right.”

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Kai clenched his fists tightly, a broad smile spreading across his face.

This was what made MID Online so captivating. Players could have a wide range of experiences, allowing them to make educated guesses.

This time it was a skill book, but next time it could be a dungeon or a hidden quest.

It was a game that truly made players feel like they were on an adventure!

Kai stared at the book's cover for a moment, contemplating.

It would be better to learn this right away, right?

Judging by the title, it seemed more like an area-of-effect skill than a single-target one. In that case, given his current lack of AoE skills, it could be a lifesaver.

He didn't ponder for long.

[You have learned the Blue Plague skill.]

“Check skill info, Blue Plague.”

[Blue Plague]

Grade: Unique

You gain the essence of the Blue Plague for each enemy you kill.

You can collect up to 100 essences of the Blue Plague, which can be used at any time.

The range, power, and duration of the skill increase based on the number of essences consumed.

Cooldown: 10 seconds.

Proficiency: 0/100

“Hmm. It’s hard to evaluate without actually using it.”

The skill seemed complicated for something that was of Unique-grade.

A skill that can only be used by gathering essences from killed enemies?

In other words, it was a fussy skill that had activation conditions. Seeing the grade, it didn't seem like a dud, but it was also cautious to declare it a jackpot.

I’ll test it out later.

What remained were the unidentified materials left by Aosa.

Kai poked at the large blue jelly.

[Fragment of Aosa’s Skin x200]

Grade: Unique

A piece of Aosa’s skin.

A material item... I just changed my gear recently, so I don’t need this right away. Should I store it?

Since the material was Unique-grade, whatever he crafted with it would likely be exceptional. Debating whether to sell or store it, he decided to put it in his inventory for now.

I can decide that later. Anyway...

The uneasy feeling he had felt even before checking the box still lingered. Then, Kai finally realized what was causing this discomfort.

“I didn’t check the title.”

Scrolling through the message log hurriedly, Kai found the text he was looking for.

...

[Level increased.]

[Acquired 105 stat points.]

[Special title acquired: Slayer of Aosa.]

“That’s a straightforward title.”

Pages of the thick title book fluttered over Kai's hand. Naturally opening to the glowing page, the awaited content filled his vision.

[Slayer of Aosa]

Rank: Special

Description: Title bestowed upon the player who defeated the Blue Plague Aosa on their own.

Effect:

+15 All stats

10% additional damage against all enemies affiliated with the Church of Muldine.

Increased the Blue Plague skill effect by 10%.

“Oh?” Kai let out a puzzled exclamation.

He liked the part where it increased all stats by 15 and dealt additional damage to the Church of Muldine, but what he liked the most was the part where it increased the Blue Plague skill effect.

So, the Blue Plague skill and this special title are essentially a set.

If he hadn’t soloed Aosa, he wouldn’t have obtained this effect because the Slayer of Aosa title was given only to those who soloed the monster.

That means there could be more hidden set effects like this...

In other words, the more difficult tasks a player cleared, the better the rewards the game provided.

Realizing this new fact, Kai’s eyes sparkled as he lifted the last reward.

[Incomplete Core]

Grade: Unique

A core that once served as the essence of Aosa.

It will awaken if infused with holy power.

“Core, huh...”

Thinking back, Tardal had mentioned that one of Aosa's weaknesses was its core.

I couldn’t find and destroy it during the battle... Maybe that was a good thing.

Perhaps because he didn’t destroy it, he was able to obtain the core as a reward. Of course, he still didn’t know what it was used for.

It says it will awaken if infused with holy power...

Without hesitation, Kai gathered holy power to his right hand.

“Do I just touch the core like this... Huh?”

Suddenly feeling a wave of weakness, Kai let out a frustrated sigh.

Wait, is the uneasy feeling I had earlier because of this...?

It wasn’t just because he hadn’t checked the title. Kai’s hunch was correct.

[The duration of the Higher Way potion for enhanced concentration has ended.]

[You will suffer from severe fatigue for 10 days. All stats will be reduced by 70% during this period.]

[You will be in a state of exhaustion for 10 days. All speeds will be reduced by 30% during this period.]

What, that’s insane...

While he had expected some side effects, he hadn’t anticipated they would be this severe.

Feeling extreme fatigue, he barely managed to move his lips.

“Enhanced Summoning...”

[You have received a movement speed buff from Enhanced Summoning.]

Blizzard tilted his head when he was summoned onto the magic circle that appeared on the ground.

Kai weakly waved his hand, ordering, “Blizzard, you know where the clinic is, right?”

Blizzard nodded.

“Take me there. I can’t move a muscle.”

Looking around, Blizzard seemed to be searching for something.

Kai showed a faint smile. “I avenged you.”

Blizzard, with a look of admiration, gently lifted Kai like a princess.

“Uh, this is a bit embarrassing.”

“Krrrrk.”

Whether Blizzard was happy that his master avenged him or amused by his master’s rare vulnerable state, he let out a pleased growl and carried Kai to the clinic.

***

"Sorry! I'm so sorry! I’m a heavy sleeper!"

"No need to apologize. It would be strange if you weren't tired with such a schedule," Kai nodded as he recalled Ayana's schedule.

During the day, she followed him around treating patients, and at night, she made potions with hardly any sleep. It was a murderous schedule that even an adult would struggle with!

"S-still... I should have at least been praying... I wasn’t any help..."

"Oh, didn't I tell you? You were plenty of help," Kai patted her head while shaking the now-empty Higher Way bottle. "This stuff works great. Though the aftereffects are pretty scary."

"I-I have some painkillers made up, I’ll go get them! They should help suppress the aftereffects a bit!"

"That would be great."

As he proudly watched Ayana dash out of the room, he let out a sigh.

Now that Aosa is dealt with, the big hurdle is over. But...

He began to worry about how to rescue Ayana's parents.

Of course, it’s not like I haven’t prepared for it.

Kai glanced at the magic crystal ball in his inventory. Inside it, the entire conversation he had with the lord of Whitehall over dinner was recorded.

If I show this to Tardal, maybe something can be done.

However, Tardal had already retired from politics, so Kai couldn’t be sure how far his influence would reach.

"Sigh, what a headache..."

When one had wealth and power, it was difficult to punish them even for their wrongdoings.

A bitter smile crept onto Kai's lips as he considered the situation that was similar to reality.

“Should I say they've done a good job reflecting reality... or that they've created a world without dreams or hope.”

As Kai grumbled, there was a polite knock on the clinic door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Ayana had been rushing back with the painkillers but began trembling with a frightened look on her face when she heard the sound.

"W-what should we do? Someone’s here!"

"Open the door. It might be a patient."

"W-why would a patient come here?!"

"...Because this is a clinic?"

"Oh, right."

Leaving Ayana, who had a look of realization, Kai walked toward the door.

I'm curious too. Who could it be at this hour?

As he opened the door, the fresh, cool morning air rushed in through his nose and into his lungs. However, instead of enjoying the fresh air, Kai focused on the person in front of him.

...A man?

It was a handsome young man with blond hair, dressed in an elegant uniform made from luxurious fabric.

Is he someone sent by the lord?

As Kai hesitated, unable to grasp the young man’s intention, the young man asked in a businesslike manner, "Are you the adventurer Kai who defeated Aosa last night?"

"Yes, but how did you know...?"

"Then I’ve come to the right place." The young man nodded in satisfaction and casually delivered a statement that was like a bolt out of the blue. "His Majesty the King wishes to see you. Please prepare to visit the royal palace immediately."