Runic Studies Knowledge Tree

What was clearly the place where the pen stroke ended was also the starting point of the next pattern.

And at each connection, there were loops or extra line patterns, like a tangled mess of thread.

If his Spirit level had not been high enough now, just looking at this pattern probably would have made him dizzy.

Fortunately, it did not take him long to memorize the entire pattern of the Soul-Devouring Rune.

At the same time, he took out a blank sheet of parchment and drew it once. Only after confirming there were no mistakes did he stop.

[You have successfully drawn a rune and unlocked the Runic Studies knowledge tree. Evaluation: Runic Studies is a great invention that infinitely raises the ceiling of the supernatural system. Congratulations. Special Reward: Survival Points +3, Spirit Level +1.]

Runic Studies knowledge tree?

Wain quickly opened the panel to check.

Runic Studies Knowledge Tree: Introduction to Runic Studies, Soul-Devouring Rune Level 1 (0/1)

[Note: The level of an individual rune represents the success rate of drawing that rune. Level 1 success rate is 10%, and so on.]

"Only a ten percent success rate..."

Wain looked at the newly added Runic Studies, as well as the rune level behind it, and only one thought filled his heart—he was seriously short on Survival Points!

He could already foresee that after he studied Potions later, he would also unlock a knowledge tree.

By then, just adding points to a single formula or a single rune would be enough to drain all his Survival Points!

And more importantly, Introduction to Runic Studies could not be upgraded with points like the Gonzalez Language.

In other words, he could only keep studying rune patterns, increase the number of runes in the knowledge tree, and then upgrade individual runes... This undoubtedly made improving Runic Studies much more difficult.

Of course, that also included Potions, Alchemy, and all future knowledge-tree-type abilities...

At that thought, Wain closed the panel.

His Spirit level was not high enough right now. It would not be too late to add points to the Soul-Devouring Rune after he advanced to Intermediate Wizard Apprentice later.

"Dong, dong dong..."

Just then, the bells of Crimson Cathedral rang out.

Only then did Wain realize it was already eight in the morning. "Perfect. Time to head out to work!"

It did not take him long to get dressed neatly.

He wore the Secret Investigation Bureau's dark-green uniform, with a holster hanging at his waist, and inside the holster was that silver-white flintlock.

Wain looked himself over in the mirror. "As handsome as I imagined. As expected of you, Wain Loft."

Even if life was terrible, one should not forget to smile.

That was probably what he was thinking at this moment. Simply staying alive in a world like this was already an extremely difficult thing.

Then Wain packed up the things on the table, put them into his pocket-watch toolbox, and activated the Runic Array in the room while he was at it.

"Morning, Wain."

"Good morning, Sister Kali."

Kali, dressed in a pure-white dress, stood beneath the signboard of Morris Clinic. Seeing him in this outfit, she smiled and said, "Congratulations, Wain. You successfully passed the Secret Investigation Bureau interview."

Wain locked the door. "Actually, the interview was pretty simple..."

It had practically amounted to going through the motions. There had been no questions, no assessment—he had directly signed and started the job.

Even more exaggerated was that after he passed, there had barely been any pre-job training or points to note...

If Lacy had not been fairly responsible, he probably would have known absolutely nothing about the Secret Investigation Bureau.

"It's good that you passed. And this outfit suits you very well..."

Wain struck a handsome pose. "Of course. I—"

"What about you?"

Yuan's voice appeared at just the "right" time. Standing behind Kali, he glared at him. "Wain, don't make that expression at my Kali. It's really ugly!"

"..."

It was clearly very handsome!

Wain ignored him and instead put on a thoughtful look. "Sister Kali, does the Church of Dawn's Covenant say anything about what punishment liars receive?"

Kali understood at once. "Dawn forgives anyone's careless words, but liars are prone to suffering unclean corruption and turning into aberrant monsters."

"Kali, keep less contact with this brat in the future. He's teaching you bad habits," Yuan said resentfully, wearing the expression of a father whose precious little padded jacket had sprung a leak.

"That's not true..."

"Exactly, Uncle Yuan. You're overthinking it."

After saying that, the three of them could not help laughing.

Wain thought of the mission the liaison officer had issued last night and casually asked, "Sister Kali, you were over at Crimson Cathedral yesterday, right?"

"Mm-hmm."

Kali was all smiles, her eyes curving into pretty crescents. "I was. Well? Did you feel Dawn's radiance?"

"Radiance? No, I didn't see that. I did see that rising ball of light yesterday, though."

"Wasn't it shocking?"

"I... I guess."

Wain hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What I wanted to ask was, who was that naked woman inside the ball of light?"

"Ah, cough, cough, cough..."

At his question, Yuan started coughing violently, his face turning livid. Whether he was holding something back or simply furious, Wain couldn't tell.

Kali's pretty face changed color too, though hers turned an alluring pink. She stammered, "N-naked... Wain, y-you saw that?"

Wain looked at the two of them in confusion and nodded. "Yeah. It was that obvious. How could I not have seen it? Why are you two reacting like this?"

"Wain, I never thought you were such a vulgar person, to actually use such blasphemous language about that Favored of Dawn." Yuan glared at him. "I'm already starting to regret recommending you to join the Secret Investigation Bureau!"

Wain: "..."

What was this all about?

Could it be that neither of them had seen that stark-naked woman?

"Dad, don't say that about Wain. He only just came to Kaster City-State, and he still doesn't understand Dawn... Ah, I need to get to class."

Before she could finish, Kali covered her face and ran off, leaving Yuan and Wain staring at each other.

"Uncle Yuan, you really didn't see that woman?"

"I didn't see any woman, but..." Yuan looked at him with a ferocious expression. "Right now, I find you rather unpleasant to look at. Die!"

Then he shook his head, and in the blink of an eye he was in front of Wain, swinging his fists.

"Hm? Ah—why?!"

Before Wain could react, he took a punch to the face.

"You dared to say something that disgusting in front of my precious daughter, the purest believer of the Church of Dawn, and you're asking me why?"

"Not the face..."

Quite a while later, Wain finally arrived at No. 102 Dumitru District, where the Secret Investigation Bureau was located.

"All I did was ask about that woman. Was that really necessary...? Look what he did to my face. It's swollen!"

Could that woman have been Kali?

No, that wasn't right. The woman in the ball of light yesterday hadn't had golden hair. It had been silvery-white.

Her face didn't look like hers either.

Or maybe she was connected to Yuan and the others?

Looked like he had to investigate properly. If she really was connected to them, he would have to think carefully before reporting it to the ghost...

Name: Wain Loft

Bloodline: Salute People

Profession: Wizard Apprentice (Beginner)

Tenacity Level: 15 (16-1) (Temporary)

Spirit Level: 23.38

Origin: 4 (4)

Talent: None

Skills: Ghost Meditation Method Lv. 2 (0/100), Gonzalez Language Proficient (0/100)

Runic Studies Knowledge Tree: Introduction to Runic Studies

Survival Points: 24