Chapter 329: Dak Demon Gathering Wealth (4k)
The paths within the secret passage were intricate and occasionally changed, making an automatic recording and adjustment map system extremely important.
Moreover, the sorting card already had such a map system, indicating that this concept was feasible.
However, after Dak proposed it, Professor Kazel shook his head and said, “Ordinary map recording systems can be done, but the function of automatic recording and adjustment is quite difficult to achieve; it generally requires the magus to manually record and adjust.”
Dak pondered, “That’s enough for now. However, since we intend to make the ID card a symbol of identity, there should be a grading system.”
Professor Kazel was surprised, “A grading system?”
Dak replied, “Yes, similar to the ranking of white, blue, purple, orange, and gold on magic cards. Higher-grade ID cards have more permissions, such as increasing the number of times one can enter the secret passage each month, or allowing someone else to enter the secret passage with them.”
“This is indeed a good idea. Let me think about it.”
Professor Kazel felt a stir in his heart; he found Dak’s idea very broad and highly referenceable.
Afterwards, they discussed the issue of distributing the ID cards.
ID cards could be used as rewards for various activities and competitions, even as end-of-term rewards.
Additionally, to increase the value of the ID cards, Dak suggested setting up some treasures within the secret passage, like the treasure maps used by heroes and valkyries. This would both test the students and guide them to explore the secret passage gradually.
It would be a waste not to fully utilize such a vast treasure trove.
But these were points for later development.
As for the first competition to promote the ID cards, it was tentatively scheduled for Easter Day.
Easter already had a holiday, so it was perfect timing to hold the Easter Duel Festival, with the ID cards being distributed as Easter eggs.
…
“However, this year, Easter falls on the same day as April Fool’s Day. So there’s still a whole month left.”
After leaving the office, Dak mulled over this.
He certainly coveted the ID card, but the chance of obtaining it from third-year students was extremely low.
But upon careful consideration, not many people knew much about the secret passage. Perhaps fewer people than expected would participate in the Easter festival.
Amidst a group of seniors with entertainment in mind, he might be able to sneak through unnoticed.
Regardless, his intentions were good, but only time would tell how things would play out.
…
In that night’s astronomy class, Professor Metia continued teaching as if nothing had happened.
She always hit the right notes with her students, making the entire class exciting.
…
After the astronomy class ended, Dak naturally had no time to refine any armor.
But tonight was the last day of February, giving him ample time to summarize.
Upon returning to his dormitory, Dak took out paper and pen and made records of the capital sin values in his notebook. Each month-end summary could be compared with the previous month.
Before writing, he thought for a moment and summoned “Meow,” then placed the “Naughty” tag around its neck.
Failure to educate is the father’s fault.
Failure to discipline is the teacher’s laziness.
“Meow” was a typical example of “evil by nature.” Early education had to be strict, making it understand pain.
For its future, Dak could only steel himself to be the bad guy.
“Meow.”
“Meow” shook its head forcefully at Dak.
Last night, it had spent a long time flipping through a dictionary, finally finding the text carved on the wooden plaque, which it rejected afterward.
This just proved the effectiveness of the method.
It must be made to develop a correct sense of right and wrong.
At least hang the plaque for a week… three days!
Dak silently shortened the punishment period.
…
Then he assigned homework to “Meow” and opened the system panel to summarize, comparing it with the end of last month.
[Arrogance: 104-102]
[Envy: 38-38]
[Rage: 85-84]
[Laziness: 64-63]
[Greed: 100-98]
[Gluttony: 69-70]
[Bliss: 109-103]
Seeing this comparison, Dak suddenly realized.
“Have I become so disciplined now?”
He tapped his head, feeling somewhat troubled.
In February, he drew 3 points of “Arrogance,” 4.5 points of “Greed,” and 7.5 points of “Bliss.”
Logically, “Arrogance” should have dropped to 101 points, “Greed” to 95.5 points, and “Bliss” to 101.5 points.
Under Dak’s subtle guidance, these values slightly increased, but not significantly.
Ultimately, the result was a significant overall decrease.
This indicated that he had been very restrained this month.
Even Valentine’s Day did not provoke his desires much.
Although “Arrogance,” “Greed,” and “Bliss” increased, they were minimal.
“If this continues, in the future, I may need to find ways to actively release my desires to absorb ‘Capital Sins.'”
“Unless the ‘Soul Curse’ can advance further, lowering the standard line for absorption.”
Reflecting on his initial difficulties and current situation, things had truly turned full circle.
Dak shook his head, temporarily setting aside this thought, and carefully planned.
So far, he still stored quite a few “Capital Sins.”
“Arrogance” remained at 2.8.
“Bliss” remained at 7.3.
“Greed” remained at 0.5.
These were rough estimates; actual values were not precise.
As for the remaining usable core materials:
① [Dragon’s Inverted Scale]
② [Blessing of the Wind Elemental]
③ [Seven-star Coin]
④ [Soul Powder (Vlad)]
Unmastered techniques included “Zoo,” “Ultimate Skill: Transformation,” and “Love Spell Array.”
Also, “Tri-Armor Spell Formation” needed further research.
Just this brief accounting made Dak realize that his upcoming studies would remain very busy.
“For March, I should seriously consider how to enhance my deck strength.”
“Though February seemed productive, only ‘Meow’ actually contributed.”
“And although the Easter Duel Festival has an element of fun, it is ultimately a formal competition requiring forty magic cards.”
“I don’t have forty high-quality magic cards ready.”
“Upon reflection, among ‘Arrogance,’ ‘Bliss,’ and ‘Greed,’ only ‘Greed’ lacks a third-level card. It’s time to create ‘Greed III.'”
“But creating ‘Greed III’ requires 10 points of ‘Greed.’ With each drop at 1.5 points, that’s at least 7 drops, leaving 3 drops.”
“Those 3 drops equal 4.5 points of ‘Capital Sin’…”
“If I use those 4.5 points of ‘Capital Sin’ on ‘Arrogance,’ combined with the remaining 2.8 points, it totals 7 points, sufficient to cultivate an ‘Arrogance Fruit.'”
“The stored 7.3 points of ‘Bliss’ can also cultivate a ‘Bliss Fruit.'”
“In this way, I can create two new magic golems.”
“But among my core materials, ‘Blessing of the Wind Elemental’ and ‘Seven-star Coin’ are unusable for now. That leaves only ‘Dragon’s Inverted Scale’ and ‘Soul Powder.'”
“‘Arrogance Fruit,’ ‘Bliss Fruit,’ ‘Dragon’s Inverted Scale,’ ‘Soul Powder,’ ‘Cat Grass,’ ‘Fox-eared Grass,’ ‘Dairy Cow Grass’…”
“It’s tough!”
…
Dak couldn’t help but frown.
He really didn’t know what to do.
‘Dragon’s Inverted Scale’ was clearly an excellent material for refining dragon pets, possibly even creating five or six-star magic golems.
But the ‘Cat Grass’ shop didn’t have suitable cat grass for dragon pets…
“Hold on, isn’t there a ‘Goldfish Grass’? Could it be used with ‘Dragon’s Inverted Scale’ to refine a ‘Magikarp’ capable of evolving into ‘Gyarados’?”
“But ‘Magikarp’ is a carp, would ‘Goldfish Grass’ work?”
“And ‘Gyarados’ requires ‘Anger,’ doesn’t it?”
“What about ‘Staryu,’ which can evolve into ‘Mewtwo’? It seems to be a magic golem with a high affinity to ‘Bliss.'”
“But what kind of fish is ‘Staryu’? Could it also be a carp?”
“So ‘Goldfish’ is deprived of its rights?”
“If cultivated into ‘Golduck,’ it would be a loss.”
“So I should take a longer view.”
“This ‘Dragon’s Inverted Scale,’ I’d rather use it to refine a proper dragon magic golem, like a ‘Blue-Eyed White Dragon’ or perhaps a ‘Charmander.'”
Most importantly,
This ‘Dragon’s Inverted Scale’ was the first gift Pandora senior gave him, and he was reluctant to use it too easily.
But if he didn’t use the ‘Dragon’s Inverted Scale,’ he would only have ‘Soul Powder’ left.
But this ‘Soul Powder’ wasn’t easy to use either.
“Such ‘Soul Powder’ typically has two attributes: one related to ‘Vampire’ and the other to ‘Soul.'”
“If it’s a ‘Vampire’ attribute, it should align well with ‘Bliss’ and ‘Bat Grass.'”
“If it’s a ‘Soul’ attribute, the thought comes to mind ‘Gengar,’ which can evolve from ‘Gastly.'”
“But what does ‘Gastly’ require? ‘Greed’ and ‘Weedle Grass’?”
“Or perhaps ‘Draconic Arrow,’ which has both dragon and ghost attributes?”
…
“Or, I could take a big gamble and use the basic refinement method on that bottle of ‘Soul Powder’?”
“Who knows, I might refine another ‘Imp Beast’!”
Thinking this, Dak’s gaze involuntarily shifted to the imp beast hanging upside down on the perch.
He then noticed the imp beast looking down at Meow, who was diligently doing homework on a small desk.
He paid little attention and turned back to continue thinking.
The more he thought, the more restless he became.
This was actually a burst of gambler’s mentality.
But Dak had already experienced refining ‘Huhu,’ ‘Trash Slime,’ ‘Wrestler Eagle,’ and ‘Piplup.’
Though the other three magic golems weren’t as strong as others, they were still quite impressive.
Deep down, he wasn’t entirely confident about Vlad’s ‘Soul Powder.’
He had a notion to simply waste it.
“Using that bottle of ‘Soul Powder’ along with some ‘Bliss,’ without restricting the range, relying purely on chance, who knows what might come out?”
“Somewhat excited.”
…
Finally settling on a use for one of the materials, Dak put down his pen and, taking advantage of the last bit of the night, came behind Meow.
Meow never cut corners when reading or carving.
It focused on reading because it was smart.
It focused on carving because it enjoyed it.
Overall, it had likable traits.
Dak, realizing he hadn’t personally taught it much, decided to give it a lesson tonight.
Around ten-thirty, he finished his lecture and turned to the bathroom to freshen up.
After washing up, he climbed into bed, grabbing the cat grass from the basket beside his bed to pet it.
Halfway through, he noticed Meow, who had completed its homework, eagerly approaching.
Dak looked at it in puzzlement.
Meow could walk on two legs but usually walked on all fours, like a cat.
Yet now, Meow was walking on two legs and hiding its front paws behind its back, acting coyly.
“Mew—”
Meow obediently stopped at the bedside, looking up at him.
Dak sighed and placed the cat grass aside, then picked up Meow and placed it on the bed.
He touched Meow’s coin and said, “Speak, what is it?”
Meow first tugged at the “Naughty” tag around its neck, then brought its left paw, which it had kept hidden, in front of itself, extending it towards Dak.
Inside its pink, tender paw pad was a round, glossy bead!
“What is this?”
Dak initially didn’t understand.
But a moment later, he suddenly understood and exclaimed joyfully, “Treasure Accumulation Skill?”
“Mew!”
Meow nodded vigorously.
It raised the wooden plaque around its neck again.
“This is bargaining!”
Dak couldn’t help but laugh.
He had originally decided to punish Meow for three days, and today was the second evening, leaving only one night.
But Meow didn’t know that…
It seemed Meow really wanted to get rid of that tag.
Dak rubbed its head and asked, “Do you know where you went wrong now?”
For the embodiment of “Greed” to personally hand over its treasure showed that Meow had struggled internally.
If it felt ashamed, it would be the beginning of knowing its mistake.
Indeed, Meow nodded again and pressed the bead into Dak’s palm.
Was this a sign of sincerity?
Dak thought for a moment, picked up the bead, and examined it closely.
The additional effect of “Treasure Accumulation” in the “Treasure Accumulation Skill” was almost like a miracle.
The bead Meow had brought was a deep purple, like an jade pearl, perfectly smooth and radiant inside.
Just holding it in his palm gave it a peculiar sticky sensation.
Dak’s mind stirred. He turned his palm over, and the bead stuck to it, not falling off.
“This bead…”
