Chapter 295: Attributeless [1]
"...As promised, I will now serve you."
The Conductor stood before me, bowing slightly, its lips stretching as it spoke.
I nodded silently before crossing my arms and leaning back on my chair. There were a lot of things that I wanted to ask it, but before any of that, I needed to check its profile as I turned on my laptop and opened up the app.
─────
▪ Basic Node: Containment Vessel
▪ Basic Node: Trait Transfer
▪ Intermediate Node: Anamnesis
▶ Dreamwalker (Conceptualization)
- [Body Morphosis]
▶ Mirelle (Warden)
- [Innocent Giggle]
▶ Mr. Jingles (Illusionist)
- [?????]
▶ The Conductor (Sonorous)
- [?????]
─────
"....."
As expected, there was no label for the conductor’s skill. I was still too weak to see it. Not only that, but staring at the Conductor in front of me, I could see that its presence was a lot less overwhelming than it was in the past.
"Has your power decreased because of me?"
"...Momentarily, yes."
Momentarily...
"I suppose that if I get stronger, you’ll also get stronger?"
"Correct."
Hearing the Conductor’s confirmation, I nodded slowly before continuing to lean back on the chair while musing over the situation.
It was amidst such a situation that I finally took notice of something.
"Huh?"
I sat up while looking at the laptop.
"Innocent Giggle?"
The instant I spoke the skill’s name aloud, I froze. My expression shifted sharply as my gaze snapped toward the distant painting, where a familiar head slowly emerged.
"....?"
She cocked her head while staring at me. At the same time, she extended her hand, the meaning behind her actions obvious, ’Chips. Give them to me.’
I could only laugh bitterly at the sight of her.
’Well, I guess now that I’ve reached the Third Order, it only makes sense that I can see her skill.’
When I reached the Fourth Order, I was most likely going to see Mr. Jingles’s skill tab.
’Talking about Mr. Jingles, now that I’ve increased in strength, I should be able to use its skill again, right?’
I looked towards the box on the right side of the room, and to my surprise, it had now filled back with clown outfits. From the wig to the shoes. I could see multiple sets of each.
"Nice."
My hand clenched tightly in celebration.
This was certainly going to be useful.
’The good thing about the hypnosis is that it lasts for quite some time.’
Even after some time had passed since I’d put myself under, the skill remained active. It wouldn’t last forever, but given its duration, it was still more than worthwhile. In case a similar scenario occurred, I planned on saving up one set of clothes to hypnotize myself.
The main issue still was Mirelle’s skill.
I didn’t really know how to feel about it. I thought about potentially using [Trait Transfer] on the skill and felt my face burn.
Surely I wouldn’t start giggling while using it, right?
"At least the skill is useful."
It could negate the effect of an anomaly for a brief moment of time.
"Hmm."
Suddenly, the Conductor began to move.
I lifted my head to see the Conductor move before Mirelle, who shrank back a little. She then looked at me.
"H... help."
I ignored her plight and just looked at the Conductor. What was it trying to do?
Flick!
My phone suddenly flickered, and a clown appeared.
Its eyes faced the direction of the Conductor.
’What is this pervert doing?’
I looked at the clown.
As if also sensing the clown, the conductor turned its attention towards it. The screen flickered back to black, but with a single wave of the Conductor’s hand, the screen flickered back on, and Mr. Jingles appeared in it, looking somewhat panicked.
"Hmm."
The Conductor’s face squinted further.
As if not enough, it suddenly turned its head to face the corner of the room where a certain shadow appeared.
The moment the Conductor’s gaze fell on the shadow, it trembled.
’What sort of situation is this?’
Taking a look at everyone, it was clear that they were all intimidated by the Conductor’s presence.
But it made sense. The Conductor was an <A> ranked anomaly. Even though its strength was suppressed, it was still stronger than the others.
Eventually, the shadow began to rise up from the ground as the Dreamwalker appeared.
It didn’t even look my way.
’I guess it’s still somewhat annoyed by me.’
I looked at its loyalty points: 57. It was neither horrible nor bad, but it had been higher. The deaths it had sustained in the Hourglass Gate were the biggest contributor to its fall.
Still, that was besides the point.
Looking at everyone present and then the Conductor, I was curious to see what it was planning on doing.
And soon—
The Conductor turned its attention towards me.
Although its eyes were closed, I could feel a certain something in its expression as I felt my skin rise for a second.
Wait...
I had a sudden bad feeling.
"Cello."
The Conductor pointed at the Dreamwalker.
"Vocals."
The Conductor pointed at Mirelle.
"Electrics."
The Conductor pointed at Mr. Jingles.
"And..."
The Conductor then pointed at me.
"Piano."
I opened my mouth, but found the words leaving my body as Mirelle, Mr. Jingles, and even the Dreamwalker all looked at me while secretly shaking their heads, stopping at the exact moment the Conductor looked at them.
I swallowed silently while turning my attention towards the Conductor as it moved closer to me, pressing its hand on the table.
"You’ve got the makings of a great band. With your piano and my conducting skill, we can create something incredible."
Leaning its body closer to me, the Conductor’s lips stretched further.
Its voice whispered shortly after.
"...We’ll be able to create something even grander than what we’ve just created. Something that can take over the entire world. We’ll create an even more perfect piece. Something that will be remembered for years to come. Not bad, right?"
A tense silence followed right after as I looked at the Conductor.
From the corner of my eye, I could see the others all looking at me.
I bit my lips.
I imagined the grand scenario that the Conductor had created.
A large stage.
Thousands of people.
Mirelle standing by the microphone. The clown controlling the lights and electronics. The Dreamwalker moving the Cello. The Conductor at the center, and... me at the piano.
I could see it all.
My heart raced at the scenario as the Conductor’s voice whispered in the air once more, its voice filled with temptation.
"What do you say...? I can help you achieve such a dream. Give me the order, and I’ll do it."
Taking a deep breath, I looked at the Conductor.
The stares coming from the others grew even more intense.
But I paid them no mind.
I continued to imagine the scenario.
Thousands, if not millions, all tuning in to watch me. All eventually killing themselves as we played.
Blood spilling everywhere...
Mirelle giggling at the sight. Guilds putting me on a hitlist.
Chaos all over the world.
I smiled then as I looked at the Conductor.
"Absolutely not. Never. Not a chance. Don’t even bring it up again."
The Conductor’s smile froze, and six hands shot in the air at the same time.
"....!?"
"....!!"
"....!"
─────
Mirelle :
Loyalty : 72--> 81 [+9]
Dreamwalker :
Loyalty : 57--> 63 [+6]
Mr. Jingles :
Loyalty : 50--> 55 [+5]
─────
My lips twitched at the sight.
How fickle..