Chapter 28: Does Gramps Have a Thing for Elves?

    ''What the hell just happened?'' I ask with utter confusion.

    The situation was absurd; I became some monster companion, got an emblem forced on me, and then subsequently removed, entrusted with a fancy plant bag, mercy-killed an elf under compulsion, usurped an emblem, and I''ve gone up three levels. I tried to calm my neurotic tendency by reading the new emblem.

    This emblem was a reward chosen by the progenitor of the Elf race for triumphs worthy of the Gods and inherited by all descendants.

    The progenitor elf was a master magus and wished his descendants to follow in his footsteps in mastering the arcane.

    Magic and Mana related Traits and Skills are easier to acquire and receive a bonus to earned experience.

    All mana costs, including upkeep, are reduced by 25%.

    Mana regeneration receives a minor increase.

    This emblem cannot be equipped.

    This emblem will be usurped through death.

    ''What bullshit is this? I was born being bullied by a child armed with a bucket and a knife. Meanwhile, all elves are born destined to be master magicians?''

    ''I can understand why someone tried to kill her if something as amazing as this is transferred through death. That''s a crazy thought... I wonder if someone complained to Gramps about how overpowered elves were, and that last line was added as a concession.''

    ''I mean, now I have this absurd emblem. Although, doesn''t this paint a huge target on my back? Now, not only am I a monster slime, but I also have some legendary elf emblem. I need to level up [Identity Block]... And get out of this forest.''

    My immediate plan was to head east and get far away, but I wanted to try both my new forms before departure. The elf form was a mess; I could tell it was trying to copy Sylthaeryn, as she was my only point of reference, but it looked like she had crawled out of a vat of acid and missing a leg.

    After going back and forth through ideas and traits, I decided to buy [Enhanced Intellect] and [Enhanced Vitality] and then keep my final point for an emergency like buying [Magic Resistance (Lesser)] or possibly [Dark Vision]. They weren''t the most exciting choices, but I wanted durability and mental capacity if I was heading into unknown territory.

    Increases mental processing and memory capacity per trait level.

    Increases your lifeforce per trait level.

    The vitality increase was hard to judge, but the intellect was noticeable as it reduced the maintenance on [Shapeshifting Mimicry].

    Speeding along as my wolf with reinforced limbs was my best way to travel by far, and I just reached the pond, but I wanted to go past the pond and into the unknown. However, the sun wasn''t cooperating, and it was about the time I''d usually settle down and practice before bed.

    ''Actually, I changed my mind. I want to keep traveling during the night, so let''s grab [Dark Vision].''

    Enhances vision to perceive in conditions with either little or no light.

    Vision distance is 20% per trait level.

    My surroundings immediately lit up with near-perfect clarity, and I could see the clear dividing line where my [Dark Vision] expired and my normal vision continued. Journeying through the night was a new experience, and after what seemed like hours of uninterrupted travel, I spotted what looked like a cliffside in the distance through the breaks in the treetops. During my nighttime run, two more surprises popped up.

    ''I have been using my mana constantly since I got it, especially reinforcing my wolf legs, but I can''t help but think this is because of the elf bullshit... Seriously, Gramps, do you have an elf fetish or something?''

    Now that I had a new landmark spotted, I decided to make a temporary tree home and get some rest. While I didn''t feel bodily fatigue due to my nature as a slime, I was concerned about what mental fatigue would do and decided to err on the side of caution.