A Novel Concept - A death a day, MC will live anyway!

Chapter 284: Putting One’s Affairs in Order

Kazuki was welcomed as a hero. His subordinates knelt in solemn respect, honoring their Champion. However, before the atmosphere grew too heavy, they broke rank, rushing toward their leader. Within seconds, Kazuki was hoisted into the air like a rock star, smiling as cheers echoed around him.

The sight struck Priam as odd until it clicked: the hoplites revered their general as much as they loved him. A mix of respect and joy, the duality of the ceremony was refreshing to witness.

That wasn’t the only thing worth noting. Priam’s draconic instincts stirred, refusing to fully calm whenever Kazuki was around. There was only one reason his bloodline would keep him on edge: the Tribulations and their rewards had vaulted Kazuki back into the ranks of the most dangerous rivals. If he managed to master his new Concept...

Priam’s heart raced at the thought of sparring with his friend.

The next few hours flew by. Following their leader's example, the hoplite soldiers triggered their Tribulations in turns. Priam tended to forget this, but these warriors were the best among billions. Trained by Kazuki, hardened by the Necromoon hordes, equipped by the Sun Shop, and armed with knowledge of what awaited them, they passed their trials with flying colors.

Only Hyshana chose to wait. The general wanted to bide her time to attempt a quadruple Tribulation.

“My talent may not match yours or your rivals', but even the hardest exam becomes manageable when you know the questions in advance. Thanks to you, that’s exactly my position,” she said, nodding at Priam.

“There’s truth in that, but it’s still a risk. Think hard before you make that leap,” Priam advised.

“Without me, my wife would be the heroine of this generation,” Kazuki chimed in, beaming with pride. “I have absolute faith in her.”

There wasn’t much else to say. Leaving the craftsmen to continue building the Valaryth outpost under Myuri’s supervision, the rivals returned to Elysium. As they traveled, Priam noted a few differences from the erased timeline.

The second Terror hadn’t shown up, possibly because they had shifted the timing of the Tribulations… or maybe due to the lack of blood in the ocean. Priam could only hope Titus hadn’t crossed its path this time. He had considered going after him but stopped himself: he wasn’t ready to face the Terror.

Another difference was Esmée’s absence. In the other timeline, she had returned to observe the Tribulations. She must have figured out that Priam had used Back in Time and adjusted her plans accordingly. Since her presence wasn’t urgent, Priam decided it was time to visit the Oasis merchant.

“Merchant Ymir.”

“Lord Priam.” The half-elf bowed. “Judging by the hoplites’ high spirits, I assume your endeavor was a success.”

“They made good use of the intel I gave them to pass their Tribulations,” Priam confirmed, then furrowed his brow. “Now that I think about it, I never offered to help with yours, did I?”

His relationship with Ymir was more professional than the ones he shared with Louis or Myuri, but the merchant had been one of the first members of Oasis. Priam hoped they could maintain a good rapport.

“It’s nothing. We merchants advance by purchasing our upgrades from the System. What costs you Potential, I pay for in cold hard cash or Sun Points. Buying and selling is literally how we progress.”

“Oh.” What was likely obvious to the natives of this universe was news to Priam. Talking further, he learned that Ymir didn’t face Tribulations like Priam. Instead, he had goals to achieve: move large volumes of goods, trade rare items, gather crucial intel, or broker contracts with heroes. The missions were varied and tailored to each merchant.

Despite the lack of deadly trials, the profession was challenging due to High Tribulations. The System couldn’t help merchants master Supremacies, and purchasing affinities for commerce-based Concepts was expensive. Outrageously expensive.

“Hence why so few merchants Tier up. My kind is naturally cautious, and there comes a point when upgrades are so costly only heirs of massive companies can afford them. This concentrates rare items in major cities and capitals.”

Priam thought of Ève and his two remaining rivals making their way to the heart of the Knaya Empire. Was he making a mistake staying in his secluded corner? I’ll have to travel eventually, but for now, the Sun Shop offsets the need for access to civilization.

“What kind of power does a wealthy merchant wield?”

Ymir’s smile turned sharp. “Depending on his expertise, they might connect unique artisans or track down hundreds of needles in one haystack. Some focus on gathering intelligence, but the Grand Guardian of Secrets has a near-monopoly on that market,” he said, gesturing to the Menhir of Secrets standing at the Forum’s center.

“What should I fear from a shady merchant?”

“If your willpower or charisma are too low, they could persuade you to buy any trinket at a hundred times its value, trick you into signing predatory contracts, or get you to spill more than you intended.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Priam could already imagine the power some crime lords held in a universe where breaking magical contracts could be… final.

“Aren’t they afraid of getting robbed?”

Ymir grinned. “Most of us choose a protector with a bright fate to defend us.”

Looking at the Oasis merchant, Priam realized their relationship would likely become more symbiotic. If he needed rare metals for Promesse, Ymir would find them. In return, Priam would have to protect Ymir so he could do his job in peace. Like a feudal lord and his vassal…

“I’m more than just your protector—I’m a resourceful man,” Priam said with a smile, opening a portal to Concepts Archipelago. “In the erased timeline, I was able to duplicate all your items.”

Ymir’s smile widened. The two then began unloading the goods into the merchant’s shop until they reached the plants.

“My payment for the duplication,” Priam explained, keeping the samples in his internal world.

“Naturally. I assume I took a deposit? Allow me to refund you.”

Priam left the merchant with an extra one million four hundred thousand Sun Points in his pocket. Grinning, he made his way toward Log-a-Rhythm. Before focusing on his training, there was one last thing to do: feed his tree with the plant samples from Ymir.

Log-a-rhythm

Status

Current POT: 1 810

Passive gain: 100 (+250) (+40) POT/day.

(+250 POT/day: bonus - Guardian of the Forest V)

(+40 POT/day: bonus - Natural Growth IV)

Measurements

Height of the tree crown: 25 meters

Depth reached by the roots: 20 meters

Interior Area: 68 m² (57 m² +20%) (Ceiling Height: 3 meters)

Features

Abundance - Life III

Abundance - Aether II

Protection IV

Tribulation Resistance II

Secret Passage I

Land Owner II

Protective Barrier VII

Camouflage II

Guardian of the Forest VII

Mighty roots I

Necro Purification VII

Natural Growth IV

Necro Resistance III

Rot Resistance II

Underground II

Age: 56 days since creation

As if he had sensed the event coming, an elf stood waiting at the foot of the Tal Quercus.

"Lamnas," Priam greeted him with a smile.

"My Lord."

The title caught Priam off guard. When Ymir used it, it was a sign of respect, much like a server addressing royalty in the twenty-first century. Despite their politeness, there was little chance the waiter considered themselves inferior to the monarch. Lamnas, however, spoke with a deference that made Priam uncomfortable.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"You don’t have to call me that, you know."

The botanist started trembling. "Did I do something to displease you, my Lord?" His wide eyes betrayed a flash of panic.

"What? No, not at all!" Priam grimaced. The last thing he wanted was to scare his subordinate. "I just meant you can call me by my name if you prefer. My life’s no more valuable than yours."

At least, in a general sense. If it came down to him or Lamnas dying, Priam wouldn’t throw himself on the bullet’s path. However, he had the emotional intelligence not to say that out loud.

"Please allow me to continue addressing you by your title."

The idea of doing otherwise seemed to disturb the young elf. Seeing no reason to insist—it might have been important in Lamnas’ culture—Priam nodded.

"As you wish." He gestured toward the enormous tree. "I was about to feed some of Ymir’s plant samples to Log-a-rhythm."

A smile lit up Lamnas’ face. Tending to plants came naturally to him. The two of them ascended to the crown of the tree. On a wooden platform overlooking Oasis, they began unpacking the various plant specimens Priam had acquired from Ymir.

"A mutant prunus avium!" Lamnas exclaimed joyfully, lifting a small potted shrub of a wild cherry tree. He seemed excited with each new discovery.

"Are these rare samples?" Priam asked, noting his gardener’s enthusiasm.

"Not really. I had a few in my previous garden."

"Yet you seem happy to see them."

"It feels like reuniting with old friends… Plus, they’ll be a great help to Lord Log-a-rhythm."

Priam decided not to comment on the title.

"You think their sacrifice will yield a lot of Potential?"

Lamnas' expression turned to horror. "Sacrifice?! Why would you do something so... unnatural?!"

"Log-a-rhythm can siphon the Potential from these plants to fuel its growth," Priam explained.

"It’s the privilege of a Tal Quercus, but such a sacrifice isn’t necessary! It’s barbaric." Lamnas turned pale as he realized who he was talking to. "I... I didn’t mean to imply that you’re barbaric, my Lord, I—"

"It’s fine," Priam reassured him. "What do you mean by ‘not necessary’?"

"Lord Log-a-rhythm is a tree. It can gain all the benefits of these samples through grafting."

It was so obvious that Priam didn’t know what to say. "Oh..."

"Besides, it seems to be on the path to becoming a guardian. We could plant some of these samples in its domain to cultivate them. Over time, this will yield far more Potential than a one-time sacrifice."

Priam had already considered expanding Oasis to channel more Potential into his tree, and Lamnas' suggestion—diversifying the forest—fit perfectly into that plan. Trees were meant to grow long-term, and the cost of some of Log-a-rhythm’s features reflected that reality.

"In the past, sacrificing things like redwood seeds or tea bushes unlocked features. Can it be done without sacrifices?"

"There are two ways. The first is artificial, via grafting." Lamnas gently took hold of a thin branch. "We implant a bud or fragment from another plant here. It’s similar to organ transplantation. If the graft takes, the two plants merge, retaining their respective qualities. For instance, a weak fruit tree grafted onto a stronger one can produce better fruit while gaining resistance to disease."

Priam knew the principle, thanks to some of his family members who worked in viticulture. Most French vineyards had been devastated by an insect pest a hundred and fifty years earlier. Only by grafting authentic vines onto American rootstock had the wine industry survived.

"Grafts can fail," he pointed out.

"With my skills, I’m confident I can graft any Low Tiers plants," Lamnas assured him. "The second method is natural: simply plant a specimen, then wait for its roots to join with Tal Quercus, and for the plant to accept its authority. This forms a giant organism, like a sort of clonal colony. The fact that there is already a flow of Potential in Oasis proves that Log-a-rhythm is on the right path."

Priam nodded. Potential was a personal resource, and the fact that his tree could absorb it from plants within its domain meant their relationship was at least symbiotic.

"It’ll take longer, but the gains will be exponential in the long run," Priam summarized.

"Exactly."

"Alright."

Appointing Lamnas as Oasis' head gardener, Priam tasked him with grafting and planting Ymir’s samples. More than just his home, Log-a-rhythm was a formidable resource—one that would undoubtedly prove vital as the cornerstone of Oasis.

"You can start with the grafts right away, but hold off on the planting. In a few days, a rival might use Log-a-rhythm for their Tribulations."

"That sounds dangerous..."

"It is, but it’s also an opportunity for it."

By the time Priam left the platform, Lamnas was already grafting cherry branches onto Log-a-rhythm. Blueberry might soon make magical pies.

After passing along all his notes to the various crafters, Priam retreated to his room. The warm wood of Log-a-rhythm and the soft glow of its sap soothed him as he planned for the future.

Oasis could now run itself. His friends and family were busy with their own projects and had everything they needed to progress. Rose had asked for his help with some experiments, and his father was crafting traps to boost his resistances, but nothing was ready just yet. For the first time in a long while, Priam had time to himself.

"A precious resource to smash through the wall in front of me," he mused.

The looming shadow of the quintuple Tribulation weighed on him, but he had options now. He would optimize his stats, fuse his skills, temper his body, and attempt the Colosseum again. With his add-on, Priam created a schedule to maximize his growth while covering all his bases.

Mornings would be spent sparring with Louis and the hoplites to hone his martial skills. Kazuki had warned him that the gains would be slower than in life-or-death fights, but sparring had the advantage of exposing weaknesses. Plus, the lessons learned from traditional training were invaluable to deepen the fundamentals. His experience with [Unrelenting Thrust] proved that there were ideal prerequisites to unlock this way. I want them all.

While Priam had a gift for gaining ideal resistances, his spear skills didn’t come as easily. He would have to roll up his sleeves and put in the work. If it took swinging his blade a million times to hit the next milestone, he would do it.

Afternoons would be dedicated to aether training. His meridians were now reorganized to accommodate seven gates, but each would require active tempering. To reduce the margin of error, Priam needed to increase his aether proficiency. Traps, puzzles, rune hacking, every vicious exercise from the Phoenix prince... Priam was ready. It would be brutal, but he was already grinning at the challenge.

"Like I’d ever complain about magical training."

He had dreamed too long of this pre-Tutorial to complain now.

It made for packed days, but Priam was ready to go further. He refused to waste a third of his days sleeping. His vitality allowed him to stay awake for extended periods, so he would spend two out of every three nights out, farming Sun Points, applying the day’s lessons, and becoming a phantom. Jasmine had offered to teach him, and Priam accepted. From the phoenix, fighters chose an archetype at high levels—warrior, tank, mage, sniper, assassin...

Priam was too greedy to choose; he wanted it all. The Phoenix prince had said it was impossible... but Priam was the juggernaut. He rejected this concept.

If all went well, it would take only a few days to secure Oasis against Dishnu’s Tribulations. Then...

"It’ll be time for my first tempering."

Smiling, Priam let sleep take him. As his mind drifted off, he wondered which resistance to choose for his first gate.

Status:

PHYSICAL:

Strength 807

Constitution 1 187

Agility 948

Vitality 1 130

Perception 828

MENTAL:

Vivacity (D) 599

Dexterity 690

Memory 891

Willpower 987

Charisma 648

META:

Meta-affinity 945

Meta-focus 488

Meta-endurance 833

Meta-perception 443

Meta-chance 379

Meta-authority 285

Potential: 17 912

Tier 0

Sun points: 2 489 003 (+1 488 153)

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED

Concepts:

• Breath (T0): 100% / Dormant
• Fire (T0): 100% / Unity
• Pyro (T1): 100% / Symphony
• Mist (T1): 100% / Symphony

Bloodlines:

• Phoenix: 2%
• Dragon: <>

Rewards standing:

• Fusion Token - Skill (Epic) x2
• Evolution Token - Skill (Legendary)
• Affinity Token - Tier 1 (30%)
• Alien Concept fragment (7th Terror)
• Talent Token - Upgrade (Seraph)
• Revelation Token - Ideal Prerequisites (Epic)

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 152 days 16 hours 12 minutes 40 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200

Next arc already complete on Patreon if you want to find out what happens /ANovelConcept