Novel Boss
Chapter 25: [Carteography!]
[Gift: Cartography! (Growth Type)
Grade: Lower Mortal Grade- 10
Experience till next Grade: 0.00% (0/1 Square Miles)
Effect:
-Allows the user to create mental maps based on what he has observed!]
I bought the [Gift] for 25000 GM points, once again leaving me with 10,000. I guess, I got a little too much from a single dungeon run alone.
"A gift that allows you to create a mental map based on what you have observed, huh?" Alice seemed a little disappointed with my [Gift], as she probably was expecting something extraordinary.
"Mortal Grade 10, huh? It's a bit lackluster, I guess," I sighed as I continued speaking," I think I picked the bottom of the straw here."
I pressed my lips and then gave a forced smile, at which Alice just shook her head before speaking," it's bad. Especially given how others are specifically targeting you. Should we focus on helping you get strong? We can buy skills from the shop. That way you can at least stop worrying about Luke and the others."
I wasn't worrying really. But I was happy that Alice was showing concern for me rather than trying to cut me off. It wouldn't be exactly surprising if she started having thoughts like that.
"Maybe. But I was thinking of increasing the grade of my [Gift] first," I made a thoughtful expression but Alice narrowed her eyes at my words as she spoke,"what do you mean?"
"I mean increasing the experience of my gift and then increasing its grade? That way maybe I can unlock some more features of my gift. Is anything wrong?" I acted confused. I already had a rough idea that most of the gifts were fixed from the start, but I had to act like I didn't know that.
It wasn't a precaution against the players around me but… the Gods. The one who could possibly be watching me right now.
"You mean, you can increase your gift's grade?" Alice gulped as she looked at me, with her eyes widening a little.
"Well… yeah? There is a [Growth Type] written beside the name of the [Gift]. Don't you have something like that as well?" I asked with my eyes slowly opening up wider.
Alice shook her head, as she smiled a little," I don't have anything like that. Mark?" She looked at Mark who also did the same. I made an 'Ah!' Expression, before smiling a bit mischievously as I added,
"Let's keep this a secret for now."
They both nodded before I added,
"Let's see. I think I need to observe everything around me, and it will register into my gift. So that means…"
I looked at the empty road, and focused as far as I could. With my [Perception!] I could see as much as 2 miles. I wonder if it will add-
[Gift: Cartography! (Growth Type)
Grade: Lower Mortal Grade- 10
Experience till next Grade: 13.21% (0.1321/1 Square Miles)
Effect:
-Allows the user to create mental maps based on what he has observed!]
'Oh!' I smiled as I understood the method of increasing the [Gift!]. This should be easy.
I then closed my eyes, and bingo! A gray coloured 2D map appeared in front of me, showing the street that I just viewed in front of me.
"Did the grade increase?" Alice spoke with an interested gaze but I shook my head,"no, but the progress bar increased. Right now, I can only see a Gray coloured 2D map. It's kinda bland with no information of any sorts."
She nodded, not worrying too much about it. Though I was a little excited. I wanted to increase my grade as much and as fast as possible.
"Let's return back to the safe point, now. We will take an hour break before we continue in other directions as well," I spoke and they nodded. Since we had a group of NPCs as well, it was better to drop them back at the safe point and continue on our own.
"How is she?" I then turned to the little sleeping girl that I saved. Her mother, the chief's daughter, smiled and answered," she is fine. Just sleeping." Then she kissed the girl's forehead before thanking me once again.
"All right. Let's leave now," Mark picked up the bow and arrows before the rest of us nodded and began walking towards the [Safe Point!], while I kept observing the area around, increasing the experience point as much as I could.
10 minutes later…
[Your Gift [Cartography!] has increased by 1 Grade!]
[Gift: Cartography! (Growth Type)
Grade: Lower Mortal Grade- 9
Experience till next Grade: 20.00% (1/2.5 Square Miles)
Effect:
-Allows the user to create layered mental maps based on what he has observed! The user can switch between different layers at will!]
The distance required to be mapped increased as a feature of layering was added to the Map. I wanted to increase the Grade of [Perception!] or even its distance, but the cost of GM required was more than 100k, so I could just try my best with what I had right now.
30 minutes later, we reached back to the safe point. I took half of the stuff we collected increasing my [Safe Time], while the rest half was divided between Mark and Alice. Since the NPCs were tired, they decided to rest, while Alice and Mark were looking through the [Shop].
I gave them 50,000 Points each, saying that they should gear up with necessary skills as we were going to explore till late night from today. While it was dangerous, it was also necessary since we do not know when we would end up in a situation where fighting in the dark is our only choice.
Though a bit reluctant, they agreed with me, while I decided to go on the roof of our school for now. I was wondering if I could get a proper view from there, increasing my [Gift]'s progress even more.
Since the required area was 2.5 miles, and the radius of my skill is 2 miles, I think it should be feasible.
[Your Gift [Cartography!] has increased by 1 Grade!]
[Your Gift [Cartography!] has increased by 1 Grade!]
[Gift: Cartography! (Growth Type)
Grade: Lower Mortal Grade- 7
Experience till next Grade: 67.41% (6.741/10 Square Miles)
Effect:
-Allows the user to create layered mental maps based on what he has observed! The user can switch between different layers at will!
-Marks all the Players on the Map with green color!
-Allows the user to Mark 3 movable targets!]
"…"
Unlike before, now the map was filled with various green dots. About a dozen of them were within the safe zone, showing various players present there.
But disturbing me from my joy, came a mocking voice, calling me out from the gate of the roof,"Aren't you enjoying yourself a little too much, buddy?"
Turning around, I saw Tristan standing there with Julia. Both of them observed me with a smirk on their face.
"What do you want?" I asked as I observed them, while something peculiar caught my attention.
"Hehe. What do you think I want?" He observed me with a deep gaze before his eyes turned serious and spoke,
"You dare not pretend not knowing anything, you fucker. You already knew Julia is mine, yet you fucking dared to force your way with her, you bastard. I would have ignored anything else. I am a man of principles… But buddy… There are limits that shouldn't be crossed."
I could see the fury and disgust in his eyes. From the way he was looking at me, it seemed like he was hell bent on killing me.
The situation was absurd. It was too nonsensical. But then again… it all made sense. After all…
My map was showing only one green dot on the roof right now.
One of them was a doppelganger.