The Retired Hero is an Extra

As Jash saw everyone distancing themselves from him, he took giddy steps to enter the mana room, where he would awaken.

It was a white-marble room with runes all over the borders of the walls.

Even though he wasn't sure of their exact usage, it was easy to guess they were Mana Gathering runes and were probably some of the best ones since he was here.

'Maybe the Mana Rooms of Mage Tower are even better,' Jash wondered, but didn't dislike the outcome.

Relaxing and staying low-key was more his style.

Going to the Mage Tower to awaken and spread the news wasn't something on his list, even if it made the awakening much smoother.

Not wanting to distract his mind with knowledge of the Mage Tower, he shook his head.

'No matter the world, it depends on the mana quality and its concentration.' In the end that was all that mattered.

While Jash took unhurried steps, Sera couldn't hide her pang of worry as she was really feeling a little scared.

By her side, Carcel wrapped his hand around her waist, knowing fully well about her worries.

After all, no matter how prepared they were, the chance of a failed awakening was always present.

Everyone can try awakening at any time after they turn 12, but if they fail once, then their internals would be damaged, and going through an awakening again would be even more dangerous.

Comparing Sera's worry to Caera's awakening was futile, given the difference of Jash being the victim of curse or dark magic.

That's why the security of the Ramille Estate was on high alert today. No one except the Ramille couple and Caera was allowed anywhere near the awakening chambers.

That was the only respite to Sera's worry-filled heart.

If not for needing some people to activate the runes in the mana room, Sera would have liked to allow no one else except the three.

Unaware of everything going around him, Jash walked towards the middle of the room, where a large circle was drawn.

He couldn't help reminiscing, 'It's just like last year, except for our positions.'

Even the barrier to protect Caera was the same one casted by Sera to protect him during her awakening.

Meeting their gazes, he could see the love and care they had for him.

The nervousness felt palpable to him, causing him to feel goosebumps on his skin.

Well, the stern and calm expression on his father's timed visage helped Jash calm his excited heart.

'He has too much trust in his blood, or what?' Jash wondered, locking eyes with Carcel.

Carcel could sense his son's feelings and even his heartbeat as he nodded, before instructing the guards to activate the rune formation.

In response, Jash took a deep breath and closed his eyes to calm his state of mind before the process began.

Just as he opened his eyes, they widened in astonishment at the dazzling sight awaiting him.

There stood Carcel, holding a distinct Mana Gem.

Despite never having witnessed all Mana Gems, Jash instinctively knew this one was better than the one used during Caera's awakening.

'Hers was already an A-rank Mana Gem! Could this be...?'

Jash's barely calmed heartbeat quickened again at the thought of using such a rare Mana Gem to awaken, which was almost impossible to buy with any amount of money.

It was so rare that it could only be used during item exchanges of equivalent worth.

After all, a Mana Gem was a highly rare stone found inside monsters in dungeons. Even C-ranked beasts had barely formed Mana Gems, let alone the weaker one.

That is why the appearance of a Mana Gem above A-rank stunned Jash completely.

Of course, he knew Mana Gems were used during awakening despite their rarity, due to it being a pure form of mana, thus increasing the chances of success.

'If I remember correctly, it also has way less impurities than a Mana Stone, posing no injuries while forming the mana core,' Jash recalled the information instilled by Sera.

Even Caera used a rare A-rank Mana Gem, which was so costly it alone could buy a couple of lands in Kenton.

Generally, the number of monsters decreased with the increase in rank, increasing the rarity of mana gems with each rank.

Even then, only a marginal number of those monsters formed a Mana Gem, resulting in a negligible supply.

Yet despite being only one rank above, an Integration-rank Mana Gem was incredibly rarer than an A-rank Mana Gem due to it being a major bottleneck.

Even some S-rank hunters had difficulty getting an Integration-rank Mana Gem, let alone S-rank Mana Gems.

That was just a pipe dream for most.

That is why Jash felt emotional and choked out his words, "Dad... I can use A-rank... just fine. There's no need..."

It didn't matter to him what rank gem was used in his awakening because the memories would somehow balance it out.

"Don't even try to convince me. Your mother would kill me if I cheap out here," Carcel said, giving him a look that said it can't be helped.

"Cough, cough."

Before Jash could rebuke his father, Carcel coughed awkwardly as he was elbowed by Sera.

Helpless, he could only smile at his parents' antics while glancing at Caera.

No hint of jealousy or envy showed on her face despite the difference in treatment. She only gave him a look that said: FIGHTO!

Though grateful, Jash didn't know how to react.

On one hand, Caera was encouraging him and on the other hand, Carcel just gave his own Mana Gem.

It wasn't a guess but a facet, stemming from the knowledge that one could increase their strength in two ways:

First, gradually absorbing Mana from your surroundings and consolidating it in your Mana Core, increasing its power over a long period.

Second, using Mana Gems to move the mana inside the body and gently nourishing the Mana Core with it.

However, absorbing mana through a Mana Gem wasn't advisable as it hindered the natural growth of the Mana Capacity.

Since it would fill before it could grow bigger. Thus, Mana Gems were suggested to be used as assistance to cross a bottleneck and rank up from the peak of the previous rank.

Carcel was already at the peak of S-rank, and this Mana Gem, along with a few more Integration-rank or, if he was lucky, S-rank Mana Gems, would have helped him become SS-rank like in the original plot.

Realizing another change in the plot, Jash smiled wryly, 'Not like I care about the darned plot!'

Finally, Jash took off his shirt and sat in the meditation position.

Carcel held the Integration-Rank Mana Gem and placed it in Jash's hands before returning to his position.

'Beautiful.' That was all Jash could think of as he found unable to shift his focus from the sight of the gem.

It was radiant and similar in appearance to crystals. However, the similarities ended there as it emanated a soothing energy.

It felt both familiar and unfamiliar to Jash as he clasped the Mana Gem in his hand.

'It's just two-three fingers thick and only a little longer than my palm,' observed Jash with intrigue.

Yet what truly dazzled him was the intermixing of seven different colors as they formed black and white in different proportions while some colors didn't mix at all, giving it an ever-changing hue and charm.

Suddenly, a stern voice from Carcel brought him out of his reverie.

"Jash, you may begin awakening now."

***

*Check paragraph comment for reference image of the Mana Gem*