Along the coastline of the Grant Sea.
Shiayar watched the tense figures surrounding Silvia moving further away toward the Duke's Manor and couldn't help but stretch lazily.
In his mind, rows of azure text swiftly flitted through.
[Beginner Quest Phase Three: Ensure that the Duke's daughter Silvia's affection level exceeds 30 points. Objective achieved.]
[Current Objective Affection Level: 52/30 (Trust)]
[Quest Reward has been tallied.]
[Based on the host's overall performance in this quest phase, the following rewards are granted: 100,500 Classless Experience Points, Skill Seed*3]
In any case, I've finally completed it.
It wasn't in vain that I spent so much time and effort preparing for this phase of the quest.
Shiayar rubbed his temples and tossed the two thick books in his hands, "How to Get Along with the Opposite Sex (Beginner)" and "Introduction to Psychology," into Shiny's Spatial Pocket.
It couldn't be helped. Whether before or after transmigrating, he had never actively pursued anyone of the opposite sex; he was the epitome of a passive otaku. For him to take the initiative to court a female character was indeed a tall order. He had no choice but to mimic others and learn on the fly as he went along.
Fortunately, Shiayar's hastily learned social skills didn't fail him, and his on-the-spot performance was, so to speak, 'Perfection.'
Of course, although his conversations with Silvia had been prepared in advance, they were indeed his true thoughts. From the perspective of a 21st-century transmigrator, acts such as witch hunts were inherently despicable to Shiayar.
His gaze moved over the system prompts, reading the information they provided.
According to the description on the system panel, an affection level of 30 points falls under the category of "acquaintance."
If that was the goal, then all he needed to do was find opportunities to interact with Silvia inside the Duke's Manor. Spending a few more days to become familiar with her face would suffice to achieve the objective.
However, if he truly proceeded in that manner, both the task evaluation and the final task reward would only be minimal.
That's why Shiayar hadn't hesitated to face the risk of the dusk pollution. He planned an encounter by the Grant Sea on a winter night, successfully elevating Silvia's affection level to the "Trust" stage.
This was an achievement that mere familiarity couldn't hope to reach.
If her affection level had increased even further by a dozen points to reach the status of a close confidante, she might have hesitated before tactfully refusing a request for close physical contact.
And the rewards subsequently granted by the system did not disappoint Shiayar.
One hundred thousand Classless Experience Points went without saying; it was enough to upgrade several High Order skills to "Perfection" with surplus to spare.
At this moment, it was perfect for filling in the gaps in Shiny's other skill proficiencies.
Moreover, Shiayar was not too far from establishing his 3rd Soul Pact, and this contribution of one hundred thousand Classless Experience Points was timely.
However, compared to the foreseeable massive influx of Classless Experience Points, the other item in the quest reward—"Skill Seed*3"—was an even more delightful surprise for Shiayar.
The role of a Skill Seed is not to improve the proficiency of Pet Beast skills. Instead, it is to grant Pet Beasts entirely new skills. It not only allows for learning skills beyond racial limitations, but with enough deduction and training, even creating a brand-new skill becomes possible.
Before this, Shiayar had only obtained a single Skill Seed, with which he enabled Silver to learn "Moon Reading," the foundation of its ability system.
To suddenly receive three was an unexpected joy.
With these three Skill Seeds, it's time to enhance Silver's offensive skills.
After all, having 'Moon Reading' already, it seems a bit wasteful not to pair it up with 'Amaterasu.'
Besides, there are many highly practical skills in Shiny's Space-type waiting to be learned…
However, no matter how much I make up for their weaknesses, Shiny and Silver are still Pet Beasts primarily focused on support and control.
With that in mind... my 3rd Soul Pact should involve choosing a Pet Beast with sufficient offensive combat ability.
As his thoughts flickered, Shiayar noticed the new prompt that had emerged in his mind.
[Beginner quest status has been updated]
[Quest Objective 4: Complete the adult ceremony of the Duke of Azure Garden's family and become the core member of the family through the ceremony, thereby truly joining Elder Norton's plan.]
[Echo of History - The first node of 'Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden' has been reached]
[The current historical node has been locked. Please choose whether to leave the Echo of History or continue to stay and complete the quest objectives.]
As expected, it's not far from what I guessed.
With Silvia's repeated loss of control, that traitorous old geezer Norton should be getting restless.
As Shiayar glanced at the information on the system panel, he nodded slightly.
Also, it seems we have reached the save point of this 'Echo of History.'
Having spent a few days in the 'Echo of History,' Shiayar had gained some understanding of this secret realm unknown to others.
It was not as he had initially guessed, a mere reflection that could be seen but not touched...
Every character that appeared in this Echo of History was indeed no different from real-life creatures.
Compared to so-called "reflections in the lake," this place resembled more a lost, real world from the long river of history.
Of course, this was all just Shiayar's conjecture, which he still needed to verify.
Shiayar didn't hesitate and chose to leave the Echo of History directly.
He had already received the message Shiny had sent through the Soul Pact—this space-time was rejecting it, and they couldn't stay much longer.
Moreover, the little snub-nosed monkey had sensed that the Echo of History had left a mark on them.
If they wished to enter again in the future, it seemed it wouldn't be necessary to be in the Azure Garden ruins. Instead, they could enter from anywhere, anytime.
On the other hand, with Shiayar's personality, he didn't want to rashly challenge the 4th stage of the quest.
He now needed time to digest the rewards of this mission and then transform them into something of his own.
In this extraordinary world, if one wished to survive longer, one's own strength is the only true reliance.
Accompanied by a wave of dizzying distortion, Shiayar woke up in the ruins.
He checked the mechanical clock he had placed beside him earlier; the clock's dial indicated that just over an hour had passed since he entered.
Without a doubt, the Echo of History and the current world were two completely independent time-spaces.
Shiayar didn't stay long but immediately left the Gray White Hills using Shiny's "Flash."
He hadn't forgotten that when the Echo of History had revived here earlier, there had been thunderous roars and earthquakes, creating quite a commotion.
It was likely only a matter of time before strong individuals from the nearby Empire's military would come to investigate the area.
Shiayar had used political contributions to obtain the right to archaeological study in the Gray White Hills. While this move could certainly be traced by official powers, he didn't wish to engage with them in such an unprepared state.
An hour later, Shiayar was already on the steam train leaving Resa City, heading towards the Empire's capital.
He saw the pitch-black giant dragon speeding across the distant sky.
And upon the Black Dragon stood a slender figure.
The Black Scales Drake exclusive to the Royal Breeding Institute, by its size, should already have broken through the Sovereign's limit.
A Titled Rank Beastmaster of the Empire's military?
Shiayar raised an eyebrow.
The Echo of History of the Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden.
It seemed it had attracted some rather significant figures.