Chapter 54 I Just Want Peace!

Ah, life sure is sweet! For once, Jack was actually taking things easy. In recent weeks, he had been running all over the place… but no longer!

He'd now mostly spend his days raising foxes, in both senses of the term.

It all started when he realized that exercise could actually improve his Evil God Body's adult form. Thus had begun a bizarre, mostly fox-oriented workout.

1. In the morning, they'd play tag. Whoever was caught would be stuck on "Flame Lord Watching Duty", meaning they wouldn't get to play all the fun games.

2. At lunch, he'd raise foxes laying on sticks upward as they acted as training weights, chuckling all the while.

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3. Then, in the evening, he'd visit the Myriad Treasure Pavilion to nag that one Appraiser into teaching him his craft. Officially, it was to buff his Fate Vision, but really he was just curious.

As for when he wasn't training himself… he'd sit back in the Flame courtyard, ordering his minions as an Emperor would.

"I told Aisha I'd reward her back then. Alright, one of you, hide in a box, and we'll mail her a fluffy fox. I'm sure she'll love it, given her love for plushies!"

"Divination fox, come here! I'll teach you a method I just thought about so you can run the business by yourself. Hope you like tarot cards because you'll soon be an expert!"

"Lizzy's been asking for a helper since she's overworked with the Masquerade preparations. I'll send three of you to help; she ought to feel valued!"

"I need you all to collect information. I want to know the movements of the enemies we may have made recently: Guards, Underground, Thunder Palace, and more."

He kept sending his foxes on errands, yet the little buggers never complained. They were the perfect troops, as any human soldier would have doubted him for sure.

There was even a hero that returned to them. He came swaggering back, an eye missing and burn marks on his fur, but still in high spirits.

[Terrorist Fox Has Completed his Quest!]

[Fire Manipulation (D) Evolved!]

[Obtained Fire Bombing! (C)]

Jack was pleasantly surprised. By completing a quest, his fox not only had received a skill, a Terrorist Title (+Destruction), but its stats had increased by a whopping 20% bonus!

As for what had transpired during the quest, it had bombed some Underground sites along with self-proclaimed revolutionaries. That had to be a good thing, right?

Thus Jack just kept minding his own business, enjoying the heck out of life, all because of a specific event a few days ago…

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He was training recklessly.

He looked like a junkie in need of a fix as he kept doing reps, staring at his status screen, and expecting to see the smallest of improvements.

"1…20… 50… 100! Just a few more dozens set!" Jack looked so focused, as if raising foxes toward Heaven was his life goal. In fact, he was so focused that it had worried the Ghost.

It was one thing to show such zeal for magic, but even weight training?! If he kept going like this, his pupil would never ever have a life! That's when he felt he had to step up.

"Kid, stop training for a second."

"Can't! If I lose momentum, I won't be able to—"

The Old Ghost extended a claw of darkness, taking the weights away. They needed to talk, and now. After all, this kid was still his pupil, even if mostly circumstantial.

"Kid, you've been running everywhere recently just like a headless chicken. You see one way to become stronger, and you desperately jump on it!"

"You don't understand! This world's dangerous and—"

"Just take a goddamn break and think!" The Old Ghost thundered, his ethereal face showing… genuine concern?! Then he kept going, sighing.

"You're like a drowning man grasping the first thing he sees. Just relax, alright? You shouldn't worry about all that stuff at your age, even if you're reincarnated!"

"Y-You actually knew?!"

"Kid, it'd be weirder if I didn't…."

"Anyway, kid. Stop simply going after random Power-Ups and think about what you truly want in this world. As for whoever stands between you and those dreams… KILL!"

As expected of an Evil Spirit, his stance could only be called radical. Still, it had brought Jack back to his senses, and he had decided to put order back in his life!

"Jack, what do you truly want?" He had mused for a while to no one.

"Woo!" (Pats and meat, Master!)

"Woo!" (Fun and games too!)

Amidst a cacophony of "Woos", all the foxes kept recommending one thing or another. So what if they hadn't followed the conversation? They just wanted to cheer their Master up!

But eventually, he had come up with an answer, even amending a specific piece of writing in his room.

| Great Survival Mantra |

1. Avoid the gods

2. Reject magical contracts

3. Remain low-key as of now

4. Train like your life depends on it!

That's when he changed the Title. Great Survival Mantra —> Great Living Mantra! Then he chuckled as he added a line: <0. Do it all while enjoying the hell out of life!"

This was his new resolve. He'd still train and scheme, but he'd make it fun! Thus he kept enjoying his life, playing with the foxes as he grew stronger day after day.

But it seemed like the world was set on stopping him from living in peace. Just as he had been playing dodgeball with a fox, a murmur suddenly came from the Flame Barrier.

Then a large and magnificent floating glyph magnified in the sky, which the Ghost instantly recognized. "This, kid, is that visitor token from back then."

The Thunder Lord troops were back?!

This time they had come prepared. As soon as they showed up as guests, they rushed in as if they had Magical Beasts gnawing at their heels.

Then in a matter of seconds, they had already encircled Jack (baby version), blocking all escape. Their leader came forward, his huge grin seemingly way too forced.

"Young Master Jack, we finally found you!"

That's when the man brought out a couple of pamphlets. On each of them were drawings of what he assumed was the Thunder Palace. What could possibly be their goal?

"Young Master, look at this, isn't our Faction Awesome?! Why don't you come for a visit? We'll definitely be hospitable!"

Instantly tons of questions rocked his mind. What could they possibly want with a baby?! Was this a ridiculously bad kidnapping attempt?

"How about it, Young Master, do you want candies or some drawings? We'll definitely entertain you for sure! Just say the word!" They were so subservient that it became weird.

But as he observed the drawings and pen they gave him, his blood suddenly turned cold. T-this… there had to be something hella wrong with this!

Hidden in the lines were actually a bunch of tiny characters. Ah? What did the small font say? It seemed to be... a marriage proposal WHAT—?!"

Coloring this thing would seal his fate! As for the marriage target, it was the Thunder Lord's granddaughter... but why?! Was it for a political alliance? It'd be hella wrong of him if he accepted!

After all, said girl was about 10 years old and was also the one he had met back then at the Gates. She had been the haughty one with purple hair.

She was also the one who had a God's Blessing that was even more contagious than smallpox! For Jack, wouldn't it be a freaking death sentence?!

Not only could he not accept, but he couldn't allow them to have any idea about his freedom. This time, he wouldn't be as tolerant!

Jack made a sign toward his foxes.

Instantly, they all lined up in two rows, sandwiching the invaders between their ranks. Seeing their stern appearance, the situation became incredibly tense.

Would there be a victim?! No, but it was time to teach them a lesson! Jack grinned before he commanded his troops to act at once! "Ready, set, fire!"

The soldiers turned pale. If so many fireballs reached them, they would die before they could accomplish their mission.  But luckily for them, Jack had other plans…

"NOW!" That's when plenty of warm yellow liquid flew across the air. Some of these streams were so powerful that they even knocked the soldiers down like bowling pins!

As they tumbled on the ground, they felt their honor crushed along their mission. How the heck would they ever live this shame down?! Some even had swallowed a bit of pee.

That's when they decided to run, leaving behind angry warnings.

"This isn't over. Just wait!"

Jack almost hoped that it would be the end of it. After all, he was clearly not interested, and the Flame Lord watching over him would make this place safe, right?

But just as he was convinced everything was under control, that's when SHE showed up! The purple-haired girl was here, without her minions.

[A Certain Thunder Manifestation Is Quivering…]

Ah, C'mon. Really?! Was it too much to ask to train with his troops peacefully?! Apparently, yes…

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Jack Bright (Classless)

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BODY 20 (STR 7/ AGI 7 / RES 6)

SOUL 47 ( MAGIC 10 / SENSE 18 / WILL 19)

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(NEW!)

- Searching for Inner Peace ????

- Contract Analysis (F)????

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