Blood Mage

[Mr. Solomon has formed a contract with a Legendary-Grade Artifact and acquired the rare archetype, 「Blood Mage」 Level 3.]

A multiclass of Spell Assassin Level 5 and Blood Mage Level 3.

[Along with the stat increases equivalent to three levels, you will acquire the following traits and spells.]

───
Unique Class Trait 「Blood Explosion」
: Once per day, you can ignite a target’s blood and make it explode.
───

‘Even a unique class trait…?!’

It was a truly absurd effect. A game-breaking ability, enough to make you seriously consider Blood Mage just from this trait alone.

───
· Mind +3, Will +1, Charisma +1, Stamina -2
· A new Level 1 blood magic spell.
· A new Level 2 blood magic spell.

Additional usable spell slots are as follows.
: Level 1 spell slots 6 uses (⚀⚀⚀⚀⚀⚀)
: Level 2 spell slots 4 uses (⚁⚁⚁⚁)
: Level 3 spell slots 1 use (⚂)
───

The Game Master added.

[For reference, the stat increases by level apply normally, but unfortunately, since this is not a standard level-up method, you will not obtain ‘Aptitude Points.’]

“I see.”

[You also cannot acquire a subclass. Also, the spells you can learn are limited strictly to those with the ‘Blood Magic’ tag.]

He got every advantage from being Blood Mage Level 3, but separately, he couldn’t get benefits like Aptitude Points. It wasn’t surprising. Just being handed a Level 3 multiclass was already more than enough.

“Then show me the blood magic spells I can learn.”

[Very well.]

When the Game Master gestured, a sheet of paper with a heavy medieval parchment texture slid across the table in front of Solomon.

───
Ⅰ
Blood Arrow
Blood Scent Tracking
Blood Sword
…….

Ⅱ
Crimson Javelin
Blood Backflow
Bloodflow Acceleration
······.
───

In the list that followed, Solomon didn’t hesitate.

“I’ll learn the Level 1 spell <Blood Sword> and the Level 2 spell <Bloodflow Acceleration>.”

───
「Blood Sword」
Tag — Level 1 spell, Blood Magic, Weapon Enhancement
: Create a blade with blood magic, or hone an existing blade, adding damage 2 on attack
───
「Bloodflow Acceleration」
Tag — Level 2 spell, Blood Magic, Body Enhancement
: Temporarily accelerates blood flow within the body, granting explosive physical performance.
: When the spell ends, you temporarily enter a Fatigue state.
───

As for <Blood Sword>, in a sense it was a downgraded version of Solomon’s Level 3 spell <Black Sword>. The damage was crude, too. Even so, Solomon had his own reason.

And <Bloodflow Acceleration>. A buff spell that directly raised physical ability, something Solomon didn’t have right now. It was practically the spell he needed most desperately for the current situation.

‘This couldn’t be better.’

Above all, the finishing touch, the once-per-day unique class trait 「Blood Explosion」.

For nothing more than protecting a single heart, it was a ridiculously grand reward… or so he thought, but then he shook his head.

‘High threat comes with high pay.’

Steeling himself, Solomon spoke.

“Anything else?”

[No. Our business ends here.]

The Game Master answered as if amused, the darkness under his robe writhing. The session ended there.

His eyes opened. Morning at Hotel Snark.

When he opened his eyes, activation notices for two class traits now appeared.

‘Spell Assassin Level 5, Blood Mage Level 3. And two newly acquired spells, on top of that.’

In fact, around Solomon, it even felt like an unknown blood-red current was swirling. As if his senses regarding blood had developed to an extreme degree. Was it some kind of class aura?

‘Or it could just be my imagination.’

In that state, he looked for the heart in the bottle.

A small heart, neatly placed on the table, thumping away. Seeing it like this, it was quite small. He could probably move it by putting the whole glass bottle into his pocket.

“…He asked me to take you to where you belong in the Blood Moon Archipelago.”

— Yeah, Blood Moon Archipelago…… my home…….

A voice flowed out from the heart in the glass bottle. It sounded like a baby’s mumbling.

— Take me there…….

Downtown District 15, Tribe Street. Mistress Selene had said the Blood Moon Archipelago referred to the Blood Moon Tribe guild’s hideout.

‘No, if it was there to begin with, it’s the reason it ended up rolling into the smugglers’ hands. Would it really be fine there?’

There was no way to know just by thinking about it. He had to go see for himself.

Solomon got up and prepared. He also packed three bottles each of the top-grade Invisibility Potion and the Doom Poison Potion he’d saved as emergency cards, without holding back. At the very least, what was about to happen wasn’t something to handle halfheartedly. He needed to take everything he could and pour out everything he could.

‘And it’s better to move while the sun’s up.’

After hesitating, just as Solomon was about to leave the room.

Knock knock.

That familiar knock.

“Excuse me, Mr. Solomon.”

When he opened the door, the familiar zombie hotelier stood outside, properly formal.

“What is it?”

“Congratulations. You successfully completed the contract of the deceased, Mr. Joseph.”

“I did.”

After speaking, he glanced back without thinking, and saw that Solomon’s room had changed from Room 243 to Room 244. Had his room been switched while he was asleep?

“As I told you, if you complete a deceased person’s contract, you will receive not only the existing compensation, but also the hotel’s ‘additional performance points.’ In particular, since this contract involved two deaths, the performance points will be issued in proportion to that.”

“Additional performance points.”

“Yes, congratulations. As of today, Mr. Solomon’s hotel membership tier has risen from Bronze to Silver.”

At that, Solomon let out a hollow laugh. It wasn’t like he was working at an insurance company getting evaluated on sales performance.

“I hear you intend to bring the ‘relic’ to the Blood Moon Archipelago.”

“…Yeah.”

The zombie hotelier said, as if he’d been watching Solomon’s affairs like they were in the palm of his hand from the start.

“As for that, we have prepared something that should help, however small it may be. In addition to the benefits provided at the Silver tier, the hotel’s ‘special service’ will be issued as your first performance bonus.”

“You guys really have everything.”

As he said that, the zombie hotelier took something out. It was something carefully wrapped in cloth, but just as Solomon was about to unwrap it, the hotelier hurriedly stopped him.

“Oh, please open it after you leave this hotel. It’s not very good for us.”

“I will.”

Solomon accepted it, put it against his chest, and turned around. Then, as if stopping himself mid-turn, he asked without thinking.

“By the way, how far do the membership tiers go?”

“Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and then VVIP. The services provided change accordingly.”

“…That’s a lot.”

“If you are aiming for higher hotel membership tiers, unlike normal contracts, it will be more efficient to carry out ‘hotel designated contracts.’ Are you interested?”

“Later.”

In simple terms, it meant to become the hotel’s dog. Solomon left his hollow laugh behind and turned away.

His path had briefly veered to the side, but nothing changed.

A Door Room where countless doors floated in midair like a René Magritte painting. Using that place, he headed to Downtown District 15, where Tribe Street was.

Step.

As he stepped between the doors, early morning sunlight poured down. First, sunlight. Then……

“!”

Flames and an ashen haze were blackening and burning the streets everywhere.

Screams rang out from all over. Faced with a scene that truly resembled a hellscape, Solomon fell silent.

“By Chairman Țepeș’s order, wipe out every last one of those filthy orcs!”

“For the redevelopment of District 15!”

“By order of Wallachia Co.’s Redevelopment Division!”

“What is the Enforcement Unit doing! Demolish that junk right now!”

[In any world, conflicts over land development feel familiar. Would this world be any different?]

At the narrator’s words, Solomon let out a hollow laugh. Guild City, the city of guilds. In this city ruled by the law of the jungle, the strong were the law.

All over the streets were burly orcs in what looked like Wallachia Co. uniforms, or wearing conspicuous vests reading “Wallachia Co. Forced Enforcement Unit,” turning the area into a wreck.

‘This is bad.’

In his confusion, Solomon had no choice but to move. Thankfully, unlike the structures being demolished or the orcs, no one directly touched Solomon. Either way, there was no need to stir up someone who looked like he belonged to Hotel Snark.

The Blood Moon Archipelago, the Blood Moon Tribe’s hideout.

Despite the hellish chaos overturning the entire street, the situation there was relatively better. More accurately, it felt like “the time hasn’t arrived yet.”

Solomon stepped into the entrance of that guild hideout.

“Where did you come from?”

The moment he entered, a suit-wearing orc stopped him. Tattooed blood-red orcs all took up guarded stances and showed hostility.

“I came on a contract from your dead kin.”

“…!”

Solomon didn’t care, and took out the glass bottle from his chest. A contract was a contract.

“He asked me to let this relic be where it belongs.”

“Our heart…!”

A flicker of panic was visible among the blood-red orcs. It couldn’t be helped. With this redevelopment frenzy tearing through the street, how long they could endure, or whether they even could, was honestly very doubtful.

“Oh my, so you were all gathered here?”

That was when it happened. Along with Solomon’s arrival, a voice rang out behind him.

“!”

When he turned his head, the familiar group of vampires in suits was there. It was the same as that time. But different.

‘Their presence…… I can feel it.’

It wasn’t like last time, when he couldn’t sense them at all and realized too late.

“To run off with the chairman’s ‘gourmet’ without fear.”

“Oh, and those outdated orcs reeking of junk. This is truly the worst.”

“Vampire bastards! This is our land!”

“Oh my, I think you’re mistaken about something.”

When a blood-red orc protested at the sight, a beautiful suit-wearing vampire giggled.

“Legally, we’ve received permission for redevelopment in this zone, and from now on this is Our Land. Wallachia Co.’s land.”

‘They really are vampires, in every sense.’

At those words, Solomon thought in disbelief. Like that, he silently stood among the orcs and faced the vampires.

“What, you. Don’t tell me you’re taking their side?”

“I took a contract.”

Solomon answered calmly.

“A contract to move the item back to its proper place.”

And that place was here, the Blood Moon Tribe’s guild hideout.

“You’d better be ready. There’s no mommy here to cling to by her skirt.”

Wallachia Co.’s Forced Enforcement Unit, the suit-wearing vampires, bared sharp nails and fangs to show off. There was no Mistress Selene this time to protect Solomon. Nothing had changed.

“Either way.”

Solomon steeled himself and re-gripped his hilt. Then he took out what the hotel had given him as a “membership service.” Something carefully wrapped in cloth.

“Kieeeek!”

The moment he pulled it out, the vampires’ screams rang out.

[Oh, a Sun Ruby Blade. To vampires, it is truly a weapon like rat poison.]

A blade imbued with a radiance deep like ruby and bright like the sun. His new weapon.

‘The service really is worth it.’

Solomon thought while re-gripping that Sun Ruby Blade.