Bonus Chapter [3] - 480 Power Stones.
A/N: I've already opened P_treon for this story, although it only has one advanced chapter at the moment, lmao. I'm focused on writing, I haven't had time to translate yet, so I'll translate little by little.
The hope is to have at least 40 chapters completed for this story, when I pass 10 advanced chapters, I'll let you know.
In any case, thank you for your support so far, so I can say, this story will continue.
P_treon: march_rain
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Rigel was stunned for a long moment after receiving the coffin.
What should he say about the first platinum award he received?
When the adventure book told him he had earned a Platinum reward, he nearly jumped for joy, even in his weakened state, but when he saw the reward, only one word escaped his lips. "Damn!"
I mean, putting the effects aside, what the hell is this about giving him a coffin? Is that some kind of flag? He can't say, but in any case, the first three effects are pretty good.
Although they were merely supporting effects, each one was useful in its own right.
The coffin itself was a large black coffin with silver details and a red quilted lining inside, an image of a silver dragon engraved on the lid, very elegant for a deceased person, or in this case, a vampire.
Regarding the effects, the first one could heal him as long as there was any life left in him, and there was no limitation on its use, so he could use it on others.
Not just injuries and illnesses, but any negative status, including curses, which is already a very good thing.
Although Diabolus can handle curses, so far all living beings placed inside the snake have decomposed into black mist, he didn't want to experience that, so the first effect arrived just in time.
The second effect is even better, while he sleeps in the coffin, he can continue practicing magic, which is great, but imagine taking a coffin to sleep at Hogwarts, if he hadn't been labeled a vampire on the first day of class, he would have eaten his own parchment.
The third method can help with the previous point, he just need to place the coffin on his bed and not let anyone notice, and that's it. Just be careful to close the curtains on the bed, and everything should be fine.
Besides that, it's also great for hiding in case he's being chased or something like that.
But the last effect, Rigel felt, was like a trick.
Sure, ancient vampires, like Dracula, are very powerful, but these weaknesses... who the hell can accept that?! At least Rigel can't. Furthermore, if he wanted to save his own life from certain death, or simply uses it to save someone, the item itself will be broken and that person might not even thank him after receiving the list of weaknesses.
Rigel, for the first time, asked the adventure book if an effect could be changed. The answer was a simple no, the only way an effect can change is through the progression of its classification, but unfortunately, The Count's Coffin couldn't progress because it wasn't a serial achievement, and besides, the only progression now is towards Rainbow.
Thus, Rigel could only accept this thing reluctantly, it wasn't bad, but it could also be better. This feeling left a bad taste in his mouth, but its usefulness was still evident. It was thanks to this coffin that Rigel had fully recovered in recent days, he was as good as new.
Not only that, after so many ups and downs together, Rigel felt that his wand was becoming more and more receptive to him, if before he felt a haughty distance from it, now he felt more of an expectant curiosity, as if it were waiting to see what he would do next.
Rigel also discovered some idiosyncrasies of his wand, such as when he got up two days ago, even before he cast the cleansing spell on himself, the wand had already cast it on its own, leaving Rigel dumbfounded.
Rigel finally understood why some wand owners dislike the spontaneity of phoenixes, most wizards don't live in combat environments, so although there are situations where your wand could save you by casting a spell on its own, in most cases, wizards simply follow civilian daily routines.
Rigel got a huge fright when his wand fired a spell at him out of nowhere, if he didn't know it could do that during a fight to save him, he'd also be annoyed at being startled randomly.
In any case, while Rigel recovered, he learned that the Black Pearl had already set sail long ago, barely staying in port for two days to recruit and buy supplies, sailing away soon after. He didn't worry about it, instead focusing on the crew of the now-sunken Demeter.
The two infected by Dracula, the boy and the woman, after Dracula died, they returned to normal, thankfully, because since Rigel was asleep, they would probably have already died by now.
Of course, since Rigel was weakened, what would happen to the captives had to wait until now to be decided.
Thus, Rigel found himself once again facing the group of prisoners, this time with Toby, the boy, looking at Rigel with evident curiosity.
"Does any of you want to be a pirate?" Rigel asked, looking at them.
No one spoke for a moment, until the old man spoke. "Sir, if you need anything, I can serve you, but I ask that you leave my grandson on land to grow up away from danger."
Rigel looked at him and winked, then shook his head, which made the old man pale, but Rigel's next words surprised him.
"No, old man, go take care of your grandson on land. I'll give you some money to start over, and after that, it's up to you." Rigel spoke lightly. He wasn't a monster, after losing the Demeter, the old man would probably be drowning in debt. Even if Rigel had a reason, he still destroyed the boat.
The Demeter didn't really belong to the old man, but he was the captain, and its loss would make the debt fall on the old man's head.
"Thank you, sir." The man bowed quickly, with this unexpected happiness.
Rigel turned his gaze to the other crew members, but most kept their heads down. Unexpectedly, Anna was the next to speak.
"Would you accept a woman aboard your ship?" Anna asked.
Rigel chuckled softly. "Elizabeth, let her go."
Elizabeth, now wearing trousers and a half-open white shirt, smiled and went ahead, the dress could not withstand life at sea.
"Thank you, Captain." Anna said, smiling. She had nowhere to return to, even if it meant going back to her village, she didn't want to, so she chose to stay at sea as a pirate.
Clemens watched Anna being accepted and for a moment didn't know how to feel, he was a man of science, but as a black man, even with a medical degree from Cambridge, he had nowhere to go.
No matter where he goes, he will have no place, but seeing Rigel's eyes, he saw no repulsion, he was one of the few people who saw a person instead of a color, but the real reason for being at a crossroads was curiosity.
Curiosity about the unknown, about the monster in Demeter, about fire, and about the phantom snake conjured by the boy whom these people called captain.
"Would you accept me?" He finally mustered the courage to ask.
Rigel blinked. Clemens was a doctor, even a doctor from the 1700s. Aside from some general knowledge like germs and necessary nutrition, he didn't know much about medicine. Clemens could be useful.
"Of course, Mr. Clemens, welcome aboard. Will, release him." Rigel requested.
With the effect of the pirate hat, Rigel wasn't worried about betrayal, so he accepted whoever wanted to come.
The other three men showed no sign of accepting, keeping their heads bowed while one of them continued to pray.
Rigel shook his head and spoke. "Let the three of them disembark."
The three were surprised, not expecting Rigel to let them go, but it made them more than happy.
Of course, whether they would manage in Tortuga was another story, but that was no longer Rigel's problem.