Without witnessing the living weapon of Azrael, Danzel walked with a heavy mind.
It wasn't like he felt bad for lying to the dark elve.
Far from it.
Though their trade has been for both of them a bountiful harvest, that didn't change the fact the time they spend with each other.
The most time he spend was with Vanessa who was in a seemingly bodyguard duty of a noble, then it would be with Velkir with his lessons of magic and the duo with exotic clothes, Agares and Shiro who also participated in the lesson from time to time.
The latter only watches from behind so that the two undead don't teach his grandaughter the all-mighty power of necromancy.
The last of them was Azrael and Sartan by this order.
A few moments ago had the longest conversation with the high troll till today.
His relationship with Azrael was strictly business oriented.
Other than he was a workaholic just like him, loved his sister dearly, and was the strongest of the group, with Velkir being the only one surpassing him.
He knew nothing of this dark elve.
What he really found saddening was the fact that he lacked the XP to learn the scrolls that he was now in possession of.
After learning a few tier 1 skills and spending his whole wealth on [Epic] rated runes, Danzel ended up broken with only a few thousand XP left in his wallet.
Though the option of ignoring the skills in the magic scroll was also open, it would be foolish of him not to learn a new branch of magic while he had the chance.
After all, knowledge could be reapplied to make his own improved version of spells and skills, or if even better, create completely new ones.
Though that was only in theory.
After all, till far he never achieved the former result and only somewhat managed to make a few skills/spells of his own.
Like raising the dead to serve his call without any spell or channeling pure death mana from his hand. The latter looked like a flamethrower who spew out a black mist.
Of course, the reason why he didn't use any of those was that the latter only created a slightly stronger version of a skeleton that when he used the [Lesser Raise Undead Lv. 10] version and the latter being simple too inconvenient.
Not only was it a spell that he had to channel and make one of his hands useless, but the range with the damage also wasn't at an acceptable level.
Thus never found a reason to use them.
Such an achievement was only achievable by acquiring knowledge of the same type of magic.
In essence, the knowledge of skills could be used as a reference for future development of spells and skills.
So learning blood magic would open the path of learning such a branch of magic.
And since he was immortal, he had enough time to waste figuring things out.
In the far-encroaching future, he planned to do the same with every other type of magic.
By far, from the basic elements, he had the most knowledge of earth magic, as he possessed the [Earth Wall] spell and started learning the fire element with the use of his books.
Though it would be easier to learn the former if he had some experience, he chose to learn bits of fire magic so that he can light up things in the fire.
To note, his previous method of achieving such a feat was to make a runed contract and use it as a lighter...
If the people who desperately searched for his runed contracts were to hear of that, they would even try to strangle him alive (metaphorically speaking).
'Considering my current schedule though, I doubt that this will be anytime soon.' Danzel shook his head.
Even if he couldn't, it was fine dreaming of his future.
Considering that the mission keeping him from evolving being over soon, he had to start considering what to do after finishing it.
'I could stay with this mercenary group to continue my trade with Azrael and Velkir or leave the group and find my own place. Build my own base and slowly cultivate my strength. Maybe spreading runed weapons with the harvest rune could gather XP for me and then hide a few years...' Danzel thought as his steps became slower and slower by each second.
Gaining the [Rune of Harvest] was a game changer for him.
It essentially did his work much faster and easier than doing it himself.
The rate he gained XP by simply having few strong harvesters was tremendous. To the point that doing it himself was a waste of his own time.
Although, the thought of spreading his runes will result in him being hunted down all over again. And the last time he checked, his bounty from the union has only further increased.
But after he reaches the 4th-tier, Danzel's options will be increased. After all, by then he will be a powerhouse, making others second doubt themselves when going after him.
As long as he was careful, mass producing such weapons and selling them at either of the Arcana or Berum kingdoms who fought each other will in turn become a massive stream of XP coming his way.
'Also, that Lich called Kingra'mash. He mentioned something about a council that the shadow merchant Hanson mentioned once. I don't know what kind of organization it is, but he wanted me to join it. Velkir seemed to be a member too, but compared to that Kingra'mash, he didn't want me to join. I will have to ask Velkir about it when he returns.'
"It might be another potential path..." Danzel mumbled before halting his steps and looking around himself.
"Now that I think about it, I should even asked Azrael where my room is..." Danzel said while cursing himself internally.
Turning back to ask Azrael, mind way his highly increased senses picked up two presences coming. Which were the old man with his scythe sword, silver mouth mask, and weird clothing together with his granddaughter Shiro. Who looked different than usual.
'Was she always this tall?' He asked himself in confusion.
If before she looked around the age of 10-11 years old, her height could make someone believe that she was around 13-14 now.
But in truth, Danzel had no reference to those numbers and simply pushed her to grow as something that was normal for the living.
The duo also seemed to notice the tall dark knight walking toward them.
"It has been a while, Rue Danzel." Agares said.
"Yeah, it's been a few months. How are the runes?" Danzel answered with a cold voice.
"I have been impressed by them, it has been much easier for my shoulder to cut down...bad people." Agares said carefully to not say anything inappropriate in front of his granddaughter.
"I am glad to hear that."
'The easier for you, the easier my harvest' Danzel added in his mind.
"But still, I could even carve you something much better than those simple weapon-enhancing runes."
"Haha, there is no need to go out of your way to make something fancy for this old man. Instead, I would be in your gratitude if you gave those fancy runes of yours to my granddaughter."
There was a moment of silence before Danzel answered back.
"...Have you already found an item that fit my requirements?"
"Mhm, it's a staff made out of special metal. I can't remember what the material's name is, but it should be of high quality, according to Velkir."
"Can I see it?"
Nodding his head, a light appeared similar to when ones used a spatial storage item.
The light quickly dissipated, revealing, a dark blue metal staff that at its end was a place with a white crystal with bits of yellow lighting inside.
Half of the crystal was diagonally covered with the same metal that the staff was made of while it continue to expand like a moon.
In that moon shape were a total of 4 holes, each of them the higher they went, the smaller they became, containing small rings.
Using his [Rune Vision] he confirmed that it was possible to carve runes.
But seeing the staff and then back at Shiro, lastly at Agares, Danzel asked in confusion.
"Isn't the staff a little too big for her?"
Such a question wasn't strange at all, as the staff was the height of Agares.
If Shiro was going to use it, at best it would look ridiculous.
"Well, it's for the future. Also, requesting such staff was quite hard for Velkir as it doesn't have any enchantments. But those can be put later on." Agares said slightly emperor sent.
He seemed like a grandpa who didn't have enough money to buy his granddaughter her favorite doll and was forced to buy half the doll.
"It will take some time, but I will do it." Danzel said as he picked the staff and put it in his storage ring.
Shiro looked at him with a frown as if he stollen her doll, but Danzel ignored her.
"Thank you, Danzel. If you are interested in learning some techniques of my swordsmanship, I will always be available. For now at least." Agares said with a bitter voice, aware that this deal wasn't fair for Danzel.
"Sadly, I will be busy in the meantime. If I find time, I will come and see you." Danzel said while shaking his head.
"By the do you know where my room is?" Danzel said.
Slightly stunned, Agares told him the way and saw how the undead that once threatened his granddaughter leave in the direction he had given.
