Now that she had ranked up, the spell had transformed into something incomparable to its past version. The incantation time required to activate Shal Dai Dilou had been reduced to about a fifth of what it used to be. The fireballs she launched had increased in size to thirty-five centimeters in diameter, and the number to twenty shots. Moreover, she felt hardly any fatigue from casting it and was left with plenty of mana, saying she could cast it twenty more times without the backlash she used to experience. She also said she could now handle even more powerful spells too. It truly spoke to the specialization of her species in magic.
By the way, she shot all the fireballs into the sky when she was showing us what she could do. Hitting the ground would have made cleanup a huge pain, so this was the only option. Even so, the fact that she was still considered a mere “half” made me wonder just how powerful the spells of a full-fledged Spell Lord could be. The lack of information in this world is unsettling; it makes it impossible to know the limits.
To celebrate their ranking up, I gave each of the four hobgoblins two magic items, as I had done before. For Hobsei, I gifted one of Velvet’s legacies: a Divine Relic Artifact, a robe of Ancient Relic rank called Vestments of Blessed Remains. This robe, made from silver, gold threads, and red sacred burial cloth, had several exceptional effects, including Internal Mana Amplification and Physical and Magical Defense.
Additionally, I gifted Hobsei the Aranotte Staff, a magic staff adorned with a red magical gemstone. It had previously been owned by the high wizard adventurer I killed and ate in Velvet’s dungeon. Along with that, I gave her a bracelet-type magic item with storage capabilities for staves and small tools, similar to the one I had given Gobkichi.
The weapons Hobsei had used before—the magic staff and gray robe—were handed down to the two mage apprentices in her unit.
Now, let me share some recent observations. It seemed that the growth rate—or perhaps the ability to absorb experience—of my goblin peers has been astonishingly high. This is evident from the unprecedented number of hobgoblins who have evolved before we’ve even ventured outside the forest.
Gobjii mentioned before that it typically takes years for a goblin to evolve into a Hobgoblin. However, our current settlement has experienced an unusually high number of evolutions. I’m reasonably sure that I’m the cause of this phenomenon. After some contemplation, I’d hypothesize that their living conditions significantly influence the growth rate of goblins during the first month or so after birth. Given that goblins physically mature quickly as a species, their developmental peak is likely much sooner than for other creatures. The idea is to maximize growth during this crucial period.
If a goblin kills and consumes numerous creatures of equal or greater strength and undergoes relentless training from birth—all of which is atypical for ordinary goblins—its growth rate can drastically increase. For instance, if the growth rate of a regular goblin is one, then a goblin that undergoes rigorous training and constantly consumes its enemies might have a growth rate of ten. Although my hypothesis lacks concrete evidence, it seemed highly plausible. There was really no other reasonable explanation for the phenomenon we’ve been observing.
My Overlord’s Command ability also likely plays a significant role. It’s an ability that enhances my subordinates' capabilities, as I mentioned before. By carefully selecting and assigning individuals to various units based on their personality traits and abilities, I can ensure that they’re best suited to their roles. This probably maximizes the effectiveness of Overlord’s Command, making it easier for my subordinates to become stronger.
In any case, having stronger comrades is undoubtedly a positive development, even if the exact mechanics remain unclear. I’ll leave this topic here for now. The point is, now that some of the goblins in the community have ranked up to ogres, we’ll need to investigate what the future holds for them, particularly regarding their lifespan. If Ogres have shorter lifespans than goblins, for example, that’d be a bitter pill to swallow indeed.
Anyway, regarding the seventeen captive Elves: Out of the ten men, three succumbed to carnal desires, and one out of the seven women did as well. I already had Gobmi and the others, but I still took it upon myself to be the elf woman’s first partner, out of curiosity about elven physiology.
I did my best to be considerate and ensure she felt as little pain as possible. Nonetheless, it seemed I caused her to faint repeatedly. It was… quite the experience, to say the least. I won’t elaborate on exactly what made it so intense, nor will I claim it was simply because she was a beautiful, willing partner.
Importantly, I avoided group activities in that arena and took a one-on-one approach instead. And although one might think that proud elves would participate reluctantly in such things, they moaned with apparent delight, likely the result of all their pent-up arousal. Seeing them happy made me feel that there was no need for continued external interference. They might even consider this fate and resign themselves to it.
I’ve instructed everyone to treat the elves with care. In fact, their living conditions are better than those of the lower-ranking goblins, to make sure they don’t suffer the same fate as the previous women who had ended up battered and dead. I’ve particularly emphasized this to Gobjii, given his history, and he’s been proactive in ensuring their well-being.
Lastly, let’s talk about the Kin of ■■■ ability I woke up with. I have no clue how to use it or what effects it has. The obscured letters make it impossible even to guess. It leaves me wanting to ask someone for guidance. The word “kin” makes me assume it has something to do with a close connection I have to something or someone…
Usually, I understand how to use the abilities I learn, but this one seems too entrenched in rules about this world that I’m not yet familiar with, leaving me clueless. For now, I’ll put off trying to decipher it.