And so, a week later, Isaac, who was studying a Secret Skill, felt a stir in his heart that roused him from his research. His brow furrowed for a moment, but then it smoothed out.

’It’s a good thing.’

During the previous Divine Lamp Trial, Isaac had obtained a Storybook that could only generate one Legend. He had written his own partially modified version of *The Ugly Duckling* in it. Because of Remington, the story had only circulated within a small, local area.

After having a frank talk with his older brother upon returning home, he had mentioned this matter as well. ’It should be about time now,’ he thought.

RIP~

At Isaac’s Summoning, Harmon emerged from behind his head. It spread its five claws, and seven Magic Books appeared, spinning slowly in its palm.

Three of them were blank, and two were glowing. ’This means I can awaken a new Legend... Huh? Two of them?’

Isaac was taken aback. Taking a closer look, he saw that the other glowing book was *Cinderella*. After a moment of surprise, he understood. The accumulated Power of Faith had reached the required threshold, allowing him to choose and solidify a second Legend.

Blinking, Isaac first focused his attention on *The Ugly Duckling*. Just as he had initially thought, the part of the story that readers envied most was indeed the High-level Curse for bestowing and transforming bloodlines. And the Legend he could now solidify was also that High-level Curse—Transform into a noble swan from an ugly duckling!

The Spell was a bit abstract, but that didn’t matter—Isaac was a pragmatist. Soon, as the Power of Faith gathered, the High-Level Curse, [Transform into a noble swan from an ugly duckling!], rapidly went from illusory to solid, becoming a power Isaac truly possessed.

This was the first High-level Curse Isaac had mastered, and he had been curious about them for a long time.

High-level Curses, like basic Magic Spells, also rely on the Mysterious. The more people who know them, the lower their efficacy. The difference is, a High-level Curse can only be held by one person, pushing its mysterious quality to the absolute peak. Thus, its efficacy is also astonishingly high!

Of course, this wasn’t to say all High-level Curses were powerful. As far as Isaac knew, there were some rather poor ones among them. Currently, the High-level Curse with the worst known effect in the Wizarding World was called [I Have to Be Pretty Today Too]. Its only effect was applying makeup, with no other results.

If the holder wasn’t lying, that is.

But there was generally no need to lie. Even if a High-level Curse’s effect was terrible, its noble mysterious quality held high research value, and there was no reason to show it off without good cause.

Isaac had always been very interested in this, as he wanted to know two things. First, how exactly did High-level Curses maintain such an exaggerated degree of mysteriousness, and was it possible to replicate them? Second, would his Golden Finger produce some wondrous chemical reaction when combined with a High-level Curse?

To this day, he still didn’t quite understand why he could increase a Magic Spell’s efficacy by repeatedly casting it. In the hands of other Wizards, most Magic Spells became ineffective against the same target after two casts. A few special Magic Spells could manage three, but even then, the efficacy would decline to some degree with each cast.

Only Isaac’s Magic Spells didn’t have their efficacy reduced; instead, it would continuously stack!

So he wanted to see if his Golden Finger had an effect on High-level Curses.

And now, one of Isaac’s two questions was answered. The reason High-level Curses could maintain such a high degree of mysteriousness was because, unlike Ordinary Magic Spells, they possessed an extra component called a [Curse Core]. Only the person who held the Curse Core could use the corresponding High-level Curse.

However, why the Curse Core had this effect required further research. He would also have to test later whether the efficacy of a High-level Curse could be stacked.

But even if it couldn’t be stacked, the High-level Curse he had obtained was powerful enough.

The Magic Spell, [Transform into a noble swan from an ugly duckling!], was largely the same as Isaac had designed it in the story. It could awaken a dormant bloodline within the body. When used, it would apply a temporary three-day buff to the target. For those three days, any effective training could develop the desired bloodline, and the extent of that development depended on how hard one worked.

Judging by its effect alone, it was quite good. Especially when combined with his Dragon Transformation Secret Medicine. Even if the improvement from each use was relatively small, using it over many years would save a fortune!

Most importantly, the Dragon Transformation Secret Medicine only bestowed the bloodline of a Pure-blooded Giant Dragon, setting one on the right path toward evolving into one.

But that didn’t mean one was guaranteed to evolve into a Pure-blooded Giant Dragon. Having the right direction wasn’t enough; you still had to run down that path!

With this High-level Curse, paired with his Dragon Transformation Secret Medicine, a Giant Dragon Legion was no longer just a dream!

’Although I can’t afford to raise them myself, I can sell this stuff!’

And unlike the Dragon Transformation Secret Medicine, which was difficult but not impossible for others to replicate, the High-level Curse was his and his alone. "Unique" meant "monopoly," and a monopoly meant fucking insane profits!

’Although I’ve had several windfalls recently and am not short on cash, this is all just unexpected wealth. It’ll run out eventually. You can never have enough money.’

’Unfortunately, this business is too big. I can’t handle it right now. Never mind me, even the Solomons Family couldn’t manage it.’

’I could discuss it with the family, though. Build a Giant Dragon Legion for them first. That would make our position secure.’

Isaac indulged in the fantasy for a moment, then shook his head. ’I have to take it slow, no rush. The family already used its cash flow for the next few years to buy that batch of Golem Remains. I have to let them recover their finances first.’

Then, Isaac’s gaze fell upon the other glowing Magic Book—*Cinderella*.

He submerged his consciousness into it. A few larger points of light appeared before his mind’s eye. They were the same two as before: the [High-Level Curse: Prince’s Etiquette] from the Prince and the [Fairy Elf Contract] from the Fairy Elf.

Isaac’s gaze shifted between the two. After a moment of contemplation, he poured the Power of Faith into the [Fairy Elf Contract].

’Before, I would have definitely chosen the High-level Curse. Not only does it have research value, but it was also highly likely to be compatible with my Golden Finger, making it the most cost-effective choice.’

’But now that I have a High-level Curse, its cost-effectiveness is relatively lower.’

’Besides, I desperately need a beautiful, dreamlike Fairy Elf right now to balance out my own twisted aesthetic!’

’Right now, I’m the only normal human in this entire territory. Is that even acceptable?’

’And soon, the only normal human will be gone, replaced by a three-eyed weirdo...’

However, as the Power of Faith gradually flowed into one of the Wish Stars and a new Legend was born, the smile on Isaac’s face slowly vanished. ’You fucking call this a Fairy Elf? Is *this* a fairy?!’

’I miscalculated!’

The corner of Isaac’s mouth twitched. He had considered a thousand possibilities, but he had never, ever imagined that the Fairy Elf from the contract wasn’t the beautiful, fantastical creature from the story, but an actual, existing species!

The two were similar in ability: proficient in Transformation Magic, able to travel freely through the dreams of living beings, possessing a special Wish Magic, and enthusiastic about granting human wishes.

It was basically identical to the description in Isaac’s book. The only difference was—its appearance!

The real-life Fairy Elf, in Isaac’s opinion, was neither "Fairy" nor "Elf"!

It was a fucking tentacle monster!

A jellyfish-like tentacle monster!

FUCK!

Isaac’s expression was grim. He was extremely unhappy. But what was done was done; there was nothing he could do. The Legend had already materialized, leaving no room for regret.

’Besides, this thing was bound to show up sooner or later. If I didn’t take it now, I’d have to take it next time. The readers of *Cinderella* had other desires, but none were strong enough to condense into a Wish Star and become a Legend.’

’Since it’s come to this, might as well get something to eat.’

Isaac sighed, mentally exhausted.