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{Chapter 23} Departure! Young lady painter, drawing things into reality!
🕑 Added 2025-09-30 12:47:29 +0000 UTC[Simulation, Nineteenth Day, Night.]
Kaelis sat alone on a chair, quietly drawing.
After gaining a deeper understanding of Seren a few days ago, Kaelis suddenly woke up as if from a dream.
According to the other's logic, that meant the creatures Kaelis summoned through the meditation technique “Ink Drop” were the base form. Any subsequent enhancements, whether using pigments as support or completing a full painting, were simply leveraging external tools to amplify that ability.
By this standard, as long as Kaelis drew something sufficiently detailed, she could summon it as well.
This realization startled Kaelis at first, but then she became excited and began experimenting enthusiastically.
Kaelis originally wanted to paint grand historical masterpieces, such as “The Battle of Alexander” or “The Creation.”
But upon reflection, works of that caliber, even if she managed to paint them, would be beyond her control.
So... Kaelis decided to take a wiser approach.
“Essentially, spirit is the power of the mind. As long as enough people know of it, it can coalesce into form...”
“Masterpieces of that level are too difficult for me to create. Then... perhaps I could try something else.”
For example...
Before Kaelis's eyes...
A monstrous beast, rugged as stone, with curved horns on its head and brown armored scales covering its body. The tip of its tail ended in a club-like bony growth, and its eyes burned crimson with ferocity.
It erupted violently from the sand, and through the blurred flying grains, its terrifying figure became visible.
This was... the Desert Tyrant!
Diablos!
It was a monster from a game Kaelis used to play, called Monster Hunter.
Kaelis loved drawing and had dedicated most of her time to art, but she wasn't some traditionalist who believed simply drawing endlessly would yield results.
When overwhelmed by stress, Kaelis would seek various ways to relieve it... and among them, games were the most effective.
Specifically, video games.
Diablos left a particularly strong impression on Kaelis.
Its tail could shatter rock, and its armor could resist blades. In this world, it would surely rank at least as a Level One existence.
And the reason she chose it was also because it was fairly popular.
This might reduce the spiritual cost required for Kaelis's summoning... though of course, she had no idea whether spiritual energy from another world could be infused here.
But it was worth a try.
If it worked...
Then perhaps Kaelis could take another step forward and paint something else?
Loving masterpieces was about aspiration, but one must also consider practical life~
Besides, for a true artist, to only appreciate old masterpieces while turning a blind eye to modern CG and other new forms of art was itself a form of prejudice and arrogance.
Even though they were commercial works... weren't Alphonse Mucha's artworks that Kaelis loved also commercial paintings?
It didn't matter where something came from or under what circumstances it was created, what mattered was whether it was beautiful.
Times were advancing. Artists had to keep pace with the times. Finding their own footing amid the of entirely new forms of artistic expression was exactly what they should be doing.
Thinking, Kaelis narrowed her eyes and began observing her artwork.
At this moment, the painting was nearly complete. The overall impression was already set. If she had to say anything more... it would only be about further refinement.
However, time no longer allows Kaelis to continue investing in it.
Just as Kaelis was covering the painting with canvas and preparing to pack it up, Seren rushed into the tent, expressing a mix of shock, joy, and disbelief.
She looked at the girl before her, delicate as a white flower, and spoke with a trembling voice.
“How... how did you know?”
“Hmm?”
“The battle has truly begun! And it's growing more intense by the minute. The city might really fall today!”
After completing the tunnel excavation yesterday, Kaelis had insisted Seren to constantly monitor the battlefield, especially developments within the Kerkor Kingdom.
Seren had originally thought Kaelis's idea somewhat naive... After all, with multiple armies from the three nations surrounding the enemy, although the ultimate goal was to capture the city, the best strategy wasn't necessarily direct assault... but rather, waiting for them out.
No matter how powerful the Ascenders were, they still needed to eat and drink. By surrounding them, their strength could be continuously drained.
As for their own side... although they would also suffer losses, the resources of the three great nations were sufficient to sustain the effort.
Yet just now, she suddenly heard that the front lines had begun fighting.
This left her both stunned and incredulous.
How did Kaelis know all this? What was going on?
“Well, I don't know the exact reason either, but does it really matter at this point?”
Kaelis smiled, then slowly stood up.
After a moment's thought, she took the painting with her.
“How intense is the battle now?”
“It's just begun, not yet at its peak, but many units have already been summoned and deployed... If nothing unexpected happens, we'll soon be, ”
Seren hadn't finished speaking when the bell at her waist suddenly rang.
This caused both people inside the tent to freeze.
The military bell was ringing, meaning they had to head to the battlefield immediately!
“Perfect timing.”
Kaelis raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and turned to leave the tent.
Outside, soldiers who had been resting hastily began assembling with their solemn expressions.
During this period, Kaelis had indeed given them a rare sense of peace, but they were well aware that such peace could not last forever.
Now that war had broken out, they had to be ready.
Looking at the soldiers before her, tense and focused, Kaelis smiled.
“Ready?”
“...”
The army remained silent. The hundred-strong unit chose silence.
They said nothing. Some were anxious and afraid, others resolute and ready to die.
All of this was within Kaelis's expectations.
But none of it mattered anymore.
“Do you... want to achieve something great?”
Kaelis smiled and suddenly spoke.
Everyone looked over, but their expressions showed confusion.
Only a few seasoned soldiers, recalling Kaelis's orders from the past few days, seemed to understand something and began to grow excited.
Kaelis didn't hide it.
"Since we're here, I have nothing more to hide from you... Do you remember the tunnel we dug a few days ago?
We spent so much effort finally completing a tunnel leading straight into the city... Simply by walking through, we can launch an internal assault on the enemy. Do you know what this means?
It means our pressure will be greater than any unit on the front lines. We have no reinforcements. No escape route allows for orderly withdrawal. Once we enter the inner city, any one of us might become the rear guard left behind!"
Kaelis's smile gradually faded, her expression turning serious.
"It might seem foolish to say this just before battle begins. I know full well that for one general's triumph, a thousand bones lie buried... But I still believe you deserve the chance to choose. You don't have to follow me in attempting the impossible.
Now, leave the unit and head to the front lines. Then, you still have a high chance of survival. But... follow me into the city for the surprise attack, and you might all die inside... This is a plan, but not one guaranteed to succeed..."
Under normal circumstances, Kaelis might not have done this, but... this was only a simulation. Kaelis didn't intend to go against her own conscience.
For her, the worst result of failure was merely experiencing the sensation of death once more, a feeling she was already familiar with, and could endure.
But for these people, their sense of their own lives was painfully clear.
Precisely because she understood this, Kaelis offered everyone a choice at this moment.
"If we succeed, I will never claim the glory alone. If we fail... then we fail. We'll die inside the city, perhaps never boast, only labeled as a reckless, foolish unit...
Opportunity or life, each of you must judge for yourselves. Now, there is no difference in status. Make your own choice. Consider everything carefully... Once we set out, we never look back!"
As Kaelis's words fell, the unit gradually erupted into unrest. Some began hesitating, others felt their fighting spirit ignited. For a moment, mixed emotions left them somewhat at a loss.
But at that moment, a seasoned soldier stepped forward.
He was a young man, his hair already streaked with gray, his gaze firm.
“Captain!” He took a deep breath. His previously dull eyes now suddenly burned with a flicker of desire.
Even though Kaelis had repeatedly emphasized the danger, that only made the potential rewards seem even more tempting.
If they succeeded, every single one of them could be promoted to a rank.
This was a transformative result, the very thing they all sought!
“I, Andre, pledge myself to your service!”
“Captain!”
“We all pledge ourselves to your service!”
Almost everyone who had reached this point had come for military merit.
Now, a golden opportunity lies before them. Under Andre's lead, many made up their minds.
They were people who had already abandoned everything to come here. At this moment, all they needed was to repeat their original choice.
Stake their lives as gambling chips!
Seeing the orderly formation before her, Kaelis grinned, saying nothing more.
“Move out!”
