Forcefully calming himself down, Richard turned his attention to the Goddess, despite all the things she does- their relationship was like a toxic workplace. Even if Richard wanted to strangle her to death, even if he could, doing so would just bring him more problems- and he already had a ton.

"How about teaching me some magic? All you do is teleport from one place to another, bring some weird shit or food- using my money by the way"

Whenever he asked her, the Goddess would always make up some random excuse but this time-

<Sure, what do you want to learn? The magic Cindy uses or the one used by Hana?>

The Goddess gave Richard a choice but-

"Is there any magic that doesn’t use souls, blood, sacrifices or anything like that?"

The answer he got was-

<There are, many in fact and you could learn them but, they all come at a price>

Richard, who already understood some of the more general rules of magic, had an idea of the "price" he had to pay. But he didn’t just accept it based on a guess.

"What price?"

<Hard Work>

"That doesn’t sound too bad?"

The Goddess’ reply on the price made Richard feel like his worries were unfounded- worthless even.

After all, if he really thought about it, the magic that Cindy and Hana used were built upon the sacrifice of living beings.

All the two women had to do was sacrifice others, the worst thing they could get was PTSD from the shit they had to do. But aside from that? Nothing much.

On the flip side, if the Goddess’ words were to be believed, then all Richard had to do in order to make proper use of his talents was to work hard. It could even be something similar or close to training arcs!

In other words, all he had to do was maybe do some cultivation like in those chinese webnovels or maybe follow the superhero training of doing 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 pull ups and running 100 steps while only eating a single banana a day-

’That was the routine right?’

He thought while the Goddess teleported away to get the "required materials" for his training.

With magic already on the table, Richard was sure that his life was going to start entering the "epic phase". The moment when he goes from a worthless former billionaire to a secret magical prodigy living a double life!

He already sacrificed his youth for his dreams after all!

A whole decade to build an empire that fell because of a woman...

Since his first run towards greatness fell, why would he follow the same path?

He already did the careful, intellectual and scumbag route, why do the same thing? That strategy already failed! Being too serious led him to lose everything!

Now, he was going to do things in a different way- a different path!

As he was psyching himself up, the Goddess returned and with her she brought a bear pelt that was made to work as a cloak or something similar.

The head of the bear was cleanly skinned as it acted like a cool fantasy hood.

The type you’d see in fanart for berserkers in fantasy but Richard was now seeing it in reality. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

As cool as it was though, the fact that it was brought out by the goddess could only mean one thing.

"Am I going to learn a form of Shamanism using a spirit bear?"

The Goddess laughed as she answered Richard-

<Close, but no, you’ll be trained by the legendary warrior who sealed himself in this bear pelt>

Richard’s eyes went wide open in excitement as he stared at the bear pelt.

Wasn’t this the typical story of Richard finding out he actually had talent for martial arts? That he could become a legendary knight or martial artist if he was in the medieval era?

That was totally the case, after all, Merlin was Arthur’s teacher right?

Richard forgot about the fact about Arthur Pendragon’s sexuality, for now, he focused on the fact that his genes could very likely be carrying a talent for combat.

Even though he didn’t really see any worth in having Close Quarters Combat (CQC) talent in the modern age with the prevalence of guns and all-

But! If he matched martial prowess and the Goddess special teleportation magic- couldn’t he just become a real life ninja?

The teleportation of the Goddess was oddly similar to that one guy in anime after all! If he could improve the Goddess teleportation magic... maybe use it on beads or something else...

"What’s he thinking about?"

Cindy asked the Goddess as she eyed Richard who was showing a weird expression.

<He thinks he’s an anime character>

"I see- that pelt? I don’t know where exactly it came from but my Grandma said it was an inheritance from our ancestors who used to live in Medieval Britain. The only legendary figures from that land that wear bear skin or use bear skin... if I’m not wrong"

<Vikings, this here is the pelt worn by a legendary Berserker, though modern day retelling of his legend turned him into a Viking Leader, the true history of that man is of a warrior, one who let his instinct take over as he decimated his foes>

Cindy’s expression crumpled in confusion while she asked.

"That kind of person would teach Richard magic? What kind? If it’s the same type those idiots over there use as an excuse to "get high" then I’ll be a better teacher. I’m not that good with other systems but I am well learned in those that naturally talented idiots use."

But in response to Cindy, the Goddess only shook her head while explaining-

<Ancient humans were behind in terms of science and technology you are familiar with, but in terms of mystics? They were far beyond whatever you could do right now. Although they do have some rather archaic methods- it’s not like the modern era completely phased out analog systems right?>

The Goddess’ answer left Cindy speechless, she did not know if Analog systems were still in use but given that she had access to Richard’s knowledge... there is a high chance that her words were true.

Cindy wasn’t aware, but even the most modern jets, those used by many militaries, still use analog systems.

In fact, some aircraft that are newly made also use the same analog systems.

While modern digital infrastructure was rapidly taking over the civilian space, the rapid advancements left many vulnerabilities. It is also this rapid advancement which made geniuses capable of speeding up development to gain increasing importance to the world.

But geniuses are a dime a dozen, which is also why Richard... no, Damien Dixon, was being quietly erased.

An uncontrollable force was a bigger vulnerability than any new and untested system.

This type situation is the same reason why archaic magic works, despite the fact that many archaic techniques were wasteful and dangerous due to their unpredictable nature- one thing that kept them alive is the fact that "results were insured".

Yes, sometimes you accidentally create a demigod monster that roams the woods hunting down people and causing an urban legend that feeds itself in an endless loop of power accumulation.

But you created a mystical being right?

There were modern versions of techniques but many of them were prone to failure.

The biggest example being the "spiritual state" where mystics would use substances to place themselves in certain "free minded states" where they could "commune with the mystical powers".

Such a method worked only half of the time, the other half left the mystics in a worthless "high".

Worse off, those mystics who fail would likely end up as druggies instead of actual practitioners of the mystic arts.

Cindy was not aware of the analog vs digital problem but she was aware of the reasons why the mystical arts still retained records and knowledge about the dangerous methods from the past.

"So the ancient humans had methods specifically used for people like Richard?"

<Why do you think demigods exist in legends?>

"Because the god’s got horny and fucked a few hot humans?"

<That’s part of it but these sexcapades are just the introduction to the system. The act of the mystical entities taking advantage of humans gave rise to beings with mystical roots but with mortal bodies. They could use normal human methods but of course they had to use their talents right?>

The Goddess threw the pelt forward but it did not fall to the ground and instead floated as the form of a man manifested under the pelt.

<Regular humans had to go against nature, they had to "break the rules" in order to use magic. That is the source of the brutal methods you are familiar with. But those with mystical roots? They could attune themselves naturally to the mystical laws, they did not have the eternity we mystical beings have but they do have our potential>

At this point, Richard had also snapped out of his delusions as he stood next to the two women who were discussing some important matters while he kept his eyes focused on the figure that was forming underneath the bear cloak.

<A huge event shook the world, mystical beings retreated to sealed pocket dimensions within the earth, some were sealed and the mystical bloodlines that birthed demigods? They were diluted over the centuries, many were lost to time but a few found themselves persisting through a roundabout method of inheritance>

The Goddess turned towards Richard as she said those words.

"Something related to the soul right? That’s why I had to "Awaken" instead of just having mystical powers at birth"

<It is also the reason why mystical occurrences, unnatural births and legendary tales of superhuman individuals increase in number as you go back to the past but slowly shrink and vanish the closer you are to the present>

Richard scanned his memories, while modern historians would have some roundabout explanation.

But the fact was that in the past, the Greek empire for example, had a civilization that was thriving with countless legendary warriors, legendary scholars and even more legendary warriors spring up one after the other or just existing all together.

There would be tales of these figures arguing amongst themselves and developing sciences that would be lost until the renaissance.

Some people ignore...

"Ignore..."

That word made Richard pause.

Why do people ignore it?

They learn it in history, centuries in between would be left dark while there would be occasional blimps of brilliance before huge disasters.

Some call it the "cyclical nature of history", others claim that it is unavoidable because the cycle comes in different forms tailored towards the current state of civilization-

Yet, now that he had actual knowledge of mysteries- Richard’s mind sprung up an idea that he would have been tossed aside as a crazy conspiracy story yet now-

"The past... the knowledge we have of it... it feels oddly manipulated"

He spoke those words aloud, catching the attention of Cindy, Hana and the Goddess.

But, instead of shocked expressions of realization. Their faces showed a look that said, "finally".

Then it hit-

"Wait- what? Really?"

But in response to his questions, the three women only smiled and just as he was about to push for more answers.

<My summoning... the spawn of Merlin... hahahaha! Good! The day finally came! MERLIN’S SPAWN! It’s time for me to honor my pact!>

Before Richard could even say anything, he was quickly dragged away by a huge man wearing the bear pelt cloak- though it now looks like a cape on his back.

Cindy watched as Richard was dragged away, she didn’t do anything as the words uttered by the man proved that he was no threat to Richard.

"Who is he?"

Still her curiosity did not wane as she asked the Goddess.

<Raginherus, the monster that sieged Paris, surviving the attacks from his God on his return to his kingdom, he faked his death and took on the name Ragnall, ravaging the lands he was meant to protect and turning his people into berserkers who went against their Gods>

"... Ragnarok?"

<Merlin’s warriors, the vanguard who took back the world of man from the hands of the Gods>

The Goddess spoke with a playful tone but Cindy felt as if she heard some crazy history she was not supposed to know. She sang mantras trying to erase her own memories but-

<Do not fear, your fate has already been sealed. Escape is impossible now that you’ve associated with Merlin’s descendant>

"..."

Cindy sighed, she turned to look at Richard who was being pummeled in a "practical lesson" with the legendary viking.

The thought of her future being bright alongside the descendant of Merlin suddenly became uncertain. Instead, what she pictured was the a fate to hell-

"Good thing I’m not a clairvoyant"

<We could have Richard learn it, he has the talent to>

"Please don’t"

<hahaha>

While the two were having such a conversation, Hana was silently munching on her french pastry-

’This croissant is delicious, the layers are crisp and matching it with a cup of coffee... it should be hot chocolate right? Well, I can’t order the Goddess to get me a cup... hahaha- no, I’m a visitor, it’s not about asking, it’s about etiquette! Yes, etiquette-’

The poor tomboy turned into a tiny hamster going off into her own world trying desperately to dissociate from the madness before her.