100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?-Chapter 35 - Cecil

Lucien stepped into the garden.

His eyes immediately caught sight of two special crops.

Solar Carrots and Winter Radish.

He hadn’t expected this.

The growth was astounding. So much so, it altered the very environment around them.

To his left, the air shimmered with heat.

To his right, a thin mist of frost clung to the leaves.

The contrast was so intense, even the soil reflected it.

Cracked and scorched beneath the carrots.

Frozen and brittle under the radish.

Lucien was thankful he had planted them apart.

Had they been placed together, these opposing forces might have destroyed each other.

He approached the Solar Carrots first.

Their green tops flickered like tongues of flame. It swayed gently, almost dancing.

They looked beautiful... but as Lucien drew closer, the temperature spiked. The heat grew intense until it became unbearable.

Lucien had an idea.

He closed his eyes and drew in a steady breath.

From deep within his core, he stirred his Divine Energy.

Not to strike.

Not to defend.

But to let it rise gently. To shape and wrap around him.

He coaxed it like one would calm a wild flame.

And it responded.

Warmth bloomed from within. It spread like a tide and crawled across his limbs.

It filled his chest, pulsing with the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Then it unfurled.

The energy rolled past his skin like a second layer.

Soft.

Powerful.

Radiant.

It didn’t burn, it embraced.

Lucien opened his eyes.

The world hadn’t changed... but he had. A quiet smile touched his lips.

The experience was difficult to describe. It’s like trying to explain color to someone born blind. You had to feel it to understand.

For Lucien, divine energy was second nature now.

Like an extra limb... one he could move as easily as his hand.

The heat no longer bothered him.

Lucien stepped closer then crouched down. He reached for the nearest Solar Carrot.

It didn’t resist. It came free easily as if it recognized him.

The root was large and deep red. It glowed faintly, almost as if it were burning.

But instead of danger, it radiated an oddly inviting warmth.

"It looks... delicious."

Lucien’s excitement faded slightly when he noticed something.

Nothing dropped.

No bonus items.

No hidden rewards.

"Tch. So there are no loopholes," he muttered. "Well, the seed did come from a drop, after all."

Still, he didn’t let disappointment linger.

He had learned from experience.

Rather than harvesting everything, he only took two. He wanted to wait... let their flowers bloom and produce seeds.

He wasn’t about to waste a renewable resource. Not when special drops like these were hard to get.

’Maybe Kael will bring back more seeds I can exploit,’ he thought.

Lucien turned to the Winter Radish and did the same.

Then with a flick of his hand, he stored it in his INVENTORY.

<Solar Carrot>

Type: Consumable

Rarity: Rare

Description: Grants an attribute to fire magic when a portion is eaten

<Winter Radish>

Type: Consumable

Rarity: Rare

Description: Grants an attribute to ice magic when a portion is eaten

Lucien’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

"This is just like the Flame Heart Crystal that gave me the fire attribute... but these can be eaten!"

He already had the Fire Attribute, so technically, he didn’t need the Solar Carrot... but curiosity got the better of him.

He wanted to know what it tasted like.

The Winter Radish, in particular, looked especially appetizing.

He didn’t know how much of it needed to be consumed to trigger the attribute effect but there was only one way to find out.

Experiment.

And of course, he did want the Ice Attribute as well.

With a grin spreading across his face, Lucien turned and headed for the kitchen.

His steps were light, almost skipping.

He couldn’t wait to slice them up, study every detail and unlock their full potential.

Another asset gained.

And it felt fantastic.

•••

That evening.

A news swept through the territory like wildfire.

The source?

Cecil, the ever-enthusiastic representative of the Administration Division.

He marched down the path with his chest puffed out like a proud rooster. He wore a grin wide enough to split his face.

And there was only one reason.

He had learned a skill.

A real, honest-to-goodness skill... One he claimed to have acquired from the very notes that Lucien had distributed to the divisions.

And knowing Cecil, the news didn’t stay quiet for long.

In fact, everyone seemed to know at the exact same time he found out.

Wasting no time, he called his division mates and a few curious onlookers to gather around.

With dramatic flair, he announced the skill’s name...

STEADY HANDS.

Then with a quill in his right hand and parchment in the left, he took center stage to demonstrate.

But this wasn’t just a simple display.

No. This was Cecil’s performance.

He closed his eyes.

He twisted his body into the most awkward position possible. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

He lifted one leg into the air.

And... He began hopping in circles as he wrote.

Gasps and chuckles filled the air.

People exchanged confused glances.

"What is he doing?" someone whispered.

But Cecil didn’t stop.

He finished his flourish with a dramatic spin then proudly held up the parchment.

Silence fell as they looked.

The writing was...

Perfect.

Neat.

Elegant.

Not a single smudge or misspelled word.

Every line was flawlessly straight, every letter beautifully formed.

It was immaculate.

Their eyes widened.

Mouths dropped.

Even those who were skeptical found themselves stunned.

Cecil stood tall, basking in the glory as if he had just discovered a new form of magic.

And in a way, maybe he had.

Some asked how he did it.

Some simply cheered.

Some were left completely speechless.

Cecil puffed out his chest even more, basking in their reactions.

But he didn’t gatekeep his success.

"I told you!" he declared. "Our Lord is omnipotent! He granted me another skill just because I followed the instructions in the notes! Ha! Looks like I’m the only one who truly grasped the Lord’s brilliance!"

That lit a spark in everyone.

What began as bragging suddenly turned into inspiration.

Eyes widened.

Fire ignited behind them.

Cecil unintentionally had stirred something deeper.

The crowd started murmuring with renewed intensity. Their attention was now firmly on the notes they had once taken lightly.

"I knew it wasn’t simple," someone muttered. "It’s just... hard to follow."

"Yeah, ours are more physical. We use our whole bodies," another chimed in. "But just you wait, Cecil. Our division won’t lose to yours!"

It was mostly his fellow division mates and peers who grew competitive but the energy spread quickly.

A new hunger had awakened.

The desire to learn a skill... To gain something powerful with their own hands!

For commoners, it was a dream they never thought reachable.

And yet... their Lord had handed them the key. In the form of a humble notebook.

They didn’t linger.

One by one, they dispersed. They rushed back to their quarters, back to their notes.

Driven by hope, ambition and the thrilling thought that maybe, just maybe, they could awaken a skill too.

•••

The next morning.

Lucien finally heard about what had happened the night before.

He couldn’t help but laugh.

Cecil had stirred up the entire territory.

With just a few boastful words, he’d sparked competition and motivation across the divisions.

Lucien leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk on his face.

"He riled them up perfectly."

Now, he no longer had to worry. Everyone would take those notes seriously.

The hunger to gain skills was alive and burning.

He turned to Sebas.

"Can you bring Cecil here?"

"Of course, young Lord."

"Good. I have to give him a reward."

Lucien could already picture it.

Cecil parading around, bragging about the reward like a trophy. That would only push the others even harder.

But what kind of reward?

He frowned.

"Better ask him myself."

This development wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Lucien had assumed that the Administration Division would be the first to unlock a skill. Their tasks were more controlled and their requirements were easier to meet compared to the physically demanding roles of other divisions.

Still, even then... it wasn’t easy.

And for Cecil to be the first?

He must’ve had some talent after all.

Lucien’s smile deepened.

He was curious to hear what Cecil would ask for this time.

Lucien reviewed the details of the skill Cecil had acquired and gave an approving nod.

***

Skill (Active): ★★

Illustration: A hand holding a quill, writing a single character mid-stroke

Name: STEADY HANDS

Description: Your hand does not waver. Your writing remains flawless even when blindfolded or in awkward positions.

How to Obtain:

• Copy the same passage 100 times until not a single character strays

• Write your name 100 times with perfect accuracy when blindfolded

***

Soon enough, Sebas returned. Cecil trailed behind him.

The young man bowed deeply.

"My Lord, you called for me?"

Lucien gave a small nod, observing how naturally Cecil followed proper etiquette.

’Sebas has trained him well,’ he thought.

"I’ve heard what happened," Lucien began.

At once, Cecil tensed. His eyes widened slightly and his hand went to the back of his neck, rubbing it anxiously.

He clearly thought he was about to be scolded.

Lucien almost laughed.

"Relax," he said with a faint smile on his lips. "I actually called you here to give you a reward."

Cecil blinked.

"A... reward?"

"Yes. Tell me..." Lucien leaned forward slightly, "...is there something you want?"

The hesitation vanished in an instant.

Cecil’s eyes lit up like stars.

"My Lord, may I truly ask for anything?"

Lucien studied him for a beat.

He could already tell Cecil was about to request something outrageous. His instincts were rarely wrong.

So before he could get carried away, Lucien added...

"As long as it’s something I can do... then yes."

At Lucien’s words, Cecil’s excitement exploded.

"My Lord! Actually... I want to learn magic! But... I don’t have any affinity for any element. Fugui—"

Thwack!

Sebas smacked him lightly on the back of the head.

"The Lord already gave you a stick and now you’re asking for a pole?!"

His tone was sharp but it carried the weight of a teacher scolding an overeager apprentice.

Lucien couldn’t help but laugh.

The exchange was amusing but also... familiar.

He could see the innocence in Cecil’s eyes. The desire wasn’t born from greed but from hope. His imagination was wild, yes... but his heart was pure.

Just like Lucien had once been.

Because every man dreams of magic.

Lucien knew. Cecil was just trying his luck. Deep down, he likely understood how unreasonable the request was. That’s why Sebas scolded him so quickly.

But something had changed within Cecil. Lucien had already given him a skill. That gift had rekindled his passion.

And Lucien understood the feeling of chasing the impossible better than anyone.

He gave a small nod.

Before... he wouldn’t have been able to grant such a request.

But now...

Lucien reached into his INVENTORY and retrieved a small glass vial.

Inside, a fiery red liquid swirled like molten sunlight.

It was a concentrated extract from the Solar Carrot.

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