Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Chapter 1423  Inefficient

"Here," Quinlan said, gesturing faintly around them, "effort matters in ways I can't even begin to describe properly. Talent matters. Luck matters. You can start with nothing and climb to the very top. That alone is obscene privilege."

His gaze shifted, settling on a familiar figure nearby.

"Black Fang would be dead in that forest if not for her ability to level up and gain classes."

"And look around," Quinlan went on. "Some of you would already be slowing down. Bodies wearing out. Time catching up. Others would be already..."

He lowered his hand.

"This system isn't fair, but it's the closest thing to fairness I've ever seen. Rank-up trials exist to stop people from drifting upward on advantages they never earned. This is the true balancing act put into place, not the 'mage princess will never reach the highest peak because she was carried her whole life on the back of others.'"

Iris scoffed, seeing that Quinlan truly read her mind.

"Okay, philosophing aside, my hubby wants to get even more OP powers, so let's figure something out," Vex spoke up.

"Our hubby," the girls corrected.

"… No. He's mine."

Vex got many nasty glances. She ignored them all and leaned into Quinlan's side instead.

He drew a slow breath.

"Soul Records… Is there really nothing that can be done?"

[Each entity possesses a vessel.]

[The capacity of that vessel increases with level.]

[The Primordial Entity Quinlan Elysiar has reached the current limit of his vessel's stable capacity.]

"What?" Quinlan frowned. He looked down at his hands, flexed his fingers once. Nothing felt wrong. No strain. No instability. "I feel fine."

[Subjective sensation is irrelevant.]

[The calculations are based on the potential output of the Primordial Entity Quinlan Elysiar at his theoretical peak.]

[Introducing additional powers at this stage would result in backlash rather than benefit.]

Quinlan's jaw tightened.

"So you're saying I'm capped," he said flatly.

A pause came.

[Correction.]

[The Primordial Entity Quinlan Elysiar is not at his limit.]

Quinlan's eyes narrowed.

[The Primordial Entity Quinlan Elysiar is failing to utilize existing assets.]

The words landed cleanly.

[Current application of abilities remains at a surface level.]

[Expecting additional powers to resolve unresolved inefficiencies is a misallocation of progression.]

Quinlan did not smile. In fact, it felt like he was just smacked hard right now. He was told that while he had access to many different powers, he was using them inefficiently, on a surface level.

"So this is the real reason," he said, voice sharpening. "I've got corrupted gods hunting me, and you're telling me to just… figure it out? I was hoping you'd help me with the concept seed side of things."

Silence.

Not even pressure this time.

Quinlan's fingers curled.

"Seriously? I have to just figure it out on my own? At level 50?"

Nothing.

He exhaled hard, then tried again. "Then what about my soul necromancy? Soul refinement. Soul synthesis. Upgrades. Is that capped too?"

The answer came immediately.

[Upgrade it independently.]

Quinlan stared.

Zen went pale. "Wait," he whispered to no one in particular. "Are they… arguing?"

"What about my elemental powers?" Quinlan pressed. "I have access to magma, ice, and lightning, but they're still stuck at the elemental stage, the same restricted spells I got back when I still wielded the Elemental Sovereign class. I don't even use them because it feels far too restricted compared to my basic four elements. I was hoping for another trial like before. Something to force mastery over the deviant elements as well, not just the basic ones."

The response was instant.

[Gain mastery independently.]

"…"

For the first time since touching the monument, Quinlan had no immediate reply.

It felt like being slapped repeatedly by a disappointed cosmic entity.

Outright dismissed.

Quinlan let out a low breath through his nose.

"Tch."

It came out half a grumble, half a laugh.

For a few seconds, he stayed still, head slightly bowed. Then his chest rose once. Twice.

His heart started to pick up.

'…Huh.'

The realization crept in slowly, then all at once. He was not being stopped. He was being told to stop leaning.

All this time, he had treated trials like gates. Walls that only opened if someone stronger on the other side deemed him worthy. Rewards dangled at the end. New tools. New cheats. New ways to patch holes without truly looking at them.

But now…

There were no gates.

Just open ground.

His spells surfaced in his mind, one after another. 'Surface level, huh?'

The phrase stung because it was true.

Quinlan's lips curled.

"I could do a lot more with what I already have…" he murmured.

Ideas began to stack. Small ones at first, then growing in ambition.

No system prompt. No forced scenario.

Just him.

Growing stronger because he chose to.

The thought sent a steady warmth through his chest. It felt almost liberating.

Seraphiel tilted her head, watching his expression shift. "Quin?"

He looked up, eyes sharp again, but different.

"…Okay. I get it."

Several girls flinched at the tone alone.

"I'll figure it out myself."

That earned a few relieved exhales. Mearie's shoulders loosened. Luminara smiled softly.

Quinlan hesitated.

Then he scratched his cheek and added, "But."

The girls exchanged looks. A few of them giggled.

"Oh no," Vex said with amusement. "Hubby's not done."

"Of course, there's a but with Quin…" Lucille sighed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Time to bargain shamelessly…" Ayame shook her head while giggling.

"It's Quin, after all," Kitsara and Aurora chirped in sync.

Quinlan straightened, expression respectful, but there was no hiding the spark in his eyes. "Just one question."

"Is there truly zero trial I can undertake? Even if it grants nothing major, no new class or even spells. Just… something useful. A utility. Maybe something to help me help my girls."

The pressure returned, heavier this time. Evaluating.

[There exists one option.]

[However.]

Here it came.

[It would not grant personal power.]

Quinlan did not interrupt.

[It could be the most difficult Rank-Up Trial the Primordial Entity Quinlan Elysiar has ever faced.]

Quinlan's grin, however, widened.

"Perfect."

He stretched his arms. "Let's begin."