Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Syria's Evolution
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Leyzon cradled the tiny bat that Syria had become, gently stroking her.
Syria let out a soft purr.
"Pfft, Syria, you're so small. You've turned into a real animal."
Iden, perched on Leyzon's shoulder, chuckled as if finding it amusing.
Even at Iden's words, Syria showed no reaction, simply basking in Leyzon's touch.
She truly seemed like nothing more than a pet bat now.
Syria had often taken on the form of a bat before.
But that had always been a deliberate transformation on her part.
Not like this complete change.
Right now, Syria had weakened to the level of Corruption Rank 1.
Her presence was a far cry from what it once was.
"Wow, she's adorable."
Even Hanok couldn't help but find her cute.
"Shrieeek!"
"Eeeek!"
Of course, the moment Hanok approached, she spread her wings threateningly.
Hanok yelped in terror, his face crumpling.
It was pitiful how Syria only snapped at him.
Hmm, this is unexpected.
Leyzon had evolved undead numerous times before.
This was the first time something like this had happened during one of those evolutions.
For her to go through a pupal stage on the way from growth phase to mature form...
An evolution cooldown, of all things.
Leyzon gazed at Syria as she flapped her wings.
It was as if she were urging him to pet her more.
When he obliged, she purred happily again.
Just as a caterpillar must form a chrysalis to become a butterfly, undead required a pupal stage too.
And that stage was the most vulnerable time for any creature.
Even wrapped in a hard shell, it left them completely defenseless.
Thus, Syria was extremely weak during her pupal phase.
Her intelligence had regressed to that of a child; she couldn't even hold a conversation.
The evolution will take 100 hours.
The moment Leyzon noticed Syria's evolution, he had hurried out of the dungeon.
He then found the nearest Pioneer Association in a village.
Updating his Pioneer ID there, he checked her status and confirmed the wait time.
100 hours.
Four days and four hours.
That was how long Syria's evolution would take.
"Syria, does anything hurt?"
At Leyzon's question, Syria flapped her wings vigorously.
Snorting defiantly, she seemed perfectly fine.
As long as she wasn't in pain, that was a relief.
But with Syria in this state, heading to the Insolent Plateau was out of the question.
Their greatest asset was on temporary standby.
"Hanok, Iden, we'll stay in this village for about four days until Syria evolves."
It wasn't urgent.
No need to take unnecessary risks by pushing on.
Iden and Hanok nodded in agreement.
Leyzon gazed out the inn window.
The sky had already begun to darken.
With Iden here, there shouldn't be any issues.
Leyzon thought positively, as always.
He had never once entertained negative thoughts in life.
This time would be no different, he was sure.
The journey south.
The day after staying in the southern village of Lovelli due to Syria's evolution.
Leyzon visited the Pioneer Association once more.
The reason for his visit?
To proceed with his next ascension.
10th Ascension → 11th Ascension
📍 Clear Upper-tier dungeons 3 times (High-rank Pioneer or above): 3/3
This was the ascension completed after the Pig-type dungeon.
Yesterday, his mind had been too preoccupied with Syria to handle it.
Now, he wasted no time and proceeded.
Leyzon handed over his Pioneer ID at the association.
Soon, he felt a massive surge of power flooding his body once again.
His stats had now reached an average of 110.
Just four more steps to Hero-rank Pioneer.
Leyzon took the next ascension quest while he was at it.
"Y-Yes? You just ascended and now the next one?"
The Pioneer clerk began to show signs of bewilderment.
He had just completed his 11th ascension and was already asking for the 12th quest.
It was only natural for her to be flustered.
Is it finally time to start raising suspicions?
Up to Mid-tier Pioneer, the ascension EXP pools weren't that large.
So, it was plausible to rack up a few ascensions.
But for upper ranks, it was different.
Each ascension provided massive power for clearing upper-tier dungeons.
No sane person tackled those life-threatening dungeons without ascensions.
"Ahem, I've been grinding mid-tier dungeons day and night from the start. So, I'm a bit backed up."
Leyzon explained with feigned embarrassment.
Perhaps due to his rugged features, she awkwardly smiled, unable to fully buy it.
"R-Right, of course. I'll register the quest for you!"
She hurried through the process, clearly eager to end the conversation.
Thanks to his ugly mug, the suspicion was brushed off.
Leyzon took it positively.
This mask comes in handy sometimes, after all.
He missed Ella, the friendly clerk back in the capital who treated him without regard to looks.
She was a genuinely good person.
Everyone could learn from her.
Fortunately, he secured the quest without issue.
11th Ascension → 12th Ascension
📍 Clear Upper-tier dungeons 5 times (High-rank Pioneer or above): 0/5
Five upper-tier dungeon clears for 11th ascension and above.
The conditions grew harsher with each one.
Leyzon pocketed his ID and stepped out.
"Nom nom."
Hanok was beside him, munching on duck skewers.
Lately, it was as if he had hit a growth spurt—his appetite had skyrocketed.
At that moment, Syria poked her head out from inside Leyzon's clothes.
In a flash, she snatched Hanok's duck skewer with her beak.
"Quack?!"
Hanok cried out in shock as his skewer was stolen.
He stared blankly as she gulped down the duck in one bite.
"S-Syria, ma'am!"
Hanok protested with a woeful expression.
But Syria ignored him completely, retreating back into Leyzon's embrace.
Hanok gazed sadly at the empty skewer stick.
True to form, he fell victim even in her current state.
"Hanok, go buy another one over there."
Leyzon handed him some money, and Hanok's face lit up instantly.
He was still just a little guy.
Leyzon fed him generously to help him grow big and strong.
He does look a bit chubbier lately.
As Leyzon thought that, Iden suddenly shivered.
"Leyzon, sir, the bag is shaking..."
Sure enough, as Iden said, Leyzon's bag began to rumble.
Leyzon knew what it was and opened it.
Inside was a telegram stamped with the Steel Wolf emblem.
"A message from Rafila."
Probably notifying him that Estelle, Lone Spider, and Piran had arrived.
Leyzon casually opened the letter.
His footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
The contents had nothing to do with Estelle or Lone Spider.
Sword Saint.
The annihilator of the Bluebird Knight Order.
The one who held a grudge against Syria, blaming her for their deaths.
A monster at the 18th ascension.
Leyzon remembered him all too well.
He was also the man they had planned to plant as a spy in the imperial court after clearing the misunderstanding.
The problem is...
This guy was heading to the Insolent Plateau right now.
We're still in the dark about the Bluebird Knight Order.
The Butterfly Mask, who was supposed to provide intel, had been exposed as a traitor.
So, they had to seek other sources for info on the knights.
Like it or not, Leyzon and the Sword Saint were enemies.
Leyzon reached up to stroke Syria's head.
"It's actually a good thing that Syria needs this evolution time."
Had they rushed ahead, they might have run into him.
Thanks to her evolution, they got this warning in advance.
Leyzon thought positively.
From now on, avoid him at all costs.
The Insolent Plateau was vast.
There was plenty of room to steer clear.
Then.
"Hey, kid, if you buy up all the skewers like that, what about the people behind you?"
A voice caught Leyzon's ear.
And it was a voice etched in his memory.
With a hunch, Leyzon looked up.
And spotted the man.
Slap!
Leyzon immediately covered his face with his hand.
There stood a hairy brute.
The burly man, with thick fur even on his hands, smacked his lips regretfully.
"Ah, uh, but I already bought them all..."
Hanok stood before him, flustered and unsure.
"Hahaha, these skewers are famous for being so damn tasty, after all."
The man let out a hearty laugh.
Then, he tilted his head at Hanok.
"Hmm, come to think of it, kid, haven't we met somewhere before?"
As expected, he scrutinized Hanok, tilting his head this way and that.
Hanok grew wary.
He had trouble remembering human faces.
So, he seemed to peg the man as a scammer.
Clutching his paper bag of skewers tightly, Hanok shouted,
"No way! I don't want to! Don't do it!"
All eyes turned to them in an instant.
The crowd gave the hairy man and Hanok strange looks.
"Wha-what's wrong, kid?"
The man asked Hanok, flustered.
But Hanok's guard was at maximum.
The onlookers' gazes weren't friendly either.
It looked like a big, burly hairy guy was menacing a little kid.
No way to spin that positively.
"Ah, no, I mean—"
"Pensaldor, sir."
Leyzon spoke up first.
Pensaldor whipped his head around at the call.
"Oh, you!"
Leyzon swallowed a wry smile as Pensaldor beamed with joy, as if seeing a long-lost friend.
The Sword Saint's adjutant.
Pensaldor.
In the most ridiculous twist, they had crossed paths again here by sheer coincidence.
