Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Heroes' Contest
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-The way to expand your vessel is simple.
‘Oh? What is it?’
-Just die repeatedly and train your body, that's all.
‘…….’
-What is a vessel in the first place? It's the fusion of your body and soul.
‘Body and soul?’
-Didn't you feel your soul filling up when you leveled? Labyrinth monsters replenish your soul. I call it soul power.
‘Soul power?’
-Think simple. There are two ways to expand your vessel: train your body to its limits and grow your soul. Souls aren't that special. It's just amplifying mana and steeling your will.
‘……Willpower's the one thing I'm iffy on.’
To be honest, it reminded me of my old life as a dopamine junkie.
Living like that back then versus now? These days felt genuinely fulfilling, day by day.
‘……Which means.’
I stared at the holy sword with cold eyes.
-Yeah, just like you're thinking. Keep doing what you've been doing to expand your vessel.
‘Then what was that guy talking about?’
-He's telling you to fill it faster. But yours is already full right now.
The holy sword paused with a sigh before continuing.
-Truth be told, he probably didn't see this coming. He never expected you'd fill it this fast.
‘…….’
-I've been pondering it a bit myself.
‘So, getting the Overlord gift solved it?’
-Yeah……He didn't account for that properly either.
I shot the holy sword a thoroughly unimpressed look.
-D-Don't look at me like that! Look at him that way!
‘Fair point.’
I sighed and gazed ahead.
The tournament battles filled my view.
Heroes' Contest.
Seeing it live was pretty underwhelming.
Excluding Gotash, Brandil, Ermé, and Cheong Yuraang—not to mention the late genius closest to Sword Hero—everyone else was just average.
Rishiel was the best of the bunch, but still.
‘Swordsmen are all meh anyway.’
I shifted my gaze to the category I'd entered.
Thief Heroes competing.
Sword Heroes tested raw power.
This one covered everything else.
‘……Detecting traps in labyrinths, reading maps, picking locks, and so on.’
They were testing the basics.
“…….”
-Yuseong, you notice those weirdos staring at you?
‘Obviously.’
I agreed with the holy sword's words, stone-faced.
Only So Yeonhwa had split retinal alloy in half.
But I'd outshone her from behind with overwhelming flair.
Thirty chunks in cube form at once.
They had to take notice.
‘They all thought I was a Sword Hero.’
Only my party knew I'd signed up for Thief Hero. Cheong Yuraang had planned for this but joined Sword Hero instead.
“Why's that guy here…….”
“He's perfect in power, but this might be different……”
“Can't beat him in strength, but our tricks……”
Whispers sizing me up from all sides.
I smirked inwardly.
-Can't beat him in strength? You won't beat him there either.
The holy sword cackled.
Lately, it was really getting a kick out of this.
‘Feels like we're weirdly close now.’
No, more like its ego was awakening.
Especially since I'd hit level 6.
Its emotions felt sharper now.
‘One of its functions, maybe.’
Most were sealed, though.
Holy sword, holy bow, holy staff, holy book.
Those four divine artifacts each held insane power.
Power that let just four topple the Demon King threatening both continents.
I'd asked the holy sword about it before.
-My power? Mostly simple stuff.
‘……Simple?’
-You wouldn't get it, but our true ability is guiding our wielders to strength and righteousness. The rest is extra. Still, mine's superior to the others.
‘…….’
I ignored its bragging and looked ahead.
The elf hero candidate—who'd have targeted me without Gotash and Brandil—was already eyeing me up front.
She held her bow with a smug grin.
“Serutina.”
“It's Seraphina!”
Oh, sorry.
I gave Seraphina a genuinely apologetic look.
“Right. Makes sense I'd leave you unsatisfied in power.”
But Seraphina nodded understandingly at my rudeness.
“This contest won't go your way, though. It's Thief Hero rules. I respect your strength, but beating me here won't be easy.”
“That why you're here?”
“You can still switch. I know you're decent at thief and archer stuff……but dropping out like this would waste your talent.”
I eyed Seraphina in surprise.
The elf who'd proposed on sight and picked fights with Gotash and Brandil at our first meeting.
She was sincerely worried for me.
“I'm good. I think I'm better at this than raw power, so I signed up here.”
“What? No way……”
Seraphina's eyes widened in disbelief, then went blank.
“Wait, you—no, what the……”
I'd subtly bound her almost entirely with Shadow Reaper.
A covert silver thread that regrew if cut, strong enough to throttle a typical level 3.
“Just a little trick.”
I smiled and reeled it all back.
With my handiwork at its peak, I could pull off all sorts of subtle feats now.
I stepped forward.
“Han Yuseong!”
The examiner called my name.
I strolled casually to the test area.
‘Seriously lacking confidence.’
-Lacking confidence you'll fail?
‘…….’
I lamented the holy sword stealing my line but focused.
Eyes on the first trial: a box wrapped in chains with five head-sized locks.
“First trial. Labyrinths often hide secret rooms locked purely by mundane padlocks, no magic.”
The examiner kindly explained from the start.
-Or mimics. Treasure chests too.
“Thief Heroes guide hero parties right! Speed on these locks is key.”
“One question?”
The examiner smiled faintly and nodded.
“Shoot.”
“Best time?”
“Seconds? Basic stuff, but that elf you chatted with—Seraphina—did it in 25.”
“Ah.”
Just that.
Got the Thief Hero level now.
‘……Boring.’
I grabbed a wire from the examiner— the flimsiest one.
“What's with him……Ignoring us 'cause he's strong?”
“Picked the weakest wire?”
“Feared as much. Thief skills must suck.”
Thieves badmouthing behind backs……
-They're thieves. Even with 'hero' attached, calls to scrap it exist.
‘……Why?’
-You know why. 'Thief' ain't flattering. Should be archer, but elves hog that.
‘……No way.’
-Politics. 'Thief Hero' chips away at their status. Elves—shunned by all—plus thief rep? Double negative synergy. Petty crooks to big disasters: all Thief Heroes.
So most here were dropout hopefuls?
……No helping it.
Time to show the gap.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Begin.”
Click-click-click-click-click.
All five locks sprang open in a flash.
“……0.7 seconds!”
“Wh-What?”
“Ch-Cheat?”
“Impossible! That time means tricks……”!
“…….”
Thieves hunting for cheats right away.
Almost laughable.
-Thief Hero average.
‘……Now I get why they recruited me so hard for Sword Hero.’
-Flip side: you're a lock for Thief Hero, making the perfect party.
‘Explains the friendliness.’
-Makes sense. Back unbreakable, power crushes most Sword Heroes, thief skills mastered……Empire's treasure material.
The holy sword's words sobered me a bit.
“Han Yuseong, next trial. Tests scouting and trap detection.”
“Time?”
“……58:34. Seraphina again.”
“Let's smash that proper.”
Light stretch.
I leaped high.
Hero's traditional step: Flying Swallow Stride.
A light leap for distance.
I disarmed each trap mid-jump.
“……5:37. All traps cleared—plus 5 points.”
“This, this can't……”!
“Next: hit targets. Pick bow or dagger, nail 10 at 50m, one foe at 500m.”
I hurled daggers from Hidden Space, then drew bow and arrow for the 500m mark—bullseye.
“……3.17 seconds.”
I glanced around.
Silence had fallen.
All eyes on me.
“Next: intel gathering.”
“An-Another record……!”
“He's shattering history!”
“Next……”
“Pass!”
“Pass!”
“Pass!”
Final trial.
“……Outstanding. And good character too!”
The examiner's awed tone left me awkward.
‘Just focused on records?’
-You don't know Thief Hero bottom-barrel.
‘…….’
-Bottom of the bottom's horrifying. Humanly contemptible.
The holy sword sounded wistful.
“Your character might struggle, but next is stealing.”
“……Stealing?”
“Yes. Might be your toughest.”
The examiner led to the last.
What I saw:
‘Huh.’
The retinal alloy I'd cubed—blocking something.
“No worries. You've smashed every record; one fail won't disqualify you as Thief Hero.”
“Next trial's……”
“Bypass that retinal alloy any way—steal inside. No damage.”
‘Ask if I can take the door?’
-Yeah, right.
The holy sword sighed heavily.
Figured.
“Eyeing the retinal alloy? Don't worry. Pass unscathed, prize inside is yours.”
“What prize?”
“Good stuff. Just 1kg……but worth more than that 300kg door.”
Eyes gleaming, I Steal Striked the whole retinal alloy slab.
“Wh-What?!”
Slipped in, Steal Striked the chest contents.
Pulled the door from Hidden Space.
“……What.”
“Trade secret.”
The examiner gaped in shock.
“P-Pass……!”