Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Training
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Training.
There had been one hell of an uproar, but...
Our party was more peaceful than expected.
>The glasses guy was back and resting comfortably.
Ermé and Teresa were getting good rest as well.
Rosenata was holding a drinking party off to one side, knocking out the other guys one by one.
>Or, to be more precise...
Everyone except me was enjoying a peaceful moment.
>Why me?
There were just too many reasons that came to mind.
>The Bone Ghost Horse looked like Volkan had caught it.
But the one who leveled up was me.
Still, when I grilled Marcel, he got points for revealing the Bone Ghost Horse's identity.
"If it weren't for that, you'd be rotting in a cell by now."
Volkan chuckled as he propped his feet lazily on the desk in front of him.
"But, kid."
"Why do you keep calling me kid?"
"You're too solid to call a rookie anymore. But our relationship isn't exactly buddy-buddy enough for some fancy title."
"......"
"Or you could take me as your master."
"Call me kid, please."
"No sense of humor. Takes the fun out of it."
Volkan clicked his tongue with a tsk-tsk.
I ignored him and thought about the thing that had possessed Marcel's body.
>'But why was that guy carrying nails?'
The question popped into my head, but I didn't dig too deep.
A lot of people had died when we entered the last Labyrinth.
It wouldn't be strange if one of them had been carrying them.
>'......The funeral's starting soon, right?'
That brought one man to mind.
>Nation.
Viola's older brother.
I'd avenged his death at the hands of the Bone Ghost Horse. He'd probably been satisfied with that one meal we shared.
"......What're you thinking about?"
"I was thinking about Nation."
"Pretty sociable guy. Not much talent, but great with people. Total opposite of you."
So, you're saying I've got talent but no social skills?
>'......Can't argue with that.'
That's who I was from the start.
>"So, what trick did you pull?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. No eavesdropping devices here. Nothing gets out."
"......I just stole his soul."
"Stole his soul?"
"When you pinned him down, Volkan, something came out."
"......Hoo?"
"So I grabbed it and killed him."
"......That's not normal."
Volkan looked at me with strange eyes.
He pondered deeply, then tossed out casually,
"Looks like you've got some spiritual aptitude."
"Spiritual aptitude?"
"Yeah. Souls aren't normally visible. Even a talented body like mine can't do it. Seems you've awakened the Spirit Eye. That purple change in your eyes is probably from it too."
"......?"
I didn't remember having any Gift or talent like that.
>'But.'
I had my suspicions.
Why could I see souls? It was thanks to Rishiel, or...
>'......Plunder (S), maybe?'
To steal something, you have to perceive it first.
Plunder must be helping me in that regard.
>A truly terrifying ability.
Maybe that's why I got Rishiel's soul through Plunder, and then the soulstone containing it.
>"Having the Spirit Eye means you'll see things you shouldn't. You're in for some hardship, kid."
Volkan grinned at me.
Looking like he was thrilled at the thought of my suffering.
>'......I'd rather get some cheat ability and live easy.'
Apparently not.
>"Anyway, any changes?"
"Changes to what?"
"You leveled up taking down that Bone Ghost Horse. Level-ups expand an adventurer's vessel, grant skills. Sometimes even Gifts. You got a weird one before, so this one's worth looking forward to."
Volkan eyed me eagerly.
I thought for a moment.
>'Nothing great.'
If anything, there was a change.
Like last level-up, a new Gift appeared. It combined with another and evolved.
>'Status window.'
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Han Yuseong (Lv. 3) ⚡ Strength: 15 💨 Agility: 24 (20+4) 💪 Stamina: 15 ✨ Magic Power: 15 🧠 Mental: 15 👁️ Sense: 15 ◈ Gifts
- Rogue Mastery (S), Plunder (S), Sword Master (A+), Bow Master (A+), Violet (A), Fatal Constitution (A), Aura Control (B), Magic Power Control (B) ◈ Skills
- Hidden Space (B), Charging Shot (B) ◈ Techniques
- Swordsmanship (Lv 16, 11+5), Archery (Lv 10, 5+5), Martial Arts (Lv 3) ......
This is my current status window.
The change was the Gift from the level-up, which merged with Marksman and evolved.
And the stat window got a major upgrade.
>'......This almost got me in trouble earlier.'
Before coming to this room, I miscontrolled my strength and smashed a few stairs.
But right before arriving, I used Rogue Mastery (S)'s dexterity to finally get a handle on it.
>Anyway, to the point.
>"So, what's it like being the youngest ever to hit Level 3?"
"Am I really the youngest?"
"Yeah. Even in the Cradle's thousand-year history, no one's grown this fast. Unofficially... nah, even unofficially, you're one of a kind."
Volkan chuckled.
Might be true. With all these Gifts and cheats, it better be the youngest or I'm in trouble.
>"......Lukewarm reaction."
Of course.
I couldn't really feel it.
>'Causing all this drama is the real hassle.'
Bored by my sour response, Volkan sighed.
>"Alright, let's get to the main topic."
My eyes lit up at Volkan's words.
Getting to the main topic meant...
>'Rewards for the Labyrinth incident.'
Or hush money, something like that.
Maybe because I looked expectant, Volkan gave a wry smile.
>"First off, you've got two options."
"What are they?"
"One is saying you exorcised the Bone Ghost Horse with your special Gift—"
"Go with the second."
"No thirst for glory at all."
"Glory's just a hassle."
To be honest, it's a real pain.
Glory sounds nice, but...
>'......Can't forget my goal.'
My ultimate aim is getting back to the real world.
If not, living here is plan B, but either way, fame isn't great.
>'......It's a barbaric age.'
Fists rule over law.
People die, and it's just "oh well."
In the Labyrinth, most label enemies and kill without mercy. Gold coins buy lives everywhere.
>Fame in a place like that?
>'Shoulders might puff up a bit.'
But I'm a practical guy.
And the more famous you get here, the more annoyances pile up.
>'......I'm already kinda famous.'
When I went to the back alleys with Ermé, a woman at the Blue Flower Pavilion called me the Black Purple Ghost.
Putting "ghost" with people is rude, but...
>'Means rumors are spreading.'
Info guild folks know, so word's out.
No thanks to more fame.
>"......Knew you'd say that. Guild's already handled it."
But—
Volkan paused, then added,
"You saw it yourself. Even if you stay quiet, ways to spread word abound. Clans are already reaching out."
"......"
"And you're Level 3 now? Unprecedented speed. You'll keep climbing, but eventually, you might need to switch parties. Only that orange girl matches you."
"......I know."
"Cold bastard."
What do you want me to do?
He sighed at my look.
>"Anyway, you want rewards, right? Told Hilda. Sneak off and grab 'em later."
"Sneak?"
"Those kids keep their mouths shut, but a big payout at once? Could stir trouble."
"......"
Volkan looking out for me?
That's kinda touching.
Like he read my mind, Volkan grinned.
>"Grow big and strong. Then I can retire easy."
There goes my touching moment.
*
>'Managed to send him off somehow.'
Volkan recalled Han Yuseong, who had just left.
Even up close, he still couldn't read him.
>'Interesting guy.'
Good personality too.
Cares about his interests, but seems easygoing somehow.
>Above all,
>'Doesn't crave fame. That's great.'
Fame's a double-edged sword.
Better at self-preservation than glory-chasing idiots.
Talented, good character. Avoiding fame's a minor flaw.
>'Cares for comrades.'
Revealed his secret to Volkan to save Marcel.
That's passing grade on personality.
>'More I see, more I like.'
But his talents were the issue.
That soul-stealing power? Unknown.
>'Too dangerous.'
There were soul-handling jobs.
The Cradle collected all dangerous Gifts over time.
>In a thousand years,
Only one Gift dealt with souls.
>'And he manifests the Spirit Eye.'
Might become like that one.
>'Of all things, souls.'
About 300 years ago.
When the Cradle's power boomed.
>Back then, the Cradle was dangerous.
Incredibly strong.
Single-handedly overwhelming empires and kingdoms.
Its forces grew so much, checks came from everywhere.
>Then the incident that toppled it.
Azazel, the monster called Twilight Guide.
One empire crumbled, three kingdoms vanished.
The worst incident that nearly destroyed the Cradle.
>The first Level 9.
The worst Level 9's doing.
Volkan knew Han Yuseong wasn't that kind of person.
But if he kept going in the Cradle, Labyrinths...
Could he stay harmless? Not so sure.
>Volkan gazed out the window.
>'Getting old and paranoid?'
Lately, needless worries plagued him.