Greenhouse Flower (3)
There are many attributes in this world. Among them, chaos, destruction, and void are called the three great attributes of demons. That's why the Void Tentacle is classified as demon equipment.
Humans are innately born with different properties of mana based on their temperament. This property, called an attribute value, has an unclear causal relationship but is linked to a person's disposition. Simply put, hot-tempered people have strong fire attributes, flexible people have strong water attributes, and laid-back people have strong wind attributes. Demons, through their artificial transformation process, have their innate personalities and natural mana properties flipped, taking on the qualities of chaos, destruction, and void (craving).
Just as temperament influences mana properties, the innate mana attribute values restrict the weapons a user can equip, so even the armaments differ between ordinary people and demons. Therefore, the Void Tentacle, with its void property, is one of the ultimate sub-weapons made for demons. Heroes blessed with mana must pay a hefty price in attribute values, making its use a double-edged sword. Ha Yeon-si, who possesses Mana Worship—revered by all common attributes—can't even wield it.
But with its evolution type, ego type, body transformation properties, and infinite proliferation... Objectively speaking, it's undoubtedly the perfect sub-weapon for me, aiming for an anti-mage constitution that erases mana attributes entirely.
"What the hell is this supposed to mean?"
Ha Yeon-si said.
"Try injecting mana into the wall with mana conduction."
"Uh... mana conduction..."
She looked uneasy but did as I said. When she placed her hand on the wall and channeled her mana, the engraved pattern on the surface began to glow brightly.
Woooong.
Those blessed with mana blessings struggle to manifest mana itself due to their vast reserves, but conducting it is incredibly easy.
"Oh, how'd you know?"
"Saw it in a book."
"Even I didn't know that... You must study hard."
I meant the original novel, not some textbook.
Moments later, the wall pattern shone brilliantly, and the wall sank into the floor as if being sucked away. Then, glowing text appeared before our eyes.
Trial of the Void confirms the challenger.
2 people.
So it really was an advanced trial.
Before we could even grasp it, thick fog billowed up from the floor, soon taking shape.
"Whoa... what is this? I had a hunch, but this is that trial you only hear about?"
"...Get ready."
True to the sanctuary sealing void equipment, the transparent forms solidified from opacity into tangible bodies. Silver-white manes jutted out like rotten branches. The form, sparking with transparent lightning, resembled the pre-domesticated wolf, Canis lupus. But its size rivaled a prehistoric mammoth.
"Hey... but... isn't this supposed to be an advanced trial?"
Ha Yeon-si said.
"No, what the—"
I widened my eyes.
No fucking way. Why two instead of one?
The void entities fully materialized.
Grrr—
I steadied my breathing and focused. A short burst of Insight projected the target's weakness onto my retina, intuitively embedding it in my mind. The void core embedded in the transparent body. Near the heart.
"...Hoo."
I immediately canceled Insight after grasping the weakness. With two targets, the fatigue doubled. This was unexpected... It should have been one originally. Did the trial scale with the number of challengers?
Whoosh.
Then one void wolf lunged like lightning.
"Euk!"
Ha Yeon-si groaned in surprise at the sudden strike but properly blocked it with her sword.
Grrr.
The two void monsters circled us like hyenas eyeing rotten meat.
This was dangerous.
"Hey."
I said.
"What?"
We had to end this swiftly and flawlessly. Any mistake could be fatal.
"Just in case—it's not the head, it's the heart. The core's there."
"How do you know that?"
"...Saw it in a book."
"You really study hard."
The wolf turned. I turned to avoid showing my back. Ha Yeon-si and I stood back-to-back, facing the monsters. At that instant, as if on cue, both beasts charged simultaneously.
I gathered mana in my fist and activated Insight. The void monster lunging at me twisted its body. I mirrored it, twisting my upper body and bracing for the next attack. Ducking the slashing forepaw, I closed in immediately. Driving deep, I aimed a punch at the core—but it fell short. The fist only grazed the body.
—!
But contrary to expectation, the void monster flinched violently. Looking at the core, it had a small scratch, as if damaged.
...Don't void-attribute monsters normally take no damage except to the core?
Then I remembered my talent.
*Physically strike what cannot be struck.*
"...Another surprise."
If so, this was worth trying. Things had gotten much better. Without relaxing, I glanced sideways at Ha Yeon-si. Unlike me, she was struggling. Still holding back her power, just like in the original.
That stubborn fucking bitch...
I got pissed at the sight. Stubborn even now? Is she really insane?
"Hey."
"...What?"
"You not using your gear?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The stuff you're wearing—all magic artifacts. Use them."
"...How do you... "
Fuck, curses rose to the tip of my throat. Her gear was all top-grade magic artifacts, probably worth a tank. The product of overprotection. She couldn't use mana manifestation, but with mana conduction, she could activate the inscribed spells and handle this easily. Way easier than now.
"...I get how you feel living like that, but this isn't the time for pride."
Ha Yeon-si glanced at me sidelong and stayed silent for a while. Finally, she began using her magic artifacts.
Woooong.
The mana-infused gear emitted inscriptions, flashing like lightning. The engravings were impressive. A storm of mana raged, making it hard even for me to keep my eyes open. And after a hard-fought battle, we finally took down the void monsters.
The battle was over.
"...Tsk."
I hadn't expected two, but we won.
...Lucky.
As I sighed in relief, Ha Yeon-si approached.
"Hey, you... how'd you know?"
"Know what?"
"That my gear's all magic artifacts."
Guess that bugged her. Her eyes were intense.
What to say...
"...Saw it in a book."
"......"
She fell silent at my answer, lost in thought.
"You don't mean..."
Right then.
As she opened her mouth, people appeared.
"Miss!"
"Miss, are you alright?"
"She's here! Over here."
Golden Horizon's security team—Ha Yeon-si's greenhouse keepers—had arrived.
"...Tsk."
Ha Yeon-si clicked her tongue, displeased with the situation.
"No injuries, I hope?"
"...You didn't have to come all this way..."
She glanced at me as she spoke, embarrassed by her circumstances.
"That was too close a call."
"......"
"What if you'd gotten hurt?"
Her eyes blazed with anger, but Ha Yeon-si never snapped. That was her nature.
Oh, the reward. Remembering late, I stood. I sensed reward energy from the opposite wall.
"Huh."
But I'd overlooked one thing. With two challengers, the trial difficulty doubled—and so did the rewards.
"......"
While Ha Yeon-si was surrounded by her guards, I quickly snatched the two rewards. Void's property makes it hard to detect unless you're exceptionally perceptive—hard to sniff out like demon scent. The one guy who could notice was...
"...Huh."
Then I spotted more rewards. Backside world's rewards add random extras based on trial difficulty. Two essence-like inner cores and what looked like a spellbook. I pocketed them and approached Ha Yeon-si.
"Hey."
"......"
She just glared, saying nothing.
"Take it."
She finally reacted when I handed her the spellbook.
"...What about you?"
I already had the void items—no need. And just as void didn't suit her, the spellbook suited her more than me.
"Suits you better than me."