NOVEL NEXT Chapter: 75: Unfortunate News
Taking my clothes off and placing them in a small closet like locker which was in the changing room connected to the bath, I wrapped a white towel around my waist, as I turned on my heel and walked closer to the sliding doors to my left. My body still felt stiff even after getting healed completely, but the pain had lessened considerably, after I was given an advanced potion and a healer had personally tended to me.
Jihoon and Jiyoung were both adamant on having me get checked from a emitter with healing capabilities better than any from their Father’s guild, but I had to refuse. Despite my injuries being far worse than the others, my passive skill after levelling up had allowed my body to naturally heal itself faster than before, and my mana had also helped considerably in the process.
I lightly moved my right hand, and spun my wrist in a circular motion. Well, the numbness in my hand had perfectly disappeared, and I was just glad that I hadn’t lost a part of my body. That would have been a nightmare because I didn’t have any instant healing potions left; which the system had rewarded me.The only one I had, I had given it to Han.
A few hours had passed since we all had exited the dungeon, and after a thorough check from the medics and healers dispatched by the Japanese officials—the check up which lasted for a few hours at best, I think—for not any lasting effects from the injuries or some severe trauma. But almost all of us were sent back to the lodging inn, as our injuries were grave but not too severe. But with the exception of a few students who were pretty severely injured, and had to be moved to a hospital immediately.
My gazed drifted on to the scars accumulated on my body which I had obtain from my many battles since regressing back in time. My body was riddled with scars from a few places, but some had faded with time. I gazed at the scar on my left forearm, which was a clear reminder of my absolute crazy stunt I had performed during the tournament.
‘No way in hell would I perform something like that again,’ I felt a shiver of absolute horror arch down my spine, as I remembered the incident—how I had manipulated the mana and allowed it flow through me to dissipate into the atmosphere.
But my build had gotten more lean and athletic like how I wanted it to be—and had in my past life, but I still had a long way to go—which could allow me to fight in the most efficient way possible. I mean, only tankers liked to get jacked, and a few other muscle heads.
Maintaining a physique to allowing yourself to fight in the most optimised manner. But, the pain and crankiness in my body was really making me uncomfortable. The effects of the poison were completely neutralized after I had obtained the poison resistance passive skill, but my body had definitely taken a toll and had gone under a lot of stress and pain, thanks to that basilisk’s sharp poison and the physical damage too.
My fatigue had build up way past than I could handle it, so to make my fatigue go away, the best thing that came to mind was to take a bath in an private open air hot spring. One of the best reasons to be alive right now.
And fortunately for me, the inn had one. And the open air baths were separated for both men and women, so everyone could enjoy their time to the fullest.
I slid the door open, as it lightly creaked to the side, as I saw the others bob their head back toward me. There were spiralling tendrils of smoke in the air stretching all around the bath, as I breathed in the refreshing fragrance of the aromatic candles lit around the bath.
I peered across the bath, as my vision drifted to the cherry blossom tree which was mounted on the back end of the bath, as its branches swayed slightly making the scenery even more relaxing. There was a large wooden wall to my left, which separated the men and the women's bath, with many bamboo trees growing beside it.
“He’s finally here,” Ryuya said, as he lifted his good hand. He was leaning against the edge of the bath, as his right arm was still wrapped in bandages. Well, his arm was in pretty bad shape, so letting it heal naturally on its own was better than taking a high-grade potion and causing the bone structure to permanently alter. One of the reasons why I didn’t rely too much on potions, despite their healing properties and rate of success, there was never a potion which could give a hundred percent outcome, made by humans.
I walked closer to him, as I slowly submerged in the hot but relaxing and comfortable water of the hot spring.
I breathed deeply as I let my body completely submerge in the relaxing and calm water, as it cleared my fatigue away. I almost moaned in pleasure as I felt my body invigorate with life.
Exhaling deeply, I leaned my head back against the edge as I led my body relax. The last five days had been a clear and stern challenge for me—for everyone—and I had pushed myself beyond my limits inside that basilisk dungeon. But despite that, all of that effort was in order to escape. I looked down at my reflection in the water which was distorting and rippling due to the waves being produced by the others movements.
My thoughts would always subconsciously stretch back to the time when I had been under the effects of ruler’s authority. It’s powers and capabilities I had yet to fully comprehend and grasp, but, that power was like a double edged sword. It gives me an extreme and subtle control over mana—which I was grateful for—, but it also withers my sanity and emotions. Both of the times I had used ruler’s authority, I had felt like I was losing control of my emotions and body. But the feats I was able to perform with that skill was something I never would have expected to. Like it corrodes the mind, the longer I am under its effects.
My gaze drifted to the other who had now coalesced around us. Han had his long hair slicked back and tied into a ponytail as be leaned his head backward and stayed in his resting position.
Derek had sat done in a reserved position, having his arms wrapped around his knees. But Lucas was no where to be found. I think he had already taken a bath and went to his room.
The others were also completed submerged inside the water up to their neck as they allowed the warm water to heal their fatigue.
“Why the long face?” Ryuya asked from my side, pushing a step toward me.
“Nothing much,” I replied with a weary sigh. “I was just thinking that it was a miracle that we all escaped in one piece.”
It was true, they all had went through a lot in the last few days. Going through life and death over and over isn’t a simple thing which anyone can go through and easily accept. Some of the students have been quiet since exiting the dungeon, I think they needed some time to recover from the shock of seeing people die in front of them and come to term with their own feelings. But, they all had grown, their faces now looked more mature and determined.
But they needed to prepare themselves for the onslaught of the final inevitable war and the second cataclysm, which are yet to come. But there are still a few years left until the cataclysm.
But for now, everyone deserved to rest. They had done their absolute best.
“Jiwoo,” Ryuya said from my side as he lifted his head and turned to look at me.
I looked at him as he held my gaze with determination in his eyes. “I didn’t get to say this properly inside the dungeon, but...thanks.” He slightly bowed his head in a gesture of respect and gratitude as he lifted it and continued.
“Without your guidance, leadership and help, we wouldn’t have been able to escape from that place,” Ryuya’s brows furrowed deeply as he continued with his words sternly pointed at himself in a gesture of self-deprecation. “Despite me holding the first rank position in lock, I was useless almost entirely inside that dungeon, I should have at least reassured the others, but I was unable to do so. If you hadn’t helped us out and leaded us, then I don’t think anyone of us would have been able to escape. For that, I am truly grateful.”
“Well, I am just glad that almost all of us made it out,” I said with a bitter taste of guilt growing at the back of my tongue—due to the lives lost. “But, don’t just take this new chance for granted or take that experience as some sort of unfortunate happening, try to learn from that experience as much as you can, think on how you could do better if such a situation happens in the future. On how you can better safeguard your life and try to form strategies to counter any situations similar to that one, even if it seems almost impossible.”
I slightly turned my head toward Ryuya as he blankly kept looking at me.
“What?” I asked, confused on his sudden silence.
“Ehm...Jiwoo, its just, jokes aside, whenever I talk with you, I always get the feeling like I am talking with a grown adult,” Ryuya admitted as he placed his hand at the back of his neck, in a sign of awkwardness and embarrassment, his eyes drifted away from me as he continued. “I mean it’s just ahh..whenever I speak with you it gives me the feeling like I am always speaking with someone twice my age or someone who has experienced life first hand, someone who really know his stuff. But that can’t be right, we both are the same age. Its just that feeling I get, haha,” he ended with an awkward smile.
“And also taking the factor into account that you are monstrously strong and talented just at the ripe age of sixteen years old. Its almost hard to believe."
“Well, yeah,” I said. “So you better show me the respect I deserve, boy!” I quipped, deadpan with a serious expression over my face, which made Ryuya uneasy and stiffen up in his spot. I sternly held his gaze for a moment, as he awkwardly kept looking away from me.
“Pfft,” I chuckled lightly, as I slapped my friend on his back, getting an awkward chuckle out of him as well. “Well, I do hope you don’t treat me any differently than before, after finding out about my strength and all, ” I flashed him a wink as I fully submerged myself into the water taking a deep breath.
After an entire minute, I re-submerged as I ruffled my hair off the water and slicked them back. Take a deep breath I went back to lean against the edge.
“Then I will be getting out now,” Ryuya said, as he stood from his spot and walked out of the water. “Enjoy your time.”
I nodded at him as he tightened the not of his towel wrapped around his waist, as he slid the door open and exited.
Slowly, student after student exited the bath, leaving me behind alone. The last person was Han to leave. The light noise of the cicadas and the slight breeze blowing past me, making the cherry tree to sway lightly, made the scenery even more breath-taking and tranquil. For a moment, my worries disappeared as I relaxed and allowed the soothing water to heal me.
I lifted my head and looked up at the millions of stars up in the sky, as my gaze drifted to the moon which shined in all its entirety.
“System,” I said under my breath as my eyes stayed fixed on the moon, as a translucent interface brimmed to life in front of me. My stats had grown quite a lot since the first time I had obtained this mysterious system after waking up in my dorm room. I lowered my head and saw my now increased stats after clearing the dungeon.
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NAME: SEO JIWOO (???)
HP: 34970
LEVEL: 96
STRENGTH: 151
STAMINA: 156
AGILITY: 143
VITALITY: 147
INTELLIGENCE: 115
MP: 21567
POINTS: 4924
_____________
FATIGUE: 31
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【PASSIVE SKILLS】
[PERSEVERANCE] [LV. 5]
[PROFESSION]: [Swordsmanship] [LV:4]
[Crescent Moon Style] : [First Movement: Moon Split]
[Regeneration] [LV: 3]
[Pain Resistance] [LV: 3]
[Poison Resistance] [LV: 1]
_____________
....
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Level ten. That was the level I had started on, but now, my current level had risen to level ninety-six.
I stretched my arms wide as I leaned backward. I have really come a long way. All of my passive skills were levelling up steadily as well as my stats, but it will take me a while until I am able to reach my past strength. But I needed to surpass the past me and become strong enough to defeat the demon king in this life.
“Let’s take one step at a time for now."
***
I wore my t-shirt on, as I wiped my hair dry from a towel as I left the bathroom. Stepping into the wide corridors of the inn, I made my way to the main hall where the other were. It was past midnight by now—and by the time we had returned, the sun had already set. The wooden floor creaked as I moved forward with my pace slow, but as I reached near the end of the long corridor and was about to turn left, I saw Adam standing in wait for me at the end of the corridor on the right side with his arms crossed.
His brunette hair were let loose, as I saw visible dark circles underneath his sharp eyes. He must have barely slept for the last six days for him to have such visible dark circles and that weary expression over his face. I inwardly pitied as I peered in Adam’s direction.
As I strolled closer to Instructor Griffin, I couldn’t help but wear a mischievous grin on my face. “Oh, Instructor Griffin. What great pleasure it is to bask in your holy presence,” I greeted, my tone filled with playful banter. My eyes twinkled with anticipation as I prepared for our interaction.
Adam's lips curved into a thin smile—which was rare, even for his usual behaviour, as he always maintained a professional demeanour in front of the others—as he rose a brow in response as he looked straight into my eyes. “Nothing that important. I just wanted to have a short chat with one of my dear students—to ask about how he was doing, and regarding a few other things—over a glass of good wine. If that of course, is fine with him.”
“Certainly, Sir! I don’t see why not. I will be more than pleased to have a conversation over a good glass of wine with the prestigious Instructor Adam Griffin,” I gave him a humourless smile, as I replied.
“Enough with the mild sarcasm,” Adam retorted with a sharp glance, as he saw right through my subtle sarcasm
He turned around as he began to stroll toward his room—which I think was on the second floor. We quickly stepped up to the second floor and I slowly followed him from behind as we passed through the wide corridors and arrived at his door step. He opened the sliding door as he gestured for me to enter.
I stepped inside his room beside him, as I looked around. There was a single bed laid on the east side of the room, with a desk which was full of rows of documents taking almost all of the place over it. The room was quite...uninteresting. Just what I had expected from my boring instructor who only liked to work and to properly perform his duties.
I think this guy goes by the moto: All work and no play.
“Come have a seat. I have a few things I want to ask you, Jiwoo,” he said taking the inclined chair placed on the right side of the balcony on the outer end of the room, connected to the room through a sliding door.
The lush garden on the back of the inn was perfectly displayed from here which was lightly brightened by clustering lights hung around the wide garden. Tall lush trees, beautiful patches of flowers of my kinds, and rich plants came into my gaze as I sat down and slowly inclined into my chair. Seriously, a sight like this was like rose water to the eyes. The tranquillity and calm was something I deeply enjoyed after a long and tiresome battle, to calm my nerves and relax my mind. I inhaled the fresh air as I eased myself in the chair.
My eyes drifted down at the square shaped table which was placed near us, which had two tall and round glasses placed over it, with a bottle of red wine.
Adam took the bottle in his hand and began to pour the wine into the glasses. After filling up both of the glasses half way, he handed one to me as I firmly took it from him.
I twirled the glass twice, as I inhaled the aroma of the wine. The smell was vibrant and exquisite. I brought the glass close to my mouth and took a sip, as I allowed the red wine to flow through my mouth and down my throat into my metabolism.
“Quite the impeccable taste it has,” I quipped taking another sip. The wine caused my taste buds to stimulate as it was unlike any wine I had ever drank. But just as I felt the wine enter my system. I suddenly saw a window pop open in front of me.
My eyes widened in horror and shock—and a mixture of disbelief—as I read through the contents labelled over the translucent window.
It can’t be...
My eyes incredulously gazed at the window which hovered in front of me like some kind of taunt directed at my mother, as a frown crept up my face, but I let it fade as quickly as it had came.
____
『A HARMFUL SUBSTANCE HAS ENTERED THE HOST’S BODY 』
『NEUTRALISING THE EFFECTS』
『NEUTRALISATION OF THE HARMFUL SUBSTANCE COMPLETE 』
____
No...Damn it System!!! I grunted as I almost shattered the glass into pieces in my hand, as the vein over my forehead bulged outward in annoyance.
So the poison resistance passive skill doesn’t just heal and clear my body off of any poison, but alcohol as well.
Just why is this world so unfair to me? The one thing I liked to do was to enjoy some good liquor, and from now on I wouldn’t be able to do that as well, to not being able to get drunk.
This fucking system, and my passive skill. But, it is true that alcohol does dulls the mind and causes a person to get drunk and nauseas, so it could be considered a kind of substance which dulls a person's senses.
I sighed in defeat, as I heard Adam speak from beside me.
“Is the wine not to your liking?” Crossing his legs, he leaned farther into the comfortable chair.
“Oh no, its...I am savouring each sip, that’s just how good this beverage is,” I quickly exclaimed, as I took a sip again. Just like before, the moment the wine entered my system, a window appeared in front of me making me frown. As it cleared the effects of the wine from my body.
Well, nothing I can do about it. It is what it is.
“This wine is called: Valpolicella Ripasso. It is a fruity, complex red wine from the Valpolicella viticultural zone of Veneto, in the north-eastern part of Italy,” Adam elaborated, twirling the glass of wine in his hand, as he observed the red beverage wave in circles. “Well there is a peculiar method utilised for the creation of this wine. Its called the ripasso method. And its used for the production of Valpolicella Ripasso by combining leftover lees with standard Valpolicella wine for a second fermentation to create a deeper, rich and more character-laden wine,” he went on as he sipped the leftover wine in his glass in a single sitting. Then began to pour himself another glass, as a delightful expression curved up his lips.
“Quite the procedure for the creation of a wine,” I admitted, taking another sip. “For something this good, its worth each dime. And I have to say, your choice and knowledge in such beverages is quite keen and different, Instructor.”
“I had received it as a gift from my Father not too long ago, he enjoys collecting the finest and most rarest of wines and beverages as a hobby, taking great pride in his collection ” Adam added, withdrawing a tablet from the inside of his dimensional ring as he tapped over it and handed it to me.
I took it from him and as I looked through the thoroughly formed report about the incident of the sudden dungeon gate appearing out of nowhere. The report was greatly modified, and well written. But the information and details about our time inside the dungeon were just as we all had described.
Ryuya and the others had told me that they had spoken with the others already about altering the story a little bit here and there, and everyone had agreed in doing that. Well, what little amount of the students who had survived.
“What am I supposed to do with this? Am I supposed to rate the grammar of the report and give my pointers on how well maintained and well written it is?” I asked setting the glass down on the table and swiping through as I read the entire report.
The part about us fighting the basilisk had been completely left out. The only things mentioned were either the python attack, or the room which was littered with those accursed knight statues, or the treasury chamber with many kinds of treasures and equipment.
But it was written that we all had somehow miraculously escaped the dungeon after rigorously fighting the threats with our lives on the line inside the dungeon and barely finding the exit portal.
The report was something which could deceive anyone if they hadn’t witnessed it first hand themselves, or heard the complete or original story.
“It can’t be that all of you miraculously escaped the dungeon on your own,” Adam sounded apprehension and skeptical as he leaned his head back, setting the glass on the armrest of the chair, crossing his arms and becoming more comfortable in his chair. “The mana output the gate was emanating was at least equal to a rank dungeon. And almost all of students were
“So what did you all fight inside that dungeon, huh?” Adam quipped taking a sip. “And don’t worry, I have already submitted this report to the higher ups—and being the push overs that they all are they have already accepted this report—which I think has only half of the truth mentioned. But I am simply curious."
“So...are you going to tell me or not?”
Well gotta say, Adam was one of the best for a reason. His ability to even question the subtle situation which were hard to comprehend and grasp made him a very competent individual.
I placed the tablet down and withdrew the basilisk’s core from inside the system inventory which gleamed with a dark subtle aura around its porcelain surface, as I shoved it in his direction. Adam took the core from my hand, as he observed it with keen and surprised eyes.
“This is the boss monster’s core,” I said taking a peek at the core. “And it was a basilisk.”
Adam’s eyes widened slightly as his face displayed a subtle mixture of surprise, doubt and apprehension, as he turned to look at me.
“We all fought it together, and somehow were able to kill it,” I said with a weary sigh as I looked up at the moon. “But not unscathed. The lives lost were too much.”
“I see,” Adam exclaimed, taking a deep and steady breath. "And I presume, when you mentioned killing it, it was your doing or..."
I gave the instructor a knowing look in reply.
But I think I understood why everyone agreed to lie. Who in their right mind would like to remember something as trauma inducing as seeing people die in the most grotesque way possible in front of them.
“I am sorry for pushing you to tell me,” Adam apologised as he straightened in his seat, handing me the core back and walking closer to the balustrade of the balcony.
I also walked closer to the balustrade and rested my hand above it, as I took the tranquil scenery in.
“Thanks, Jiwoo,” Adam said, looking straight at the wide garden which stretched for at least a few hundred metres. “Thanks for protecting the kids.”
“Well, if you want to thank me, then invite me to a drink once in a while, that will be well appreciated, Instructor,” I said with an innocent smirk as Adam’s lips curved into a smile.
“Guess, I should get going now. Its already late.”
***
As I strode close to the main hall of the inn, I heard loud muffled noises of many emerge from in front of me. I heard a loud thudding noise coming from the hall followed which a groan.
Curious, I quickened my pace and slowly slid the door to the main hall open. And my mouth was left hung open I saw the scene in front of me unfold.
Han and Lucas were holding on to Ryuya as he moved around in a drunk and weird manner. The others who were still inside the hall had backed themselves against the wall, as Kale and Derek—together with the two—tried to calm Ryuya’s outburst.
Ryuya spun over his feet, as Lucas’s grip over him loosened and he took a swing at Han. Han parrying his sudden precise attack held both of his hands and knocked him to his knees with a sudden twist of his heel. But with a dranked twirl he performed a round house as Han took a step back defensively bringing in arms upwards in a defensive stance.
He snapped his head toward the entrance as he saw me standing beside the doors with an awkward frown.
“Jiwoo, don’t just stand their blankly, come help us,” he said.
“Ziwoo,” Ryuya snapped his head back as his eyes landed over me.
Derek took this moment and held the youth, as Lucas, Han and Kale gripped his body, holding him firmly, with his back facing me.
I sighed as I shook my head slightly.
I lunged at him in a flurry, my body disappearing from the entrance and into the middle of the hall as the air trembled. Then I took a sharp swing near the back of his neck. Just as my hand impacted against his neck, Ryuya stumbled a step as his knees buckled and he plummeted on the tatami floor, unconscious. I shrivelled back as the last thing I heard was a weird, muffled groan from his mouth which had me shudder.
“Thanks,” Han said, taking a deep breath.
I looked around me and saw there were bottles of alcohol laid over the floor.
“Just how much liquor did he have to get in such a drunken state?” I asked.
“I think he only had a sip, then he blanked out for a moment, then began to thrash everything around him all of a sudden,” Han grunted as he sat down on the floor.
That’s how low his alcohol tolerance is?
I incredulously looked at the knocked out youth. This guy was the first ranked and couldn’t tolerate alcohol.
Seriously, I can’t get drunk now, and this guy gets drunk with a sip.
“Either way, I’ll first take him back to our room,” I said, slapping Ryuya’s cheek slightly in annoyance.
“Oy, mister drunk, get up, let’s go back to our room.”
“Amelia, Hehe,” A weird smug began to arch across his face which made me mad for some particular reason. I think I should have put more strength into my swing.
***
After taking Ryuya back to our room, I left the room and went to the lounge area to relax for a bit. Some alone time was good once in a while.
But I heard foot step approach in my direction as I snapped my head left and saw Lucas Claymore standing near me.
The youth came to a stop in front of me and handed a can of orange juice he held in his hand.
I hesitantly took it from him as I looked at him with knitted brows. What I didn’t understand were his intentions.
“Ahm...I-I,” Lucas turned his head away from me as he tired to say something. But looking me straight in my eyes he spoke. “I just wanted to say thanks. If you hadn’t saved me by taking the hit from the basilisk, then I think its poison would have killed me instantly."
He placed his hand on the back of his neck, as he continued. “For that and...helping us out, thanks Jiwoo.”
“Yeah, don't worry about it," I returned with a nod, as he nodded back and went back a moment later.
I placed the can down on the couch. Well, he also had such a good side to himself. I really had a 180 about the kid now. Well, he was arrogant, but I think deep down he was just a kid with a tough life being the only son and heir of the Claymore family.
Oh right. I suddenly thought, withdrawing my phone out from the system inventory as I turned it on.
I didn’t get the chance to look at my phone since exiting the dungeon. Just as my phone turned on I saw a series of notifications pop up one by one.
And among them my gaze went to an unknown number. The thing which made me curious was that, this number had called about seventeen times in the past several days.
I tapped over the screen and dialled that number. I brought my phone close to my ear, as I waited for the call to connect.
After a few seconds of waiting, the call connected and I heard a feminine voice from the receiver's end.
“Hello,” I said.
[Hello, am I speaking to Mr. Seo Jiwoo?]
The voice on the other side said. The hast in her voice palpable.
“Yeah, that's me.”
[We tried reaching you out in the last couple of days, but unfortunately you weren’t picking up.]
“But can I know whom am I speaking with right now?”
[Oh my. I am sorry for that. I was actually calling you from the central hospital in Seoul.]
[And I would like to inform you on the condition regarding your sister, Miss Seo Jihye, whom was admitted here recently a few days ago!]
[As you're her only family member, we tried to reach you and inform you about her condition and her being admitted to the hospital, but you were unavailable.]
Just as Jihye’s name escaped her mouth, my brows furrowed tightly as I felt an ominous feeling emerge from with me. I felt cold sweat on my back. What? Jihye’s condition? Why was she in the hospital?
Did something happen to her!!!?
[Unfortunately, Miss Seo Jihye has developed the rare medical condition called: the cold slumber!]
“What?” I said with deep incredulity in my voice, as I almost dropped my phone in shock.