Chapter 174: Roasted and fried

Chapter 174: Roasted and fried

The young adults mostly have brown belts Ill take a brown one too. I risk looking overconfident with this one, but with the other one, I risk looking like a child.

Im tempted to take a red one, but this is not the place to be taking such high risks. Not when I can get thrown out. The brown one is already a bit dangerous; white is probably the safest choice. But also a bit boring.

She grabbed a brown belt and returned to the painting with the clearest vision of a belt knot, the portrait of the Master. Lords How did they even end up with a knot like that? Its clearly deliberate, but its so complex Why so complex?! Is this a belt-tying trial?

Sofia struggled to understand how to do this properly. No matter what she tried, it didnt work, she even summoned the soldier skeleton to help her figure it out, but she was running out of time, and the knot on her belt still looked nothing like the one in the painting.

Oh, whatever. I need to at least sit. She looked at the cushions, hesitating. Ill go for the one facing the Master.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

The preparation time ran out just as she unsummoned the soldier skeleton and adjusted her sitting posture to mimic the one in the paintings.

The sliding door of the men's changing room opened, and out came the old elf from the painting. Wearing a white uniform with a red belt, walking chin up, straight like a ruler, with his arms behind his back. He gracefully sat facing Sofia on the brown cushion without saying a word.

[Fighter - Lv. 400+]

Oh... Im glad I didnt take a red belt!

Sofia tried not to look too much, but the Master was staring at her, not hiding it in the slightest. Is he inspecting me?

The old elf opened his mouth. His voice was soft and deep, oozing authority despite its calmness, Student, your knot is crooked.

I Yeah, I know! What Do I answer?

Well? The Master continued, Are you not going to the changing room to fix it?

Sorry, old man, theres no way Ill manage to fix it, especially in the changing room without a reference Please pardon me, Master. I seem to have forgotten how to tie my belt.

The Master clicked his tongue. You have? What did they teach you out there, student, that you would forget how to tie a belt? He snapped his fingers, and Sofias belt untied and quickly reformed, too fast for her uniform to open, the new knot pristine like the Masters.

Kind of a useless skill to have, but neat. Thank you very much, master.

Never show up with an untidy belt again.

Of course, master. I am sorry.

Now how do I get this guys approval? And approval for what? Does he know this is a trial, he didnt seem like it? Is he real, or is it another trick of the system?

Show me your status, student.

Should I? I mean, if hes part of the system, its not like they dont have access to it already

The MasterMaster glanced at Sofias full status page. Looking confused, he scratched his head, messing up his cleanly tied-up black hair. Student He sounds worried?

Hmm. I know what it is you seek, student. You are not ready.

So he does know about the trial? I trained as much as I felt was necessary. Unless he means the whole killing Scripture thing, in which case, yeah.

And the results are clear, student; nevertheless, enough it is not.

Then what is enough?

Nothing. The goal you set out to achieve is impossible. Give up. You are not special, student. You will fail like everyone before you.

At fully clearing the trial or at killing a God? Which one is it, old man?!

If I am not special, then no one is. This is fine, though. I will still try. It doesnt matter if it is impossible and I fail. I will at least try. Give it my best shot. For this, like for everything else.

The Master and Sofia stared each other in the eye. Him disapprovingly, her calm and collected. The old elf looked away first. Like a deflated jug, his posture wasnt so straight anymore. Student You do understand that your life is on the line, do you not?

I do. It is nothing unusual.

Unnecessary bravery has no merit.

What if it is necessary? Like, to kill a god?

I understand your plight, student, but be warned, explosive growth often leads to an explosive death.

Hes really trying to discourage me As if I would give up now. I wont be stopped by an old man fancying himself a master.

I see that you stand unconvinced, student. The old mans voice had turned sinister. Without using his hands, he stood up from his cushion.

Before Sofia could even react, he was holding her up by the neck, her feet dangling in the air. She was shocked and couldnt talk, but she didnt need to breathe, so at least she wasnt suffocating. She couldn't activate any skill. Even Pareth tried to get out and couldnt.

See, student. This is how easy you are to neutralize. How weak you still are.

His eyes stared into Sofias soul, but as the last thing she could do, she kept her calm disposition as she stared back.

[Poker Face] reached level 38

[Poker Face] reached level 39

[Poker Face] reached level 40

The old elf released his grip and gave a last piece of advice.

Never forget it. Now go ahead, student. I will be watching your climb.

[Objective completed in 8 minutes 40 seconds, teleporting to floor 7]