Chapter 80 What Now? [1]

I finally understood why Susan was so smug about tricking me into thinking that she was taking the Golem Core.

"She must have felt ecstatic when she could get one up at the person who was causing her stress for the past month."

How petty. It seems there is not one normal person in this world.

I also understood her reason for giving up on the Golem core.

She couldn't use the core herself because Aegis always kept a tight watch on her belongings.

Even saying that Golem Core was the reward from a trial in Dungeon of Trials wasn't possible.

Dungeon of Trials gave impressive rewards but 3-star Meta-rank Golem Core was too much for lower levels.

Instead, giving me the Golem core was better. That way she could increase her favorability with me and her chances of getting into the organization.

(Ah!)

(Susan had asked me for the organization's name.)

"…And your answer was?"

(An organization that remains in shadow yet has an intensive information network. It also has powerful members given how a kid like you is so strong.)

He possibly didn't use that name, right?

(It's …..)

(Its name…..)

(Its name is…)

"Round Table"

(Bingo!)

I had many things I wanted to ask, but I ultimately decided against them.

"How did you even think that using the future's biggest villain band's name for our organization was good?"

"You know what? Forget it. I don't even want to hear your reasons."

After talking about Eth, I continued floating in the pool.

Floating in this pool made me feel better. It was healing me physically and spiritually.

Even the lowest-grade elixir sells for 30 times the price of the lowest-tier healing potion. This was because elixirs have a powerful healing ability incomparable to that of potions.

The grade for potions and elixirs went like this: Lowest grade< Low grade< Mid-grade< High grade< Excellent grade.

Healing potions can only provide regeneration of limbs from Mid-grade. While Elixirs could do so from the lowest grade.

I had been planning to come to this dungeon to chop my arm off and regenerate it. Until I found that even my soul had a damaged arm.

The currency of this world was Bit or B. Bits were equivalent to dollars from my previous life. That is 1 Dollar = 1 Bit.

The cost of the lowest-tier healing potion varies from 5,000 B to 10,000 B.

It wasn't wrong to say I was swimming in money.

"It's healing me spiritually, too."

(Lowest grade elixir only heals physical injuries)

"I know."

While my injuries were healing, I decided to check my new arm.

"It's slow to move and I can't put much force behind it."

This was the same as the arm I got in the memory world. It seemed the arm I got was because the surgery was done on Eth.

(It should have been classified as a weapon if it worked as planned. But now it is a failure.)

"I wouldn't call it a failure."

It was usable to a satisfactory degree. But more importantly, I had spent many years with this arm.

Even if the appearance was different, the feeling was exact. This was why it didn't take me long to adjust to it and I was able to fight quickly.

"I wonder if it can still be classified as a weapon."

I stretched my arm and activated a skill.

"[Pierce]"

Swish-

My nails elongated and grew by 5 feet.

(It is classified as a weapon by the System. But why? It's weaker than even a normal arm.)

My skill [Pierce] description was this.

[Pierce [Common]]: Extend the tip of your weapon by 5 feet.

The System was the one to activate system-skills. As long as the System classifies anything as a weapon, the skill will work.

This was also shown in the entrance exam.

The System did not classify the broken spear I had when I attacked the Iota-rank boar as a 'weapon'. This led to the failure of skill activation at that time.

(This can be useful in battl…What are you doing?)

"Ah~I can finally scratch my back~"

Scrub- Scrub-

(Haah.. You are already healed. Why don't you take that skill now?)

Heeding Eth's words, I took a deep breath.

Huuuu-

Then, I dived into the pool.

The pool wasn't deeper than 20 feet. Reaching the bottom, I began touching the surface and looking for an area that was hard.

I had to go above to take in air a few times before I found what I was looking for.

Tock- Tock-

I tapped at the hard surface to make sure it was actually hard. My hands were becoming numb from being in the water for too long.

'Looks like either elixir doesn't heal numbness or it only heals after a certain level.'

I channeled Ether in my fist and punched.

Bam-!

The sound was dull because I was underwater.

I again punched.

Bam-!

Finally, the ground showed a crack.

After punching a few more times, the crack enlarged.

It was now big enough to put my hand through it. And that was exactly what I did.

'It should be around somewhere here.'

My nose twitched. The sand got into my nose as I was pressing my cheek against the ground while searching for the object.

'There it is.'

Feeling the cylindrical object, I pulled it out.

'The most cliché, yet essential skill of every protagonist in system genre.'

***

"You took longer than I thought. Were your injuries that serious?"

I shook my head at Leon's concern.

Then our party of three continued moving out.

With me joining in killing the slimes, we were quickly able to leave the dungeon.

Finally, we reached a large swirling mass of Aether. It continuously changed its color and continued floating.

This was the 'Return Pill'.

Obviously, it wasn't a pill. It was as large as a three-story building in diameter.

While I was admiring the Return Pill, Leon bowed.

"Thank you for bringing me along."

Looking at him, I remembered that I still didn't know why Eth had brought him along.

'Why did you bring Leon?'

(I thought Susan will take the skill. I had to bring him to give him that. I was planning to either give up the clear reward to Susan or not give her anything, depending on the reward.)

Using Susan as free labor?

Nice Ide- I mean this guy getting worse by the day, isn't he?

'What excuse did you give him?'

(I coincidentally found the dungeon. I was planning on bringing him and Lilith. But Susan caught me and I had to bring her instead or she would expose the dungeon.)

'Let me guess. He believed you in a heartbeat.'

(Double Bingo)

Honestly, at this point, I could no longer avoid Leon. I had already gotten involved with him to the point I could no longer pull out.

Then, I might as well use him.

"It's nothing much. Of course, I would bring you a friend."

Leon smiled when he heard me call him 'friend'.

I nodded my head at his smile.

"That's creepy, alright. You should make sure you don't smile or no girl will ever come near you"

Leon's eye twitched.

But he ignored my provocation and spoke something different.

"You don't need to worry. I'll make sure to hide the extent of your stigma"

"Thank you for understanding."

Leon was the good guy. He didn't even try to ask why I was hiding my 'stigma'.

(He's too gullible.)

I agreed with Eth.

I had used my art in front of them and was creating 5 swords at once. I did it to fight the Golem.

But I didn't use my art to its full potential. This was because it wouldn't have made any difference even if I used it too maximum.

The main reason I used 5 swords at once was that Lark had seen me using them during the Dungeon of Trials.

He should have already told the news to many. There was no point in hiding my art very much.

Rather, it was the perfect chance to slowly reveal its real capabilities.

'I need to deal with Lark too.'

"I'll meet on the other side."

Vupp-

With my heart trembling from excitement, I touched the Return Pill.