Chapter 315: Screw you

Chapter 315: Screw you

Dave looks at me; it's still disturbing how easily he can recognize who the duplicate is. Then he looks at my duplicate and then at Vega, who looks up at him with interest. Having two of us by her side, she doesnt seem to be worried at all.

Master, how should I address this man? she asks.

I look at the man we even now call Dave, and he doesnt even bother answering and just turns around, heading back to his provisional workshop.

Indeed, what to call him? The duplicate is uncle already, Maybe mister? I offer.

Sure! Is this man another of masters minions, like uncle?

My duplicate interrupts, Vega, Im not a minion and will never be. Actually, I'm currently stronger than him, you can hear my heart, right?

Yes I can, but it doesn't feel stronger!

I let them talk and follow Dave, pushing through the heat being released by his emblems, absorbing most of it with [Redistribution] and turning it into kinetic energy which I use to strengthen my body. It's better than releasing it, and my core is already full.

Sometimes I think everything is a game for you, Dave says while the metal in front of him swirls, mixing and separating while forming into difficult shapes as he wills it into form.

Its probably one of my skills, allowing me to filter out my emotions, I answer and jump onto the table nearby, examining the process. He doesnt seem to mind anymore than the times before, and I could even swear he likes having someone who shows so much interest in his craft.

That makes sense. Concentration class skills tend to be like that, he moves his hand, releasing more heat, melting an ingot of heat resistant metal, even more so than endurium.

I know because I tried to melt it too. It also sold for a nice chunk to the system shop.

Are concentration type skills that bad? I ask curiously.

They are useful, and the people who use them tend to be amazing in whatever they do. On the other hand, they often feel less human compared to others, the metal in front of him forms a sphere and then starts to swirl, mixing everything together.

He continues, At a higher level of the skill, their users feel inhuman.

Separating a bit of molten metal, he throws it to me where I release my mana and make it semi-metalize, keeping the molten metal in the air like he does. To prevent the metal from cooling off, I reach into my Vortex core and release the heat of my golden thermal energy.

Weve already tried it a few times before, so this time I take care not to release too much heat and even let my eyes activate in combination with [Focus], while I try to limit their effect on my mana and the molten metal it surrounds.

Sometimes I think it's unfair that someone like you has Primordial thermal energy, he says to my surprise.

Why? I ask, moving the heat around the molten metal and using my mana to try to form it.

Jealousy, I would say. The flames from his emblem try to push against my thermal energy.

Without compressing my thermal energy further, his flames seem to blaze hotter and more confidently. Yet, there is some beauty to my golden thermal energy as it swirls around, devouring his flames the moment he loses any degree of concentration around the edges.

In the future, do not show anyone your Primordial energy if you dont have to. The same goes for your eyes.

Even my eyes? I push bits of his flames away and absorb the heat to boost my thermal energy. The metal ball in front of me elongates as I try to form it into the shape of a dagger. An ugly-ass dagger at that.

Wavelength-type eye traits are very rare. There were once entire noble families who only maintained their position in court because one of their predecessors had a powerful Wavelength eye. They were marrying away their daughters into other families hoping to re-awaken this trait.

Dont humans only get 3 traits?

Yes, but those youre born with don't count against that number.

The dagger I was trying to create melts when I use too much heat, and I start over.

Taking advantage of the mans good mood, I ask, Can you tell me about the First Generation?

When he looks, I think that I may have pushed too far, and annoyed him with my questions, but after examining the molten metal I'm working on, he sighs.

Then a blank expression overtakes his face, and it reverts back.

After returning to his senses the man seems surprised and almost ruins his project, but he quickly takes over and continues to work.

It seems like the system is still censoring the information about the First Generation, and I have no hope of learning more from the natives currently. Maybe on higher floors? Or I can try to get information from newcomers to the tutorial, like Vega.

Why do you want to reach the stations core so badly? I finally ask the question Ive been pondering for so long.

My name is Nevan.

Thanks for telling me, my name is Nathaniel.Folloow current novÊls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m)

"This attempt is so cheap," I tell him.

"Hey, if it works, it works. Anyway, I need your help with some mana inscriptions. I want to test something."

"Any good progress?"

"Only shitty progress, Ive spent the past week in almost constant attempts to create a personality imprint, but I'm not even close damnit. It feels like I havent even started. I knew Lissandra was a monster, but this is too much."

"Is Lissandra a minion too?" Vega asks curiously.

"Maybe one day," I say.

"Ha!" The duplicate just stretches. "If the personality imprint plan fails, as it most likely will, I can do something like what we did for Myrra. I'm not sure it worked, but hey, I might as well try."

"But there is a problem with that," I point out while caressing Vega's head.

Huh, maybe he was really onto something with Vega being an ESM; I really do feel my stress dissipating.

"Yes," he agrees. "The system has already reacted to my status as a duplicate, so the rules will probably be a bit more strict. There is also a chance that because every attendee has their own instance, it will work differently. And even if it worked with Myrra, it may have countermeasures in place this time."

"How about trying to make yourself a tutorial attendee?"

"I used the fingers you so graciously gave me, and tried to work on something, but I just don't know. Lissandra has partial status as a tutorial attendee because she regrew from Hadwin and I'm entirely your duplicate, yet the system hasnt reacted. I tried to think of a way you could help, but I just can't come up with anything."

"What about returning to Vegas world with her?"

At that, Vega's red eyes grow even larger, shining from under her light brown hair.

"While I was eating with her, I tried to look into it, but I have no connection to her. The problem also has to do with my lifespan. Just moving away from the tutorial wouldn't fix it."

"Now that you mention it, I think it may have been a dick move to duplicate myself." I ponder.

"Only now?" he snorts. "What's annoying is that I can't be mad at you since I made the decision. But hey, let's strengthen the Mantle and try inscribing a mana stone."

"Sure."

Its hours later, and we sit opposite each other. Nevan is still working, and Vega is sleeping, her head resting on my leg.

The improvements to The Mantle were a success.

Mana Sovereignty Mantle: A protective mantle seamlessly integrated with the user's mana heart and body. Solely designed to prevent external influences from disrupting or hijacking the user's mana flow.

The name and description havent changed at all as Ive made no attempt to change the effect. Instead of trying to be fancy, I just wanted to strengthen one simple thing. To prevent someone from keeping me from using mana. Well, at least inside my body. And even though the description hasnt changed, I can easily notice that it's improved.

While we rest, and eat some food while Vega is sleeping, the duplicate keeps looking at me.

"So?" I ask.

"You havent stopped watching out for Vega, not even for a second ever since shes returned."

I decide to stay quiet.

"The entire time she was with me, you kept watching her, keeping the anchor you placed on her skin active and ready. Even as you worked with Nevan."

"Just say it."

With his emotionless face, he continues, "Ever since you duplicated yourself, you were worried about Vegas return. Doesn't that say a lot about you?"

He looks at Vega, who is peacefully sleeping, "You still think there might be a chance you would use Vega to stay alive if you were in my shoes. You aren't sure, but you think you might use her or even sacrifice her just to stay alive. From sheer desperation and as the last possible option and because you still remember how you behaved on the 1st Floor."

In the silence, broken, only by the soft breathing of my disciple, I caress her head gently. At that, she snuggles closer to me.

The duplicate leans and rests against the wall, as always his mana is constantly moving, "You aren't sure what you would do if you were in my situation, but I am. I already know the answer to that question. But I won't tell you. Screw you, and figure it out on your own."

"I really want to punch you sometimes."

"You and I are the same."

"Yes."