Book 4: Chapter 100: Returning the Favor

Book 4: Chapter 100: Returning the Favor

Scarlet

Heya little pup, he says, still smiling. Although I can tell that he doesnt have as much enthusiasm as this personality normally has. Looks like youre awake. Did ya sleep well?

I look him over for a second, finding it a little hard to match the battered and beaten image I have of him during that battle with his image now as I answer, Yeah. You look worse for wear.

Even though he physically looks better, he just doesnt seem to have that same spark he had before. And I know hes not in his psychopath personality right now, so that means somethings up.

He nods his head, his smile turning slightly into a grin. But then he sighs, his grin fading as he mutters, Guess theres no point hiding it. He meets my eyes and crosses his arms, I owed you two favors as I stated a while back but you never tried to cash in on it. Not until I offered to help send you to Tartarus, and we both know how that went. But now a hint of sadness emerges in his gaze. Now youve saved my life and I still havent finished paying back my debt. So please, let me do something to pay you back.

I frown at his words, only now understanding just how important paying back debts is to Black. Then I shrug and answer, Im not the type to ask for help from others, so unless you have some sort of poison and disease based magic, then I dont think theres much you can do to help me right now.

He blinks before tilting his head slightly and saying, I do have both a poison and disease based skill.

Silence fills the rooftop for several seconds before I mutter, Oh.

Come to think of it, hes an assassin. It makes at least a little sense that hed have a poison skill.

The silence stretches on for a while until I eventually ask, deciding to act like that didnt happen, Then thatll work. Please use the poison skill on me without holding back.

He looks surprised but does it without question anyways, making my eyes widen in surprise before I immediately start diffusing all of the pain and focusing on using Gradual Corruption Nullification. And the skill ends up taking quite a bit longer to nullify the poison than I wouldve expected, leaving me sitting here nullifying it for nearly an entire hour nonstop.

Almost forgot how weak I am without those stacks of Blood Thirst active. Makes me wonder how long it wouldve taken to nullify it with those stacks active.

After finishing nullifying the shadow-based poison that I still dont understand how works, I open my eyes, finding myself sitting on some sort of chair made of shadows.

Interesting.

On that note, the System Notice reappears with the achievement filled in. Although the achievement doesnt give me any SP, irritatingly enough.

Wait, no daily necessities at all? And no more having to stuff my face with food?

Okay, Im looking forward to this now.

Its too bad that I cant just use Pain Diffusion for it.

I grimace at the thought of Pain Diffusion and the pain Im gonna have to feel at some point within the next couple weeks.

You should probably spread that pain out, Tar suggests, making me nod my head in agreement.

Anyways, I thank Black before the man vanishes in a veil of shadows. And right after that, Red appears next, making me wonder if he was just waiting there for us to finish or something.

The man walks up to me and actually bows his head, saying, Thank you for saving my life. I am in your debt.

Oh. Right.

Almost forgot the man was about to die when I got there. So I kind of did save his life.

If your Pride will allow it, I have permission from the Demon King to gift you these, Red says while handing me five different glowing red shards that has my eyes widening slightly. He said that you would have absolutely no issue clearing mere Class IV Fractures, so theres no point making you get these Catalysts yourself. Not when youve already killed a Class V. He raises his head with a light smile on his face. The first real, non-sadistic smile Ive seen on the mans face since meeting him. Dont you admit that killing a Class V was more than enough test to reach Class V?

To my surprise, my Pride doesnt actually burn at this.

It even lets me reach out and absorb the cores into my body, following which I get the usual System Message about me being able to Ascend.

Red then grins and bows his head once more before leaving.

And without missing a beat, Blue arrives after him.

Okay, seriously. Is this just a parade of the Knights or something?