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[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 14: A Fleeting Revelation (2)
“Hoo—.”
About ten minutes had passed since I used the Authority skill.
Only now was I finally regaining my composure.
The queasiness in my gut, the searing pain from biting my tongue—
All of it faded not long after the skill’s effect ended.
As always, time was the best remedy.
…The only problem being that when I use Ritardando, time refuses to pass, the damned thing.
This is insane.
I didn’t expect the True form of the skill to be this overwhelming.
Before I used it, I had no idea the time dilation would be this extreme.
If it weren’t for the passive effect of 【Soul of the Swordmaster】, I might’ve lost my mind altogether.
Only now did I begin to understand the trial that the Master of the Second Hand and the Split Second had set for me.
If I couldn’t endure the mental strain caused by their Authority, I would be unfit to wield it in the first place.
Still…
Swipe—.
I glanced at the notification window lingering at the edge of my vision.
【Reward: Passive Skill – 【Lesser Pain Resistance】 acquired.】
Apparently, enduring the pain of biting my tongue had earned me a new skill.
Granted, Lesser Pain Resistance wasn’t exactly a top-tier ability…
But the important takeaway was this: certain actions could unlock new skills.
So the growth mechanics I knew really do work here.
Hadn’t I said it before?
If I fully leveraged the system of Loel, I could achieve boundless growth through these Authorities.
Now I had proof that what I had only theorized was indeed possible.
Which meant it was time to use that growth system to its fullest.
The only downside is that… I still don’t know the exact ratio of real-time to slowed-time.
I was so overwhelmed during the experience that I couldn’t gauge the ratio at all.
Next time, I should try counting mentally while the skill is active…
While I was absorbed in these thoughts—
“Sir Swordmaster.”
Flinch—.
Suddenly, Adelia whispered softly beside me.
At the word Swordmaster, I instinctively stiffened.
It was the kind of thing that could easily cause misunderstandings if someone else overheard.
Jeez… What if someone had heard that?
I quickly glanced around.
Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed.
Adelia had whispered quietly, and the noise of the rattling wagon helped mask her voice.
“I know this might be a presumptuous question… but may I ask why you're headed to the Free City of Veritas?”
Oblivious to my inner panic, Adelia continued asking questions.
Why was I going to the Free City of Veritas?
Well, simply put—because it’s the region where I can accomplish the most at this point.
Free City of Veritas.
One of the Four Great Cities still remaining on the continent.
It served as the primary stage for the early-to-mid portions of the game.
That meant Veritas was rich with resources, items, and events for players to obtain.
You could also encounter several key NPCs who would prove essential later in the game.
Even if I didn’t have that particular ability for fighting the Undead, I would’ve ended up heading there regardless.
And while I can't be sure yet…
…If my intuition was right, this journey would bring me significant gains once again.
Of course, I couldn’t tell Adelia that directly.
So I did what I always did—played my trump card:
I hinted that it was all part of an Elder God's divine will.
“Even if you’re a daughter of the noble Goldheart family, I cannot disclose the will of the Elder so freely.”
“Ah…”
Nod, nod—.
Thankfully, Adelia seemed satisfied with that answer.
She nodded blankly with her mouth slightly agape, like a child staring in awe at their favorite hero.
I chuckled quietly to myself and continued, “There’s no need to worry. Even while following the Elder’s will, I’ll have more than enough time to offer you guidance.”
“Yes, understood.”
Nod, nod—.
Adelia nodded again, this time with a spark of admiration gleaming in her deep blue eyes.
Her main reason for following me was to gain insight and enlightenment.
As long as that desire was being fulfilled, she wouldn’t question my actions too much.
Not that I really have the qualifications to be teaching her anything…
But still, she’s the most gifted prodigy in all of Loel’s lore.
As long as she stays near me, she’ll pick up the insights on her own—somehow.
“And also…”
My voice trailed for a moment.
Since we’d already started a conversation, I figured I should take care of something that had been bothering me.
Time to set the record straight—her way of addressing me.
Being called Swordmaster all the time was getting a little exhausting.
“From now on, just call me ‘Gaon’.”
Gaon—
A name I’d pulled from my old Loel username, MiddleFinger.
Now that I thought about it, I’d never actually introduced myself.
So I just said whatever popped into my head.
Upon hearing that, Adelia’s face lit up with joy, and she nodded with fervent enthusiasm.
“Understood, Sir Gaon.”
It was just a name.
But Adelia responded like I’d handed her the world.
Maybe she felt like the distance between us had closed a little.
* * *
It had already been half a day since we left the dark city of Dungard.
Everywhere the eye could see, dried-out weeds and cracked earth stretched endlessly.
The lights of the city were long gone, and beyond the horizon, there was nothing but a desolate expanse.
【Unclaimed Territory】
That was the name of this place.
Or rather, calling it a name might have been a stretch—
“Unclaimed Territory” was a catch-all term used to refer to all lands lying beyond the bounds of the great cities.
Anyway.
Unlike the cities protected by magical barriers, the Unclaimed Territory was always at risk of monster attacks.
That’s why merchant caravans and adventurers traveling through here were always on high alert.
On this pitch-black night, not even a step ahead was visible.
It was no wonder the party wore stiff, wary expressions.
“It’s… too quiet.”
Adelia’s voice rang out in a hushed murmur.
Wasn’t it always said that the calm before a storm is the most terrifying?
It seemed the unnaturally still silence was making her uneasy.
The bald-headed caravan master offered a faint smile in reply.
“That’s because we’re on the Silk Road. If anything, the quiet is to be expected.”
Adelia frowned slightly.
“But not all parts of the Silk Road are safe, are they? I’ve heard that with recent instability in mana stone supply, the barrier sometimes fails…”
“Our caravan is fully informed about the danger zones. That’s precisely why our travel time was extended—to avoid them.”
“…”
“So rest assured. At least for this trip, nothing dangerous should happen.”
And he wasn’t wrong.
Just because it was the Unclaimed Territory didn’t mean danger lurked in every corner.
Even in these perilous lands, there were designated safe zones.
【Silk Road】
The name given to the trade route network connecting the major cities.
The line of barriers stretched along the path was said to resemble a trail of silk—hence the name.
But in the current timeline, even the Silk Road can’t be trusted blindly.
Just a few years ago, it was considered an inviolable sanctuary.
But now, with the world’s collapse accelerating exponentially, the Silk Road was becoming increasingly unstable.
Especially on days when the supply of mana stones—the source maintaining the barriers—ran low…
KUUUUUUNG—!
“Huh?”
“T-The barrier just went down!”
Just like now—
A catastrophe had struck: the Silk Road’s barrier had momentarily failed.
“We’re under attack! Prepare for battle!”
Awooooooo—!
Grr! Grrrr!
Wolf howls rang out from all sides.
A pack of beasts began closing in on the group, tightening their encirclement.
They must have been drawn in by the weakened barrier, hunting for prey.
The wolves’ bloodshot eyes gleamed as thick drool dripped from their snarling maws.
【Lv. 24】
【Lv. 27】
【Lv. 26】
Scavenger Wolves.
One of the most common wolf-type monsters found in the Unclaimed Territory.
Seeing them through a monitor had never made much of an impression—
But now? Shit.
In person, they were absolutely terrifying.
“A-Ahem!”
Right on cue, the bald caravan master’s expression turned awkward.
He kept sneaking glances at Adelia, clearly flustered.
“Strange. This stretch of road has never had any issues before…”
He didn’t seem frightened, per se.
More like embarrassed—having boasted so confidently that nothing would happen.
And the very next moment—
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“Damn it, protect the merchants first! Don’t let the line break!”
Awooooo—!
The wolves let out a feral roar and charged toward us.
The mercenaries ranged from Level 20 to 30.
It didn’t look like the defenses would collapse right away, but you couldn’t exactly promise there wouldn’t be casualties either.
With that in mind, I glanced toward Adelia and spoke.
“Adelia.”
“Yes?”
“Go help them. I’ll stay here and guard the caravan master.”
“Understood.”
Shing—!
Without a moment’s hesitation, Adelia unsheathed her sword.
She threw herself into the heart of the battlefield, where wolves and mercenaries were already clashing violently.
“W-What…?”
Soon, puzzled voices began rising from the mercenaries.
Only one person had joined their ranks.
And yet, the tide of battle, which had been neck-and-neck, began to tip dramatically.
Sshk—!
Scavenger Wolves fell like autumn leaves before Adelia’s blade.
Her swordplay—graceful and acrobatic—was nothing short of breathtaking.
Movements I had only ever seen through a screen were now playing out before my eyes.
Damn…
Up until now, I’d only seen Adelia fight alone, so I had no point of comparison.
But watching her now, weaving effortlessly through dozens of mercenaries on the battlefield, It made her overwhelming power undeniably clear.
A crane among chickens.
Her influence as a Level 77 combatant was enough to completely turn the tide of battle.
Shhhhh—
Soon, the chaotic battleground settled into a temporary lull.
A clear line had formed between the humans and wolves.
And Adelia seized the opportunity.
“Everyone, fall back.”
With a short warning, she dropped into a low stance.
Ruuummmbbblle—!
Her center of gravity shifted into her legs.
The ground beneath her sank slightly from the force of it.
Then, moments later—
Her entire body was cloaked in a blue-green aura.
Adelia swung her sword with full force.
“W-What the…?!”
BOOOOOOOM—!
Every mercenary around her widened their eyes in disbelief.
Just a single strike.
But that one strike instantly swept away the entire wolf pack they had struggled to hold off.
A broad arc of teal sword energy slashed horizontally across the field, cutting down everything in its path.
The dozens of Scavenger Wolves were wiped out, not even given the chance to let out a dying cry.
“Hoo.”
Adelia exhaled lightly and turned back.
“As ordered, the wolf pack has been eliminated.”
“……Good work.”
Pause—
Upon hearing my reply, Adelia tilted her head slightly in place.
Her expression looked like she was waiting… hoping for something.
Ah.
Only then did I realize what she wanted.
She was asking for another lesson.
“For now, get back in the wagon. I’ll explain things more while we travel.”
“Yes, of course.”
Adelia’s face brightened immediately as she walked toward the wagon.
There was a certain spring in her step—
Though maybe I was just imagining things.
“Haaah…”
I let out a sigh, partly from frustration.
My head hurt.
What kind of nonsense was I supposed to come up with this time to get out of giving a proper explanation?
“……”
“……”
“……”
The mercenaries—and the bald caravan master—just stood there, stunned, silently watching our exchange.
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[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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