NOVEL NEXT Chapter 315
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“Don’t you see the reward?”
Swing! Sing picked up the sword sheath.
Unlike Titosso, who was so quiet during lectures that it was easy to forget, Sing was also a student attending Professor Bronze’s Developing Insight class.
He inserted the sword into the sheath and swung it or drew the sword out and swung it, experimenting with the changes.
And he detected a meaningful change.
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[Sheath of Silence]
Rank – Rare Level 6
Description – A reward obtained for staying on the 39th floor of the Director’s Mansion for over 60 minutes and breaking through the layer. This sheath holds special powers.
Effect 1 – Increases the power of the next strike in proportion to the time the sword stays in the sheath.
Effect 2 – Increases the speed of the next strike in proportion to the time the sword is sheathed without using magic.
Value – 800 gold coins, 80,000 points
━━━
The effects of the item he sensed intuitively were outstanding, beyond mere adequacy.
But it was also an item with clear limitations.
‘If it’s charged beyond a certain level, the sheath might break under the power of drawing the sword.’
If he doesn’t get greedy, he can use it as a supplementary item multiple times to strengthen his strikes.
However, if he completely changes the way he uses it, he could raise the power of a single sword over a long time and use it as a one-time killer blow.
On the other hand, a mediocre sword might not withstand the enhanced power when drawn and could crumble.
‘It’s a double-edged sword, this sheath.’
To unleash its true potential, a sword of exceptional quality is needed.
Trying to seal such an extraordinary sword can lead to a continuous decline in combat power.
The conditions to realize the true value of this sword are quite stringent.
He must possess the mental fortitude to suppress drawing the sword for an incredibly long time.
He must have a strong enough enemy or objective that warrants such prolonged patience.
He should carry along other spare swords to deal with minor nuisances in everyday life.
To someone who has lived an ordinary life, this sheath is unnecessary.
For someone leading such a life, sealing a primary weapon is a significant burden to bear.
If someone has managed to survive and reach close to their enemy while sealing their primary weapon for many years, they might already possess enough skill that the sheath is no longer needed.
‘It’s a troublesome sheath that could either put you in a crisis if you get greedy or render you unnecessary if you grow accordingly.’
It’s not exactly a cursed item, but the fact that one can seal their primary weapon by choice makes it even worse in quality.
It’s quite fitting as an item offered as a reward by the notorious Foundation.
“Thanks. I owe my life to you.”
“Hehe. What did I do? I just exchanged a word. You should thank Fake Lin for worrying about you!”
“…”
With a blank expression, Fake Lin looked up at Sing from behind Oknodie.
Sing felt lost on what emotions to harbor towards the ghost mimicking his younger sister.
“Thanks.”
The ghost swiftly darted into Oknodie’s ring.
Oknodie’s Conical Hat chuckled and said, “You scared me.”
Difficult, indeed.
Having a younger sister is never easy, now or then.
As Sing was about to take a step toward the next layer, he found himself unable to move.
Brother. I’m satisfied as long as you’re by my side.
Sing looked down at the sword sheath in his hand.
For some reason, he felt like he didn’t want to swing a sword anymore today.
“Is there something special planned for later?”
“I’m going to play, eat, and then sleep!”
“I could use your help.”
He found himself in a position trailing behind Irene, the Warrior, Jiang, and others who had gone up ahead, but he no longer felt any anxiety or inferiority.
At least for now, he thought that not climbing higher was indeed the right answer.
Retracting his thoughts.
Following Oknodie was a foolish move.
“How about you, Sing? Hidden strategies are the most enjoyable, right?”
“Didn’t you just say you were going to play, eat, and sleep?”
“Hey, we’re playing right now!”
Oknodie’s style of play was quite erratic.
Sometimes she would engage in calm games, like hide and seek or building sandcastles, but other times, she wouldn’t hesitate to do things that made him wonder if they were even games.
━━━
Director’s Mansion
B1F – Layer of Waste
━━━
A layer where broken and destroyed materials are discarded.
Running around the junkyard as debris rushes in without restraint.
Hygiene is a second priority, and the danger level was no joke.
Crick. Crick.
A wooden doll with twisted joints crawled toward him, flipping its limbs.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Traps dangling from the ceiling spun wildly in the air, acting on their own accord.
In this place engulfed in waste from all layers, Oknodie fearlessly rummaged through the junk while taking down the attacking debris.
“Hey. Something dirty is getting on my sleeve.”
“It’s fine! I have both a Butler and a Maid!”
“Is that a stipulation you don’t mind getting dirty?”
“A sword is meant to see blood right? Clothes are there to get dirty!”
“I’d love to hear that confident argument from your Butler and Maid.”
So, what business does this junkyard have?
It’s not a suitable place for a child’s curiosity to play in, being filthy, dangerous, and suspicious.
This place has a critical difference from the various facilities of the Academy.
Facilities that create a dangerous environment to increase growth values are always manned by [Instructors].
Ready to intervene at any time in case of emergencies.
This is different.
As soon as the Butler and Maid descend underground, watching eyes completely disappear.
Not because it’s filthy and lowly, but because it’s a facility so dangerous that access is prohibited.
“Have you ever thought about what the Tower of Training is for, Sing?”
“To test and evaluate the skills of intruders, I guess.”
“For what purpose?”
“To nurture competent individuals that align with the Foundation’s taste.”
“HERE, it originally isn’t a facility overtaken by the Foundation!”
It’s a story that induces many thoughts.
This tower was not built by the Foundation.
The tower existed first, and the Foundation got involved later.
Indeed, this place is not a mansion.
Though the Director and the Butlers act so brazenly, making it hard to believe people live here, it was all an illusion.
“This training facility existed before the Foundation took over in such a remote place… at least it wasn’t built recently by someone or some organization.”
No country or organization would have the luxury to exert influence to such a remote place.
Right now, it’s a cold war.
Peace may currently be maintained, but nobody knows when that peace will end.
“This facility exists for the growth of Warriors!”
“What?”
He thought it was a relic of past eras.
But does it go that far back?
As Oknodie showed him the junk, he felt flustered.
“Look closely. There are Mana Stones embedded here, right?”
Pieces of Mana Stones embedded in broken weapons.
Those fragments gradually diminished over time and melted away into the air.
“It’s Mana Melting. This Layer of Waste melts discarded waste from every layer to recycle resources and reassemble!”
“That’s reckless. With that level of melting power, wouldn’t the Mana possessed by a person gradually decrease as well?”
“It’s fine! I have plenty of Mana!”
Just because she’s fine doesn’t mean it’s alright for everyone.
Well, I have plenty of Mana too.
Gradually, Sing began to understand what she was hinting at.
“Mana melting. I’ve never heard of that even at the Academy. Is this proof of the ancient technology of the Warrior cultivation era?”
“Yes!”
“That’s all well and good, but why did your ‘Papa’ occupy this facility? What are you trying to gain in this dangerous underground?”
“There’s only one thing a player seeks! The shortcut to growth!”
“…?”
“Think about it. If the Foundation occupies the facility, they must be running strategies on much higher floors than the students, right?”
“That’s likely. Even the strength of the Butler named Jonna rivals that of a Professor Class.”
“Then the testing apparatus of the layers conquered by such powerful individuals must have been destroyed too, right?”
A chill ran down his spine.
The flow of this conversation gives off a very dangerous vibe.
Regretting having asked the question, Sing tried to cut off conversation, but Oknodie puffed out her cheeks and made a face like a squirrel filled with acorns.
There’s no avoiding it.
Acknowledging that he had been swept up in it, Oknodie smiled brightly and continued.
“In other words, if we find high-level waste among the waste from the Layer of Waste, something fun will trigger!”
A piece of armor far more dangerous-looking than a common wooden doll.
Oknodie pulled out a full-body armor that resonated with a metallic sound when she tapped it with her fist.
She confidently stepped forward, holding the armor.
“Alright, let’s go down!”
“What’s down there?”
“If we gather the waste, we can discard the trash and recycle what’s recyclable, right?”
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Director’s Mansion
B2F – Layer of Recycling
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A facility where various equipment operates along hundreds of enormous lines.
Oknodie placed the armor on one of the lines and squeezed herself inside.
“Come in too, Sing! There’s plenty of room for both of us!”
“…That armor, once inside, don’t tell me…”
Oknodie beamed and affirmed.
“It will be transported to the [Layer of Living Armor] on the 69th floor!”
Even an ordinary butler with instructor-level strength can jump straight to the 69th floor in a tower that caps at 50 floors.