Chapter 188 : Chapter 188
Chapter 188 : Additional Reward (2)
“……How much additional remuneration do you want?”
“Five times the advance payment I received at first. I think that much would be appropriate.”
“Five…… times?”
“Is there a problem?”
Yuliana's expression crumbled completely.
“……If what you say is true, you can certainly demand that much remuneration, since it's such a serious matter.”
“Then there should be no problem.”
“But I think I need to verify the authenticity of it, so Bellerophon needs time to investigate the Azor Great Forest.”
“I'll wait that much.”
Perhaps she didn't expect me to accept obediently, but Yuliana's expression was very strange.
“Is there a problem?”
“……No. There isn't, nothing.”
Yuliana's reluctantly answering expression looked very bitter, but that wasn't for me to care about.
“When will the preparation be done?”
“……It won't take long. I'll pay you as soon as the situation is sorted out. If you wish, you can stay within the knights' quarters.”
“I'll wait at the inn where I stayed before.”
“Understood. Then I'll visit you at that time.”
“Right. It would be better if you brought a new job too.”
“……Come to think of it, it does seem there will be more work to entrust to you in the future.”
Saying that, Yuliana let out a deep sigh.
As if this Bikers incident was merely the beginning in a way.
My thoughts were not that different either.
‘Well, that's that…….’
This additional remuneration negotiation was beneficial to me in many ways.
Of course, the work related to Bikers wasn't easy to that extent, but isn't everything a memory once it passes anyway?
‘I also obtained a useful flying mount.’
Now, all that remained was to rest while recovering my body and wait for news from Yuliana.
“I'll be going now.”
“Yes. See you next time.”
***
Watching the back of Vell Blackwood leaving the office, Yuliana could know that the sense of disparity she felt from the moment she saw Vell Blackwood wasn't simply due to her mood.
‘Certainly, his condition wasn't good.’
Vell Blackwood himself might think he didn't show it, but he couldn't avoid the gaze of Yuliana who possessed Insight.
Vell Blackwood was currently suffering from a significant level of serious injury.
To think the Iron Man who seemed like he wouldn't even blink at most things ended up in such a state…….
‘It means the battle with Bikers wasn't easy to that extent.’
In a way, it was a natural story.
No matter if Bikers is a guild with a bad reputation in the world, they are strictly a group.
In short, not an opponent for an individual to match.
Nevertheless, Vell Blackwood blocked Bikers' scheme alone, and even found out the fact that the Twilight Troupe was behind it.
She didn't know for sure, but it meant he might have caused additional friction with the Twilight Troupe in that process.
‘I owe him.’
Yuliana still didn't completely trust Vell Blackwood, but she could at least know the fact that Vell Blackwood approached this matter sincerely.
Cannot trust, but can credit.
It sounds like a wordplay, but that was the evaluation Yuliana currently held for Vell Blackwood.
“……It's going to get busy.”
First, Yuliana requested an investigation team to be dispatched to the Azor Great Forest from Bellerophon.
It was originally a mission given to Yuliana, but if the mission itself was investigation rather than resolution, it was an obvious waste for high-class manpower like Yuliana to move personally.
“Then what's left is…….”
Yuliana stood up from her seat to organize the Fragments to pay Vell Blackwood as additional remuneration.
There was so much work to do.
***
After returning to the inn, I literally rested well.
[……Vell-nim?]
It was to the point where Lion, thinking I was dead, appeared quietly and spoke to me.
“I'm alive.”
It was to the point where Lion felt relieved and quietly hid his appearance only after I said directly that I was alive.
Anyway…….
The recovery period of a few days wasn't a very bad time for me.
Especially considering that most stat increases in this world occur during the wound recovery period, it was even more so.
Added to that, thanks to the phantom in Akiro's Labyrinth working hard, the stat increase was doubled.
[You are the guardian who protects the laws of Akiro's Labyrinth.]
[Synchronization with the Guardian's Phantom proceeds.]
[Current Phantom's Floor: 4th Floor]
.
.
.
[Mental Power increases. (+2)]
[6 → 8]
[Stamina increases. (+2)]
[9 → 11]
[Strength increases. (+2)]
[9 → 11]
.
.
.
[The grade of Art, ‘Survival Swordsmanship’ rises. (+UP)]
[C → B-]
[The grade of Art, ‘Demonic Bullet’ rises. (+UP)]
[B+ → A]
.
.
.
[Level increases. (+1)]
[6 → 7]
──────────────
Name: Vell Blackwood
Level: 7
Stamina: 11
Strength: 11
Mental Power: 8
Demonic Energy: 14
Trait: [Postponer of Ruin (EX)], [Weapon Summon (??)], [Endurance (D)], [Fire Resistance (C)], [Demonic Energy Emission (A)]
Art: [Survival Swordsmanship (B-)], [Demonic Bullet (A)], [Sniping (C)]
Magic: [Demonic Spirit Magic]
──────────────
Finally, I achieved Level 7.
At last, I achieved a level classified as high-level in the World of Justice.
‘Is it Level 7 now.’
Considering the time I arrived in this world, it was true that it was clearly a growth speed beyond imagination, but nevertheless, it was true that it was unsatisfactory for me.
Especially considering the things befalling this world right now, it was even more so.
‘Well, that's that…… Let's try doing what I have to do for now.’
Since I achieved Level 7, I intended to do one of the things I had been waiting for until now.
Which was exactly the work of purifying Haima's Broken Pendant.
The fact that I became stronger meant the power of the Postponer of Ruin I harbored also became stronger, and that meant I became able to fully drive out the Destruction Dragon's curse in Haima's Pendant, which I hadn't been able to drive out until now.
‘Shall I try.’
Until now, I had only purified a part of the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy lodged in Haima's Pendant.
However, what about now when the power of the Postponer of Ruin has become even stronger?
‘If it's now…… I can sufficiently drive out at least the Demonic energy lodged in Haima's Pendant.’
Even if I couldn't completely drive out the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy, driving out the Demonic energy lodged in Haima's Pendant had value in itself.
I made a small wound on my finger to let a drop of blood form, then dropped it onto Haima's Pendant.
Tzzt, Tzztzzt!!!
Along with that, violently rising sparks shook the whole room.
[The Postponer of Ruin's blood purifies the Demonic energy lodged in ‘Haima's Broken Pendant’!]
[The Demonic lodged in ‘Haima's Broken Pendant’ is too powerful!]
[The Postponer of Ruin's blood suppresses the Demonic!]
The Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy lodged in Haima's Pendant starts running wild as it pleases.
It meant that with just a drop of blood, even if it was the Postponer of Ruin's blood, it couldn't completely suppress the Destruction Dragon's energy.
However, there was nothing to be a problem.
If one drop is insufficient, I just have to pour blood altogether.
Splosh!
Along with the line of blood drawn on my palm, the blood flowing down along my palm soaked Haima's Pendant thoroughly.
Crackle!!!
A violent reaction beyond the level of sparks occurred everywhere and burned all the furniture in the room I was staying in.
‘Then…… shall I try snatching it.’
I grabbed the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy that had been hiding inside Haima's Pendant until now and revealed its presence.
Something possible because I am the Postponer of Ruin.
And I started absorbing the grabbed Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy into me.
Sssss!
The Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy that was parasitizing Haima's Pendant slowly starts being absorbed into me.
It is impossible for a human to harbor the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy, but it was something I had already done several times.
[Absorbing the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy lodged in ‘Haima's Broken Pendant’!]
[Demonic energy increases. (+3)]
[14 → 17]
[Among the properties of Demonic energy, the power of the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy becomes even thicker.]
The Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy, which fearlessly bared its fangs at the Postponer of Ruin, was soon completely suppressed by me and then absorbed.
With this, not only the numerical value of the Demonic energy I harbor but also its nature became very intense.
That wasn't all.
[‘Haima's Broken Pendant’ finally regains its original appearance!]
[The name of ‘Haima's Broken Pendant’ is changed to ‘Haima's Cursed Pendant’.]
The intense reaction that rose with the force to burn down this entire inn finally subsided, and the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy lodged in Haima's Pendant was completely purified.
────────────
[Haima's Cursed Pendant]
Classification: Accessory
Grade: Legendary
Haima's Pendant.
It was once corroded by the Destruction Dragon's energy, but regained its original appearance due to the Postponer of Ruin's blood.
It harbors Haima's powerful curse and the Postponer of Ruin's power that drives out the Demonic.
────────────
Haima's Pendant, which had been broken and rusted for a long time, finally regained its original appearance.
‘On top of that, it came to harbor even the Postponer of Ruin's power……. I could use it depending on the situation.’
Until now, the Postponer of Ruin's power was solely for me, but if I utilize this, it seems it would also be possible to temporarily share the Postponer of Ruin's power with others.
Well, since there wasn't really a colleague reliable to that extent, it seemed there wouldn't be such an occasion though.
“Phew…….”
It wasn't as easy to fully extract the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy lodged in Haima's Pendant than I thought, but as a result, it finished well.
‘On top of that…….’
The fact that it became possible to fully purify the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy as I reached about Level 7 meant that I also became able to fully remove the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy currently eroding Luna.
I don't know when I will meet Luna again, but when that time comes, it seems it would be okay to fully remove the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy eroded into Luna.
Because saying this and that, Luna was one of the few people I could trust in this world.
“By the way, it's total chaos…….”
Looking at the surrounding scenery, there wasn't a single intact thing among the furniture.
Of course, compensating wouldn't be difficult, but it seemed I would have to move to another inn.
At that moment.
Bang!
Someone kicked my inn door and barged in.
I wondered if it was the innkeeper who noticed the disturbance, but looking at the face, it was a face I knew.
It was Yuliana.
I thought it was about time she visited, but I didn't know she would barge in directly like this.
“To barge into a room where a man is staying alone without notice, you're bolder than I thought.”
Yuliana's face flushed red as if it would explode.
“W-what! Don't have strange misunderstandings, I just came urgently because a disturbance suddenly occurred.”
Yuliana said while looking around the room that was practically destroyed.
“But what happened? Why is the room in this state?”
“No, well, nothing really.”
“……For that, the inside of the room is quite chaotic. Did nothing really happen?”
“Because I talk in my sleep severely.”
“You're not saying that for me to believe, right?”
“I'd like you to believe it.”
“……Sigh.”
“So, does the fact that you came to find me mean the investigation is finished?”
At that, Yuliana nodded her head.
“Yes. As you said, there were traces of the work Bikers did in the Azor Great Forest, and traces of fierce battle too…….”
“It sounds like there's no objection regarding the additional remuneration payment?”
“Yes. It's the Fragments you mentioned.”
Soon after, she held out the box she had brought to me.
It was the Ascension Stone Fragments promised as additional remuneration.