Chapter 156 : Level 6

Finding the inn where the special task force members were staying wasn’t that difficult.

I had already stained them with a bit of Demonic energy, so it was just a matter of having Lion track that trace.

[It’s over there.]

When I entered the inn, the special task force members were eating on the first floor.

“Vell, you’re here.”

“How did the errand go?”

I answered Conlan’s question.

“It worked out roughly well.”

“Really? That’s good. Then how long do you intend to stay here?”

“We’ll be leaving soon. So rest up while you can.”

“Hmph, was it as expected? Understood.”

I didn’t know when the contact from Guar would come, but since I knew that Guar’s situation wasn’t leisurely either, there wouldn’t be a need to wait that long.

‘Well…… that doesn’t mean I need to be playing around in the meantime.’

If Guar proceeded with things properly, I would be able to meet the Supreme King before long.

It would be fortunate if the conversation with the Supreme King went well, but honestly speaking, I didn’t think it would be easy to persuade a figure like the Supreme King through conversation.

There was a high probability that a fight would break out.

And if a fight broke out, not only I but all members of the 4th Special Task Force would be exposed to great danger.

Therefore, I had no intention of spending this briefly given time in vain.

The situation wasn’t good enough that I had to utilize even such time as frugally as possible.

“Vell, where are you going?”

“There’s a place I need to stop by for a moment.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, stay here for a moment, I’ll be back soon.”

“……I understand.”

After leaving the inn, I went into a deserted alleyway.

And after waiting there for a while, I approached the tail-cum-liaison that Guar had attached to me.

He probably tried to tail me without being noticed in his own way, but there was no way I wouldn’t recognize the only person who had followed me from Guar’s mansion to this inn in the first place.

“Hey.”

“……What is the matter?”

“I know Guar sent you. I have something to ask Guar, so pass it on.”

“What sort of……. I am a person who has no relation to the Lord.”

“Don’t say something that isn’t even funny. Didn’t you hear the instruction from Guar to use you as a liaison in the first place?”

At that, the tail’s face turned pale.

“I haven’t heard such a story at all…… Ah.”

“Forget it, just go and convey my words. Tell him I want to use the guard training ground while staying in Biarritz. Understand?”

“……I understand.”

“Good, go on.”

The reply from Guar came not long after.

“……The Lord has granted permission.”

“Good, the certificate?”

“Here it is.”

I was able to obtain a certificate of use for the training ground stamped with the seal of the Lord of Biarritz.

“By the way, where do you intend to use that?”

“There’s a use for everything. You can go now.”

“……I understand.”

Like that, the tail-cum-liaison returned to his post to fulfill his duty.

Holding the permission certificate for the training ground use, I once again found the inn where the special task force members were staying.

“Where have you been wandering around so much lately? Is there still work left to do?”

“There’s plenty of work to do. Anyway, everyone get up.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Even if we have extra time, we can’t just be playing around, can we?”

“……Somehow I feel anxious.”

“Anxious about what. Everyone follow me out.”

“Where are we going?”

The answer to that question was practically already decided.

“It is training time.”

***

I arrived at the training ground used by the Biarritz guards with the special task force members.

“What is the matter?”

“We will use the training ground. I received separate permission from the Lord.”

“What do you mean by that……?”

“You’ll know if you look at the certificate.”

I held out the certificate I received from Guar to the Captain of the Guard, and the Captain of the Guard couldn’t hide his shock upon seeing the Lord’s seal stamped on the certificate.

“If the verification is finished, can we go in now?”

“O-Of course!”

The special task force members, who were watching that scene, threw in a word each as if it was absurd.

“How is this going right now? Why did we suddenly come to the training ground?”

“It seems that guy Vell is thinking something very strange. Training out in a remote place like this…….”

“I will follow Vell’s opinion.”

“Good.”

I entered the guards’ training ground with a confident stride along with the special task force members.

“What are they, those people?”

“They seem to be the Lord’s guests. Judging by the fact that they even have a seal, it’d be better not to loiter around the training ground for the time being.”

“Really? Can’t be helped. If we get on their bad side for no reason, our path to success will be blocked.”

Although the gazes of the Biarritz guards looking at us, who suddenly barged in and occupied the training ground, weren’t very kind, whether they were or not, I said to the special task force members.

“You already know the fact that we didn’t come here to play.”

“That is true, but training suddenly in a remote place like this…… are you serious?”

“Have you ever seen me talk nonsense?”

“……Mmm, that’s not the case, surprisingly.”

“Anyway, I’ve judged that if we stay as we are now, it won’t be easy to endure the things that will happen in the future. So I intend to train properly even for the remaining time.”

A small tension hovered among the special task force members.

“What kind of training is it?”

“Well, is there anything special about training? You just have to run until you feel like dying, and get hit until you feel like dying.”

“……Get hit?”

“There’s such a thing. You’ll know once you get hit.”

“N-No! Saying we’ll know once we get hit, what on earth does that mean!”

“I said you’ll know once you get hit.”

The enjoyable training begins.

***

One week passed after the training began in earnest.

“Ugh…… my whole body aches. That guy Vell just doesn’t know the meaning of moderation.”

“I agree this time.”

“……Vell, I’m going to kill you.”

Whether the training of the past week had been effective, the eyes of the special task force members were filled with venom.

I didn’t know for sure, but if it was to that extent, wouldn’t everyone’s respective level have risen by about 1 level?

It was training conducted that rigorously, and because of that, the power of the Orb of Water was also in a state of being drawn out almost to the limit.

‘Well, it was worth it though.’

The results of the training appeared not only in the 4th Special Task Force members but also in me.

If it had been merely training, I wouldn’t have produced such results, but above all, apart from the training, I had the avatar of the labyrinth that supplied experience points automatically for 24 hours.

[You are the guardian protecting the laws of Akiro’s Labyrinth.]

[Synchronization with the Guardian’s phantom proceeds.]

[Current Phantom Floor Number: 3rd Floor]

[With amazing concentration, you did not lose your composure even in a chaotic battle situation!]

[Mental Power rises. (+1)]

[5 → 6]

[Torn muscles recover and muscles grow.]

[Stamina rises. (+1)]

[7 → 8]

[Torn muscles recover and muscles grow.]

[Strength rises. (+1)]

[7 → 8]

.

.

.

[Grade of Art, ‘Survival Swordsmanship’ rises. (+UP)]

[D → C]

[You displayed an Art that silences the opponent with a single shot!]

[Grade of Art, ‘Sniping’ rises. (+UP)]

[D → C]

.

.

.

[Level rises. (+1)]

[5 → 6]

──────────────

Name: Vell Blackwood

Level: 6

Stamina: 8

Strength: 8

Mental Power: 6

Demonic Energy: 12

Traits: [Postponer of Ruin (EX)], [Weapon Summon (??)], [Endurance (D)], [Fire Resistance (C)], [Demonic Energy Emission (A)]

Arts: [Survival Swordsmanship (C)], [Demonic Bullet (B+)], [Sniping (C)]

Magic: ─

──────────────

Starting from the stat increase, to the grade increase of Arts and leveling up.

Finally, I also entered Level 6.

In the World of Justice, being Level 6 meant you could finally be considered a mid-level user.

A level that isn’t very high, but not low either.

Of course, considering the enemies I would have to face in the future, it was still a level that was lacking in every way, but it was also true that my combat power, possessing the Weapon Summon trait, couldn’t be judged simply by level.

‘At this rate, I’d be able to sufficiently take on not only those of the same level but also the strong ones among Level 7s.’

One might say it’s a level where only a few stats have risen, but in the World of Justice, the difference of each and every one of those stat figures was literally the difference between heaven and earth.

‘First off, I’ve done all the preparations I can before meeting the Supreme King.’

Now all that remained was to wait for Guar’s contact.

Of course, that didn’t mean I would spend the remaining time in vain either.

“Alright, let’s all start again.”

“……I thought we were taking a break.”

“What are you doing, not coming at me.”

“Okay, don’t expect to walk back today, Vell.”

“I agree.”

“……I won’t let you off easily either.”

Whether the training so far had been quite useful, Conlan and Albino, as well as Alicia, rushed at me harboring venom.

***

The contact from Guar came on exactly the tenth day since starting the training.

“The Lord is looking for you.”

“Tell him I’m coming right away.”

“I understand.”

After speaking to the tail-cum-liaison, I immediately moved my steps.

“Vell, where are you going?”

“Today’s training ends here. No, the training is finished now, so everyone go back to the lodging and pack your bags.”

“……Is it finally time?”

“Yeah.”

The special task force members also weren’t unaware that there was a separate purpose for this training.

Therefore, the special task force members nodded with hardened expressions and moved their steps.

Leaving them behind, I moved my steps toward the Lord’s mansion to meet Guar.

“You are Mr. Vell Blackwood. The Lord is waiting in the study.”

“Right. Lead the way.”

Following the guidance of the butler who was waiting at the entrance of the mansion, I moved my steps inside the mansion.

“You’re here.”

When I arrived at Guar’s study, Guar, who was savoring tea, welcomed me.

“Would you like a cup?”

“No. Rather than that, I want to hear the story about the Supreme King first.”

“Ah, that was the business. The Supreme King has issued a mobilization order for the lords and kings of the Eastern Union. I have never participated in it until now but…… this time I intend to go. Of course, you too, Cain.”

“I see. When is the departure?”

“Since the mobilization deadline is in a week, we must depart within two days at the latest. We intend to depart immediately tomorrow.”

“Understood. I will come to the front of the mansion by tomorrow morning.”

As I rose from my seat, Guar called out to stop me.

“Cain.”

“Speak.”

“……The Supreme King is a dangerous person. No matter if it is you, in your current state, it will be difficult to show Cain’s way.”

Guar, being a strong person, seemed to have grasped my level at a single glance.

“I know.”

“And yet you mean to meet the Supreme King?”

“There is something I absolutely must ask when I meet the Supreme King.”

What is the purpose of trying to open the sky?

What happens when the sky opens.

I had to know about that.

Because I think that is one of my responsibilities.

“……Well, good. Even such an ignorant method is just like you, Cain.”

“There seems to be one thing you are misunderstanding.”

I corrected one of Guar’s misunderstandings.

“Do you think I can’t show Cain’s way just because I’m in this state?”

“……Haha! That is true too. That is Cain! Indeed!”

Guar laughed kkeul-kkeul as if he was extremely satisfied with his senile voice.

“Then I will see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, let’s go show that high-and-mighty Supreme King Cain’s way.”

The smoke from the cigar Guar smoked rose thickly.

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