episode_0039

Despite the massive uproar,

our party was more peaceful than expected.

Glasses had returned and was resting comfortably.

Ermena Theresa was also getting proper rest.

Rosenta was busy knocking out some guys while holding a drinking contest in the corner.

No, to be more precise—

everyone except me was enjoying a peaceful moment.

Why, you ask?

Because there were far too many things weighing on my mind.

The Green Bone Fiend seemed to have been captured by Vulcan.

Yet I was the one who leveled up.

Still, when I interrogated Marcel, I earned extra credit for revealing the Fiend’s true nature.

“If not for that, you’d be rotting in a cell by now.”

Vulcan chuckled, leisurely propping his feet up on the desk in front of him.

“But brat—”

“Please don’t call me ‘brat.’”

“‘Greenhorn’ doesn’t suit you anymore—there’s something about you that can’t be ignored now. But calling you anything else feels too friendly for our relationship.”

“…….”

“Or, you could acknowledge me as your master—”

“Call me ‘brat,’ please.”

“Tch. No sense of humor.”

Vulcan clicked his tongue in disappointment.

Ignoring him, I thought about the thing that had been lurking inside Marcel’s body.

‘But why was it holding a nail?’

The question surfaced briefly before I brushed it aside.

Many had died in the last labyrinth.

It wouldn’t be strange if some random victim had been carrying it.

‘……The funeral’s starting soon, wasn’t it?’

Then, a certain man came to mind.

Naeshion.

Viola’s older brother.

Since he died by the Green Bone Fiend’s hands, revenge had been served. He’d probably be satisfied—especially since I even kept my promise to share a meal with him.

“……What’re you thinking about?”

“Naeshion.”

“Not a bad kid. Talent-wise, nothing special—but he had charm. The complete opposite of you.”

Meaning I was talented and unpleasant.

‘……Not wrong, though.’

That’s just how I’ve always been.

“So, what did you use?”

“What do you mean?”

“Cut the act. No surveillance here. Nothing leaves this room.”

“……I just stole its soul.”

“Stole its soul?”

“When you subdued it, something came out.”

“……Oho?”

“So I grabbed it and killed the bastard.”

“……That’s not normal.”

Vulcan stared at me with an odd glint in his eyes.

After a moment of deep thought, he spoke bluntly.

“Seems you’ve got a spiritual aptitude.”

“Spiritual aptitude?”

“Yeah. Souls aren’t meant to be seen. Even this exceptionally gifted old man can’t do that myself. You might’ve awakened Spirit Eyes. That purple glow in your eyes? Probably tied to it.”

“……?”

Pretty sure I don’t have any such Gift or talent.

‘Except—’

It wasn’t completely unexplainable.

Why could I see souls? Probably because of Risiel.

‘……Was it Soul Theft (S)’s doing?’

To steal something, you first have to perceive it.

Seemed Soul Theft helped with that.

A terrifying ability, honestly.

Might’ve been why I stole Risiel’s soul and ended up with her soulstone, too.

“Spirit Eyes show things you shouldn’t see. Brat, you’ve got suffering ahead.”

Vulcan grinned, looking at me like he relished the thought.

‘……All I wanted was some convenient power to coast through life.’

Guess that wasn’t happening.

“So, notice any changes?”

“Like what?”

“Leveling up after killing the Fiend. Level-ups expand an adventurer’s vessel—usually grant new skills. Sometimes even Gifts. Considering your unique circumstances, this time might be special too.”

Vulcan’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

I thought for a second.

‘Nothing good, really.’

There were changes, though.

Like before, leveling up granted a new Gift. This one combined with an existing one, evolving it.

‘Stats Window.’

▼

Name: Han Yu-Seong (Lv.3)

Strength: 15 Agility: 24 (20+4) Stamina: 15 Magic: 15 Spirit: 15 Perception: 15

◈Gifts – [Thief’s Pinnacle (S)], [Soul Theft (S)], [Sword Mastery (A+)], [Bow Mastery (A+)], [Violet (A)], [Lethal Constitution (A)], [Aura Control (B)], [Magic Control (B)]

◈Skills – [Hidden Space (B)], [Charged Shot (B)]

◈Techniques – [Swordsmanship (Lv 16, 11+5)], [Archery (Lv 10, 5+5)], [Martial Arts (Lv 3)]

This was the result.

‘…….’

My current status.

The biggest change was the evolved Gift from leveling up—merging with Sharpshooter to ascend further.

And the Stats Window had expanded significantly.

‘……Almost got me in trouble earlier.’

Before arriving here, I’d broken a few stairs due to poor control.

Luckily, Thief’s Pinnacle (S)’s dexterity helped me adjust just in time.

Anyway, back to the main point.

“So, how’s it feel? Youngest Level 3 ever.”

“I’m the youngest?”

“Yeah. No one’s grown this fast in [Cradle]’s thousand-year history. Even counting unofficial records—no, even unrecorded, no one like you exists.”

Vulcan laughed hoarsely.

Might be true. With all these Gifts and sheer luck, it’d be weird if I wasn’t the youngest.

“……Tepid reaction.”

Naturally.

Hearing that didn’t make it feel real anyway.

‘Honestly, surviving all this chaos is harder.’

Perhaps disappointed by my indifference, Vulcan sighed.

“Let’s get to the main topic.”

My eyes sharpened at his words.

Vulcan’s “main topic” could only mean one thing.

‘Compensation for the labyrinth incident.’

Or hush money, maybe.

Noticing my eager gaze, Vulcan smirked wryly.

“You’ve got two choices.”

“Which are?”

“First—publicly credit you for defeating the Fiend with your unique Gift.”

“The second one, please.”

“You really don’t care for glory.”

“It’s nothing but trouble.”

Honestly, it would be.

Glory’s nice, but—

‘……Can’t lose sight of my goal.’

My endgame is returning to the real world.

Failing that, staying here is an option—but fame still isn’t appealing.

‘……This is a barbaric era.’

Fists rule over laws here.

People shrug off deaths like it’s nothing.

In labyrinths, most kill without hesitation if someone’s deemed an enemy. And for mere coins, assassins are everywhere.

Bright side of fame in that world?

‘……Might get some street cred.’

But I’ll take practicality over reputation any day.

The more famous you are here, the bigger the target on your back.

‘Pretty sure I’m already somewhat infamous.’

When I went to the back alleys with Erma, a woman from Qinghualou called me Black-Violet Ghost.

Attaching ‘ghost’ to someone’s name is really rude, by the way.

‘So the rumors are spreading.’

She was from the Info Guild, so word’s likely out already.

No thanks to becoming more famous.

“……Figured you’d say that. Already had the Guild smooth things over.”

But—

Vulcan paused, then added:

“Even if you stay quiet, rumors spread. Plenty of clans are already making moves to recruit you.”

“…….”

“And you’re Level 3 now. Unprecedented speed. You’ll keep climbing—might even outgrow your party soon. That orange-haired girl’s the only one who can keep up.”

“……I know.”

“Do you? Cold bastard.”

What, was I supposed to apologize?

Vulcan sighed at my deadpan look.

“Anyway, you want compensation, right? Told Hilda. Collect it discreetly later.”

“Discreetly?”

“Those there are tight-lipped, but if you walk out with a fat reward, problems follow.”

“…….”

…Did he just look out for me?

Kind of touching.

Reading my thoughts, Vulcan flashed a smirk.

“Grow up fast. So I can retire in peace.”

Never mind. Take it back.

‘Did I send him off properly?’

Vulcan reflected on Han Yu-Seong, who’d just left.

Even after observing him up close, he still couldn’t figure him out.

‘Interesting kid.’

His personality wasn’t bad.

Self-interested but not selfish—almost oddly detached.

Most importantly—

‘He doesn’t chase glory.’

Fame is a double-edged sword.

Better a survivor than a fool drunk on honor.

Talented, decent personality. Only flaw was his aversion to recognition.

‘He cares for his comrades.’

He’d revealed his secret to Vulcan to save Marcel.

That alone proved his character.

‘The more I see, the more I like him—’

But his potential was the problem.

The power to steal souls—that was unpredictable.

‘Too dangerous.’

There were professions that dealt with souls.

Given [Cradle]’s age, it had cataloged every dangerous Gift imaginable.

Over a thousand years,

only one soul-related Gift had ever been recorded.

‘And now this kid awakens Spirit Eyes?’

Could he end up like that man?

‘Why did it have to be souls?’

Roughly 300 years ago,

when [Cradle]’s power peaked—

Back then, [Cradle] was unstoppable.

Overwhelmingly strong.

A single force that dwarfed empires and kingdoms alike.

Its influence grew so vast that the world united to contain it.

Then came the incident that nearly destroyed [Cradle].

The harbinger of twilight—the monster Azazel.

One empire collapsed. Three kingdoms vanished.

[Cradle] itself almost fell.

The first Level 9.

And the worst Level 9 in history.

Vulcan knew Yu-Seong wasn’t like him.

But if he stayed in [Cradle], kept diving into labyrinths—

Could he really avoid becoming a threat?

Vulcan stared out the window.

‘Guess I’m just an old worrywart.’

Lately, the anxiety just wouldn’t leave.