Conquering the Labyrinth with a Trash-Tier Trait - Chapter 47

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 47
“Heh heh. Such a thing exists in this world…… Yes, you’ve been through quite an ordeal.”
Jerik, unlike that uncultured Kirk fellow, offered genuine understanding.
“And not just a Special Class, but a Unique Class no less—honestly, I’ve never even heard of one before. Normally a 1st Class Special Class would be the highest grade, at best Rare…….”
“Sir, you said not to ask or tell you about things like that!”
“Is a teacher a stranger?”
“Me!?”
“Yes, a stranger!”
“Huh…….”
“But you’re my disciple. That’s why I let you both listen.”
“……But we’re comrades in arms!”
“Keke keke.”
So Kirk could charm people too, it seemed.
After all that chatter, I finally felt like I was truly home.
“So this Spirit Fusion technique exists?”
“Yes.”
“And it’s true you held your own against a 3rd Class using it?”
“Master! Not held my own—I practically overwhelmed him. It looked like I was playing with him!”
“Ah, that wasn’t entirely down to the ability itself. The item buff played a significant role too.”
“Hmm?”
“Particularly because of this—the World Tree Spear’s Forest Guardian Buff is in a constant active state.”
I showed him the World Tree Insignia.
Jerik’s eyes widened.
“Whoa……. This came from the Novice Tier?”
He seemed far more surprised than I’d expected.
“Do you know what this is?”
“It’s written right there. Besides, you should know it better than I do.”
“There’s nothing that shows up in the additional information. What I can see is all there is.”
“Ah……. Is that so? Then leave the full knowledge as a joy for later. There’s nothing to be gained from knowing now.”
“……?”
“According to what’s written in the item description, it will be of great help when you deal with elves.”
“Is that your answer?”
At that, Jerik chuckled softly and plucked the insignia from my hand.
The moment he did, the green light that had been emanating from it vanished in an instant.
“Oh?”
“The light fades because I’m not the one who received this insignia originally.”
“Wow…….”
“Why would a single insignia like this be Rare grade? That’s precisely why it’s so important—keep it safe.”
The moment I witnessed that effect, the very significance of the World Tree Insignia shifted in my mind.
However.
“This is something I obtained while in the Novice Tier. So the person who gave me this insignia must be a fake—or rather, a High Elf from another world…….”
“Regardless, elves believe the World Tree extends into other dimensions as well, so they’ll accept it just the same even if you received it from an elf of another dimension. There’s no need to actually test it, though.”
In that moment, I recalled an axe I’d obtained in the past.
“……The axe I got from killing the Orc Warlord on the fifth floor was explicitly marked as a replica. Why is this one……?”
“Who knows? Perhaps it’s the difference between something unique and something that isn’t.”
“So the axe received a replica evaluation once another unique item came into existence?”
“Yes. That’s my understanding.”
“Hmm…….”
Come to think of it, I had defeated the Orc Warlord Grash.
But the axe’s description had referred to it as the prized weapon of Orc ‘Lord’ Grash.
“Well. In any case, you should treasure this then.”
“Right. Keep it in your spatial pouch and take it out when you face elves.”
“Ah, then I’ll just keep it close to me instead.”
“Hmm?”
“Because of the spear.”
It’s an item that also activates the Forest Guardian option of the World Tree Spear.
“Fair enough. Well then, since Kirk raved so much about it, I’d like to see that technique of yours. I’m curious what you learned on the tenth floor too.”
“Only my Cultivation Method and Butchery went up.”
“Not the technique itself!”
“What are you talking about!”
Grumbling despite myself, I followed Jerik out to the Training Grounds.
I wanted to test the full extent of the power I’d gained myself, after all.
‘Maybe because I didn’t get to use it on Cha Hye-ryeon.’
A restless itch crawled through me.
“Come on then. Show me this transformation of yours.”
“Can I use all my items?”
I threw an absurd bet at Jerik, who stood there with nothing but a Wooden Spear in his bare hands, but he nodded readily.
“Of course!”
“But I’ve gotten seriously strong. If I throw in all my items too……”
“It’s fine. You’re still 1st Class, aren’t you?”
The moment I saw that smile, a flicker of competitiveness flared inside me.
“……Understood. Then be careful.”
“I will.”
I held back just a shred of mercy.
‘Come on.’
—Okay!
With an eager voice, I summoned Poong Cheol-woo and deployed Spirit Fusion.
Crack-crunch.
Whir.
Only the second time, but my body’s transformation was noticeably faster, and adapting to it came easier.
I could even clearly sense the pale white wind that swirled faintly around me now.
“Hm. Your fur’s turned completely white?”
“Yes. Probably.”
“So, then……?”
Kirk, who’d been watching, butted in without thinking and glanced downward with a smirk.
This bastard.
“……Just, just looking. Sorry.”
Kirk crumpled the moment I glared at him.
After that, I gripped the Spear properly.
“Come on then.”
Grin.
“Don’t say you didn’t warn you!”
Whoosh.
Following Jerik’s gesture, I charged at him with exhilaration.
My Movement Technique and Spear Technique were the same as four months ago, but my base stats were completely different.
The stats that rose when I became an Arc-Reaper, the Forest Guardian Buff, and on top of that, the Spirit Fusion with the wind spirit.
My spear strike—devastating enough to cut down my former self in a single blow—bore down on Jerik, but.
Ching!
Tap!
Spot.
It was either blocked by casual defense or missed into empty air.
“Is that all?”
“Hardly!”
Riding the surge of my pride, I pushed harder still.
But it only meant Jerik had to dodge a handful more times—nothing more.
So I resorted to trickery.
“Huh!?”
I stopped abruptly and flicked my gaze toward Jerik’s back.
Jerik hesitated, and I felt his attention shift to the space behind him.
That’s when I drove my strike in.
“Whup!?”
For the first time, Jerik let out a sound of exertion.
Clang.
‘He blocked that!?’
But then—
‘Hup!’
His palm redirected the spear blade into a spinning acceleration, and he struck his staff against my abdomen with fierce force.
Whump.
“Wait……?”
It didn’t feel like a powerful blow, but the thrill of finally landing a solid hit on him surged through me like electricity.
“Ahahahahaha. How was that!?”
I laughed with genuine delight.
-Ugh. This is embarrassing. Come back.
With that mental command, the wind spirit was summoned back.
Snap.
My consciousness returned to its natural state, and I offered a wry smile to Jerik, who was studying me with an odd expression, and bowed my head.
“Forgive me. I got carried away with the thrill of victory and made a mistake.”
“No, no. I was genuinely surprised. Precisely because I didn’t think you were the type to resort to such deception.”
“Well, it just… happened.”
“You said you had no formal training. Turns out you’ve learned something quite impressive.”
“…Pardon?”
“Perhaps it’s from struggling through life, but you seemed rather inflexible before. Now I see you’ve gained some adaptability.”
Me?
Lacking adaptability?
He sounds like he’s hinting at something I’m hiding from him.
“This is a good change. A very good one.”
I couldn’t help but feel flustered by such unexpected praise.
“Isn’t it somewhat cowardly, though?”
“Ah, well, it’s not a method you’d use in ordinary sparring matches, but in actual combat there’s nothing off-limits. You use every tool at your disposal. I’m giving you credit for expanding your strategic thinking.”
“Ah. Yes. The transformation does impart a slight shift in temperament.”
“Right. I could see that. Your appearance changes too. Now show me the other spirits.”
“Pardon?”
“What? Tired already?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then. Come at me.”
“Yes!”
From there, I proceeded to demonstrate Spirit Fusion with the fire, water, and earth spirits one after another.
With fire, the hair on my entire body turned red and heat shimmered visibly in the air around me.
With water, I turned blue, and a pale flowing form of water seemed to envelope me.
With earth, my skin took on a brownish hue and seemed to thicken like hardened ground.
And as expected, when I took on each form, the distinct personalities of the spirits manifested on the surface.
“This is fascinating. Personally, fire made the strongest impression. Spitting, stomping, charging like it wanted to drag me down with it.”
“I—I’m truly sorry.”
That was reckless of me.
It was like, if you hit me once, I’d hit you twice in return.
I treated the match like a fight to the death.
“No, it was entertaining. Water was unusual too. The attacks were sluggish without much conviction, yet viscous and clinging. The defense was remarkably solid. I thought your Spear Technique itself had changed form.”
That genuinely surprised me too.
It felt like pure laziness, the essence of doing whatever came naturally.
But once I actually fused with it and fought, it was different.
There was no desire to win, yet no willingness to simply surrender either.
I flowed around attacks, held my ground, and adapted to my opponent however I could.
Now I finally understood the fundamental nature dwelling within it.
‘It’s the embodiment of my desire to survive.’
A longing to live no matter what, yet ground down by reality until resignation sets in; and yet still, an urge to adapt and endure regardless.
That was the water spirit.
At that moment, Kirk, who’d been watching, added his own observation.
“I found that brown form more frightening, personally.”
“Hmm?”
“You endured what couldn’t be avoided, defended what needed defending, attacked when it was time to attack. But it felt like you were hiding your true strength, waiting for the final opening.”
That was actually my intention.
“If Master let his guard down even slightly, it felt like you’d strike without hesitation. And the fact that even when you took hits and went down on your knees, your eyes didn’t flicker once… it was rather frightening.”
“Hmm. Yes. Judging from a warrior’s stance, that brown form was superior in every way. Weighty, tenacious. Most of all, it showed the patience to wait for opportunity. That look in your eyes—never surrendering even until defeat became inevitable—I rather liked that.”
“I see.”
Never giving up.
The will to endure suffering, hardship, and press forward silently to survive.
And the fierce patience to wait for a single final chance until the very end.
That was the earth spirit.
The earth spirit too shared the same fundamental nature.
No—all the spirits did.
‘Poong Cheol-woo’s rage, too—the will to fight and overcome, to survive.’
The determination to smash through whatever stood in his way and live.
‘Kirk’s will to flow around obstacles, to adapt and endure.’
And.
‘Jerik’s mischief—rooted in a longing for freedom.’
There was no need to meet him head-on.
Deceive, provoke, create openings.
If necessary, resort to cowardly methods without hesitation.
The will to slip free from everything that bound him and live.
In the end, they were all the same.
A low hum sounded through him.
[The Balgar Spirit Cultivation Method has leveled up.]
[The Balgar Spirit Cultivation Method has evolved.]
[Mana increased by 3.]
“Huh?”
My mind cleared suddenly, and my mana surged.
“Why?”
“Oh. Well. My cultivation method level just went up out of nowhere.”
“Interesting. Did you gain some kind of enlightenment?”
“Just… I came to understand the spirits a little better.”
Did a top-tier cultivation method really evolve this easily?
“Hmm. That sounds like enlightenment to me. Either way, congratulations. From obtaining your class to reaching this understanding now.”
“…Thank you.”
I’d been happy when I first obtained my class.
But to receive my teacher’s recognition like this—it stirred something deeper in my chest.
“And now, let’s discuss how you’ll handle the attention you drew before you came here.”
“Ah…”
Until I heard the rest, that was all I could think.
* * *
Knock, knock.
“It’s Cha Hye-ryeon.”
-Come in.
The door creaked open.
As she stepped inside, Cha Hye-ryeon caught sight of a blonde man in a neat military uniform, his feet propped up on the desk, gesturing for her to approach.
She narrowed her eyes slightly and walked forward to stand before the desk, bowing her head with minimal courtesy.
“Greetings, Prince Demian.”
It was far too casual a bow for royalty, but neither the one giving nor the one receiving seemed to mind.
“I was told you summoned me.”
“That’s right. I heard something entertaining.”
Demian smiled and spoke, and Cha Hye-ryeon’s brow furrowed at once.
She already had a good idea what he meant.
“Lost to a 1st Class, you say? And to a Novice at that?”
She couldn’t help but flare up at that.
“I didn’t lose! He just swung the whip a few times, and—!”
“Ah, ah. Calm yourself.”
His expression had turned cold, contrary to his words.
The shock of it was like being drenched in ice water. Cha Hye-ryeon hurried to lower her head.
“…I apologize.”
“Right. The point is—that man used to catch my attention. I thought of him as just another one with a knack for making money.”
“I heard the same.”
“Exactly. So how is it that someone like that comes back from the 10th floor after 122 days and trades blows evenly with you, a 3rd Class?”
“…I didn’t use any skills or special abilities beyond my whip. As you know, my original power is…”
“Ah, right, I know. But the fact that he withstood that whip at all—that’s what matters, isn’t it?”
The way he looked so intrigued wounded her pride deeply.
“…If you would grant me permission, I am confident I could end him where he stands.”
“Yikes. That’s bloodthirsty. You really do have too much bloodlust about you, don’t you?”
“…”
What was he really trying to say?
No matter how many times she faced him, she could never read this prince.
And just then.
“Word is, some riffraff are trying to scout him out.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“But a Summoner ought to belong to the Royal Palace, by right. Unless the contract was fulfilled and he departed on those terms.”
“You mean to say……?”
“I’ll grant there was some trouble. But if he’s worth keeping, there’s no harm in bringing him back, is there?”
The words creased her face.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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