I Got an Ex-Class Omnipotent System - Chapter 168
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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 168
168: Is This the Captain’s Gift? (1)
“I’ve kept you far too long, I’m afraid.”
“Not at all. I enjoyed it thoroughly.”
“I’m glad. I thought perhaps only I was having fun.”
“Haha.”
As Dohyun responded, Inez played along with a knowing smile. After their pleasant exchange concluded, Ines spoke.
—Then I entrust that child to your care.
Dohyun nodded at her words, and the Celestials began preparing for departure one by one. Thinking it had been wise to spar, yet exhausted nonetheless, I sprawled flat on the ground.
With the match concluded, the tension drained from me all at once, leaving my body languid and heavy. As I lay there without strength, Hanalin and Jiyuchan stood watch beside me and spoke.
“So what was it like crossing blades with the Superior Race?”
“Right?”
As a fellow swordsman, Jiyuchan asked first with evident curiosity, and Hanalin too inquired of me with interest. I smiled at them both before nodding.
Yes, I should share what I’ve learned. It’s what I always do.
The feedback session that invariably followed each match had returned once more. Though the bout itself hadn’t been lengthy, I still conveyed my impressions and the techniques gleaned through Analysis.
Because of such feedback, Hanalin and Jiyuchan had been able to swiftly walk the correct path, becoming one of the factors that allowed them to match my rate of stat growth.
The two listened to my words with the intensity of those taking notes, and the Celestials witnessing my unreserved instruction felt genuine admiration.
“I’ve heard humans are greedy….”
“I’ve heard even Party Members refuse to share resources with one another.”
“It seems rumors truly cannot be trusted.”
“Indeed.”
“Perhaps we’ve harbored prejudices without realizing it.”
Unaware of the Celestials’ chatter, Dohyun, Hanalin, and Jiyuchan continued their spirited discussion.
Even as they prepared for departure, all of them glanced curiously at the Dohyun Party, though one in particular could not tear her gaze away, staring for quite some time.
That one was, of course, Vera.
Watching Dohyun challenge someone stronger than himself to a draw, then immediately share and review that experience together, something ignited within her chest—a warmth that blazed like fire.
How could she describe it?
A longing had awakened: could she become like that? Yet doubt crept in—could she truly achieve such a thing?
Talent? Vera knew her own.
‘I do have aptitude….’
While she couldn’t compare to those three, she was certain she possessed at least enough talent to stand at the starting line.
But could she truly do what they do?
As such thoughts took hold, her confidence crumbled, and she shook her head.
Strong as she was, Vera doubted she could reach such heights, and half-resigned, she helped the other Celestials prepare for departure.
Until she heard the Captain’s shocking declaration.
“Hmm? Vera, why are you boarding?”
“Eh?”
“Shouldn’t you be modifying Dohyun’s ship?”
“Ah…?”
Seeing Vera’s dumbfounded expression, Captain Inez smiled knowingly and nodded, while Vera blinked her wide eyes repeatedly, stammering in bewilderment.
* * *
Whooooosh——!
As the massive ship generated buoyancy, a gentle wind swept through the surroundings. Dust scattered in all directions like debris blown about by helicopter rotors, and the vessel rose mysteriously into the air.
Yet there was one who gazed up at the departing ship with such longing—none other than Vera Argent, the Celestial who should have boarded it alongside the others.
“Wait, Captain——?”
“Complete the modifications and use the beacon when you’re done. I’ll come retrieve you. Put as much effort into the improvements as you’ve put into your mistakes.”
Vera’s voice trembled with a mixture of sorrow at being left behind, and Ines responded matter-of-factly. In her distant voice, I detected a faint hint of relief, and Vera could only watch helplessly as the Celestial Ship receded into the distance.
With an expression like a dog left at a boarding kennel, Vera suddenly sensed a presence behind her and stiffened, turning her head to find the Dohyun Party watching her.
Vera gasped in surprise, while the Dohyun Party regarded her with puzzlement—a reaction that, to any observer, seemed to reverse the hierarchy between Superior Race and inferior races.
Dohyun, paying no mind to this, looked at Vera and asked.
“How long do modifications typically take?”
“Eek!?”
As Dohyun approached, Vera recoiled in fear at the sight of him—the man who had fought such a terrifying battle—though he paid little attention to her reaction and waited for her answer.
As he waited, Vera soon composed herself and replied.
“Two days.”
“Hmm, in that case, staying here would be rather awkward.”
“Then we should head to the nearest Safe Zone.”
At Dohyun’s words, Hanalin responded accordingly and retrieved a map from her magical pouch, comparing their current location to find a Safe Zone.
Vera watched this and was genuinely astonished, her mouth falling open.
To use a map like that required mana manipulation to operate it. Maps were relatively inexpensive because of this, but nowadays the trend was to use navigation artifacts instead of such maps.
Using a map required a certain level of mana manipulation skill, which wasn’t easy, so after artifacts became widespread, nobody used maps anymore.
There were occasional mentions of using them for training purposes, but to actually see someone using one in practice was rare—like watching someone drive while reading a national road map instead of using a GPS.
“Found it. It’s closer than I expected.”
“Good. Let’s go then.”
At Hanalin’s words, Jiyuchan responded immediately, and Dohyun, as if confirming he’d heard everything, looked at Vera and asked if she was alright.
“Are you okay with this?”
“Yes… I’m fine.”
What else could I do now?
I had no choice but to accept it.
And so we headed toward the nearest Safe Zone, bringing Vera along.
In all my years, I never thought I’d find myself aboard a pirate ship. As Vera pondered this, she wandered through the vessel in a daze, sketching out modification plans with her hands.
Watching this, Dohyun smiled with amusement as he observed Vera.
Then, suddenly.
Dohyun looked at Vera again and tilted his head curiously.
‘Why didn’t she use that?’
He found it strange to think about, when Hanalin suddenly called out that they’d arrived at the Safe Zone.
“We’ve arrived.”
At those words, Dohyun abandoned his thoughts.
He figured he could ask about it later. And so the Dohyun Party and Vera Argent arrived at the new Safe Zone Bamu.
* * *
Safe Zone Bamu.
Perhaps because it was relatively centralized within Region C, the Safe Zone attracted far more inhabitants than one might expect.
Naturally, humans were scarcely visible in such a central district.
While the occasional human did appear, such sightings were exceedingly rare—most of those operating in Bamu had never laid eyes on a human.
But today, that changed.
Three humans wandering through the marketplace was nothing short of a shock to Bamu’s Heterogeneous Beings. Had it been merely that, they might have picked a fight or indulged in racial discrimination, but circumstances prevented such behavior now.
A Celestial walked quietly behind those humans.
“Is that… a Celestial actually following those humans?”
“What is that?”
“Even if Celestials are gentle, is this really…right?”
“I’ve lived a long time, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”
“Tell me about it.”
Though there were plenty of ruffians who would normally try to start trouble with incoming humans, the sight of Vera, a Celestial, sent them fleeing with their tails between their legs.
Even without Vera, they would have certainly been thoroughly beaten and driven away by Dohyun, but since he wasn’t expending any effort, he found himself quite satisfied. And he wasn’t the only one pleased.
“This is remarkably convenient.”
“Absolutely.”
“Shouldn’t we recruit a Superior Race member into our Party?”
At Jiyuchan’s final remark, Vera flinched, but Dohyun chuckled and replied without concern.
“To form a Party with someone from another dimension, we’d need to establish an inter-dimensional peace treaty. Does that sound realistic?”
“Hmm, fair point.”
Jiyuchan nodded in agreement with Dohyun’s words. Given how difficult inter-dimensional peace treaties were, such a reaction was perfectly reasonable.
An inter-dimensional peace treaty was literally what it sounded like, and to date, no race had ever established one with humanity.
Why?
The moment a peace treaty was signed, that dimension’s allies would be obligated to come to its aid in times of crisis—there was no way anyone would agree to a peace treaty without compensation.
For that reason, establishing a peace treaty merely to recruit a new Party member was realistically impossible.
Though Vera understood this, she exhaled with relief, grateful for the outcome.
“Phew.”
“Well then, shall we rest a bit before beginning the modifications?”
“Oh, yes! Bamu is a Safe Zone with a shipyard, so it’s possible!”
“Excellent. Then I’ll get to see that technique of yours. Let’s have a meal first.”
“Yes, of course!”
As Vera answered enthusiastically and turned to follow Dohyun toward the Dining Hall.
Vera suddenly sensed something amiss.
‘Wait… how did he know about my technique?’
That technique was famous among Celestials, something Vera had never mentioned, yet Dohyun had brought it up first—her expression grew puzzled.
Then, a thought occurred to her.
‘The Captain must have told him.’
With that innocent conclusion, she followed the Dohyun Party toward the Dining Hall.
Unaware of what fate awaited her.
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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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