"Who said that?! Show yourself, you coward???"
Langdon spoke suspiciously. A moment later, the voice replied:
"WHOA… SORRY MAN, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SCARE YOU… HAHA! I'm just really excited and happy. I haven't seen anyone in hundreds of years! Relax, I'm not your enemy, seriously! I'm over here in the corner. I've got nothing that can hurt you—in fact, I need your help! I'm on the ground, behind the core."
"I don't believe you. What would someone be doing in this bizarre place unless they were bad? And what do you mean, hundreds of years? Look, I'll go there, but if you try anything, I'll fight back!"
"Come on, man, relax. I'm no threat to anything or anyone in the state I'm in."
Approaching with caution, Langdon moved toward the remnants of the old core. As he looked behind it, he was surprised—aside from a broken sword down to almost the hilt, there was absolutely nothing.
"You've gotta be kidding me, right??? How am I supposed to trust you like this?"
"Calm down, man! I'm down here, look at the sword on the ground! I'm the sword!!!"
"Whoa, how's that possible? Are you some kind of ego sword, like those big shots use? If so, I hit the jackpot… although you do look pretty beat up… Oh crap."
"I'm almost that, haha. I was betrayed in the past, and to avoid death, I sealed my core inside this sword."
Langdon said, clearly disappointed with the situation:
"Oh, crap… Just when I thought I got lucky, I end up with this. What a ridiculous waste of time. I can't help you. How do I know you're not some damn villain who got sealed in here because you deserved it??? And what do I get from freeing you? To start with, I don't even have the means to help you. I'm in a pretty bad state myself."
"Listen, man, I swear I'm not a bad person. But proving that in my current condition is impossible.
Honestly… I just want to get out of here. I can't take being trapped anymore, with no light and no one around.
And to answer your question—what do you get? Rejoice, because I was a Stellar Master at the peak of level nine! I can be your teacher and help you rebuild your body properly. In return, you help me rebuild mine. We both win. So what do you say—shall we make a deal?"
"Hmm… Level nine and you're in this miserable state? Hard to believe… But I'll get you out of here. Be grateful for the benefit of the doubt. Alright, I accept your deal. But what do you mean by rebuild properly? What am I doing wrong???"
"Thank God, and thank you, man. Well, actually, technically you're not doing anything wrong.
It's just that your body won't have the attributes of a naturally living one. That might sound good, but it'll limit your growth. You'll never reach level nine, let alone the legendary level ten or eleven—much less the mythical.
And if you're ever hit with an attack or skill that disables magic, that's it. Game over.
Trust me—I know how to help you recreate a body that's incredibly strong and naturally talented at absorbing mana. You'll progress way faster than even the greatest so-called geniuses out there."
Langdon made a surprised face, which slowly shifted into a slight smirk.
"Alright… alright. But what I don't get is—if you've been here for hundreds of years, how has no one ever heard you or helped you?"
"That's simple: because they can't hear me. You and I don't produce real voices. And unlike you, I can't manipulate mana with just my core.
You can hear me because we're in the same condition. Your thoughts and mine are on similar frequencies—or planes—whatever you want to call it.
You're actually pretty special. Even without my powers, I could only sit here and watch my star dust slowly fade away. A few more centuries and I'd have died.
You showing up here… that was my destined miracle, hehe!"
Hearing this, Langdon picked up the small broken sword from the ground and started heading out of the dungeon. Some time later, already outside, he sat down and placed the sword in front of him for a "face-to-face" talk.
"Alright, explain how exactly I should rebuild my physical body properly."
"Well, it's simple. Keep doing what you're doing, but record the word 'Biomancer' into your core. Then record 'Alchemy' at level two, and you—"
"WAIT! There's a tiny problem! I already have an ability recorded in my core: 'Survive'. It's what kept me alive—I recorded it subconsciously. That doesn't invalidate your method, does it?"
"That's a setback… but no! It doesn't invalidate it. Just do what I said—record 'Biomancer' at level two, and also 'Alchemy'. Since two abilities can be engraved at level two, that'll work.
When you reach level three, we'll figure out the best skill to complement the ones you already have.
Until then, train with dedication.
Now I have a question for you—where are you headed, and what do you plan to do?"
"Well… I have a niece who's gone missing. She's all I have left in this world—my only family.
I'm looking for her. But to do that, I need a body. Then I can track down those bastards who took her.
For now, I'm going to the Monster Nation. Over there, I won't be discriminated against. I'll be able to take quests from the guild, earn money, buy high-quality cores and gear—makes cultivation easier."
"Man, that's rough. I'm really sorry that happened to you. I'm sure your niece is okay, and you will find her.
It's just… your plan is kind of vague.
Well… the Monster Nation existed even in my time. Back then, it was basically just a rural village, haha.
I think settling there is a good idea. But how about checking out another place first? Deeper into this forest, you'll find what remains of my old organization's base. I'm sure something survived there.
If we go, we can prepare better for the journey. Sound good?"
"Alright, but first, let's introduce ourselves properly. Nice to meet you. I'm Langdon Boreas, former librarian of the city of Urabel. And you?"
"Nice to meet you, Langdon. I'm Ewan of the Crimson Rain, former
level nine specialist… and someone from another world: planet Earth."