Stigma’s magic power didn’t last long separated from my body. The same applied to any other form of magic power. People could instantly materialize magic power, but it usually disappeared within 10 minutes unless they provided a constant supply to maintain its form.

[You have obtained a new skill, Normal Skill Acquisition Scroll – Lv.0 Extraction and Permanent Materialization].

However, this skill made condensing magic power and materializing it possible. Mana crystals, which usually took a long time to create, could instantly be made. The skill was still low level, but it should be possible.

[You have activated Extraction and Permanent Materialization].

I used the skill on stigma. First, I extracted it, which felt like my arm would tear off, but I clenched my teeth and endured. Stigma’s magic power faintly glimmered from my arm and the skill forced it into a certain shape. Meanwhile, the pain grew more intense and spread to my shoulder and head. It felt like being trampled by dozens of horses.

“Kuuak…”

Suddenly, the pain stopped and a crystal rested on my palm when I opened my eyes. The unrefined crystal looked rocky like an uncut gem. Additionally, it gave off a white glow rather than a blue one. I checked its description.

[Lv.2 Pure Origin Mana Crystal] Lv.2 ???, Lv.2 ???

Its effects remained mysterious despite its grand name. However, I felt like I knew how to use it.

[The chief administrator is observing you with interest.]

I received a rather interesting alert. The Chief Administrator was the existence that oversaw every floor. I smiled and turned on my smartwatch. Then I typed in my desired effects to replace the question marks.

[Lv.2 Pure Origin Mana Crystal] Lv.2 Permanent Strength Increase Upon Consumption, Lv.2 Permanent Speed Increase Upon Consumption

As expected, it required zero SP and functioned like a blank check. I put one in my mouth without hesitation.

[Consuming an origin mana crystal has increased your strength by 0.05 points.] [Consuming an origin mana crystal has increased your speed by 0.05 points.]

It went up by quite a lot since my stats were still in the 2 point range. I should gain about 0.01 points in the outside world with 0.05 points in the tower.

“Great.”

It could be worthily called a cheat skill. However, my body ached and I felt drowsy. It didn’t specifically limit me in any way, but once a day was unquestionably my limit. I thought about jumping into bed until I recalled the egg.

“When are you going to hatch?”

Muninn’s egg showed no signs of hatching. Rub, rub— I rubbed its shiny surface to scare it.

“If you won’t hatch, I’ll extract your power and absorb it all. I’ll fry you!”

However, the egg showed no signs of change. I placed it down and stored my bed in my inventory since the egg only needed a blanket to hatch.

“Hyung’s leaving now.”

I left the waiting room after saying goodbye. I invested quite a lot into making my waiting room hospitable, but sleeping in Prestige’s hideout provided more advantages. Plus, I preferred to have some company.

“Auu, I’m so tired.”

I trudged back to the Chameleon Troupe’s hideout.

“Oh, Hajin! You’re back.”

The 3 Chameleon Troupe members grilled some meat at 11 P.M.

“Come eat.”

Cheok Jungyeong gestured with his index finger while Boss silently stared at me.

“Ah, it’s okay. I’m too tired.”

I took out my bed from my inventory as Jain and Boss’ eyes widened.

“Oh, where’d you get that bed?”

“I brought it from my waiting room.”

[Lv.3 Comfy Bed] Lv.3 Recovery: Will fully restore your vitality in 6 hours. Lv.3 Comfort: Will clear your mind.

I couldn’t hold back my drowsiness and lay on my Lv.3 bed. Boss and Jain looked on with envy, but I didn’t intend on giving up my bed today. I closed my eyes, hoping the fatigue from extraction and permanent materialization would disappear.

***

A perilous land with fragments falling from the sky. The world was dark with no hope or light, only death. There, I resented my birth and rejected my existence.

My parents regretted giving birth to me. They called me a curse, the origin of evil, and decided to kill me, so I killed them to survive. I cut down the very person who gave birth to me and slashed the neck of the person who used to hold me. I died that day along with my parents and became reborn.

That was my childhood and the world I lived in. I felt happy to have parents, even though they hated me, and I felt happy to have a home. However, everything disappeared after I killed them.

I wandered in the void and occasionally met people who made me smile. However, they all turned out to be schemers who wanted to use me. I killed more and more after being tricked by their smiles. Soon, the snakes began to fear me and I killed the snakes that tried to bite back. Then I met a certain man while living in this perpetual cycle. We had no reason to be together. However, he treated me honestly and told me to do what I wanted, that he would become my new fence if I wanted. I agreed, and that was when the real killing began. I never resented anyone. I simply existed to kill.

“…!”

My eyes shot open as something beated in my chest. Scenes of the past crumbled away and reality reappeared before me. I was drenched in sweat as my body trembled.

“Haa…”

Was it because I wasn’t sleeping in my special bed? I ended up having a nightmare I haven’t had for a long time. This was why I hated sleeping. My past always crept up, but the me in my dream was always too young to fight back.

“Huu…”

Using magic power, I controlled my blood circulation and calmed my body. However, I still couldn’t understand something and opened my system log. It had recorded Kim Hajin’s inner thoughts towards me and I couldn’t comprehend them.

[Longing] [Responsibility] [Affection] [Sadness Towards Your Past] [Trust] [Desire to Look After You]

Such embarrassing emotions didn’t concern me except for the sadness towards my past.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. Rage rose from the bottom of my heart as my fingernails dug into my skin.

“How laughable.”

What do you know about me? Just what do you know to have such thoughts? Did you secretly investigate my past? My stomach churned. Something deep inside my subconscious squirmed and an uncontrollable hostility grew. I got up from my bed and moved according to my emotions. Then I stopped in front of his bed and looked down at him.

“…”

I wanted to ask: What have you found out about me during the past 3 years? What is your purpose for being with me? In the end, are you also one of them? Black magic power ignited from my hands and my shadow spread out towards him. I had to kill him before he betrayed me. I had to kill anyone suspicious.

“…”

However, my hands refused to move. The past 3 years flashed before my eyes. His inner emotions also included affection and longing. How was I supposed to interpret that? As I contemplated…

“Yaawn.”

He tossed and turned. Immediately, my magic power flickered away and I took a few steps back.

“Hmm?”

Soon, he raised his upper body after blankly staring at the ceiling.

“Boss?” He called my name as his drowsy eyes met mine.

“…”

My body froze from his gaze. Gulp— I wanted to ask him so many questions. Where his emotions came from? Whether I could trust him and why he stayed with me. However, what came out of my mouth was…

“I’m… hungry.”

Stupid words. For a moment, he looked at me in a daze before bursting into laughter.

“Pft, at this hour? Ah… well, I guess you did a lot today.”

He jumped out of bed and headed to the kitchen.

“I’ll make you something special.”

He turned on the lights. Tak, tak, tak, tak. The sound of cutting vegetables and meat resounded. Tzzzzz. Then he turned on the burner and poured the ingredients onto the frying pan. I stood behind him and simply watched him cook.

***

The next day, Chae Nayun raised her sore body in the [Lv.0 Essence of the Strait’s Hideout]. All the guild members had woken up early and made their beds already.

“Mmm.”

Chae Nayun sat on the ground after her morning stretch. Then she took out her frying pan, burner, salt, and boar meat.

“Nayun, Nayun, my favorite Nayun.”

Yi Jiyoon snuggled up to her and happily giggled while the other guild members walked on eggshells around her.

“What’s everyone doing?”

She called them over like she always did as she grilled the meat.

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Y-Yeah, we, we will…”

Only then did they approach one by one.

“Cough, we’re really lucky to have you, Nayun.”

“I agree. What a godsend.”

Almost 2 weeks had passed since they came to the 3rd floor. Essence of the Strait’s guild members could only rely on Chae Nayun’s food.

“Cough, everyone, before eating…”

Kim Youngjin, the chief officer of the tower subjugation team, gathered their attention.

“Essence of Strait could only advance thanks to Chae Nayun, so let us each give her a word of grati—”

“Don’t need it.”

Chae Nayun didn’t have any opinion on the matter. She no longer expected anything from anyone and thus had no disappointments. Kim Youngjin had already acknowledged his mistake and apologized to her. She knew how difficult that was for a high-intermediate rank hero.

“O-Oh, okay. Ah, you can give me the tongs. I’ll grill for you.”

“Okay.’

She didn’t reject his offer. Chae Nayun left the cooking to Kim Youngjin and opened her messenger.

[Thanks again, hyung. Your advice saved us.] [Oh right, do you want to meet up sometime?]

“Is he busy?”

Two days had passed since she messaged Extra7, but he hadn’t replied. She only received messages from Shin Jonghak.

YoungFly: Where are you? Let’s hunt together if you have time.

Me: Do it with your guildmates.

YoungFly: I’m too strong for them.

Chae Nayun simply ignored him.

“Right, Nayun, are you going to buy that longsword?”

“Longsword?”

“Yeah, the Lv.3 longsword that’s being sold in the shop outside the inner wall.”

“Oh…”

Players called it the [Brother and Sister Shop]. A longsword perfectly suited Chae Nayun.

“I don’t know. I already have the red crystal spear.”

Without saying much, Chae Nayun secretly touched her left shoulder. Immediately, she felt a burning pain from the injury she received while fighting a Lv.3 banshee four days ago. She initially thought the injury would heal over time, but the pain only grew worse until she couldn’t even properly wield a two-handed weapon.

“…”

Chae Nayun examined her injury on the system window.

[Lv.2 Curse of the Vengeful Spirit]

The curse had only been Lv.1 yesterday. As expected, it grew stronger over time. Still, Chae Nayun pretended to be fine and asked Yi Jiyoon.

“Jiyoon, you still can’t use healing factor?”

“Eh? Oh, yeah. I still don’t have enough magic power. Why? Are you hurt somewhere?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Pshhhu! A strange alarm suddenly rang and a holographic window popped up in the air. Medea appeared on the screen.

“Oh, it’s Medea.”

The male members put down their chopsticks in front of the 3rd floor administrator.

[Hello, players. I’m Medea, it’s been a while. I’m here to give you all a new goal.]

Tada— Medea snapped her fingers and a thick spire appeared on the screen.

[This is a demon spire. One is located in each of the four cardinal directions. You may think of them as control towers.] [I will reward the player or group that destroys one of these with 5000 TP.] [Each player’s damage contribution will also be estimated and players with the highest contribution points will receive special rewards.] [It’s no fun telling you what they are in advance, but…]

Tada— Medea snapped her fingers again. This time, 3 windows with different items popped up.

[Special Skill Acquisition Book – Lv.1 Lightning of Thor] [Artifact – High-intermediate] [Special Skill Acquisition Book – Lv.2 Wind of Odyssey] [Artifact – Low-intermediate] [Trait Recovery Coupon]

“Oh!”

Everyone’s eyes lit up. They had only heard about the so-called skill books in the community. Not to mention, these were special skill books rather than the basic ones.

“H-Hey, aren’t those like… really good?”

Chae Nayun felt especially agitated. Her injury made her more impatient.

“Calm down, everyone. We should carefully formulate our plans first.”

Kim Youngjin gathered the members for a meeting.

***

I left the city and entered the field as soon as I saw Medea’s announcement. I brought along a handmade bow and 20 arrows. Three skeletons appeared after I walked through the dark monster field for a bit. Then I nocked 3 arrows onto my bow. Chweeek— The arrows quickly pierced their heads.

— Wow, who’s that?

— That was a good shot.

— Where did he get that bow? It looks like it’s high level.

— Should we ask him?

My performance caught the attention of a few other players in the area. I ignored their murmuring and approached the skeletons. Then I placed my hand above them and used my skill.

[You have activated Extraction and Permanent Materialization.]

The lifeless skeletons transformed into dust. However, the dust didn’t scatter away and coalesced into a crystal.

[Lv.0 Skeleton Soul] Lv.0 Vengeful Spirit

At first glance, the crystal seemed useless with only a vengeful spirit. However, I could use them as grenades to blow up the demon spires after collecting them and using synthesis. I made my way back after killing the skeletons. Tap, tap. Someone suddenly tapped on my shoulder.

“Um… you’re a player, right?”

I turned towards the voice and inwardly jumped. The white-haired Aileen stood in front of me. She looked a lot skinnier since the last time I saw her, but her unique confidence remained. As expected of a Temple of Justice hero, Aileen had survived just fine. Why was she here though? Did she recognize me? No, that was unlikely. I still wore a hood, but my equipment had completely changed since the tutorial.

“I saw you doing something just now. Is that the dismantling technique?”

Thankfully, it seemed she misunderstood my extraction skill for dismantling.

“Dismantling technique?” I changed my voice and spoke.

“Yep.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Ah, well, I have food, but I don’t know how to dismantle it.”

“Oh?”

She was asking a stranger to do it for her? Should I consider her too nice or naïve? No, she would kill anyone who tried to scam her.

“You can have some if you help me!”

I suddenly received a message.

PhantomThief: Hajin, I see you. You’re with Aileen, right? Keep her there and catch her attention. I’m going to try the snatch skill I just learned.

The basic snatch skill could steal items or TP from inventories.

“How about it? It doesn’t hurt to use it, right?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

I peeked over her shoulders as I spoke. I could see a woman waving excitedly from the distance.

“Sure, I’ll do it.”

“Really? What level is your dismantling technique?”

“... 3.”

“Reaaally? Nice! So that’s why those skeletons instantly disappeared.”

Aileen brightly smiled and tapped on the air a few times before pulling out a giant boar from her inventory. It wasn’t rotten, but it wasn’t fresh either. It would surely rot if I didn’t dismantle it soon.

“Big, isn’t it? I’ll give you a fifth… no, a fourth.”

“…”

I nodded silently. Meanwhile, Jain sneaked up on Aileen. I suspected the following was happening to Aileen’s pockets: -10 TP, -20 TP, -10 TP, -20 TP…

“Hmm…” I examined the boar.

“W-Why? Is it too big?” Aileen stared at me with worry.

“No, it should be doable. Dismantle.”

I used dismantle after Jain finished and backed away. The giant boar instantly split into meat and leather. It appeared cleanly cut with my high level dismantling.

“Uwoah!”

Aileen’s eyes widened in surprise. I quickly messaged Jain while Aileen gawked at the boar meat.

Me: How much did you steal?

PhantomThief: Lol 989 TP. I took it all. Hahaha the kid sure had a lot, but they’re all mine now.

I scratched my neck and looked at Aileen.

“Uwoah, look at all these!”

She placed the meat in her inventory with her tiny hands, unaware she just lost all her money. She seemed happy like she just won the lottery. I felt a bit sorry, but the food should last her 2 weeks. She could sell them to other hungry players, so I didn’t feel too bad. I left Aileen behind and walked towards the undead cave I came to visit.

“Ah, you should take your portion!”

Aileen shouted. However, I responded without looking back.

“You can have it.”

Aileen would be a formidable competitor in Medea’s quest. I ended up giving her food in exchange for taking her money, but I wasn’t sure if that would slow her down. Well, I just had to get first place.