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Hey readers! Just a heads up: this upcoming chapter is the last one following our old Daily Release Schedule. Beginning next week, you can look forward to three new chapters each week, dropping on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I truly hope you're enjoying the journey! Your comments are always welcome, and if you have a moment, leaving a review would mean a lot.
Thank you!
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'Rules are made to be broken, I guess.'
Vio couldn't help but think this way when he left the village.
Shama was incredibly kind, so innocent that it was almost shocking. She gave him everything she knew without hesitation, without even considering whether he needed it or not. Proof of that? She had given him the location where might find the door that opened with the Demon's Key, Zaves.
Vio's goal was clear: escape the mountain. Because of that, he didn't care much for side matters. He hadn't planned to go to the area since it was far from his escape route, but after what happened yesterday, suddenly found himself close to it. So, he thought, Why not? Since it was isolated, assumed there wouldn't be many soldiers around. And he was right.
Only one or two soldiers were in sight, both relaxed and uninterested in chasing down a 'rat.' Killing them will lead to the inability to hide their bodies, which might expose his location. So, he decided not to draw attention to just two points.
Moving between the trees, careful not to leave footprints in the snow, he leaped from place to place while checking the system messages. The data analysis had finally been completed. A surge of joy rushed through him at being able to reconnect with the system, but he wasn't the type to show emotions easily. Not because he tried to suppress them, but because he simply wasn't aware they existed in the first place.
[Data analysis completed.]
[Displaying results…]
[External audio data: None.]
[Internal audio data: The following has been found.]
[First: Awaiting orders.]
[Second: Executing orders.]
Vio wanted to stop and examine the information more closely, but no time to waste. So split his focus.
'Orders? Why didn't I think of that before?!'
His current body had once been a robot, which meant it must have had a creator. The existence of 'orders' suggested that whoever built him was the one who sent him to the mountain. But why?
'Is there no information about it?'
[None.]
[Visual data: Divided into several parts, displayed in the following order…]
'Oh…'
For a moment, Vio recalled how, when first stepped out of the tent, been moving according to the system's guidance.
[Dark environment.]
[System's estimation: Hero's dormant phase.]
[A dimly lit metallic glass environment.]
[System's estimation: Underground laboratory.]
'Could be the base?'
[Correct.]
The base… The place the system had mentioned at the beginning, was where the CyborgHeart's power source was located.
[High-temperature environment, uneven and complex terrain.]
[System's estimation: Desert.]
'A desert? Are you joking me?!'
[The system does not joke.]
Since opening his eyes, all he had seen was snow, making him believe that the world of Alam was nothing but ice.
'Man, anything but this cursed cold! I've had enough of it.'
[High-noise environment, densely populated, mixed races.]
[System's estimation…]
'Wait, wait, let me guess… Ah… a market!'
[Does the hero wish to disable system estimations?]
'Man, I was just playing along! Fine, continue.'
It seemed the system didn't appreciate interruptions.
[System's estimation: Market, city, gathering place.]
'That's exactly what I said.'
[High-humidity environment, frequent rainfall, dense vegetation.]
[System's estimation: Forest.]
The images continued until they reached the present moment… the mountain.
'And…?'
[End of report.]
'Are you kidding me? That was 40MB of data!'
[External Data: 40/100 MB.]
[Most of it consists of video recordings of the hero's movements.]
Vio sighed. His struggles wouldn't end just by leaving the mountain.
'But at least they'll lessen. That's for sure.'
The moment he caught sight of the village in the distance, a familiar buzzing sound echoed.
[Village discovered.]
[Map updated.]
[Evaluation completed: 176%.]
Decided not to open any loot chests until found a safe place. Slipping into the village, found no soldiers around. Naturally, the first thing he did was obvious.
['Eye' unlocked.]
[Map updated.]
[Evaluation completed: 276%.]
Standing atop a high pillar, he examined the mountain map and the area Shama had pointed out. She didn't know the exact location of the Demon's Key, but it was enough to determine a starting point.
'System, a narcissist who sees the world revolving only around himself. His life can be summed up in three words: Me, then Me, and Me again. Based on these cursed traits, scan the entire area and give me the most likely locations he would choose as a secret hideout. Consider that it should be both hidden and visible at the same time—far enough to be unnoticed but also easy to reach for someone who knows the way.'
As soon as the Eye activated, the fog on the map cleared, revealing detailed three-dimensional terrain. The system began calculating probabilities…
[Analyzing…]
While the system was busy, Vio summoned the two loot chests.
[Evaluation completed: 76%.]
At first, he expected the chests to drop to the ground, but instead, they floated in midair as if adapting to the environment around him.
Ordered one to open, hoping to get an Eye Transfer item—recent events had shown him just how useful it could be.
The moment the chest opened, a faceless figure emerged.
[Training session obtained.]
[20,000XP obtained.]
'Ah… again?'
He enjoyed gaining new skills but hated the feeling that came with them—when his body moved against his will. Closed his eyes for a moment, and when opened them again, he found himself in a white room without a visible ceiling or floor. Beside him stood a faceless figure, but this time, there were many others ahead of him. The place seemed crowded.
'What now?'
The main figure moved through the crowd, and Vio followed against his will. As they navigated between crowds, found himself and the faceless figure slipping their hands into the clothes of others, repeating the action over and over—standing, bending, moving seamlessly.
Before fully grasping what was happening, the session ended. Vio stared at the system with wide eyes.
[Skill 'Light Fingers' obtained.]
[Skill]
Light Fingers - Level 10
+10% success rate when the hero pickpocketing items from people's clothing.
'Hypocrite! You keep calling me 'hero,' yet you're teaching me how to steal!'
[The hero must do what must be done.]
'And what's this, level 10?! Are you serious?'
His frustration wasn't because of the nature of the skill but because it was only level 10. He had lived on the streets for a long time, learned the art of pickpocketing from the old man, and considered himself a master at it. So how could his level be this low?
But after thinking about it for a moment, he realized that the people in this world weren't simple. He might need the system's boost.
'Open.'
[Blueprint obtained: 'Furnace Blade.']
[120,000XP obtained.]
[Furnace Blade]
Short thermal sword
Damage: 50
Energy type: Thermal energy
Durability: 100
He didn't even bother looking at the resources required to craft it. There was something else needed to confirm first.
'System, I want to save this blueprint in external data.'
The blueprint unfolded, revealing a set of precisely drawn technical diagrams.
[The hero requires a scanning device. Please obtain 'The Unseen Eye That Sees All.']
"Aha!" Vio yelled, unable to hold back.
'Gotcha Bitch!!!'
Something had felt off about how blueprints appeared in a physical form. Now, it was clear—if they could be purchased once and stored in external data, that meant there was no need to repurchase them or even spend resources on them again.
The system didn't respond, too busy with analysis. He waited patiently until it was finished.
[Analysis complete.]
[Map updated. Please check.]