NOVGO.NET Chapter 32: Back to them
Chapter 32: Back to them
[Stats:
Strength: E
Speed: E+
Endurance: E
Intelligence: E+
Mana: D-]
Kai stared at the screen in silence.
As he thought, he was stronger than an F-rank thanks to all those knights he fought. And that fact was known by the last knight too. That Kai was physically stronger than it.
That’s why, it was trying to attack him psychologically or ambush him not directly. It was taunting him, triggering his pride so Kai end up making a mistake. However, Kai’s patience paid off and now, he stood there, before the corpse of all fifty knights.
[Congratulations, host. You have cleared the first stage!]
[Congratulations, host. You have successfully broken through your rank. Now, you are officially E-rank.]
[Calculating the number of knights slain...]
[Reward: 120 SP]
[Task: Conquer the first stage]
[Reward: 500SP
Recovery Potion x3
Knight Card Acquired]
[Current Points after deduction: 560 SP]
Kai was quite tired to focus on the third one so he asked, "Can I ask about what I could buy from the shop?"
[Indeed, host.]
[There are three sections of the shop]
[>Weapon
>Potion
>Cards]
Another term he couldn’t understand, so he finally asked, "What is this card anyway?"
[A card allows the host to adapt to another class or species’ physicality or abilities for a short duration.]
[The Knight Card the host acquired would provide metal armour that enhances the host’s endurance without restricting his movements. Additionally, it would grant the host a sword of will that...]
"I understand. For now, help me recover first." Kai interrupted, as he really wasn’t in the right state of mind to comprehend much at the moment.
[Upon completion of the stage, the host will undergo complete recovery upon stepping out of the ruins.]
[The exit is behind the host.]
Kai turned around and found a door there, almost identical to the cubicle he had stepped through earlier.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and crossed through it.
"Ah..."
A warm sensation suddenly washed over him. It felt as though his body had been restored to the exact state it had been in when he entered the ruins.
He looked down at his injuries. Forget the cuts and slashes covering his skin, even his clothes had been repaired. His breathing was much steadier, and the fog clouding his mind had largely cleared.
The mental fatigue, however, remained.
’My head is heavy.’
[The host has experienced such prolonged combat for the first time. While the effect healed the host’s body and restored all physical damage, what the host experienced within the ruins remains.]
[The host will return to normal after a good night’s sleep.]
Kai nodded in assent.
That’s right. He needed sleep.
He didn’t linger there for long. It was already midnight, so he hurried back home.
Standing outside, he took out his key and carefully inserted it into the lock.
Slowly twisting it, he unlocked the door and pushed it open, taking every precaution to keep himself from making a sound
However, the stillness of the surroundings helped very little in suppressing the faint screech of the hinges. He inwardly cursed himself for not lubricating them before.
However, the moment he stepped inside, he realized his caution had been unnecessary.
He froze at the doorstep, shocked by the sight before him.
The mother and child were sitting there, both wide awake.
His first thought was, "Did something happen to Elli?"
He immediately reached out, and the baby girl enthusiastically flailed her arms, eager to be taken into his embrace.
Kai hugged her, slightly relieved when he saw the smile on her face.
Jean assured him, "No, she’s fine. She just woke up. Well, I thought this might happen, given how early she fell asleep."
Kai looked at his daughter and saw that she was happier than ever.
He smiled as well before turning to Jean. "Did she wake you up?"
Jean briefly lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes as she muttered, "I... never went to sleep. I was waiting for you."
Kai was taken aback, though a part of him couldn’t help but feel happy.
He lowered himself across from her and asked, "But I told you I would be late. Why did you stay awake...?" After a brief pause, he added, "...Were you worried again that I might run away?"
Jean immediately shook her head, clearing up the misunderstanding. "Nothing like that... Haah, well, I just had a feeling you were going to do something dangerous. You never told me anything, but I couldn’t shake that feeling. It wouldn’t let me sleep."
Kai simply stared into her eyes. There was a hint of frustration in her expression, but far more concern.
Faced with such sincere worry, he couldn’t bring himself to tease her.
In a soft voice, he muttered, "I’m sorry... for worrying you."
Jean shook her head. "No, it’s okay. I understand you can’t tell me everything... but please, try to be safe wherever you are."
"Mm. Heard you," Kai replied with a soft nod.
After that, a comfortable silence settled between them.
...only for it to be broken soon.
Grrr.
A low growl came from the little one’s stomach.
Jean and Kai exchanged a glance before breaking into smiles.
"I’ll prepare some formula milk," Jean said as she got up.
"I’ll keep her company until then," Kai said, leaning against the bed frame and letting his daughter occupy herself with the buttons of his shirt, seemingly determined to find out just how strong they were.
The quiet warmth of the confined space settled around him as he looked at the two people before him. This was the true reward, one he could never get enough of.