Rufus noticed that the people in front of him were wearing formal clothes instead of the Arcanist Robe from the Tower.

He glanced at them for a bit and realized that they are wearing an emblem of a burning sword on their chest…

​​

'The Sun Fire Knights!'

The young man relaxed his body and appeared natural. However, he was trying to gauge the strength of these people in front of him.

Although it was only for a brief moment, he realized that the three young Arcanists in their group were at least at a similar level with Lexi in terms of Spiritual Energy…

'Master… They're from the Sun Fire Knights… I think that the three of them will be the ones fighting against us…'

Rufus reminded Reiji as the Arcana may not recognize the emblem they are wearing…

However, his master was only silent as if he didn't hear him.

The young man continued walking and forgot about the knights… He would just ask his friends about the reason they came this early and perhaps learn a lot more about them.

As soon as he entered the Tower, he was immediately called by the officers and even Sir Kael himself.

It seems to be related to the appearance of the knights here…

'Master… would you like to join me?'

'Mhmm… I'll be doing something important. Bring the Elite Gram Sword for now if you needed a weapon.'

'I understand, Master…'

Ruthren then took the shinai as they headed to Rufus's room. The reason he separated from the young man was for him to complete his Rank Up Quest.

After all, Rufus should be safe within this tower so he didn't have to worry. In case there is something important, the young man will definitely share the information with him.

***

Reiji and his slave entered the young man's room…

'Get the four Rare Rank Arcana and that Unique Rank on that table…'

'Yes, Master…'

Ruthren immediately acted as he placed the two Rare Arcana that he brought from the old mansion…

It is a helmet and shield Arcana that the Mind Collection was keeping within their treasury.

Then, the slave looked around the pile of objects that he brought from their previous hideout when he was still a bandit…

Although the items they were looking for have very low durability already, it doesn't matter to Reiji as they will be sacrificed anyway…

Finally, Ruthren found a Rare-Rank Bottle and Knife Arcana… They are in terrible condition since the bandits didn't take care of it. On the other hand, the Unique Rank Arcana they have was a black and grimy Cloak…

'A complete set… I can now advance!'

'Master… Is there anything else I should do?'

Ruthren proactively asked since he felt that the Sentient Arcana was planning something.

'Yes… Guard this room outside. Don't let anyone enter until I told you to do so…'

'I understand, Master.'

The man didn't ask any more questions and brought a wooden sword with him.

'Hey… I don't think that you'll need that…'

'Master?'

'Nevermind… Go ahead…'

Reiji thought that there wouldn't be anyone who would rush into Rufus's room… so he felt that bringing a sword to guard outside was a bit too much. After all, they are within the protected Arcanist Tower and not anywhere else!

However, he doesn't know what kind of phenomena would happen if he advanced his rank to a Unique Rank… It might be different from advancing to Rare Rank so, in the end, he let the man do his job.

As soon as the door was closed, he no longer hesitated and proceeded with the ritual…

The shinai floated gently and tapped the first Rare-Rank Arcana and communicated with the Deity…

"Albeiron, the Sword Deity, please accept my offering!"

Reiji voiced out with sincerity.

As expected, the Arcana was covered by a green light that represents its rank before it vanished together with the item.

[ Rank Up Quest Progress ]

[ Rare Rank: 1/4 ]

[ Unique Rank: 0/1 ]

Reiji stopped for a moment and confirmed that it was successful after the Guide notified him…

"Great… Let's continue…"

He continues the ritual for his advancement but he suddenly heard a commotion happening outside the room…

He heard someone talking to Ruthren…

"We are sent here by the Administrator to check the room! You can't stop us!" An unfamiliar voice came from the outside.

"I'm sorry… I was told not to let anyone in. You have to speak with Sir Rufus if you want to enter." The slave answered as he didn't forget his status within the Tower.

"We still have the right to check anything dangerous within the Tower. This is the instruction of the Administrator! Step aside or you'll be punished!" A man aggressively said and if Ruthren was still hardheaded, they might truly punish the man at this rate.

Reiji heard everything and frowned at this point. Even if they could sense the changes happening here, aren't they a bit too fast?

Nevertheless, the Administrator they referring to is the problematic Chalice. A Cursed Arcana acting like a normal Sentient Arcana according to the Mind Collection.

Rory told him that the Chalice wouldn't normally act against other Arcana unless his position was being threatened or the Tower is under a security threat…

'Tsk! I thought that with Albeiron's ability, my ritual wouldn't be detected… Haa~ I was too hasty and didn't consider much about this…'

Reiji mused after realizing that his advancement process was somehow detected by another Arcana.

He could somehow guess that the Chalice was probably a Cursed Arcana with Deity's protection or it was just too powerful since it has full authority within the Arcanist Tower and nothing would escape from him…

Finally, Rory had also warned Reiji before that Fern's current status of being stuck in a stone was most likely done by this Chalice…

Although it was only speculation, it was highly likely as there weren't many who can fight against a Blessed of the Sword Deity.

Reiji sighed as he glanced at his progress…

[ Rank Up Quest Progress ]

[ Rare Rank: 4/4 ]

[ Unique Rank: 0/1 ]

He was almost done but he probably has to pause this for now.

He just needs to sacrifice the last Arcana later to start his advancements.

'Tsk…'

Reiji was planning to instruct Ruthren and allow them to search this place but he suddenly heard a voice in his mind…

'Hey! Are you trying to communicate with a Deity inside this Tower! That Mystical Energy was too strong! Haha… You have some guts!'

It was Odette's voice, the Arcana owned by Yui Sakura.

'Mhmm? Is there a problem with that?' He was no longer surprised that it could communicate with him…

'Yes… Did you really communicate with a Deity? I'm just guessing since the energy seemed to be too sharp… The Tower is very sensitive to the presence of this Mystical Energy, so you have to be careful whenever you try communicating with your Deity.'

The voice explained.

'Mystical Energy is being used to communicate with a Deity?'

'Yes! We are using that energy. I also made a mistake before so I'm always doing something before I communicate with the Deity that has blessed me… Of course, it would be a different topic if the Deity itself was the one who established a connection. As there would be no way for any technology in this world to detect something like that…'

Odette explained to him but the latter has different thoughts…

'I didn't know I could communicate with a Deity?'

It feels like the term "communicate" has different meanings in this conversation.

Anyway, what's important is that he has to do something about the guards outside.

'Yui and I are on the way. We'll talk to the guards to just continue your important matters…'

'Is that so?'

'Yes! Trust me! I know you are doing this to ensure that we'll safely complete our mission later to steal the Cursed Mask! So we are willing to help!'

'Eh? Not really… But… Yeah, thanks!'

Reiji appreciated their help as he focused on his advancement.

"Albeiron, the Sword Deity, accept my offering!"

This time, instead of green light, a blue light covered the Arcana representing the color of a Unique Rank.

[ Congratulations! You can now advance to Unique-Rank! ]

[ Would you like to start your advancement now? ]

"Yes! Please, be fast!"

[ Commence Advancement ]

Reiji then observed the progress bar similar to before.

[ Advancement Progress: 30%... 42%... 52%... ]

I seemed to be slower than before but he can't complain about it.

He can no longer hear anything that is happening outside as he let his advancement continue…

He forgot how much time has passed but as soon as the progress reached 100%... He felt like he was floating as he was covered by a blue light!

He did it!

He was then bombarded by notification coming from the Guide.

[ Rank Up Quest – Completed ]

[ You have offered a total of Five Arcana to the Sword Deity, Albeiron. ]

[ You have received a new rank – Unique ]

[ You have received a Title. ]

[ You have received a Free Skill. ]

[ You have received 1000 Skill Points. ]