Chapter 30

A young man with long, black hair, stood in a room of stone brick.

Of course, it was Jae.

It's been a long time since Jae began experimenting. How long, exactly, he isn't sure. But at the very least, it was long enough for his Age to increase to '22 Years'.

Specifically, about 20~21 months had passed, more or less.

Well, it's not like he was in a hurry; time should flow slower here.

During this time though, his body developed, just like it had done within the Pride Dungeon. As such, his hair grew to quite a length, too. Previously, in the Pride Dungeon, Aphy had cut Jae's hair before it grew to such lengths, but here he was just too immersed in his own research to care about it.

Thus, it inevitably grew long, and of course, since Jae kept up his routine of working out, his body was also physically at its peak.

So, what exactly was he doing all this time?

"One hit again..."

Gazing at the boss―a copy of Sloth's previous Mimic form―which was on the brink of death, Jae sighed.

Well, I should probably make this next time the last. There isn't much point in using something so fragile as a testing dummy, is there.

Placing a hand on the bisected chest, Jae quickly restored the boss to a former, pristine state.

But this Healing Magic sure is useful, huh. I can't heal myself with it, but at least I can use it for other things. Rena, too, when I revisit the village... That reminds me, actually; I wonder how she's doing?

Again, not too long should've passed in reality, and Jae thought it was fine for him to take advantage of the time difference to experiment, train, and grow.

Anyway. During this time, Jae had learnt, and practised, many things. First of all, was plenty of new skills; the list included things like「Enchanting」,「Great-Sword Mastery」, as well as all kinds of『Support Magic』: stuff like「Healing Magic」,「Buff Magic」and「Debuff Magic」.

The theory for these magics was rather simple after Jae thought about it for a while, but again, perhaps it was because he was already used to the unorthodox approach of what he considers 'real magic', that he was able to quickly apply his knowledge. For example, Buff and Debuff Magic only required him to manipulate either the target's mana directly or the mana surrounding them, influencing their body with the desired effect, i.e. slowness, haste, speed, etc., though this wasn't the only way to induce the effect.

―Learning magic and incorporating ideas and techniques into it is pretty much all instinctual, as Jae was taught.

It took quite some experimenting to exactly get how it all worked, but with plenty of effort, Jae eventually figured it all out. For the most part, anyway.

There were even some shortcuts he discovered; take, for example, increasing the density of the target's mana enough to the point where it slows them down, or conversely, lessening it to increase their speed, though the efficiency of this is incredibly low and it should never really be used.

This method also allowed Jae to figure out how to create a 'Mana Bomb'―an explosion of pure magical energy by overcharging the mana in a concentration. This, also, is very inefficient, however.

Usually, Jae found that physical buffs worked by super-charging the target's muscles themselves with magic energy, and in fact, once he tested it, he discovered that this was exactly what the skill「Power Burst」did, with only a couple of differences in the process. Jae found that using this method increases one's stats somehow. Unfortunately, though, the effects don't stack, so only one will work at a time.

In this way, it was indeed confirmed that most skills should be able to be artificially produced or replicated through certain implementations of magic.

And then, enchanting. In short, this worked by continuously bathing the item in 'magic water'―simply put, water with a high concentration of magic energy present in it. You can also imbue an attribute into the water if you want the item to have a specific attribute like fire; this, making it easier to apply more specific and elemental enchantments, such as Fire Resistance or Fire Magic Enhancement.

Magic tools cannot produce magic straight-up unless the materials it is made out of is high-enough quality and also if the enchanter is skilled enough.

Once the item has been sufficiently fused with the water, that process makes the item more sensitive to magic energy―in other words, a mana item. In this state, the item can more easily and efficiently accept magical enhancements, which is usually just infusing specific aspects into the item, such as Minor Strength Enhancement or Intermediate Health Boost. Primarily, they are things that enhance your stats directly.

Only, Jae doesn't understand how items can affect stats directly―this was something he thought impossible to figure out without opening his Status, which he refused to do. All he knows is how to do it, and that different materials used in the creation of an enchanted item can give the finished product a vastly different effect.

Next, Healing and Restoration Magic. They are similar, but not the same thing:

「Healing Magic」is used for things like re-attaching severed limbs and curing illness, whereas「Restoration Magic」is based around, as the name suggests, 'restoring' things back to how they used to be. This type of magic can be used to even regrow entire limbs, felled trees, and, granted that the user is skilled enough, it can even restore small buildings that have been partially destroyed.

When Jae first discovered this difference, what instantly came to mind was 'Time Magic'.

It must be related.

It also brought to mind his unique Title.

「Apostle of Sin」

―This Title, the thing which has become the foundation of Jae's entire existence, repairs his body after death. Completely. It restores all his flesh, blood―everything physical, at least. It definitely wasn't Healing Magic though, because the concept is different. It was absolutely Restoration Magic, Jae thought. He was confident about that.

Because of this, he also became confident in the theory that his [Curse] was applied to him, specifically so that death was his only way of recovering from major injuries, and to promote the usage―and possibly even the abuse of the effect. There was no 'real' basis for this, but Jae was sure of it.

Fortunately, his body's natural recovery worked just fine. Since that was enhanced far beyond regular standards too, Jae didn't notice it until he drank the potion after getting crushed by the minotaur. If it weren't for that, things might've been bad for Jae.

Consider this:

No natural recovery, so any small scratches and such would be stuck with him forever, and always bleeding. The blood, too, would never recover; along with the pain. Everlasting injuries. Over time, and as more and more injuries were stacked on top of Jae's body, his life would become impossible. Dirt, mud, grime―countless bacteria would gather and attract to these wounds, constantly infecting and afflicting him with illness and disease until his resistance levelled up.

The only way out would be to commit suicide, and even then, he would just start again from square one.

―If this was all true, and if the severe effect of Jae's body never producing antibodies or white blood cells also existed, then his life would truly become a living hell, and an existence full of only suffering and death.

None of this is true, of course, and the topic is taking an unneeded turn. My point was, Jae could've very clearly been in a much, much worse situation than he is, so in a sense, he could be considered lucky. It was just an example of what 'could've' been.

In any case.

Jae could learn Healing Magic just fine―all it is, really, is surrounding wounds with magic energy and converting it to healing energy, removing viruses and bacteria with magic, et cetera―but Jae just couldn't comprehend how Restoration Magic worked, on a fundamental level. Anyway, because of this, Jae was never able to learn Restoration Magic.

The only way he'd be able to use it at this point is by eating someone or -thing with a Restoration Magic-related skill and gaining it via「Gluttony」. Since he doubts he'll get any insight just thinking about it.

And finally,「Great-Sword Mastery」. While Jae was in the dungeon, he thought to learn the sword, since, there'd really be no point in having it otherwise, and if he was honest, he also thought it felt cool to use, so he wanted to work with it. Due to being at max level, he had no problems at all wielding it.

He practised against the monsters he hadn't yet slain, as well as the boss (though that was more of a dummy to test different strikes and slashes against, than an actual practice target since it couldn't move).

In addition to「Great-Sword Mastery」, Jae also learnt「Great-Sword Techniques」. The difference was simple: Mastery is gained and levelled up, simply by using that type of weapon, and it makes the wielder more efficient with that weapon as it levels up. Techniques, on the other hand, are more like 'sword skills'―not actual skills, mind you, but something like special or unique moves one can learn with that weapon only. Hence 'techniques'.

But since Jae isn't anywhere close to an actual swordsman, nor does he know any real swordsmanship, he could only implement things he's read or seen before, as well as his imagination and instincts. Basically, he isn't very good at it, but is still trying to learn it anyway.

Oh right, there was one more thing of note.

"Lightning."

*ZZZTT--*

"Erupt."

*--ZZT--BOOOOOOOOMM!!*

*RUMBLE!*

Jae whistled as he watched the explosion of fire and lightning, centred around the Mimic copy. Even after it subsided, there were still electrical arcs flickering here and there.

As always, it's good that this place is indestructible. Man, that had some serious firepower, huh. It practically one-shot the boss from full health. Always feels refreshing to use that. Hm. Well, that's good enough I suppose.

"And with that, experimentation time is over, right? There's nothing else I want to try here, so we can go now... Huh."

Time really flies, doesn't it?

Level limit reached. Excess experience points stockpiled until the limit is increased You have defeated the boss of the『Sloth Dungeon』 Dungeon exit has opened

Hmm. I'll probably get whatever "rewards" when I leave. But first...

Ignoring the portal that opened up in the middle of the boss room, Jae looked towards the back of the boss room, where a hidden door had just revealed itself. Walking over to it, Jae stopped and widened his eyes in great surprise.

What... is this ominous magic...?! It's comparable to even that of a dragon child!

He was astonished. This dark, sinister magic power―just how did he not notice it all this time? He thought the walls must've been concealing it somehow before the door opened. Quickly, Jae went to the source.

"This..."

In front of him was a large, evil-looking scythe floating atop a pedestal. It was shrouded in a cloud of pitch-dark smoke. The sight was akin to when a player finds a legendary item in a video game.

Just what is this thing...

[...This is the weapon of the Death God.]

Sloth's voice could be heard. It had a gloomy tone but sounded a lot healthier and many, many times more human when compared to before―a deep and mature voice had replaced the old, ear-splitting screeching one.

[The Death God's personal weapon was left in my possession just before he disappeared―he knew I couldn't use a weapon, and that my home would be the safest place, which is probably why he did it. Frankly, I was scared of what would happen should I refuse, so I protected it in my dungeon. Until now, not a single person other than me knew of its whereabouts or existence.]

"......"

Jae was speechless. He had enchanted and enhanced his great-sword many times over, yet it was nothing compared to that scythe.

[Go ahead. Take it.]

"....What? You want me? To take that thing...?"

[Pfft, oh please. Don't act like you are unworthy, Jae. It's the reward for clearing my dungeon, anyway, so you have no choice in the matter. You're the only one in the world who can handle such a thing, too, you know.]

"..."

Taking a deep breath, Jae nodded.

"Alright."

He reached his hand out to the floating scythe; it was even greater in size than his great-sword, and its main colour was the blackest black he had ever seen. It had certain red parts―dark crimson, like fresh blood―and a big orb of the same sinister colour, that hovered by itself in the centre of where the blade connected to the snath.

Upon gripping the weapon, Jae instantly fell to his knees.

[Sin? Sin? Sin. Follower? Apostle. Corrupt? Corrupt.]

A voice he had never heard before entered his head―one that sounded like it could've only come from the depths of the abyss.

[His Name? His Name? Jae? Jae? Jae.]

Its overpowering voice repeated itself, and slowly, Jae could feel the magic power contained within the scythe increasing.

Ugh!? What the fuck is this thing!?

He couldn't get up from his knees, as if something was constantly pulling him down. Reinforcing himself with magic, Jae tried to counter it and stand up, but to no avail.

[No. Jae. No. No. Don't Do That. Don't Do That. Don't Resist... Jae. Don't Resist.]

As the scythe's magic power kept rising, Jae was finding it increasingly hard to get up.

[Jae. Jae. Jae. Jae.]

"Shut... up!"

Jae yelled and continued to enhance his body with mana. He tightened his grip on the scythe, which now only appeared as a glowing mass of darkness surrounding him.

What...

Glaring at the clearly evil weapon, Jae spotted a change within the blood-red orb; it had opened and was now an eye.

You bastard.

An eye―golden iris and black slit, jagged pupil―sat within the scythe. As Jae and the eye looked at each other, it seemed to penetrate right into his soul. He continued to hear the voice.

[Jae. Jae. Help? Help. Please? Please.]

The contents caused Jae to hesitate for a slight moment.

'Help'...?

Perhaps the voice sensed this hesitation, as it continued.

[Please. Please. Jae. Jae. Help. Help.]

What? This...

Jae wasn't just imagining it―the tone shifted slightly, and it now even sounded a little desperate.

Around him now only looked like a storm of utter darkness. Jae didn't realise until now, but the entire room was shaking and trembling due to the pressure emitted from the scythe. The sheer amount of magic power it held and that poured out of it, endlessly, like a broken dam, was more than he could've ever predicted.

And it only kept ramping up, more and more.

Forget young dragon―This amount of magic energy is more powerful than a full-fucking-grown dragon, isn't it!? What the hell do I do?

Any ordinary man would long since died from the mere presence of the weapon, yet the pressure it emitted was now countless times stronger than when Jae first laid his eyes upon the scythe.

[Please. Please. Only You. Jae. Jae. Only You. Help. Help. Please. Please.]

"...."

Only me, huh. What the hell!

In the midst of this dark tempest, Jae managed to spit out some hopeful words.

"If I agree to help you, will you calm down?!", he yelled. There was no sound in this place. The sound waves―it was as if the darkness had swallowed them all up, but fortunately, his shouting could barely be heard.

To this, Jae could feel the storm's intensity lessen slightly, and the scythe's eye blinked at him.

[Help? Jae. Jae. You Will? Help? Please?]

It's working...!

"Yes! Of course. You've asked for my help personally, so why wouldn't I help?"

[...]

The eye blinked again, and the storm calmed even more.

Not enough yet...

"Am I not the 'only one' who can help you? I promise to help, so calm down."

[Only You. Only You. Help? Jae. Will Help? Jae. Jae. Calm? Calm. Okay.]

The rampaging storm of darkness dissipated in an instant, and the magic energy was immediately absorbed back into the scythe. Jae sighed deeply in relief at the resolved situation.

[Jae. Jae. When Help? When Help? Please. Please.]

It's like a damn child...

"I'll need to hear some more of the situation before I can help, alright?"

[Master. Master. In Trouble. Please. Please.]

Master...? Isn't this the Death God's scythe? So is the Death God in trouble or something? What the hell... Sloth did say that he disappeared, but it sounded like he did it himself, no? And anyway, what the hell can I do when something like a god is involved, huh? Aaah, this is just gonna be a bunch of annoying shit, isn't it...

With that said, it's not like Jae could now refuse to help.

...This weapon is too powerful. With something like this, even I might be able to do something; even against a god.

"Look. I said I'd help, okay? Stop saying please. And, you need to elaborate. How is the Death God in trouble, exactly?"

[Master. Master. Before Leaving. Master Said. Master Said. "Stupid God". "Must Kill". Master Said.]

The Death God left to kill another god? 'Stupid God' obviously isn't a real god, so which one is it?

"Do you know what god he wanted to kill?"

Please?

To Jae's question, the scythe's eye looked down, as if sad.

[No. No. Master Said. Nothing More.]

Jae formed a troubled expression.

"Well, then I can't really help your master right now, can I?"

[No. Jae. Jae. Please. Please. Jae. Help.]

Magic energy began to well up within the scythe, causing Jae to frantically try and calm it.

"W-wait, wait! I never said I wouldn't help! I'm just saying that it's hard right now... Haa, I'll help, so stop this."

[You Will? Help? You Will? Jae. Jae. Thank You. Jae.]

"Yes, of course..."

Jae sighed again, Fucking hell, it has tantrums too? I swear this thing is literally just a child... Shitty god, forcing me to babysit this demonic thing.

"....Anyway, this is it for the dungeon, right? Sloth."

He felt mentally drained from that encounter alone, so Jae asked to make sure there was nothing else.

[Yes... Since you've collected the 'reward', you can now leave through the exit portal in the boss room.]

Jae thought that Sloth's voice was much better, now that it was actually kind of pleasant to listen to, unlike his previous, metal on blackboard-like voice, but he didn't say anything about it. He didn't even know why the change occurred in the first place.

"I see. Good. But, isn't this different from the Pride Dungeon then, since... Wasn't I supposed to get rewards after exiting the dungeon for that one?"

[Oh, about that. The Death God's scythe, obviously, isn't actually a reward you would've normally received; I gave it to you by choice. The real reward is after you leave the dungeon, yes.]

"Wait, really? Shit... Thanks."

[O-oi, don't even. I only did it 'cause it would've been destroyed otherwise. It's a waste if someone doesn't use such a powerful thing.]

Jae was going to laugh but then noticed that he said something odd.

..."Destroyed'"?What?

[Ah... You'll find out when you leave. And by the way, be careful when you exit.]

Huh?

Jae was confused, but as there was nothing else he could do here, he decided to make his way back to the wide boss room.

Well... Goodbye, dungeon.

Since Jae had been living in this dungeon for about one and a half years, he did have some attachment towards the place, but because he didn't want to waste any time, he bid a brief farewell and quickly entered the portal.

Jae felt the same sensation as when he previously used the portal, but it disappeared almost instantly as he appeared on the other side. Upon exit, Jae became angry.

Oh, fuck off. Not another shitty forest.

As well as this, he noticed three peculiar things:

First, was a translucent, golden barrier of some sort. Its size was absolutely colossal, and Jae seemed to be inside of it.

Second, there was a large amount of blood nearby―from the smell and traces of dark magic energy, it didn't belong to humans―as well as a very sinister, creepy atmosphere.

Thirdly, the flurry of system notifications appearing in the air. Jae ignored them initially, first making sure the surroundings were safe, and after he confirmed that it was, he began to read them.

"Holy shit, there's really a lot of them, huh...", was his immediate thought, but he decided to postpone everything until after he finished them all.

You have exited the『Sloth Dungeon』 Dungeon Clear Status: 【100%】 The designated Dungeon Boss has been defeated,『Sloth Dungeon』will now experience collapse The designated Dungeon Boss has been defeated, rewards will be given Reward: Functions of skill「Sloth」will be fully unlocked Skill「Sloth [Lv.4]」has unlocked and rose to [Lv.MAX] Due to reaching [Lv.MAX] with a【Sin】-grade skill, Level Limit increased by 50 Title「Apostle of Sin」has activated Initiating assimilation with「Sloth」

Within a moment of reading the notifications, Jae felt something akin to a switch flip inside of him.

*ba-dump!*

He heard his heartbeat vigorously, before noticing that the world was tilting.

Huh...? That's... odd...

His mind briefly blanked out as only one thought came out on top.

Assimilation with「Sloth」complete Title「Ruler of Sloth」has been acquired 「Sloth」has activated

Tired......

Overcome with a sudden surge of exhaustion, Jae felt extremely fatigued.

Extracting hidden factors

*thud*

Jae collapsed powerlessly onto the floor while feeling his consciousness quickly fading.

Factor discovered 『Sloth's Authority』has been acquired

He had but one thought as his eyes gently shut.

I'll... have... a short... rest...

Before he knew it, Jae sank into a bottomless slumber.