V3 Chapter 33

Rain started about his life in the other world. Though, apparently, he doesn’t need to hide the fact that he was an otherworlder, since it would apparently be bullshit between them.

If he wasn't mistaken, then this girl is also an otherworlder. There’s no use for lying in front of her.

They then talked about what had happened these past few years, his life in the previous world, and here, And all their experiences, dangers and the interesting, exciting and thrilling development after and many more.

They also talked about the people left in the previous world, his friends, the orphanage, mother-superior that had taken care of him, Uncle Glen…and then, his problems, his future, and goals…

They talk and laugh a lot—the distance between them slowly disappearing as time passed by. Now, they felt as if two old friends, having reunited after a long time of separation. Having fun, and catching up things. Sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, sometimes at a loss…

Nevertheless, although he was weirded out from this sudden development, but for some unknown reason, looking at her he somewhat felt…at ease.

No worries, no anxiety, nothing at all. Her beautiful and stunning face, Rain thought that no matter what happens, he will definitely engrave this moment deeply inside his heart. Treasuring these moments like a priceless treasure. Always remembering her warm and soft voice that was like pleasant music in his ear. Her laughter warms his heart, and lightens his day.

Suddenly, as he was savoring the chilling, delicious breeze of the salty ocean that passed between them, the beautiful girl in white dress stared at him.

“Truthfully, I even wondered how Fate works, if it’s really on our side or not sometimes.” she said while shaking her head with a helpless expression.

“… But perhaps, it’s just like what ‘he’ said before. That fate truly has a way of leading you to the place you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. Even if you are separated by time and space, your path still cross…either it’s a curse or not, I can’t even laugh about it.”

“I don’t understand what you are talking about,” Rain asked after a confusing pause.

“Hehehe, you don’t need to. There’s no sense in what I’m what I was talking anyway. It’s just a grumble… here, you want? You must have been starving?” she said before taking out an apple-like fruit out of nowhere, though unlike the red or orange color, it was painted purple.

Was it even edible?

“It is…and it’s not poisonous.”

“Can you even starve in this place? This is not the physical plane is it?”

“You even noticed that I’m truly impressed.”

The beautiful girl chuckled happily. Her smile was so sweet and beautiful it could charm any living things. In fact, if the Goddess of Love and Beauty; Aphrodite takes a physical form, perhaps she would look like this.

“Ahw, that’s sweet. But sadly, I don’t think Lady Aphrodite would be impressed being compared to someone like me. She’s quite a narcissistic person, ahh, forgive my manners. However, you should really not do that; she would not allow anyone to compare her beauty, especially to a mortal. She would be really upset, and she’s scary when she does.”

Some other expressions played upon her features then. Nostalgia, perhaps, along with an odd feeling he couldn’t seem to understand but felt somewhat familiar. But like her sadness, it was gone just as quickly, replaced by something more mischievous.

“You talk as if she existed…or is she? And besides, stop reading my mind, that’s incredibly rude.”

“There’s more to this world that you don’t know, Rain. The Gods you know of also existed…well, most of them fell in the great war, but there are also some that still alive even now.”

“You mean, like Aphrodite- the Olympian Goddess of sexual love and beauty along with the other infamous Greek Gods…?”

“Yeah, the entire band indeed existed long ago…but they broke up mid-way actually, like the Beatles. Though, that’s another story. You are still not qualified for that topic, as it greatly involves the higher realm. Actually, just treat it as if I didn't say anything. Just try to live your life freely and without any worries about things outside your circle for now. Have fun, and play free… that’s also what ‘I’ wanted.”

Rain stared at the beautiful girl he was certain was the Ancient Hero who had created the Dungeon. Though, whether she still lives right now or not, he was not sure.

But in most cases like this, she’s what you call a soul fragment or some sort that was left behind to manage the Dungeon. And the smile that seemed to say ‘Spot on’ as she stared at him was already proof enough.

Though, it would be better if she stops reading his mind.

“..It’s not like I’m reading your mind. Actually it just comes to me automatically, especially when you are thinking so strongly. After all, you are basically inside my body... hm? Did that come out strange? Anyway, let's just say you are inside my mind all this time. The stronger you think about things, the easier it will be transmitted to me as well.” she said with great amusement.

“…if that’s what you say. In any case, what is the deal with this fruit anyway? I don’t think this would be so simple since you are the one giving it to me.”

He said, fully enchanted by her manner.

"Was it some kind of, precious fruit or something? 'cause I would never refuse your hospitality if that's the case," he said playfully. Though he was just kidding, a part of him hope his words were the truth. Additional power is always welcome.

“You’re overthinking it,” the beautiful woman chuckled.

“Am I?”

“Yeah…actually it’s just a simple fruit, one that is commonly seen in this ‘world’. Though, it’s not something you would be able to take outside. So you might as well eat it here, it’s beneficial for you especially in your current condition. It came to me that you have a rather peculiar problem with your mana veins?”

“…??”

"I believe it's the effect of being transported into another world- especially with the kind of power you possess- [Predation], that basically steals energy from something and make it your own. Not to mention, not immediately being blessed directly by the Gods, through the ceremony of Baptism from the Church that opens your mana circuit to allow the circulation of magic power into your 'Origin'- with your magic power increasing due to your unique power, it became too strong for your veins to endure. And that had become danger to your physical body- your magic power is too strong for the vessel." she explained while looking at him straight.

"Then, can this fruit help me?"

Rain looked at the fruit in his hand and just couldn’t understand what’s common about this fruit. More like, just it being here is already a testament of how extraordinary it could be. Not to mention, this girl just literally mentioned that this ordinary-looking fruit can help his problem that even baffled Threia and the others.

"Yeah... somewhat," She said; “It’s actually just a simple problem. All you needed to do is to enhance your physical body to accommodate the magical power within you, which you are already doing it, by the way…I take it you’re already practicing the [Body Refinement Method]? You best treasure it. It's a cumulative research by amazing lunatics with serious problems on their heads.. but I can assure you that it's something out of this world, but possesses an ability that can even make fun of the Gods."

"Can make fun of the Gods... that's quite an arrogant claim." Rain smiled wryly.

"Yes... I guess so. However, this is also why they were cursed by the Gods for creating something that defies the natural order... that defies them. In the end, they were thrown away, or either erased in this world... along with all of their hardwork... well, save for one that is... and that is the book in your hands."

"That does sound very precious to me.... but at the same time, also dangerous.. is this really okay, giving that to me?"

The girl smirked, "Of course. I wouldn't put it there if I don't have the intention of giving it to you."

"So you mean you planned that hidden room?"

"Yeah... I noticed your peculiar condition when you arrived into this dungeon. I planned to give it to you... but it would be hard to believe if it just suddenly appears in front of you, right? if you think it's one of the treasures of the Dungeon, then you would surely think of it as a spoil,"

Rain frowned, "And now I'm starting to feel suspicious. Why do you treat me so good?"

"Because it's you," the girl grinned.

"... ..."

"Anyway... just ignore the reason, okay. Just accept it, and treat it as a present from me. It will surely help you a lot. It’s an incredible cultivation method that could give you a physical body that can be as strong as the Dragons themselves. Its arrogant claim to reach the Gods through it, is not an empty boast. In fact, it’s one of the existing methods for a human to successfully transcend…” she said. "And that fruit in your hand, can allow you to skip a few levels in your cultivation. So do savor it."

“...And you still say that this is just a simple fruit? Even the best people I know were at a loss on what to do with my problem, and could only rely on the slow method of strengthening my body slowly. Which, might take perhaps years to completely balanced out with my magic power since the rise of my level is also equivalent to the increase of my magic power. In fact, leveling up is also an incredible danger for me.”

“Well, sometimes, a complex problem can actually be solved simply and easily—all you need to do is know how to do it, or where to find it,” she quipped.

“You know, you really do not make sense,”

“I get that a lot,” she giggled, and her expression was dyed with pure happiness.

Rain shook his head with a wry smile. Then, he turned towards the fruit in his hand.

The delectable-looking fruit, without any kind of appraisal-ability, or even the automatic-appraisal feature that the Dungeon had made it impossible to know what it was.

In fact, if only he can call upon Sylphy to ask advice it would have been better. But despite trying all this time, his connection with her seemed to have been cut off. If that’s even possible.

To eat or not to eat? And should he really trust this mysterious girl?

Shrugging his shoulders, Rain made his decision. He slowly put the fruit into his mouth as it turned into a wave of heat that coursed through his body. The fruit he had eaten actually immediately works its wonders…so fast!

On the shore of the unknown beach, the temperature was rather low and even with his strengthened physical body and acquired resistances, he still felt cold. But eating the fruit had suddenly removed any feeling of coldness, only to feel a pulsating heat deep within his body and drops of sweat started forming soon after.

This feeling . . . It felt like his whole body had been purged completely, amazing!

Rain, who was still feeling the fatigue from the earlier battle, physically, but most of all, mentally felt like being refreshed all of a sudden, as though the fruit had released all the burdens shackled to his body. Although he did not turn into those legendary strong men, the change in his body was significant enough to make him feel over the rainbow.

However, as he was gloating about the effect, and was about to say his gratitude to her, suddenly he was struck by a sudden bout of dizziness.

“Actually, I still want to continue this conversation longer…sadly, it seems like we need to continue this for another time.”

The girl look at him and smiled, speaking in a strange, but sultry, eerily hypnotic voice that makes him, even more, wanting to sleep, like a lullaby.

A surging strength slowly filled his body, though it also makes him lose his consciousness even faster.

“…I wanted to give you something better, but I feared it would only do more harm than good in your current strength,” she added.

“Why…am I…” dizzy? he wanted to ask. But when he looked up… he suddenly saw the beautiful girl crying.

In the blurred scenery, he seemed to see that quite clearly for some reason. And because of that, the words he was about to say was cut off, and he could only stare at her dumbly.

What's going on?

“Don’t be scared. You’re just returning to where you are supposed to be. When you wake up, you will then find your friends…everything’s going to be fine. That’s why, let’s meet again soon, Rain…”

As the beautiful girl said that, his consciousness gradually grew faint. Perhaps, another one of her powers was putting him to sleep, or maybe it’s one of the effects of the fruit he had eaten. However, Rain didn't feel afraid anymore; that was because the beautiful girl was gently smiling while crying at the same time, in front of him. She looked like a guardian angel seeing him off.

She really looks familiar…

Rain fell asleep with that as his last thought. Having made sure that he was asleep, the beautiful girl used her powers to envelop him in bright light.

“Goodbye... let's meet once more, someday...father,”

Sadly, Rain had already lost his consciousness and went into sleep and couldn't hear those faint words. Though, perhaps, its the reason why those words were said in the first place, not intending to let him hear.

But what is the meaning of those words?

… …