Chapter 284 (Patreon)

The trio, along with Ruvel and Noa, finally returned to the central district as evening settled over the city like a slow, heavy curtain. The sky had dimmed. Yet despite the fading light, the district pulsed with life—louder, denser, more restless than anything Kana had seen before.

This—

This was the guild at its most busy hours.

The moment they stepped through the doors, Kana felt it immediately. Not just the noise, not just the movement—but the pressure of it. The presence of dozens—no, hundreds—of adventurers gathered in one place, each carrying with them the lingering echoes of battle.

The atmosphere was thick and heavy.

Heavy with sweat, iron, damp leather, and something sharper beneath it all—the unmistakable scent of blood that hadn’t yet faded.

Adventurers filled every inch of space.

Some stood in clusters, speaking in low, tired voices as they recounted their encounters, their gestures animated despite the fatigue weighing on their bodies. Others sat wherever they could find room—on chairs, on tables, even on the floor—resting in silence or tending to minor wounds with practiced ease.

Kana’s eyes moved slowly across them.

Armor scratched.

Cloaks torn.

Boots caked in mud that hadn’t yet dried.

There was no need for stories.

Their bodies told enough.

And yet—

No one complained, about the wait or about the exhaustion.

Not even about the long line stretching toward the reception desk, where adventurers stood patiently, some restlessly moving, others leaning lazily as they waited their turn.

This was routine. This was their life. Probably almost every evening was like this.

As Ruvel stepped forward, something subtle changed within the crowd.

Heads dipped. Respect, given without words.

Kana noticed it.

But Ruvel—

He walked through it like it was nothing.

Or perhaps—

Like it was simply normal. After all, it was her first time seeing the guildmaster along with other adventurers.

He exchanged brief words with a few adventurers along the way, short conversations that carried familiarity rather than authority. A nod here. A quiet remark there. Moments that hinted at shared battles, shared experiences that didn’t need to be spoken aloud.

Then, without lingering, he turned toward the staircase.

“I can take over here, Guildmaster,” Noa said, his voice calm, already shifting into responsibility.

Ruvel paused and glanced at Kana. Only for a moment.

Then nodded.

He continued upward, his figure disappearing into the quieter upper floor, leaving behind the noise and weight of the guild hall.

Kana watched him go briefly, then followed as Noa motioned for them to move.

They left the crowded hall behind, stepping into narrower corridors where the noise dulled into distant echoes, like a storm heard from far away. The air felt different here—cooler, quieter, controlled.

The chaos was below.

Here—

There was an order.

They made several turns, each one leading them deeper into the structure until they finally stopped in front of a simple door.

At first glance, it looked unremarkable. Plain wood and no decoration.

Nothing that would suggest importance.

But Kana felt it.

The mana beneath the surface.

Noa stepped forward, lifting his staff before tapping it lightly against the ground. The sound was soft, almost insignificant—but the effect could be seen immediately.

Kana felt the mana move. She wished she could see it like the Suri behind her who seemed more focused than her.

It flowed from Noa into the lock, threading through the runes with delicate control, activating something hidden beneath the surface.

The symbols glowed faintly.

Shifted and aligned.

Then—

The door opened.

Just a smooth, silent movement, as if it had been waiting.

“Let’s enter,” Noa said.

Kana stepped inside, her gaze sweeping across the room with quiet curiosity.

It was smaller than she expected.

Shelves lined the walls, but many stood empty, their bare surfaces more noticeable than the few items placed upon them. Containers sat in scattered positions, holding objects that immediately drew attention—not because of their number, but because of their presence.

“There’s fewer than I thought,” Kana muttered, her voice low.

Noa chuckled softly.

“These are from the Guildmaster’s recent expedition,” he said, his tone carrying a hint of something difficult to place. “Though… I’m not even sure they can still be called dungeon items.”

Kana blinked.

That caught her attention more than anything else.

A single expedition?

For items like these?

Her curiosity stirred, questions forming quietly in her mind, but she held them back.

For now.

“They are…” Suri murmured, stepping carefully through the tight space, her eyes scanning each object with growing interest. “…strange.”

Kana nodded.

Strange felt like an understatement. Some items shimmered faintly, bending light in subtle, unnatural ways. Others sat quietly, yet carried a presence that made them feel heavier than they should be.

Then—

Kana stopped.

Her eyes locked onto the first item.

A skill book very simple in appearance. 

And yet—

It called to her. A quiet pull, like something recognizing her just as much as she recognized it.

Compatibility.

She stepped closer. Beneath it, the description hovered.

[Backstab]

Additional movement speed 70% striking the enemy from behind when activated using dagger weapons. Deals 25% additional damage for successful backstab strike.

Kana smiled.

A small, satisfied expression that carried more certainty than excitement.

It was perfect. As if it was made for her.

She turned toward Noa, already deciding.

“I’m going to—”

A light tap interrupted her.

Suri.

“We should check everything first,” she said, her tone gentle—but firm enough to stop Kana from finishing.

Kana paused.

Then nodded.

Right.

Even if her mind had already chosen. They moved on.

The second item stood quietly on its pedestal—a white staff adorned with delicate golden feathers that shimmered faintly, as if touched by something divine.

[Angelic Staff]

Reduce all divine skill cooldown by 50%. Increase all divine skills' effectiveness radius by 20%.

“I like this one,” Suri said immediately, her eyes lighting up. “It would look good on me.”

Kana didn’t respond.

She simply shook her head. Boris did the same. Even Thorne followed, her small body dipping in silent agreement.

Kana almost smiled. So that’s why she stopped me earlier. The thought lingered briefly before fading.

They continued.

The third item—

A massive blade.

Unnaturally so.

Lightning flickered across its surface, arcs of energy dancing along its edge like something alive, something barely contained.

[Thunder Blade]

Random chance of activating the blade skill’s [Thunder] when attacking.

Kana studied it.

Too large.

Too impractical.

The effect was good though. She moved on.

The next item—

A familiar skill book.

[Explosion]

A large explosion towards the target. Damage and range will depend on the int stat.

Kana didn’t even slow down.

Her pace quickened slightly as she passed it, her expression tightening for just a moment.

Then—

A silver necklace with a deep red pendant that pulsed faintly in the dim light.

[Forgotten Skeleton King’s Necklace]

Additional 15 Str when wearing. Learn the skill [King’s Rage] that will boost strength by an additional 15% when activated.

Warning: [Insanity] may take over when [King’s Rage] is active.

Noa coughed.

Once.

Then again.

When Kana glanced at him, he forced a smile.

“…Please don’t pick that one,” he said.

Kana almost laughed.

The name alone was enough. It was obviously long.

She nodded.

Noa’s relief was immediate.

Kana moved on.

Then—

She stopped again.

Another skill book.

But this one—

Felt different.

Its cover was black. A depthless black that seemed to swallow light itself, refusing to reflect anything at all.

[Dual Skilling]

Activate two existing same types of skills at once.

Kana froze and her breath slowed.

The description was vague. Dangerously vague.

But the implication—

It expanded rapidly in her mind.

Two skills… at once?

[Dark Shot]… and [Dark Pierce]?

The idea alone carried weight.

Her fingers twitched slightly. This wasn’t a safe choice. But it might be the right one.

“Kana… are you okay?” Suri asked quietly.

Kana nodded. Then moved on. The final item rested alone.

A wooden plain mask. Unremarkable at first glance.

And yet—

It drew her attention more than the rest.

[Thousand Faces]

Change your facial features along with [Undetectable] skill when worn.

Kana stared at it. It was longer than she expected.

Because unlike the others—

This one didn’t promise strength. It was the ability to disappear. Or perhaps—To become someone else entirely.

However, she already made up her mind.

….

[Dual Skilling]

Learn the skill?

[Yes]

[No]

The words hovered before Kana like a quiet crossroads.

She stared at the prompt far longer than she intended, her eyes tracing the familiar options—Yes and No—yet finding no comfort in their simplicity, because this time, the answer did not come with instinct, nor with the quiet certainty she had grown used to when choosing skills that fit her so naturally.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, not born from frustration but from something far more unfamiliar to her—uncertainty, the kind that lingered at the edges of her thoughts and refused to be dismissed with a quick decision.

This skill was different.

It wasn’t like [Backstab], whose effect was clear, direct, and efficient, nor was it like the weapons she had seen, whose strengths could be measured with a glance and a bit of experience, because this one… this one felt open-ended in a way that made it difficult to grasp, like a blade without a visible edge.

Too vague.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the book as her thoughts deepened, turning over possibilities she didn’t like, because what if there were conditions hidden beneath its surface, requirements that would only reveal themselves at the worst possible time, or limitations that would make it unusable when she needed it most?

The idea unsettled her.

A memory surfaced quietly in her mind, like a lantern being lit in a dark corridor—the old woman from the town near their village, the [Analyst] who could dissect skills and items better than anyone.

Kana exhaled slowly, her grip loosening just a fraction.

Maybe I should check first.

Letting the tension slip from her body, she leaned back slightly, her head tilting until her vision flipped upside down, the world shifting into a strange, inverted perspective that somehow made it easier to think, as if removing herself from the usual way of seeing things allowed her thoughts to move more freely.

From that angle, her gaze drifted—and found Suri on the other side of the bed.

More specifically, Suri’s hands.

They were moving.

Almost delicately.

Kana’s eyes narrowed slightly as she focused, feeling the faint, nearly invisible threads of mana weaving between Suri’s fingers, so controlled and quiet that it would have been easy to miss if she hadn’t been looking closely.

Curiosity stirred.

“What are you doing?” Kana asked, her voice light but edged with genuine interest.

Suri didn’t look at her immediately, her attention still on whatever she was shaping between her fingers, as if the act required just enough focus that she couldn’t afford distraction.

“Nothing,” she replied casually, though the slight pause before her answer made it clear that it wasn’t entirely true. “Just… a trick. Something I learned today.”

Kana blinked, unimpressed by the vagueness of that response, her curiosity sharpening rather than fading.

“What kind of trick?” 

Suri sighed, a quiet sound that suggested she had expected that question the moment she chose not to explain.

“Better to show you,” she said, finally lifting her gaze. “Throw that book at me.”

Kana froze for half a second before immediately pulling the book closer to her chest, her arms tightening around it in a protective gesture that came almost instinctively.

“Not this,” she said without hesitation, her tone flat and absolute, leaving no room for argument. Suri smirked at her.

Kana’s eyes flicked around the room instead, searching for something more expendable, something that wouldn’t make her hesitate even for a moment, and it didn’t take long before she found it.

A pillow.

Without overthinking it, she picked it up and tossed it toward Suri, the motion casual and unrefined, as if the outcome didn’t matter—though her eyes remained locked on its path, watching closely.

The pillow moved through the air in a soft arc, light and unthreatening as it traveled—

And then—

It hit something.

There was a shift in its motion, a sudden resistance that hadn’t been there before, and instead of continuing forward, the pillow bounced back slightly before falling to the ground, rolling once on the ground.

Suri smirked again, the expression small yet unmistakable, carrying a quiet confidence that didn’t need to be spoken aloud.

Kana pushed herself upright almost immediately, any lingering thoughts about the skill forgotten as her attention snapped fully toward Suri, her eyes sharper now, more focused.

“What did you do?” she asked, unable to hide the note of surprise in her voice.

Suri relaxed her fingers, and as she did, the faint presence of mana dissipated, vanishing so cleanly it was as if it had never been there at all.

“I modified the rune shield I saw earlier when you’re fighting,” she explained, her tone calm but edged with a subtle satisfaction, as if she had been waiting for a chance to confirm that it worked. “Then I tried adapting it using my own mana.”

“And the lock rune from before…” Suri continued, her gaze drifting slightly as she recalled the process, her thoughts clearly retracing each step she had taken, “…it gave me an idea about how mana holds structure—how it can maintain form if you guide it properly instead of just releasing it.”

She lifted her hand slightly, as if demonstrating something that only she could fully see.

“I can block physical objects now,” she said simply, the words straightforward but carrying far more weight than their simplicity suggested. “Using mana alone.”

There was a brief pause before she added, more honestly, “But it uses a lot more mana than I expected. I need to do more tweaking.”

Kana didn’t respond.

Her throat tightened slightly, not from exhaustion, but from the realization settling into place, as her mind tried to process what Suri had just described.

This wasn’t normal.

It wasn’t something people simply figured out after seeing a rune once or twice. It wasn’t something that could be replicated without years of study or experience.

And yet—

Suri had done it. Kana swallowed slowly, her thoughts lagging behind the reality in front of her, not because she couldn’t understand it, but because she was still trying to accept it.

A mana shield was born from pure mana that was able to negate both physical and mana based attacks..

Kana stared at Suri, truly looked at her this time, as if seeing something she hadn’t fully recognized before.

And for once—

She had nothing to say.

Post note:Suri might show more classes than Kana’s at lvl30! 😂4th chap of the week.Hope you enjoy the chap! 🙂

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