“⋯⋯ And that’s how Envers ended up being the one to experience it—the Professor’s magic. Some call it Dimensional Magic, others, Illusion Magic.”—Hmm⋯⋯ How does he feel about it?
“Envers? He seemed unsure⋯⋯ Anyways, what should I prepare for him?”
At Selvier’s question, Niolle pulled herself from the memories of their last meeting and considered her response. Listen closely to what the Crazy Wizard says? Protect those you love so that your heart doesn’t break⋯⋯?
No, perhaps it would be better for him to believe it was all fake. He always seemed like someone with a fragile mindset from the beginning.
Even worse, Envers was heading in alone. When his heart breaks, no one would be there to help him get back on his feet. So, telling himself it was just Illusion Magic could help him hold onto his sanity.
In that case, what useful advice could she offer?
What was the most essential skill for someone lost in a world entirely foreign—different in time, architecture, culture, and logic? Niolle pondered and found her answer.
Adaptability.
If you didn’t know what challenges lay ahead, you needed at least one ability that allowed you to maneuver your way through anything. That was the key.
—I think a simple artifact would be best. How about giving him something like a flashlight or a lighter?“A flashlight and lighter? What are those?”
-Oh, so⋯⋯ a small light source and a portable fire generator kinda thing. Since Envers isn’t a wizard, he’ll often get into uncomfortable situations. He’ll need devices to make up for what he can’t do.
"Certainly⋯⋯."
Niolle’s suggestion made sense. Selvier nodded her head, and began mentally listing the artifacts she could craft for him.
● A small ignition device and a short wand that emits light in a conical shape
● A scroll that dries clothes and potion of increased fire resistance
● A scroll that emits black smoke
● A scroll of massive explosion
“I’ll just have to make them one by one. Thanks, Niolle. You've been a big help.”
-No problem. But, Selvier⋯⋯ Are you interested in Envers?
"No way in hell. I’ve already told you, I have someone else I like."
-You mean your childhood friend⋯⋯?
Selvier nodded. Envers was the furthest thing from her type. Even if he was, she wouldn’t feel anything for him.
No matter how many stones tumble down a hill, they cannot dislodge a rock that's welded in place.
“I’ll only consider moving on if my childhood friend dies or outright rejects my feelings. Until then, no one else is getting into my heart⋯⋯ but."
She didn’t think she would love someone other than him.
Niore blinked slowly, showing she understood completely. This time, she loaded up advice for Selvier.
She had heard about this childhood friend at least five times by now. Unless Selvier was romanticizing the past, that friend must have been quite the catch.
If he was alive somewhere, there was a high chance he was already with someone else.
That would mean that Selvier would have to dive into the battle for his heart as a latecomer. A position that, in some ways, might be even harder than Niolle’s, who was currently competing with Tara.
If you’re already behind, simply playing defense is just guaranteed defeat.
The more backed into a corner you are, the more boldly you need to act. Just like Niolle, who had mustered the courage to flirt without end.
Niolle reached into her closet and pulled out an indecent piece of cloth.
-Selvier, how about wearing this?
“Suddenly? Uh⋯⋯ ju-just what is… huh?”
After seeing the unspeakable underwear in her hands, Selvier failed the Sanity Check roll. Judging by the shape, it was supposed to cover her lower half, but its design was as far from functional as anything could be.
Why was she being asked to wear this all of a sudden? As Selvier wrestled with confusion, Niolle sent a quiet telepathic message.
-A woman needs a weapon, Selvier.
“A w-weapon⋯⋯."
-If you can love someone that much⋯⋯ Selvier, what are you willing to do??
"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!"
How far would you go? Could you set aside your pride and embarrassment for the sake of winning someone’s heart? At Niolle’s whispers, Selvier hesitantly gripped the indecent cloth.
She pulled out⋯⋯ The Demonic Sword!
===============================================================
In the confined space of the Tower of Trials, Envers and the Beggar once again found themselves in a mountain clearing. Envers was preparing to leave for the Murim world, and the Beggar intended to share some useful information in case he would cause trouble.
The language issue would be taken care of by the spell-casting wizard, but even with communication, it wouldn’t be easy for a Barbaroi to just drop by and live in the Central Plains.
However, if Envers could wisely use the Beggar’s old connections and the knowledge from his days as the leader of the Beggar’s Union, he could manage. The Beggarsat down on a tree stump.
“Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes. Fortunately, my friends⋯⋯ gave me this and that.”
Envers unwrapped the package he had brought, and carefully laid out its contents.
The fireworks set Selvier had made for him. It had a high attack power.
The food packet Luna had made for him. It was cost effective.
Even if the witchcraft gets twisted and Envers gets dropped in an unfrequented mountain, these objects would buy him time until he found people. The Beggar slowly nodded his head.
And relayed the following information to Envers.
● How to find a Beggar’s Union branch (Find a beggar with a knot on his hip)
●The cave at the bottom of the Heavenly Mirror Lake (Has an Elixir but / An Imoogi is guarding it)
After he finished, the Beggar looked at Envers and spoke.
“I have already taught you the martial arts of the Beggar's Union, so I wanted to ask you for a small favor today.”
“Tell me.”
“There is a duty I failed to complete.”
A strange emotion seemed to pass by the Beggar’s wrinkly face.
It was a touch of lingering attachment, a regret.
He didn’t regret giving his one body for the peace of Jianghu. The Demonic Cult led by the Heavenly Demon was powerful, spiteful and wicked to the point that they couldn’t be stopped without putting his life on the line.
His life was a cheap price to pay for being able to defeat their leader Heavenly Demon. He was a monster, and if given a bit more time, he would have had the world in his hands.
But just one thing. He regretted not passing down Beggar’s Union’s special martial arts.
The Beggar’s Union Sect Leader’s symbol, the Dog Beating Staff Technique disappeared along with the Beggar. The Beggar got swept up by the dimension’s crack, and got trapped in another world. In his original world, he couldn’t even leave a secret manual nor a corpse so there was no way to obtain it.
Martial Arts flows naturally along a river named time, but he ended up cutting off the waterflow himself. What a shame for the future generations of the Beggar’s Union.
Thus, the beggar asked Envers like so.
“Space and time are unpredictable, and a place much too high for a human to ponder. I cannot tell how much time would have passed in the Central Plains.”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
“However, if a group of beggars going by the name of Beggar’s Union still remains, I want you to return the Dog Beating Staff Technique to them. That is not a martial art tied to me, but something that should be continued to be passed down the Beggar’s Union.”
"⋯⋯I’ll make sure to see it through!"
Envers confidently answered. He didn’t completely understand the value of a martial art that gets passed down in a group.
He had never been born in a family with deep heritage, nor received a big commitment that passed down following the flow of time.
He simply pitied the Beggar’s regrets. And felt that he should be as loyal as much as the teachings he received.
[That Which Flows With History : Restoring Dog Beating Staff Technique to the Beggar’s Union]
Envers Redburn, descends(下山).
===============================================================
He was shaking.
He unconsciously clenched his fists, and his footsteps were heavy.
Getting dropped alone in Murim where all kinds of fighting arts get mixed together⋯⋯ is certainly going to be a tough road. But he would learn just as much.
Envers touched his own lips. The moon’s promise filled him with strength.
The Crazy Wizard explained that his life was not in danger just like the Tower of Trials, and that he would return every fortnight that passes.
So he was more excited than scared.
As Envers was nervously about to put his foot on the Magic Circle, the Crazy Wizard casually threw out a question.
“Do you believe in fate?”
"⋯⋯What does that mean?"
The Crazy Wizard, starting the conversation with an abrupt topic, cryptically warned Envers about the future he would face.
“A relationship has 『Human Power』 within it. In the short moment you met with the Heavenly Demon, your strings of fate were certainly intertwined together. Not too deeply nor lightly. You will certainly be pulled by it.”
"⋯⋯So you’re saying?"
“Following your choices, you may meet the inheritance of the Heavenly Demon. Even if your abilities are lacking, as long as you make good friends you will be able to reach it.”
The Crazy Wizard put his index finger on his lips. This signified a secret, but also silence at the same time. He spoke.
“If I may dare to offer you some advice── It’s always a tough path to unearth secrets. Just like the Tower of Trials.”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
“Some secrets are like a sleeping bear, it’s a lot safer than you would imagine as long as you do not awaken it.”
Then, I hope you have a great time.
With those words, the Crazy Wizard parted from Envers.
[??? : Discover the 'Secret', and clear the Murim Session while in the Hardmode Route.]
===============================================================
The curtain opened on the Murim session.
He will encounter a rare righteous hero among the many people honing their martial arts. What he chooses to do afterwards was up to him.
Whether he follows the Demonic Cult route, the Orthodox Faction, or the Unorthodox Faction, the finale will converge to one point. But the its’ meaning would be different.
However, there were a few things to change from the original plan. That being the part involving the heroine.
Originally, I intended to pair Envers with a woman who would be his mentor and Noona, and someone whose basic attack was a two-hit, piercing strike, but I saw it.
I clearly witnessed Luna becoming a heroine.
Not just me, but the two of us saw it. That night, the laboratory was turned upside down. Yuna was dying from excitement going all Kyaaaa , Pink-Haired Lesbian couldn’t wait and copied the finger kiss and used it on me.
Yuna must have poked my lips dozens of times after witnessing that. You have to be seductive with it to make my heart flutter. Brute forcing it with sheer numbers, makes it closer to destroying my lips than a kiss.
But I liked the way she got jealous. It’s cute. Not the type of jealousy where you’d go burn down the world to split me and Pink-Haired Lesbian apart, more felt more like ‘why do you get two candies?’ kinda thing.
Since they know each other is joking, they can play together hand in hand.
But very rarely, I wonder how it would be if it was a bit closer than just a joke.
Anyhow.
To prevent Luna getting unintentionally NTRed, I scrapped the original heroine plan. Instead, I decided to focus more on the Martial Arts aspect.
Sprinkle in all kinds of clichés. Fated encounters, enlightenment, entanglement by chance, finding a cave if you fall from a cliff, and a Secret Manual if you get lost in a suspicious mountain.
And in the inn, serve western food like carbonara⋯⋯.
"?"
“Why are you looking at me like that Tower Master?”
“What did you just say?”
“That, I was going to serve Carbonara at the inn⋯⋯."
Wait, why? This kind of thing was an authentic martial arts novel before I died. And truthfully, this is another world where not a single person knows anything about murim.
That means that whatever I say becomes what martial arts novels are. Instead of serving something like noodles and Luzhou Laojiao Touqu, serve a more trendy menu to satisfy the user’s gourmandism⋯⋯.
Huuuuuap.
Yuna took a breath as if she was going to suck in the entire world’s air, then lifted her voice from her dantian and unleashed a lion’s roar.
“Gal(喝)──!!!"
"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!"
“If you don’t do your historical investigation properly, I’m gonna kill you ⋯⋯!!"
I’ve never seen Yuna express anything this strongly before. Only then I understood. Her no1 most read genre was romance, but no2 was Murim.
Yuna Violetiris was a Murim Karen Boomer.