Chapter 183: Face to Face with Whisperer
A/N: Important update!!
Hey everyone, just wanted to let you all know that there have been a few small changes in the previous Chapter regarding Ray’s rank and system points. If you’re someone who’s paying attention to those details, I’d recommend checking it out once.
For those of you not reading on , don’t worry — the changes aren’t major. Just to clarify, Ray’s rank has been corrected from Adept to Expert , and his system points, which were previously listed as 1,43,895 , are now 7,13,432 .
That’s pretty much it for the changes.
Also, I’ve updated the Announcement Chapter to make things more clear — especially the part about stat ranges and what they mean. Hopefully, it helps clear up any confusion.
Sorry for the inconvenience, and as always, thank you for reading and supporting the story. It really means a lot.
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"Ash Burn..?"
"Yeah, it’s me."
What the hell... how did he change this much...?
The Ash she had known before was shorter, with a decent build and a sharp face that showed promise, but the person standing in front of her now looked like someone entirely different. It was hard to believe this was the same boy.
His height had noticeably increased. His skin, already fair, now seemed to glow faintly with a pale radiance. His silvery hair had turned completely white, losing its previous shimmer, but oddly enough, it suited him more now, giving off an almost sacred aura. His body had filled out, not overly muscular, but toned in a way that made it clear he had undergone intense physical growth and training.
Yet, what struck her the most wasn’t just the physical changes. It was the presence surrounding him. There was a quiet pressure in the air, a certain charisma and weight to his being that made it difficult to look away. It wasn’t just that he looked stronger—he felt different.
Still, she was a Saint. She took a breath and quickly composed herself. Her surprise didn’t last long.
"Looking at you now, it’s clear you’ve changed a lot. So, tell me, did you succeed in doing whatever it was that you disappeared for?" she asked, keeping her voice calm, although inside, her thoughts were swirling in confusion.
How did he manage to slip past my senses completely? I had the whole area under surveillance... and just now, it felt like he teleported directly into the room. But he never had a space affinity before...
"Yeah. That’s exactly why I came back," Ash said plainly. "I need to take Elysia. The World Tree is going to heal her."
"WHAT?!"
Saint Alice couldn’t hold back her voice this time. The shock was too much. She had thought the Elven King or one of the elder healers might be involved—but the World Tree itself?
Just what did he do to make the World Tree personally intervene? How is that even possible?
She had countless questions rising inside her, but in the end, she said nothing. At first, she hadn’t even believed he would survive. She had prepared herself for the worst. And yet, here he was, returning with news that should have been impossible.
Master was right after all... this boy really is something unusual. There’s something about him that we still don’t understand.
"Wait! What are you doing?" she asked sharply when she noticed Ash reaching for Elysia.
"I’m taking her to the World Tree. Didn’t I just say that?" Ash replied, his tone flat and calm, just like before.
He really hasn’t changed that much on the inside. Same voice, same emotionless expression... but if I let him leave now, what exactly am I going to tell Master?
"Hold on. Let me inform the Principal first. After that, you can take her. It won’t take long, I promise."
Alice spoke quickly, her voice slightly strained, not wanting to risk disobeying the Whisperer’s orders. She knew very well she had been told not to harm Ash and to treat him with caution and respect.
Ash stopped for a moment, clearly considering her request.
Should I go back to the academy or not? I honestly don’t think I should. Staying away might be better for now, especially since the more I hide my class, the more attention it’s going to draw...
Just as his thoughts were beginning to drift, his eyes shifted toward Elysia. For a moment, all his calculations paused. She needed proper training and guidance, and although he could help her to some extent, he wasn’t someone who knew everything. She deserved the resources and instruction the academy could offer.
And maybe... it’s not a bad idea for me either. I still have things to learn.
"Alright. Call him. I’ll wait here."
Ash agreed to meet with the Principal before leaving. If he planned to stay at the academy for now, then maintaining a cooperative relationship with the higher-ups would only help him later.
Saint Alice let out a quiet sigh of relief. It was a welcome change from the last time. Ash wasn’t acting difficult or stubborn this time.
She immediately activated her communication artifact and sent a direct message to both Principal Nichole and her Master. Not even a full minute had passed when a firm knock echoed at the door.
***
KNOCK!!
The sharp knock on the door echoed softly through the room, and soon, the door opened. Principal Nichole stepped inside, followed closely by the old man.
Surprisingly, the expression on the old man’s face wasn’t one of sternness or suspicion instead—he looked unusually pleased, almost as if he had found something he had long been searching for.
As soon as both of them entered the room, their gazes were immediately drawn to Ash, who was quietly standing next to Elysia’s bed.
Nichole’s reaction was almost instant—his eyes widened in shock, clearly mirroring what Saint Alice had felt earlier. Ash’s transformation was too great to go unnoticed. However, the old man’s shock was of a very different kind.
While Nichole was surprised by Ash’s physical changes and his charm, the Whisperer saw something far beyond what ordinary eyes could perceive.
His vision, gifted with insight of fate, saw the countless threads of fate and destiny tangled and spinning around Ash’s body like chaotic webs. There was an overwhelming amount of causality attached to this one boy.
How is he still fine? the old man wondered silently. Is this what it means to be an Anomaly? To stand untouched by the burdens of fate and causality, as if those rules do not apply to him at all...?
The sheer weight of the destiny entangling Ash was enough to bring even angels to their knees, yet he stood there calmly, unaffected.
Ash, noticing their arrival, greeted the Principal with a simple nod. His tone was casual, his expression calm. He didn’t spare even a glance at the old man.
It was worth noting that Ash hadn’t even bowed to the World Tree itself during his time in the Elven Continent.
Rather, His calm indifference stood out even more. Perhaps it was the dragon blood within him, subtly altering his demeanor, increasing his innate pride without him even realizing it.
Strangely, no one in the room seemed to be offended by his lack of formality. Whether due to shock or the strange charisma surrounding him, as he was not using Absolute Concealment.
A heavy silence settled over the room. No one knew how to begin, as if the right words had all escaped them.
Then, Ash broke the stillness with a clear and direct voice.
"As I said earlier, I need to take Elysia to the World Tree. The world tree will heal her."
He spoke those words as if asking to borrow a book from a neighbor, as if the World Tree was just someone nearby he happened to know. Both Nichole and the Whisperer stared at him with expressions that clearly didn’t mirror his calmness.
"What did you just say...?"
Nichole blurted out, echoing Alice’s earlier reaction.
The principal looked utterly baffled, trying to process what he had just heard. The idea that the World Tree would personally heal someone was beyond his expectations.
The old man, however, remained silent. He observed Ash without blinking, as though he were looking straight through the layers of his existence.
Ash, on the other hand, also kept a close eye on the Whisperer. His instincts warned him to be cautious of this strange old man.
Ash did not remember reading any detailed description of the Whisperer in the original novel, so there was no way for him to figure out who he really was. Still, for now, he chose not to escalate things. He focused on the task at hand.
He kept Elysia’s hand gently held in his own and had already activated Omni Thought, ready to teleport the moment things went wrong.
He did not lower his guard. His policy was simple—never trust anyone completely, and always be prepared for the worst.
Just as Principal Nichole was about to speak, the old man raised his hand and spoke for the first time.
"I would like to speak with him alone."
His voice was calm, but it held an unshakable authority.
Saint Alice and Nichole both exchanged glances but did not object. Without a word, they stood up and quietly left the room.
As they exited, a strange energy filled the space—silent but unmistakably powerful. It sealed the room off completely, isolating sound and presence from the outside.
Ash immediately grew more cautious. He stayed seated next to Elysia, never letting his guard down for a moment. His focus was locked on the old man, every muscle ready to shield Elysia at the slightest sign of danger.
"Don’t be alarmed, child," the Whisperer said in a calm voice. "I only blocked the sound from leaving the room. I don’t intend to harm you."
Ash narrowed his eyes and replied coldly, "I don’t even know who you are, old man. What do you want from me? And more importantly, who exactly are you? I’ve never seen you before, and no one ever mentioned you being around either."
The Whisperer let out a low, amused laugh, his tone light but layered with something hard to read.
"For someone who claims not to know me, you certainly made good use of my name for your own benefit."
***