Chapter 29: I Met a Very Special Girl
“According to the description, as long as the skill has already been unlocked, I can replicate and use it in the form of an original text from the library.”
Rast gave it a brief try, focusing his thoughts on the unlocked skill, 「War Chariot · Instinct」.
The next moment, he saw the illusory card with Shiltina's portrait gradually light up, surrounded by faint golden sparkles.
A deep blue book emerged in midair, then slowly merged into his body.
【You have equipped the card — 『War Chariot』 · Shiltina】
【You have used the Original Text — 「War Chariot · Instinct」】
【Remaining usable Original Text slots: 2/3】
Immediately after, Rast felt his perception of the surrounding environment becoming significantly sharper, as if a sixth sense enveloped him, allowing him to instinctively make the optimal choice without thinking.
However, since Rast was not currently in combat, he couldn’t yet experience the instinctive skill’s features like dodging ballistic projectiles or even foreseeing the future.
And during the activation of the instinct, Rast did not feel any drain on his mental strength.
“In other words, as a passive skill from the War Chariot sequence, I can maintain this instinctual state for a long time, possibly even permanently.”
“And the only cost I have to pay to keep this instinct state is that it will occupy one of my Original Text slots for the long term.”
“But I currently have only two usable skills and three Original Text slots, which is more than enough. Even if one is occupied, it doesn’t affect me much… When I unlock new skills later, I can just replace it when needed.”
Rast thought for a moment and then activated the Original Text usage for 「Innate Skill · Endless Martial Refinement」 as well.
Another deep blue Original Text merged into his body, and the remaining Original Text slots became 1/3.
According to the light screen’s description, Endless Martial Refinement was a growth-type skill. Every time he swung his blade, it would permanently enhance the power of his sword techniques, so naturally, the earlier it was equipped, the better.
Of course, the weapon Rast was most proficient with was not a sword, but a gun.
But since the name of the skill was 「Endless Martial Refinement」 and not 「Infinite Sword Swing」, that meant spear techniques should also be included in the domain of improvement.
Who said spear techniques weren't martial arts? Who said gunplay wasn’t a technique?
Rast looked forward to the day when he would stack this layered skill to the extreme and one-shot an evil god with a single bullet.
After finishing all this, Rast stirred his thoughts.
The black tower world known as the 「The Fool’s Library」 before his eyes dissolved like a dream bubble, and the world around him was once again shrouded in night.
He could feel the flowing night around him gradually thinning and becoming lighter.
According to what Shiltina had told him earlier, once the night completely faded from around his body, he would emerge from the Historical Remnant and the Nightworld, appearing at the entrance to the real Nightworld.
However, before that, Rast still had something to do.
First of all, it was about his Nightblade.
The 「The Fool’s Library」 was not a gift from the Nightworld but had already been bound deep within his soul long before.
That meant it was highly likely that this Nightblade — said to contain the Original Texts of all worldly phenomena, all human inventions and skills — was somehow connected to his past.
To the past before he had entered Deep Blue Port, the life he had lived across hundreds of cycles.
And about that possibly existing past, Rast knew of only one clue.
Moreover, before leaving the Nightworld and heading to that new real world Shiltina spoke of...
He indeed wanted to return to that place once more.
Rast's thoughts stirred.
In the next instant, the emblem pinned to his chest transformed into a streak of pale silver light and landed in his right hand.
The gun’s body was completely silver-white, reflecting a piercing metallic luster like an iron moon.
Iron-Crested Moon.
It had accompanied Rast for over a hundred years, and after clearing the Remnant of Deep Blue Port, it was sublimated into an Emblem Armament — a revolver.
Rast pointed the barrel of the Iron-Crested Moon at his temple and slowly pulled the trigger.
Boom—
……
When Rast’s consciousness returned, what greeted his eyes was a lush green hillside.
Soft green grass stretched along the slope, and at the bottom was a lake like a silver mirror.
Beside the lake nestled a tranquil little town, and further in the distance were layers upon layers of mountain ranges, their snowy peaks glistening white.
The wind swept over the hillside, rustling the treetops above his head.
The white windmill beside the town slowly turned, casting a huge shadow over the lake.
A melodious and pleasant sonata reached his ears.
A girl holding a bagpipe sat on a nearby hillside, with the sunlight filtering through the woods and falling gently on her fair cheek. Her pale golden hair shimmered faintly in the light.
When she saw Rast wake up, the girl joyfully set down the bagpipe in her hands. Under the afternoon sun, her skin seemed almost translucent.
“Rast, you’re awake.”
“Mm, Xiao Ai, how long was I asleep?”
Rast rubbed his eyes.
The scenery before him — this border town — felt so idyllic, like a dream from the past.
In truth, Rast couldn’t tell whether this was a dream or reality. He only knew that this border town was called Canaan.
And the blonde girl before him was named Emis. Just like him, she was a resident of Canaan — born here, raised here, and had spent countless simple yet peaceful days on this green hillside.
Emis sat down beside Rast under the shade, tilting her head in thought. “About an hour?”
She gazed into Rast’s eyes with her sky-blue pupils and suddenly asked, “Rast, did you have that dream again? The one where you entered the place called Deep Blue Port?”
“Mm.” Rast nodded.
“Then you didn’t do anything stupid in the dream this time, right?” A serious glint flickered in Emis’ eyes.
“You didn’t jump into the molten steel at the steel plant to commit suicide, didn’t take those addictive hallucinogens just for the thrill, and didn’t…” Her voice paused, and she cleared her throat lightly. “Didn’t go looking for that Lead Dancer in black stockings again?”
“No.” Rast shook his head.
“That’s good then.”
As if breathing a sigh of relief, Emis reached into the basket beside her wool boots and took out two large paper-wrapped parcels.
She handed one of them over. “Today’s afternoon tea is sandwiches.”
Rast accepted the sandwich, and the moment he unwrapped it, a rich fragrance filled the air.
He took a bite, savoring the crisp round bread paired with the juicy roast meat as it burst in his mouth.
That was exactly why he had never studied cooking in Deep Blue Port and to this day could only make egg fried rice.
Rast thought for a moment and said softly, “But this time, my experience in Deep Blue Port was a little different.”
“Mm? What happened?” Emis seemed in a good mood, pulling a chilled tea from the basket and handing it to Rast.
Rast took the iced tea and sipped it. “I met a girl I had never seen before in Deep Blue Port.”
“She was very special……”