Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 477 - Skirmish (2)

Normally, Han-Yeol would’ve clicked his tongue and frowned at this kind of response, but if P was America's treasure, one could say that Red Twenty was Han-Yeol’s treasure, so he was able to overlook his reaction.

“I hear you’re financially struggling. I’ll pay you a lot more than what you’re making in the US if you work for me. Are you interested?”

[S-Sorry?]

If there was one thing that James, a weak man, had, it was his strong will to provide for the family he left behind in the United States. This was an unavoidable reaction for a man who had been practically brainwashed by his parents from a young age to fulfill his responsibilities as the head of the household.

Han-Yeol spread out his palm.

“I’ll give you a raise later, but you’ll start at five times your original salary.”

[I’ll be happy to work for you!]

This was the true nature of a monster that capitalism had created.

Red Twenty quickly bent his waist at a ninety-degree angle and bowed to Han-Yeol, fearing that he would withdraw his offer.

‘If it’s five times my previous salary, that’s more than enough to support my family!’

His salary as a special forces member was much higher than the weekly paychecks his peers got, but with a large family to support, even that wasn’t enough. However, if that amount was multiplied by five times, he could easily support his family on his own.

Han-Yeol laughed at Red Twenty’s behavior.

‘Haha, if this didn’t work, I was willing to pay ten times the amount just in case, but he accepted right away as expected.’

He was worried just in case, but it was as expected.

After successfully hiring Red Twenty for personal reasons, Han-Yeol took him under his wing and started thoroughly analyzing his abilities using three sets of eyes.

Unlike P, Red Twenty didn’t have to worry about America, so Han-Yeol blatantly studied him.

Gulp.

‘Ugh, this is so uncomfortable!’

Red Twenty found Han-Yeol incredibly uncomfortable, but this didn’t matter to Han-Yeol.

Days passed by just like that.

Ding!

[After analyzing very weak clues for a long time, you have succeeded in finding a hint regarding the power of time.]

[You have acquired the time attribute skill.]

[However, you have failed to acquire other skills due to the lack of clues. You require a greater breadth of knowledge. However, the subject of your observation is too weak, so it is unlikely that you will be able to gain that knowledge solely through observation.]

‘Nice!’

The third message was very negative, but Han-Yeol didn’t care.

‘What I really needed was the time attribute itself anyway. Hehehe!’

At last, Han-Yeol had succeeded in gaining the power of time and space. It took a lot of time and effort, which was uncharacteristic for him, but he knew it would be worth it.

[Congratulations, Han-Yeol-nim!]

‘Thank you, Karvis!’

Zinggg!

Han-Yeol reached out into thin air and opened the subspace storage.

Also, the subspace storage had now been upgraded from II to III. It was now much larger than before and could store a wider variety of items, thanks to the incorporation of advanced science and technology.

Drrrr.

The door to the subspace storage was no longer ordinary but automated. In the far corner of the state-of-the-art subspace storage, two swords that had been dormant for a very long time finally awakened to reveal their splendor.

‘They’re in perfect condition.’

[Time passes ten times slower inside the subspace storage, and it has a very advanced management system, so it can clean itself too.]

‘Of course. It’s thanks to my ability. Haha.’

Han-Yeol believed that his ability was truly amazing.

[Ahem, why don’t you stop flattering yourself and check out the sword’s ability?]

‘Tsk, you're nothing but an Ego, but okay, whatever.’

Just as he was getting into a good mood, it was shattered by Karvis’ comment.

Han-Yeol clicked his tongue and immediately checked the two swords.

[Pure white sword that rules space.]

Type: Equipment item

Mana amplification: 1200 percent

Description: A legendary pure white sword said to have been wielded by angels. It has the power to control space, but to wield it, the wielder must have the skill to control space.

Unique Ability: (Seal)

[Jet black sword that rules time.]

Type: Equipment item

Mana amplification: 1200 percent

Description: A legendary jet-black sword said to have been wielded by demons. It has the power to control time, but to wield it, the wielder must have the skill to control time.

Unique ability: (Seal)

A lot of time had passed, but the two words looked exactly the same as they did when he first acquired them. Nothing had changed.

‘Hmm, but will I really be able to use this?’

[What’s wrong?]

Han-Yeol’s confidence sank as he read the description of the two swords.

‘I’m supposed to control time and space, but can I use it when I’ve only just gained the attributes?’

He was incredibly determined to control time and space, and he acquired spatial and time attributes from P and Red Twenty. However, after pulling out the two swords again and checking their description, he started to worry.

[It’s not like you to be worried at a time like this!]

‘W-Who says I’m scared?’

Irritated by Karvis’ words, Han-Yeol carefully picked up the two swords in front of him, one in each hand.

Zinggg!

The swords, unresponsive until now and no better than a useless empty can, started to respond to his mana for the first time.

‘Woah!’

[See? I told you!]

‘What? You didn’t tell me anything.’

[Huh? I didn’t?]

‘Yeah, all you did was make fun of me.’

[Hey, no. When did I ever do that? I was simply giving you advice out of genuine concern, Han-Yeol-nim. Advice!]

‘Oh, really?’

[Yes!]

‘Ha!’

Karvis’ attitude left Han-Yeol speechless.

It was funny and ridiculous to see how the normally emotionless, computer-like Ego became energetic as soon as she started to tease him as if she had been waiting for this moment.

‘Well, I guess this isn’t too bad.’

This improvement in Karvis’ conversational skill wasn’t a bad thing for Han-Yeol, as she was the only person he could confide in.

Ooong! Brrrr!

Just when he was in the middle of a conversation with Karvis...

‘Huh?’

The two swords that had been quietly responding to Han-Yeol suddenly increased their intensity and made his hands tremble.

[T-This is?]

Karvis couldn't hide her surprise, just like Han-Yeol. This was more than just a response. It was more accurate to say that something was changing.

‘W-What the—?’

Hwaaa!

“Agh!”

The two swords emitted an incredibly bright light that blinded Han-Yeol. The light was so bright that Han-Yeol couldn't do anything but squeeze his eyes shut even though he was already holding the swords in each hand.

After a while, the light faded, and Han-Yeol felt a strange sensation, leading him to open his eyes.

Zzzzzz!

[Look, look!]

[We have a body!]

[Wow, this is so cool!]

[Hehehe. A body, a body!]

The two swords in Han-Yeol’s hands disappeared into thin air, revealing transparent, tiny creatures in the air.

“W-What?”

[A-Analyze!]

Han-Yeol didn’t order Karvis, but she immediately cast the Analyze skill on her own. There was a high chance that the Analyze skill wouldn't work since he had never seen these creatures before. But there was no harm in trying, so Karvis immediately activated the skill.

Ding!

‘Woah!’

Surprisingly, Analytic Eyes succeeded in analyzing the strange creatures. The first creature that was analyzed was a white, cat-like creature, but it looked more like a rigid doll than an actual living cat. In the creature's arms was a dainty, gold-rimmed clock.

‘This is obviously...’

The two options available were time and space, and the fact that this creature was holding a clock obviously indicated one thing.

[Spirit of Time]

Race: Spirit

Rank: Unknown

Experience: Unknown

Unique ability: Time control

Stats: Unknown

Skills: Time acceleration (?), time reversal (?), time slip (?), seal (X)

Attribute: Time

Description: The Spirit of Time is a very rare spirit, rarely seen by gods, let alone the spirit world. The Spirit of Time stays hidden in the world for a very long time and only emerges when certain conditions are met. The Spirit of Time never travels alone, but always in a pair with the Spirit of Space. Due to this, unless one has control over both space and time, one can’t see them, much less control them. Just because one has summoned them doesn’t mean they can control them. One must have a special connection with them to harness their special abilities.

‘Ha!’

Han-Yeol was left speechless after he finished reading the Spirit of Time’s description. Next was the Spirit of Space, which looked like a stuffed dog, unlike the Spirit of Time. The Spirit of Time held a clock and floated in the air with a mirror in their arms.

[Spirit of Space]

Race: Spirit

Rank: Unknown

Experience: Unknown

Unique ability: Time control

Stats: Unknown

Skills: Spatial shift (?), spatial transfer (?), spatial cut (?), seal (X)

Attribute: Time

Description: The Spirit of Space is avery rare spirit, rarely seen by gods, let alone the spirit world. The Spirit of Space stays hidden in the world for a very long time and only emerges when certain conditions are met. The Spirit of Space never travels alone, but always in a pair with the Spirit of Time. Due to this, unless one has control over both space and time, one can’t see them, much less control them. Just because one has summoned them doesn’t mean they can control them. One must have a special connection with them to harness their special abilities.

Han-Yeol gulped nervously.

This spirit was so similar to the Spirit of Time that he thought of them as basically the same spirit, except for the small details.

[Are you done now?]

[Hehe, play with us!]

“H-Hu?”

[What’s with the stupid expression?]

[Since the birth of this universe, this is the first time a human has ever summoned us!]

[That’s right! We should try playing with a human too!]

Kahahaha!

The Spirits of Time and Space, each in the form of a cat and a dog, leaned closer to Han-Yeol’s face and laughed heartily, finding something amusing.