Chapter 547 - Those Two Words
His days in Jerano were numbered, but Arthur was not in a rush to leave since it would draw attention to him if he suddenly left. The best method to leave without the seven families noticing him was to create a problem.
Arthur looked at the wandering scholars rushing to and fro as he walked through the research department. At one point, he was the same as them, seeking knowledge in the most inconspicuous corners of science for another rune on his list.
However, after he became a runesmith, all of his runes disappeared. There were no more runes that he needed to learn and no more lists of runes that he had. His ability as a runesmith became like a blacksmith, a wielder of runes instead of a welder.
It was safe to say that Arthur can replicate runes now, as long as their impact on the world did not exceed his mana or level. However, he was the same as a painter with unlimited colors at his disposal, but he still needed to create something out of them.
For example, Arthur can use runes to create fire, but merging them with runes that create water will yield vapor or simply boiling water. This made him feel like a programmer of the world, allowing him to create very specific skills and abilities. As a result, his legacy has evolved, even though it was somehow different in this world.
[––––––––––– Legacy]
[Level: 39 (99%)]
[Legacy Points: 30]
[Stats Points: 54]
[Strength: 400]
[Agility: 400]
[Stamina: 400]
[Perception: 400]
[Mana: 400/400]
[Abilities: Runesmith (1%), Reality Manipulation]
[Skills: Mana Breathing Skill (E – 98%), Goblins Lord (Unique – 10%)]
[Arts: The Art of Creation –– Part Two, Basic Dagger Art (100%), Dagger Mastery (100%), Art of Creator –– Submission.]
After he met with Gaia, this change was brought up, which he didn't get to check in the past. Many things changed after his awakening, but what surprised him the most was that Arthur could now control the legacy and modify it.
The first thing he did was delete the legacy's earlier name using his Reality Manipulation. Furthermore, the skills have disappeared and were instead pooled into his ability, runesmith.
This was to say that artifacts, skills, and runes would now all strengthen his sole ability, runesmith. However, he retained other skills, and those were the ones he obtained without absorbing a skill stone or without buying them.
As his knowledge and familiarity with runes increase, Arthur can freely use his ability without the Chains of Order rejecting the change. This was his current goal. And for the name of the legacy, Arthur has yet to decide.
After he walked through the portal, Arthur found himself on the fifth floor, where the research teams were. However, his visit to the runes department was not just for fun, as his superior summoned him here.
As he walked through the hallways, he got to see many researchers working and digging into the knowledge of runes. Finally, Arthur reached the hidden lab from view and knocked on the door.
After a minute, the door slid open and revealed the lab inside. Arthur sighed before walking inside toward the lab, which looked nothing like a lab.
"Good morning, Alexie," said Julia while holding her tea and wearing her glasses. It seems she has spent the night over here, working, as was clear from her hairstyle. "I'm glad you stopped running away."
"Where is Professor Yuvan?" he asked with a frown. Yuvan Perli led their research team, and Arthur met as soon as he got here. It seems he was also the one who invited Arthur to study alongside them for consulting.
"I am afraid that he was summoned toward the runic exploration," she said. "I have the ciphers here, but the entanglement of the runic lines seems paradoxical," she ruffled through her hair.
"And that is the reason you lied," sighed Arthur before turning to walk out of the lab. "I will come back when the professor needs me."
"I can remove you from the team," she called after him. "And at that time, Arlo, Caleb, and Trevor will resume bothering you," she said with a grin.
At this time, Arthur realized that Arthur chose to associate himself with this witch. It was to get rid of three flies that kept challenging him over and over and hindering his study of runes.
However, Arthur could not deny the effort he put into this alternate timeline. It was the sole reason he managed to meet Gaia so soon and give himself the chance to awaken the memories he once had.
"It seems when seduction does not work, you go to threats," Arthur turned around with a smile. "Are you aware of the person that you are threatening?"
Something within him awakened after he learned about his past from Gaia, and that was pride. Arthur did not have that before when he considered himself a dirt digger. However, after he awakened, he refused to bow down to anyone.
"I will do whatever it takes for you to help me," she gritted her teeth, and Arthur noticed that her hand was shaking. "I can beg if that is your desire."
"As the youngest runemaster, you should have some dignity."
"I will lose that title if I don't advance in the runic paths in a few months. There are monsters overseas who have an abnormal affinity to runes, and their exam to be a runemaster is close."
"Then, that means you are undeserving of that title," Arthur walked over slowly and leaned on the table with his hand. "Unless you want the world to stop and wait for you, then step aside."
"You would never understand how I feel," she said while placing down her cup. "I am not Ori, and I am not Alexie Linan. I have seen how the two of you control runes. I am blind in comparison."
"I can make you see."
"...what?"
"I can grant you the affinity that you desire."
"Are you saying there is a way to do that?" her eyes shook while standing in a hurry. "Tell me what it is!"
"And would you pay the price?" he asked, and she nodded in a hurry. "Even if it means following my orders for the rest of your life?"
Arthur did not intend on helping this selfish person, but he wanted to test how desperate she was. As she listened to his offer, her face did not change. Then, Julia sighed and sat down.
"I am not interested," she waved her hands against his expectations. "You are either bluffing or telling the truth. In either case, it is not worth it."
As he saw her last shred of dignity, Arthur couldn't help but smile and sit down in front of her. Julia stared at him from behind her wide glasses with confusion.
"I am glad that there is a normal person here," he said while pulling the runic ciphers toward him. "And by normal, I meant selfish enough to be human."
"I am still your superior!" she sulked, and it made Arthur stop pulling the papers toward him. Then, as he squinted her eyes on him, her expression crumbled. "Please help me."
"I don't mind," he said with a laugh and stared at the cipher. "Ah, this is indeed complex."
"That's what I thought," she sighed while pulling her chair to sit next to him. "This runic image was taken from the site. It has been distributed among the runemasters to find a way to unlock the gate."
"Humans are capable of overcoming anything with sheer numbers," smiled Arthur as he stared at it. "This is not that..." he said before pausing. "Where is this?" he asked with a frown.
"What is it?"
"Where is this gate?"
"It has been uncovered in the deepest dungeons of Runera," she said with a sigh. "My family is there too, trying to be the first ones to unlock it."
Arthur was silent as he looked at the runic lines in front of him. It might not be evident to people of this world, but there was a message hidden using the runes.
This was not a cipher but a message. There was a letter inside these runic lines in the Alvan Language. And since it was inside Runera, it could only be a message from someone he knew.
"Where are the rest of the runic lines?" asked Arthur as he looked around. "I will help, so show me."
"I cannot reveal all of them," she said with a frown. "If the runic cipher gets leaked out, someone might crack it and find a way into Runera's most precious treasure."
"I will crack it for you, as long as you show me."
"...it is only the first layer from the seal," she muttered before sighing. "As long as you help me solve it, I don't mind showing you."
After that, Julia brought out the rest of the runic photos. Arthur assembled them to reveal the different letters hidden inside. As for their order, he used the runic depth of the layer to establish it. In the end, he was left with two words.
My Seika.