Seol stood in shock. He hadnt expected this.

Master?

If I knew it would be like this, I wouldve burned this room down a long time ago.

R-Right?

Seol sighed, looking up at the sky.

Behind that sigh, Seol released not only his annoyance at the wasted time, but also a sense of relief.

Still, I could find Chao.

It was a relief that Seol could find Chaos traces in the end.

The only things he lost were the sleepless nights waiting for Chao and the time spent investigating other Adventures.

Obviously, even that was frustrating.

However, when Seol looked at it purely in terms of results, it was handled well in the end.

Seol spent the Remaining Time he had left sleeping, eating well, and resupplying.

And like that, five days had passed.

Glooow

And his body began to be transported elsewhere.

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

[You begin your next Adventure.]

[Your 15th Adventure is starting.]

[Adventure 15. Tardy]

[Adventure 15. Tardy

Through many twists and turns, you had encountered Chao.

Chao left you with one request before leaving. Unfortunately, you were slow in returning after fulfilling her request.

You have arrived in Nobira far later than the promised time.

Fortunately, you are now on your way to a location she arranged for your next meeting.

However, you are uncertain about what will happen there or the circumstances she may have found herself in.

Objective: Break through the Wall of Awakening.

This Adventure is dangerous.

Remaining Time [N/A]]

For the first time in a while, it was an Adventure without a time limit.

Seol was transported into a forest without any signs of life.

Seol first believed that this was the Great Forest.

But What is this smell?

The smell of a burning car?

No, it was something else Something much more familiar

Cigarettes?

Not too long after, Chao appeared while puffing smoke out of her cigarette.

Yo! Youre late! Why were you so late?

Chao?

Did everything go well?

Seol pulled out the Sleeping Medicine from his inventory.

It went well. There was a problem on the way back, so I only arrived in Nobira about a month ago.

A problem? Ah, those trolls?

Yes. By the way, did you fight with the Sulfur Skull Tribe?

No? Some weird-looking trolls appeared out of nowhere on my way to meet you, so I just left as fast as I could.

It was strange.

To Seols knowledge, Chao was strong.

She was much stronger than any ordinary Shadow Summoner.

Why are you looking at me like that? Ah, are you trying to ask why I didnt help out in Nobira?

Did I make a face like that?

Yeah, very obviously.

Seol wasnt trying to berate her at all. He was simply curious.

Thats because it doesnt involve me at all, no? Not to mention, Im a very busy person.

She was the same type of person as Seol.

Youre busy?

Of course! Why else would I request something from a junior Shadow Summoner I just met?

Then, did you also know what was happening in Wet Fog Town?

Somewhat? But I couldnt solve it because they went into hiding. Uh I think her name was Sarah, right? Wasnt she cute?

She was a good person.

...Shes not dead, right?

She was close to dying, but we managed to catch him before he could.

Thats a relief. What were his final words, though?

He just asked why he couldnt have been saved like the townspeople. He was sad about his fate.

Still, that doesnt justify ruining other peoples lives. Youre better at handling things than I thought, junior?

Seol had handled Chaos request well.

This meant that Seol also had a right to request something from her.

Then

Hold on, that was the first stage. The real test is differ

Click.

Unsheathe

Should I just kill her, Master?

Hahaha! How loyal! Its quite nice to see. So, um what Im trying to say is woah, woah you should put that sword away yeah? Thats a cool sword, though. Is it new? Regardless, lets use our words like intellectuals. Lets not be so cruel between people of the same classes.

Sheathe.

Karen sheathed her sword.

Seol had somewhat expected things to go this way. There was no way an Adventure would be classified as dangerous if all he had to do was break through the Wall of Awakening.

Fuu Do I have to do something else as well?

Yeah. Well, I wouldnt say you have to do it, but well, I guess you do have to do it.

What is it?

Become my test subject.

Click.

Unsheathe

Like I said, could you put that sword

What do you mean by becoming your test subject?

Yeah, so Ive been researching something for a while, and it's nearing its final stages now.

So?

The problem is that the research requires a Shadow Summoner of a certain level and a powerful summon who is on the same page as them.

Cant you do it then?

Well I have some problems of my own. Regardless, thats why I was looking for someone else. And I just so happened to catch suitable test subjects in my net, and it just so happened

To be me?

Nod.

Chao nodded and bashfully smiled.

Seol looked at her expression and thought.

Is it dangerous?

Huh? No well yes.

What?

It is.

How dangerous is it?

It isnt dangerous, physically. Its just dangerous, mentally.

Like I said, how dangerous?

Youll have to die once.

Haha.

Hahaha, its funny, right?

What did she mean by having to die once?

Seol then remembered something from deep within his memory.

Is that why you stole that false death device from Grizs Laboratory?

Woah, you know that far? Then this will be much easier to explain. Youre right.

Do you know how to use it?

Somewhat. I confirmed that it was working.

So, what does becoming your test subject imply?

Its simple. Well use the False Death-Inducing Device to separate your consciousness far away from you. In some ways, you would be returning to your purest form. After that, youll escape while connecting your mind to your shadow. Simple, right?

- What the fuck is she saying, LMFAO?

- Its that easy.

- This reminds me of Bob Ross telling people that its easy to paint

- I gave up meeting Chao was just a mistake.

- It seems like it wasnt meant to be

What are the odds of success?

Its probably different based on whos doing it, no? Personally, I think that you have a fifty percent chance of surviving.

Those arent bad odds.

Because youll either succeed or fail.

......

- You either die or die.

- She really is something LMFAO

Seol scratched his chin.

For now, I understand the situation. So, what are the rewards if I were to become your test subject?

I knew it! I like being straightforward like this, it becomes clearer like this. So what would be a good reward

Chao thought for a while before hitting her palm with a fist like she had finished thinking.

Ill teach you an Exceptional Skill.

Ill do it.

Hahaha! I knew we would get along.

- I might die? I wont do it.

- Exceptional Skill? Bet.

- Whod say no? LMFAOOO

- How could anyone say no? HAHAHAHA

Exceptional Skill.

Like Karens Sunset Draw, Exceptional Skills were on a completely separate level from ordinary skills.

Exceptional Skills were better than normal skills in every way, such as destructive power, efficiency, specialness, and ingenuity.

That was what an Exceptional Skill was.

Furthermore, not only was it very difficult to learn, but only very few people ever shared their Exceptional Skills with others.

It was to the point that a persons Exceptional Skill was also practically their identity.

Even when an individual learned an Exceptional Skill early in their Adventures, the power of that Exceptional Skill remained effective in later Adventures, as well.

Is it one of Gregorys skills?

Nope, its not.

Then is it a skill you made yourself?

It is.

Chao was skilled enough to create her own Exceptional Skills.

Seol looked at Chao in another way again.

She wasnt just a skilled expert, she was an extremely skilled expert.

Since the False-Death Inducing Device is at my hideout, why dont we head there while we talk?

Is it far?

Its not that far.

Still, why did you create a hideout? Are you being hunted down by someone?

Well hm why dont I explain that on our way there, too? For now, lets start with some basic training?

Training? Sounds good.

Seol was ready to do whatever training it took to learn an Exceptional Skill.

- A monster that hands out Exceptional Skills

- Exceptional Skill Monster. ESM! ESM! TSM!

Alright, gather around here. Bring out all of your summons, too.

The surroundings started getting dark as Seol headed closer and closer to Chaos hideout.

Now, you will be sharing your true feelings with each other. You could share old stories, too!

Huh? Thats the training?

Simple, right?

- I cant watch this LMFAO

- Chao = Mike Tyson. Snowman and his summons = Pigeons.

- Now kith.

Why are we doing this training?

How much do you know about your shadows?

My shadows? Well

Seol didnt know much.

Rather, it was more accurate to say that he barely knew anything.

If you dont want to lose your way while under false death, you have to know everything about your shadows. Their regrets, grudges, lives, etc. You might never wake up again if youre hiding secrets from each other, alright?

Hold on

Clap!

Chao clapped her hands once, then started to drift away.

Now, Ill give you guys room to share some quality time.

After Chao left, the only thing that followed was an awkward silence.

This was simply a natural reaction to suddenly being asked to talk about oneself.

- Scratch Scratch

- Uh guys

- Could anyone say something

The first to break the silence was Karen.

Then what about starting with that?

With what?

The thing Jamad mentioned last time when we were with Mael. He never got into the specifics. What about starting with that?

- My father was drafted into a war and croaked there, while my mother died young. The funny part was that the previous generation offered my mothers corpse to the dragon as a snack.

- Silence

- Fucking Karen

- Karens cant read the room LMFAOOO

Jamad thought for a second, then nodded.

Not a bad idea.

Right?

Its been a while since I talked about the specifics of this. In fact this might be the first time after becoming chief of the Rock Molar Tribe.

Jamad quickly began talking about himself like he was excited.

"Even in my earliest memories, I was an orphan. My father died after being drafted into the war before I could walk, and my mother succumbed to a chronic illness."

...Could I take back what I said?

I dont mind, but I think learning about each other, even if it's just a little, is the best way to get out of this annoying situation.

Thats true. You can keep going.

Did you know this? Trolls offer their dead to whoever they worship as a sacrifice.

Jamad calmly continued.

My mother was offered as a sacrifice to Tancreed, the Earth Dragon. And like that, I was alone. I had no brothers, no parents.

......

I knew about the tradition, but I couldnt understand it. My ancestors left and established themselves in the Pointy Mountains because they couldnt stand being ruled by the Old Gods anymore. However, the only thing thats changed was the object of worship, from the Old Gods to a dragon. We were still the same, worthless. We were a contradictory race who had to endlessly serve others.

Seol only had bits and pieces of information about the trolls. As such, this was also his first time learning about this.

When I was still young So, before Tancreed entered her slumber, she visited the tribe once.

- Go away! Get out of here!

- J-Jamad, that stupid fool!

- Stop it! N-No!

- Are you trying to kill our tribe?!

I threw a stone at Tancreed. While everyone bowed down to her, I was the sole troll who held his head high and threw a stone at her scales.

Thats incredible.

- Please forgive us, Tancreed! Hes just a young child, he has yet to learn about your

- K-Kill him! Drag him out of here!

I told her to bring back my mother. I called her a barbaric lizard Im sure I said something like that, but I dont remember what exactly I said back then anymore.

How did you manage to survive?

- Youre I see. So you are her child.

She let me onto her back and took off with her wings. And then, she took me somewhere before letting me off.

- This is

- I remember your mother, little life.

The young Jamad stood in front of a tomb covered in wreaths.

It was my mothers grave. Though my tribe offered her to Tancreed as a sacrifice, Tancreed buried her. I cried in misery. That was my first, and will probably be my last time crying.

Why did you cry, though?

A sense of inferiority. I cried because of how inferior myself and my race were. She was a much more noble and beautiful existence than I had ever imagined. I was a member of an inferior race who lost control after losing his mother and tried to injure that noble dragon I was an inferior life form.

......

Then, Tancreed told me this.

- You have good eyes.

- I-I apologize, Tancreed.

- Its a big world, child. Right now, everything will be painful and difficult. After all, you are still small and weak. However

And like that, she had become my lifes goal.

- One day, your time will come. You will later learn about the reason for your life, the reason for all life. And through that, you will reach the truth. Work hard, little life.

That was why Jamad despised the Old Gods powers and tried to do things by himself.

Seol learned a bit more about Jamad through that today.

Regardless, that was how I was born. After that, I was given the Curse of Brothers and accepted it as my fate. I guess the results of that arent too good, though. Still, Ill finish my story there. I want to hear about your stories now.

Before Seol could even respond to Jamad, Chao abruptly appeared.

Thump!

Gasp Gasp

And then, she shouted in urgency.

Theyre coming! We have to leave here, immediately!

The Adventures first danger had arrived.

[The main contents of Tardy have changed.]

[Tardy has changed to Those Who Chase the Shadows.]