Only I Am A Reader

Chapter 162 - The Start Of Change

Compared to 'The Sword Master's Second Life', 'Murim Supremacy' was far too complicated. Even if Leo were to disregard the impossible tasks he had to achieve, simply surviving and rising in the world of murim was quite difficult in itself.

Although his identity was bound to rise for a change this time, advantages such as making use of 'Hidden Pieces' were severely compromised as the difficulty of obtaining them multiplied by a few folds…

However, it wasn't like Leo was completely starting from the bottom once again!

[ Reading Attribute, 'Skill Reading', has been activated! ]

Regardless of his reading preparations and pre-emptive planning, he carried the essence of the 8 years he had spent in his first adventure!

Continuing off the cycle of perfect inheritance, the skills that Leo retained from his first 'True Reading' experience similarly carried along the muscle memory to use them. Considering his age, it was like the current him had started training from the very first moment he was born!

[ The First Chapter of the Reader's 'Close Quarter Combat' has ended. ]

While most of that time was spent on the main skill of that world, Leo hadn't slacked on training the most basic combat skill on the side, driving it to the stage where he remained a variable against a veteran battle instructor!

[ 'Basic Close Quarter Combat' has been corrected to 'Intermediate Close Quarter Combat'. ]

The flood in his mind didn't seem to recede despite his limited reading. It was like it flowed in a never-ending cycle, endlessly repeating just like the battle ongoing outside of his head. For the very first time, Leo got to experience applying what he 'read' just as he was 'reading it' against a living opponent!

[ The Second Chapter, 'Intermediate Close Quarter Combat', has started. ]

'Not exactly as expected…'

Since this was the third skill of his to advance to the second chapter, Leo wasn't as affected when he underwent the supernatural process, but the small differences still made it unique in its own way.

Even when everything was done, the candle had yet to completely melt, it was only Leo that felt like the battle had lasted forever just now.

At this point, the vigilance was very apparent in the battle instructor's eyes. Leo initially thought that the sudden rise in skill would make him suspicious, but it seemed to have only made his guess more believable!

'It's like he was born for battle!'

Possessing skills beyond a beginner did indeed arouse some suspicion in his mind, but the unexplainable growth could only be explained by talent from the battle instructor's limited perspective! Leo's talent with internal energy was still unknown, but just his talent in battle made the battle instructor believe that they had caught a resplendent gem!

'He almost gets full points.'

'Gentle Han' showed a mischievous smile for the first time as his eyes wandered towards the second stage. This was just the first day so his remark wasn't serious. Still, Leo truly didn't disappoint the criteria from the very first moment.

'Yeon!'

However, the person that most eyes had gathered at didn't care about his battle at this moment. He had gone all out to his heart's content and even achieved a remarkable advancement, the one who required his attention was the feeble girl on the stage next to him.

Thanks to the battle instructor's distraction by his level of skill, Leo managed to get the opening he needed to take a few glances at Yeon's battle. His expression went slightly sour, but a spark lit up deep inside.

'It's different!'

The inexperienced Yeon was still getting beaten like the rest of the children, but she was in pretty good shape in comparison to most. Her battle skills were almost null, but she managed to nimbly avoid a few strikes every now and then.

Even without the full explanation regarding the meal's origins, Yeon could tell that she had the advantage when it came to stamina. Since she didn't have the confidence to deliver any attacks of her own, she focused on abusing this endless stamina to dodge punches whenever she noticed one.

'Great!'

Leo no longer watched but his heart was brimming with relief, this was the exact opposite to what should have happened on the first day!

As much as Baekho wanted to help Yeon, she had already told him to not make any trouble so that he wouldn't become another sacrifice for setting an example. He felt that it was impossible for her to finish the training list, so he pushed himself to do it, hoping to share his food with Yeon at the end.

Unfortunately, such an act wouldn't be accepted by Instructor Han, causing Yeon's already weak body to suffer even more under the attacks of the battle instructor while being burdened by fatigue…

[ Plot change confirmed. Unique event occurrence has been detected. ]

However, that was no longer the case, Yeon's descent into the vicious cycle of endless pain was avoided! As long as she held on for a few more days, even the disadvantage of her body could no longer hold her back!

[ Under the Reader's influence, Secondary Main Character Yeon's 'suffering' arc had been delayed. ]

[ You have received 24 Reading Points. ]

"Pass."

As great news made its way to Leo's mind, the candle wholly melted away, prompting the battle instructor to withdraw, retreating back to his passive position.

Walking out of the stage, Leo and Yeon turned to each other with a smile at almost the exact same timing. 24 points felt like nothing for a change this important, but Leo understood how limited his contribution had been.

Yeon had it in her to finish the training list in both instances, Leo had merely pushed her so that she would bet on her ability to do so rather than giving up midway just like she would have initially done.

"Alright, this is it for today. I hope everyone has fully seen the goal that they should be pursuing starting tomorrow… Just remember, every choice you make is still your responsibility."

Even if he could have somehow obtained more reading points, Leo was completely satisfied with the current outcome, his eyes reflecting Yeon's innocent smile.