Chapter 18: Do not make me a sinner
Jaden heaved a sigh and spat with a furious look.
"I was attacked..."
Theron’s frown deepened upon hearing that, but he didn’t say anything, just gestured for him to continue. Jaden nodded at him and continued.
"My friends and I wanted to celebrate our awakening ceremony, so we returned after I finished my awakening and came to the mansion with them... After having a chat with them, I stepped out to take the fresh air... and then..."
His face contorted into fury as he remembered how those bastards had beaten him black and blue with their spineless methods. He heaved a sigh to calm his anger and shook his head as he spoke after a few moments.
"A group of people attacked me," he added with a downcast look.
Theron nodded at him; his expression had already returned to usual indifference. He thought about it for a few moments and questioned.
"Do you remember their faces?"
Jaden shook his head and answered in a slightly furious tone.
"My face was covered. I couldn’t see or hear anything."
Theron stared at him for a few moments and lay back in his chair as he questioned.
"So why have you come to me? You want me to take care of them?"
Jaden looked at him with assertiveness and responded.
"No... I will take care of them myself."
Theron nodded at him before asking.
"What do you want from me?"
"I want to become stronger so they can never pull anything like this... So, please allow me entry to the arcane library."
Theron lifted his hands and clasped them together as he placed them on the table. He looked into Jaden’s eyes and questioned.
"Why would I do that?"
Jaden looked back into his eyes and replied domineeringly.
"Weakness is a sin... and I do not desire to commit such a sin, thus I ask you not to make me a sinner."
Theron continued to stare at him as his lips arched up as he nodded and placed his hand on the knob of the table’s drawer, and spoke as he took out a parchment and began writing on it.
"Make sure not to disappoint me."
He placed the mayor’s seal on the parchment and offered it to Jaden. Jaden stepped forward and took the parchment from Theron’s hand.
"This will allow you to stay there for a week," Theron added.
He bowed to him and spoke.
"Thanks for believing in me, Father."
Theron gave him a slight smile and went back to reviewing the documents and scrolls placed on the table.
Jaden walked out of the room with the parchment rolled up in his hand. His eyes were sharp, and a wide grin took hold of his lips. He made his way towards the hall; his steps were measured, but they no longer held the anxiety of before.
Jaden looked at the scroll in his hand, and his grin widened. Within the Nightshade city, one must get permission from the authorities to enter the arcane library, which was taken care of by the church of Knowledge.
The arcane library was where all of the magic spells and martial arts manuals were stored.
One was allowed to share their knowledge with others, but if they wanted to learn from the very manuals, they needed permission.
’System.’
————[System]————
Host: Jaden Cross
Job: The Shutter Summoner
Level: 1
Experience: 20/100
Skills: [Capture], [Picturebook], [Summon]
Available features: [Profile], [Epiphany Zone]
Slots: 8
————[System]————
’It’s finally time to test out the [Epiphany Zone]’
He soon reached the hall where Selina and Shelly were chatting with each other, but they hadn’t noticed him.
Jaden halted in his steps as his jaw fell open, looking at the scene before him. Shelly had a smile on her face as he talked to Selina... she looked normal.
’W-What’s going on? Is that a fake? Where’s the real Shelly?’
As he stood there looking at Shelly with suspicious eyes, Selina noticed him and called out.
"Jaden."
He turned and looked at her before stepping closer, his eyes still shifted towards Shelly as he narrowed them in suspicion.
Selina furrowed her brows, seeing him act like that, but didn’t say anything and questioned him.
"How did it go?"
Reaching them, he waved the rolled-up scroll with a grin on his face. Selina nodded upon seeing the scroll, and Shelly stepped forward with a small round container in her hand.
She opened the lid of the container, and the round container was filled with a green gel-like substance. She dipped her index and middle fingers in the gel and moved her hand towards Jaden.
Jaden took a step back and looked at the green gel with suspicious eyes and asked.
"What’s that?"
Selina shook her head as she thought.
’He is suspicious of everything.’
"That’s a healing gel... for your ’look the part’ face."
He still stared at the gel with suspicion for a few moments before nodding. He took a seat on the sofa and gestured to Shelly to be done with it.
She also gave him a nod and began applying the gel on his face. A few moments later, she stepped back and closed the lid of the container.
Jaden was collapsed on the sofa with his eyes wide open... that healing gel appeared to be highly effective as his swollen face was already healing at a visible pace.
He sat there for a few minutes until his face was presentable again and went through all of his plans.
’I have to go to the arcane library and learn as many spells and arts as I can within these seven days... then I have to go to the forest and level up as fast as I can.’
’And at last I’ll check out the drainage... there’s no way there isn’t one; it must be hidden one way or another. I think I can also find the way to the drainage within the library, it holds all knowledge after all.’
He stood up from the sofa and looked at Selina and Shelly as he spoke.
"I can’t take you two to the arcane library... so I shall take my leave now."