Chapter 81

081. Secret Garden (4)

Rumble—!

The sword aura emitted a dense energy far beyond anything I had experienced before.

After a few system messages, I finally achieved the results I desired.

"Your skill 'Lightning Sword Aura (閃電劍氣)' proficiency has increased by 30% due to independent enlightenment."

Lightning Sword Aura (閃電劍氣).

The reason I had tried to independently manifest a sword aura was to increase the proficiency of this skill.

In any case, the ability to unleash a true strike and support my powers was something that could only benefit from growth.

However...

"Your 'Mana Manipulation (A-)' proficiency has increased by 8% due to independent enlightenment."

"I didn't expect it to go this far."

Currently, I was experiencing growth several times greater than what I had originally anticipated.

"Achievement 'Body and Sword as One (身劍合一)' unlocked."

"The penalty for increased mana consumption of the power 'Sword Aura Wounds (劍氣傷人)' has been removed."

Body and Sword as One (身劍合一).

The feeling of body and sword becoming one was implemented as an achievement, and the penalty for the sword aura was removed as a reward.

That's not all.

My proficiency in mana manipulation also increased due to independent enlightenment.

This meant that the enlightenment was significant enough to raise my proficiency in mana manipulation, which was already in the realm of innate talent.

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal (白鶴劍仙)' is greatly excited by your manifestation of the sword aura."

"Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Overlord' is astonished that the contractor has reached the realm of Body and Sword as One."

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal (白鶴劍仙)' wants to test your talent further."

"Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Overlord' trembles with greed at the contractor's talent."

I could understand to some extent why the administrators were sending messages like they were going crazy.

Even more so...

"Being the first to manifest a sword aura (劍氣) in the Earth dimension... Not a bad title."

The Tower of Trials praised me as the first challenger to manifest a sword aura in the Earth dimension.

How many times had the tower ever praised me, and not just anyone else?

The tower only praised me when I was called and after I defeated the orcs in a fierce battle.

After that, I don't even remember the tower praising me again.

Savoring the long-awaited praise, I soon reined in the sword aura and stopped.

Everything I needed to do was now complete.

So—

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal (白鶴劍仙)' invites you to the administrator domain."

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal (白鶴劍仙)' invites you to the administrator domain..."

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal (白鶴劍仙)' invites you to the administrator domain..."

There was no need to delay any further.

***

Accepting White Crane Sword Immortal's invitation, the transition to the administrator domain was literally instantaneous.

"Accepting the invitation, you are moving to the administrator domain."

"Entering the Bamboo Grove (樹林)."

As the system message appeared, in the blink of an eye, the scenery around me changed, and a mansion with a small pond surrounded by a bamboo forest came into view.

The atmosphere reminded me of ancient China, and I found it momentarily interesting.

However, this interest did not translate into surprise.

After all, this was just a domain assigned to White Crane Sword Immortal, much like the space assigned to Iron-Blooded Overlord.

Now, my interest was more focused on White Crane Sword Immortal, the master of this domain.

Judging from the title used for administrators, I thought White Crane Sword Immortal might be an old man, like Baixue Xue.

Recalling the messages I had received, this seemed even more likely.

Perhaps he had a slightly doting grandfatherly feel?

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal (白鶴劍仙)' eagerly awaits your visit."

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal (白鶴劍仙)' hopes your mindset remains unchanged."

However, my speculation about White Crane Sword Immortal's identity was interrupted by the messages that appeared.

"..."

It was as if an old hermit was anxiously waiting for a long-lost grandson to leave.

But unlike the anxious messages from White Crane Sword Immortal, I had no intention of turning back now.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of delaying further."

Through independent enlightenment, I had reaffirmed the utility of the sword aura (劍氣) and was confident that Administrator White Crane Sword Immortal would bring me benefits, not losses.

An administrator with a martial background could certainly provide significant advantages to me.

So—

Now that I had come this far, there was no option to turn back.

I moved forward, opened the door of the Chinese-style mansion, and entered.

Then—

"Finally, you've made it here."

A woman with white hair appeared on the veranda, where a small pond was clearly visible.

She was holding a sword on her lap and turned her head to smile at me.

And—

"I've been waiting for a challenger like you for a long time."

I widened my eyes as I saw her, a young and beautiful woman with a clear and refined appearance, letting her snow-white hair flow gently.

I had speculated that White Crane Sword Immortal would be an old man with a gentle demeanor, but...

My speculation was completely off. White Crane Sword Immortal was not an old man, and not even a man.

"Nice to meet you. I am Administrator White Crane Sword Immortal."

White Crane Sword Immortal was a young and beautiful woman with a clear and refined appearance.

***

"..."

I thought I wouldn't be so surprised when meeting White Crane Sword Immortal, but I was completely wrong.

White Crane Sword Immortal's identity was entirely different from what I had imagined.

The fluttering white martial robe and the fine white hair suggested that White Crane Sword Immortal was an elderly person.

However, her body looked like that of a young adult in her early twenties, which was quite surprising.

Do all administrators maintain such youthful bodies?

'Even after dying and becoming subordinate to the tower, the tower's benefits must be quite substantial.'

Not only an ageless and disease-free body but also a personal domain assigned to each administrator.

This level of treatment might even be better than the welfare standards on Earth.

At that moment—

"Is something wrong? Is there a problem?"

White Crane Sword Immortal tilted her head, looking at me standing in place.

I then snapped out of my thoughts and spoke.

It's not good to be distracted by such thoughts when facing an important trading partner.

"Seeing an administrator I only knew through messages in person is quite surprising."

To be precise, I was surprised by her appearance, which was completely different from what I had imagined.

"Ahaha... I can understand that."

White Crane Sword Immortal smiled gently and nodded.

Then, she patted the seat next to her and looked at me.

"Standing for a long time must be tiring. Come over here."

"Alright. I'll take the liberty."

Responding to her invitation, I sat down next to her.

Only then did I realize why she was sitting on the veranda instead of a chair.

It was refreshing.

"..."

The wind from the Bamboo Grove (樹林) blew onto the veranda, bringing a fresh feeling.

Beyond the open veranda, fish swam freely under the lotus flowers in the small pond.

Just looking at it made me feel gradually moved.

As I stared at the scene, White Crane Sword Immortal spoke to me.

"Feels good, doesn't it?"

She smiled, hugging her fluttering martial robe that reached her ankles.

"I've been watching your progress from here all along."

"Since when?"

"Since you fought Baixue Xue in the life-or-death battle on the 9th floor."

"You started watching me as soon as the trial observation became possible."

Indeed, that was when White Crane Sword Immortal had supported me with a power.

This meant that after seeing me defeat Baixue Xue, she immediately supported me with a power.

"Wasn't it a waste to support a power to a mere challenger you had only seen once?"

At this, White Crane Sword Immortal shook her head with a cold expression.

"Not at all. You need to recognize your own value more accurately."

"Baixue Xue, although he didn't reach the level of Sword Aura Formation (劍氣成罡), was once a renowned swordsman in the martial world."

"..."

"Even though he lost most of his strength after entering the Tower of Trials, defeating such a challenger is a feat worthy of being called a great achievement."

She spoke with admiration, but I couldn't accept it as is.

Baixue Xue was clearly much stronger than me before entering the tower.

And even before the layer intrusion penalty weakened him, there wasn't much difference.

I was about to dismiss it as mere luck when—

I was shocked by what White Crane Sword Immortal said next.

Because—

"I can say this as someone who once had a contract with Baixue Xue. You don't need to doubt it."

An unexpected fact was revealed through her words.

***

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

I had already guessed that White Crane Sword Immortal was an administrator with a martial background.

However, it was the first time I learned that she had once had a contract with Baixue Xue.

I wondered if she harbored any deep grudges against me, but—

She seemed to sense my thoughts and dismissed them.

"I wasn't on good terms with Baixue Xue."

"..."

"He was just a challenger who could earn points for me, even though he had no potential for growth."

"..."

"I never met him in person. He knew this, but he stayed because he coveted my powers."

White Crane Sword Immortal said this with a bitter sigh.

"I've made contracts with many challengers, but I've never invited one to my domain before."

From her words, I could sense that she had spent a long time alone.

"Until I saw you through Baixue Xue."

Her eyes now held a serious expression, sending an intangible pressure my way.

"I'll say it clearly, even though you might have guessed."

I narrowed my eyes and looked at her.

"With the new [Additional Contract] created by the tower's system expansion, please contract with me."

I maintained a neutral expression and asked.

"What exactly are the benefits I will gain from this?"

"I can make you my apostle."

"Exactly, what benefits will I get by becoming your apostle, White Crane Sword Immortal?"

"In the tower, an apostle is a special contract relationship that each administrator can designate only once in their lifetime."

"..."

"When an apostle contract is formed, the designated challenger can purchase all the powers possessed by the administrator."

"Does that mean a non-apostle contract cannot purchase all the powers?"

"The powers possessed by an administrator are abilities that can break the rules. There must be limitations."

In other words, if I became her apostle, I could buy all of White Crane Sword Immortal's powers.

But if I didn't, I would only be able to obtain limited powers.

I felt incredibly lucky in this situation.

Iron-Blooded Overlord was the first contractor I had, and I was the first challenger White Crane Sword Immortal had brought to her domain to be made an apostle.

Moreover—

'White Crane Sword Immortal offered me the position of apostle despite it being an additional contract.'

The Tower of Trials had clearly stated that [Additional Contracts] could be terminated at any time.

Yet, she offered me the position of apostle, which an administrator could only give once in their lifetime.

Could there be a better situation for me? However, paradoxically, this made me suspicious.

"Why are you offering me the position of apostle?"

What did White Crane Sword Immortal want from me that she was willing to offer the position of apostle despite it being an additional contract?

I couldn't contain my curiosity, and she answered easily.

"I chose you to achieve my sorrowful wish (悲願), just like she did."

As if there was nothing to hide, White Crane Sword Immortal looked at the pond and spoke softly.

"I need a sword sharper than anyone else's. A sword that will never break and never dull, the best sword."

Sword (劍).

"The you I saw has the potential to become sharper than any sword."

White Crane Sword Immortal chose me because she believed I could become the sharpest sword.

Then, where would she wield this sword, me?

"A sword is taken into hand because there is a time to wield it."

"..."

"Then, what is this sorrowful wish (悲願)?"

"..."

However, she tilted her head, as if she didn't understand what I meant.

Then, she approached me, her fluttering martial robe trailing on the veranda, and her eyes widened like a rabbit's.

"Didn't you hear what the sorrowful wish (悲願) is from her?"

Seeing her refer to 'her,' I wanted to ask if she knew Iron-Blooded Overlord, but—

I focused on her question about whether I knew what the sorrowful wish (悲願) was.

"I only heard that the sorrowful wish (悲願) cannot be revealed to me yet."

"Is that so? She hasn't told her apostle about the sorrowful wish (悲願) yet?"

"..."

"Alright. If she hasn't told you, I can tell you."

White Crane Sword Immortal gripped her fluttering martial robe with both hands and spoke as if sighing.

"A sorrowful wish (悲願) is not a private desire of an administrator without compensation for you."

And—

"A sorrowful wish (悲願) is a right granted by the tower to administrators. Like the tower's trials, administrators can issue trials to their contracted challengers. When the trials are completed, the challengers receive rewards."

At her words, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.