Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Chief Judge’s Recommended Place

Back in the familiar library, Lloyd thought for a moment before running off to borrow a hefty tome titled Advanced Materials Science, planning to brush up on the subject.

The Chief Judge’s earlier words were still on his mind, and he wanted to learn more about the topic.

He found the book quickly and then ran to find Meditis, who was sound asleep on her desk, to borrow the bell.

Without the help of [Intense Concentration], it would probably take him several days to get through such a thick book.

But just as Lloyd approached, Meditis suddenly sat bolt upright and casually tossed the bell onto the desk.

Just as Lloyd reached for it, she snatched it back, as if deliberately teasing him.

"Hee hee, I’ve suddenly decided I don’t want to lend it to you anymore."

"Uh..."

"What’s wrong? A bad woman like me is just this fickle."

Meditis said in a sarcastic tone, playing with the bell in her hand as if intentionally trying to provoke Lloyd.

But Lloyd was already used to her craziness and didn’t get angry. He just said helplessly:

"I’ve borrowed it from you so many times, I really should compensate you somehow."

"Compensation? Who wants that? Didn’t I tell you already? You help me with my work, and I’ll lend it to you. Even though I’m the worst woman in the world, I still keep my promises."

’Then what was all that about being fickle just now?’

Lloyd didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He then heard Meditis continue to explain:

"It’s just that things have gotten ’lively’ around here lately, so I’ve decided I don’t need your help anymore. After all... I don’t want a blockhead like you going mad too quickly."

’So that’s what this was all about...’

Lloyd more or less understood her thinking. She had also noticed that more Demons were being sent over lately, so she felt too embarrassed to keep slacking off and wanted to go down and compete for his kills.

’How could I let her get her way? Nobody is taking my Madness Value, okay!’

Lloyd quickly tried to talk her out of it:

"It’s just a little extra work. I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me."

But his words only earned him a sharp retort from Meditis:

"Hmph~ Don’t flatter yourself. Did you really think a bad woman like me would worry about you? I just don’t want to lose the person who does my work for me."

’Sigh... She’s so difficult to talk to...’

Lloyd sighed helplessly and tried a different approach to dissuade her:

"I come in very early every day and take all the keys for the -3 floor. If you want to go down and perform the executions, you’ll have to get here earlier than me."

These words seemed to hit Meditis right where it hurt, and she fell silent instantly.

Lloyd had actually noticed long ago that Meditis always came in late. She would usually only show up after he had executed the Demons, dissected their organs, cleaned the area, and changed his clothes. Sometimes she’d be even later than that.

’Getting her to come in earlier than me would clearly be a monumental task...’

Finally, Meditis could only slam the bell on the desk and say with a pout:

"Hmph~ Fine. If you love acting tough so much, I can’t be bothered to stop you."

"Thank you."

Lloyd smiled and picked up the bell.

"Idiot..."

Meditis muttered under her breath, then laid her head back down on the desk and went to sleep.

***

That afternoon, Lloyd arrived at the training grounds an hour early. He picked up a practice sword, ready to get some hands-on practice with his newly fused skill.

He first tried some normal slashes, uppercuts, and thrusts without infusing any Spiritual Power. The [Swordsmanship] he had already mastered was still there, but there were no noticeable changes.

Then, he activated his new skill, [Extraordinary Swordsmanship]. He immediately felt Spiritual Power begin to circulate through his body, flowing down his arm and into the practice sword through his palm.

The wooden practice sword instantly emitted a BUZZ, and a cold glint flashed across its blade, making it look like a Spiritual Blade.

Lloyd took aim at the target in front of him and swung the sword casually.

BANG~

After a dull thud, the target split in two, easily sliced apart.

But the practice sword couldn’t withstand the abuse and also broke into several pieces, perishing along with the target.

"Hmm... it can make an ordinary weapon as sharp as a Spiritual Blade? I guess that’s somewhat useful, but is that all?"

Lloyd pouted and shook his head in disappointment.

He always carried his Spiritual Blade, which was styled like a Short Sword, so he wasn’t lacking for a weapon. If this was all the new skill did, it was clearly disappointing.

The key issue was that it didn’t increase the weapon’s own strength or Durability...

But the skill was still only Lv. 1. Perhaps it had, as they say, ’a promising future’?

’Ermmm, maybe I should read the skill description again?’

Lloyd called up his panel again and reread the overly brief description.

Use melee weapons in a way that defies the laws of reality...

’Slicing through a sturdy target with a bladeless wooden sword clearly defied the laws of reality.’

’Firing sword qi from a blade or making a sword attack on its own would also defy the laws of reality, but Lloyd had already tried that and couldn’t pull off anything so outrageous.’

’Maybe the skill level is too low?’

’But the skill didn’t specify a type, only "melee weapons"...’

An idea suddenly sparked in Lloyd’s mind. He took the bare sword hilt and threw it at the remaining half of the target.

The hilt actually embedded itself straight into the target, and then they both shattered into a pile of wood chips, another case of mutual destruction.

’A little interesting...’

’So the key isn’t ’defying the laws of reality’, but ’melee weapon’ itself?’

Lloyd bent down, picked up a small stone, aimed at another target, and threw it without much force.

BANG~

The target wobbled, and a flat incision appeared on it, like the mark left by a sword’s thrust.

’I see!’

Lloyd had now grasped the key to this skill. He continued to test it with various things he could find in the training grounds, not even sparing the weeds and leaves.

His final conclusion was that as long as something could be used as a melee weapon—be it a blade, spear, club, staff, or a stone, brick, or block of wood—it could be imbued with the sharpness of a Spiritual Blade and inflict damage on the target that only a blade could cause.

Although he hadn’t tested them specifically, things like dinner knives, forks, and even needles and toothpicks should work this way too.

But grass and leaves didn’t work. Those could only be used as weapons in wuxia novels.

That being the case, regardless of the skill’s practical combat value, it was at least a lot of fun.

"And now for the final weapon test..."

Lloyd looked down at his empty palm and clenched it into a fist.

’This is the ultimate melee weapon!’

’Magnetic Field Rotation Demolition Fist!’

He roared inwardly and threw a punch, smashing it heavily against the target.

BANG~

The target instantly shattered into pieces. The edges of the cut were perfectly smooth, as if sliced by a sharp blade.

Lloyd looked at the power of his punch and nodded silently.

Then he sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, his face turning pale as his mouth began to twitch.

Finally, he couldn’t hold it in any longer and started yowling like a cat:

"AOW-AOW-AOW-ROAR-ROAR-ROAR!!!"

Then he started hopping around, shaking his hand vigorously.

The pain was so bad it brought tears to his eyes...

From that day on, in his personal dictionary, a fist no longer counted as a melee weapon!

***

"Hmm... It’s nothing serious. You didn’t break any bones. It’s just a bit red and swollen. It’ll be fine after a night’s rest."

Pastor Mad, the priest from the church nearest Lloyd’s home, gave an optimistic diagnosis after examining Lloyd’s right hand.

"Thank you, Pastor Mad."

Lloyd said with a sincere expression.

His hand had stopped hurting after a little while, but he was worried about hidden injuries. Too proud to go see the priest in the Eighteenth District, he could only come to Pastor Mad for help.

"You’re welcome. Though, I’m a psychotherapist, not a priest... Ah, well, never mind. At least you didn’t call me ’Father’..."

Pastor Mad said with a look of resignation.

"Of course not. ’Father’ is a curse word."

Lloyd smiled and checked the time.

’It’s still early. Why not check out the place the Chief Judge recommended?’

With that, he took out the gold-plated business card the Chief Judge had given him, confirmed the address, and hopped onto a tram.

The address on the card wasn’t too far away. He didn’t need to take the ’subway’; the tram would be fast enough.

Of course, Lloyd still bought a ticket, because he had the little kitten tucked in his pocket.

About twenty minutes later, Lloyd got off the tram and arrived in the commoner’s district.

He continued asking for directions until he finally arrived in front of an antique shop.

’An antique shop in the commoner’s district?’

’They might as well have painted the word ’Suspicious’ on the sign...’

But there was no sign at all, nor any specific name. There was just a plaque that read, "Antiques and Artifacts Purchased, Best Prices Offered," and next to it was a simple stick-figure drawing of a person carrying a bundle, identical to the image on the business card.

Lloyd pushed the door open and walked in.

There were many shelves inside, but they were all empty. Business didn’t seem to be going well.

A clerk was slumped over the counter, looking drowsy. His hair was a mess and his clothes were plain, giving him a very down-to-earth appearance.

Even when he heard someone enter, he couldn’t be bothered to respond, not even lifting his head.

It wasn’t until Lloyd stood before him and presented the gold-plated business card that the clerk managed to pry one eye open and say listlessly:

"Second floor, first door on the left."

With that said, he slumped back down.

Lloyd nodded and walked towards the stairs.

"Meow!"

The little kitten, peeking over the edge of his pocket, suddenly let out a soft cry.

Lloyd stopped in his tracks and released a tiny bit of his inspiration.

But there was no stinging sensation or feeling of danger...

He turned back to look at the clerk and activated [Probe].

’Whoa, all four stats are ’??’.’

’And his mental state looks so listless, yet it shows up as ’Normal’. Is he a rare ’normal’ person?’

’The place recommended by the Chief Judge really is something else...’

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