Only I Am A Reader

'Why?'

Even after receiving a brief explanation from Cheon Chang, the question on Leo's mind was still the same.

'How?'

Why was it that he was met with the 'fortuitous encounter'? How was it that the two weapons that he happened to pick up were the weapons that the Absolute Spear's master excelled at?

No matter how he looked at it, this opportunity exuding the scent of dumb luck was something that a protagonist would receive. Like a student who encountered a problem that was too easy to solve, Leo couldn't help doubting the answer…

'It can't be a coincidence.'

Sure, the sword and the spear were commonly used weapons depending on the range their user desired. However, for someone to master both was still abnormal. It was only a guess, but the Absolute Spear's master was likely a certain generation's Heavenly Demon!

Although Cheon Chang looked young, that was just the effect of his Internal Energy. Still, the Heavenly Demon wasn't a position that changed frequently. Considering the hints mentioned in the novel and the specific weapons he used, these descriptions matched the one who held the title just before its current holder.

'I didn't plan for this either.'

Leo undeniably knew about the Sword Spear Unity Lord, but he couldn't have guessed his relationship with the Absolute Spear as this little detail was 'omitted'. He was just going about the path he thought suited him the most when he stumbled upon this detail.

'...A Hidden privilege?'

As someone who had already experienced something similar, Leo's confusion didn't last long. Once again, he was reminded that both identities that he had obtained so far were the opposite of normal!

At first, Arthur appeared to be nothing more than a plot device for the sake of the protagonist's 'character growth', but he turned out to be something much more. As a reader, he was given the responsibility to define that 'fate'. Whether to be kidnapped and continue being a tool, or to stand up against the threat and grasp the power hidden within the reality he was forced upon.

'It's more complicated.'

Leo was aware of that. He originally thought that his relationship with the Secondary Main Character was the uniqueness that his new identity bore, but now it seemed to be only a part of it. The possibilities that Baekho's future held were much more diverse than his limited vision.

Baekho appeared to be normal unlike Arthur, but that was just a misconception. His identity, his position, his relationships, his path, every one of them was a branched road that stretched in many directions…

'The task this time is just as severe…'

In the middle of this comparison, Leo drew out the relativity of his 'character' and his 'quest'. Was the boundlessness of Baekho's future the reason he was given such a tough task? Or was it the task that granted him an identity that stood a chance at finishing it?

Leo still felt that he was only at the cusp of understanding his 'role', but the world felt more colorful in his eyes all of the sudden. The generic plots made it feel unrealistic, but the connections drawn out through discarded plots or omitted events opposingly made it feel alive.

Perhaps… such events weren't the result of an author's laziness in skipping details, but these worlds' way of filling in the missing dots and connecting them together…

"I want to… no."

Less than a minute had passed, but Leo felt incredibly refreshed as he looked the Absolute Spear in the eye. This was the answer on the tip of his tongue, but reality was different.

"I will."

The sword and the spear were just the start. With such an opportunity presented before him like this, not taking it wasn't an answer. He had to be that strong to face the 'monster' in the future and making use of this convenient 'possibility' was a necessary step for that goal.

"Good. Since you made up your mind, I won't hesitate either."

Cheon Chang's ever stiff face naturally relaxed for the first time since Leo saw him. He slowly walked towards Leo before patting his shoulder.

"Although this will be just between us since it will be complicated to explain to the others, you will not be my student, and I won't be your teacher…"

The Absolute Spear's heavy gaze was intense. For some reason, the emotionless man from a few seconds before let out the intense heat of expectations.

"You may not succeed in the end, but from today on, you will be my master's second student. I hope we get on well, junior brother."

'Huh?'

Just like that, Leo became the Absolute Spear's 'classmate'...

`~~~`~~~`~~~`

As Cheon Jeong and Yeon's figures disappeared from Iyeolhan's sight, he turned to look at Cheon Yong who stood cluelessly in the middle of the underground hall. This was truly an unexpected situation.

'I knew it.'

He only hesitated for a moment, but something like this happened. Although he didn't know as much as Cheon Jeong knew about the Absolute Spear, there was something that he was certain of.

'Irregulars draw other irregulars.'

The Absolute Spear was someone that took the Heavenly Strength Society by a storm. His rise to his current position was quite the epic story, but what followed was an unnatural silence. The man's focus seemed to be shifted elsewhere as nothing he did made sense.

"Let's go as well."

Iyeolhan held back a sigh, which made his face look even more gentle, he walked towards another training hall. Just like he declined the responsibility to train someone like Leo, he couldn't fathom what kind of result he would achieve under the guidance of someone like Cheon Chang.

'I will try my best.'

Similarly, Cheon Jeong wasn't someone to be underestimated either. She appeared to be playful as a child, uncaring about her identity that no one could think she was also one of the pillars. However, when she got serious, the result was equally inestimable.

Looking at the child who was eagerly running behind him, Iyeolhan couldn't help conjuring a hint of pity, he really was unfortunate to be on the same stage as the other two…

'You will be able to hold on, right?'

This was the ominous start of the dragonling's hellish training…