Only I Am A Reader

'It still feels a bit cold, but it was worth it.'

Leo shivered a bit as the frost lingered within his body. In return, however, his mind was incredibly refreshed despite just waking up.

After attempting the Frost Refinement technique for the first time the day before, a part of his Internal Energy now possessed the Cold Attribute.

'Is this an unexpected benefit?'

Although he hadn't opened up the mythical Upper Dantian that was linked with the Mind, this Cold Energy somehow had a visible effect on it.

It was finally the promised day, yet the bottled-up anxiety that should have wanted to wreak havoc in his head was now as obedient as a puppy, letting all his worries go with the cool breeze passing by.

While pursuing faster advancement, Leo unexpectedly chanced upon a way to control his ferocious emotions!

Not only proving extremely helpful in critical moments like this day, but it also didn't freeze down his speed of thought altogether. A sweet fortuitous boon with no deficits!

'Things really turn out for the better in reality for some reason…'

Could he possibly be the protagonist of his reality? Or did he steal some of the novel protagonist's aura? It was anyone's guess at this point.

Of course, as great as this find was, it was still restricted to reality. Unless he learned how to do otherwise, Leo was only capable of bringing back powers, not taking them with him to the next book.

As such, He still had to deal with his unstable psyche on his own once the next True Reading started.

All in all, his greatest achievement was still what he was aiming for from the start. The energy accumulation that had started at 2 Days…

Personal Statistics:

- Internal Energy: 975/975 (Scarlet Sky+Frost)

- True Sword Breath: 600/600

- Physique: 6.3

- Mind: 2.75

- Sword Breath: 606

Naturally, such an increment was the result of going to great lengths and compounding many elements together, but it was still an astounding result.

From 2 Days to 12 using a normal Deep Freezer, From 12 Days to 2 Months using the limits of accessible freezing technology, from 2 Months to 4~5 using Frost Refinement, and finally…

Enduring blood freezing temperature allowed Leo to receive 7 whole Points of Internal Energy! At this pace…

'Even novel logic had been broken.'

Rather than 100 days of Foundation Establishment, Leo could now achieve Transcendence in 100 days!

It wasn't a world-bending cheat like Ray's Sword Heart or Geochin's Murim Lord Grandpa. Rather, it was more so an instance of what it was like for every condition to be met perfectly.

This was the fusion of Modern Convenience and Murim's Mystical Treasures!

'It can't be replicated either.'

That being said, while the Blast Freezer was capable of playing the role of a Cold Energy Source that could stimulate both the Frozen Plum Core and Frost Refinement… It had failed the direct energy production test!

Leo had attempted to directly take in the Cold Energy using Frost Refinement, but it completely refused to react!

It seemed like Leo could change himself as much as he wanted by blending fantasy with reality. However…

No matter what, changing the very fabric of reality itself was impossible!

Even if he wanted to, Leo wouldn't be able to start imparting Martial Arts to normal people through attributed sources of energy like Blast Freezers and Blast Furnaces…

On the other hand, the Personal Book had shown another difference once again. Leo was already expecting the words in the brackets, (Scarlet Sky), to change, but he didn't expect the book to elaborate further on the change.

Once he thought about it, the pages moved again to reveal an almost empty page with words freshly inscribed into it.

[ - Internal Energy: 975/975 (Scarlet Sky+Frost)

= Scarlet Sky Internal Energy: 968/968

= Frozen Scarlet Sky Internal Energy: 7/7 ]

'Is this also part of the 'Reader's Appraisal'...?'

Though it was a pleasing development, Leo wasn't able to tell whether it was something within the scope of his new ability or if the Personal Book simply became more versatile as his main ability reached the second level.

'These are all questions for later.'

Sweeping away his crowded thoughts like accumulated dust, Leo rose from his bed to pick a change from the closet. The past two days were a Weekend, but it was now time to go back to school.

Normally, a student would feel a light sense of disorientation to return to school after two whole days of rest. However, the situation was on a completely different level when it came to Leo.

He had spent a total of 14 years in Murim! Excluding higher education, it was enough time for him to go through the whole education system one more time!

Naturally, Leo's state was a little bit more than just simple disorientation…

'This is nothing compared to Murim, though.'

Even then, the seasoned Reader was still calmly putting on the school uniform after coming out of the shower.

It was true that he desired action, but after over a decade of bloody battles and torturous training, Leo was more than ready to go back to the relaxed school life.

'Not sure if it was going to be relaxed though.'

Nonetheless, the main reason that he chose to normally go to school was precisely because it was the day of the meeting.

For the chosen date on a school poster to be a school date reeked of suspicion. Leo couldn't help wondering if 'they' were using it as a way to suss out the identity of the invited.

Would a truly nervous 'roleplayer' skip school in order to fully prepare for meeting his peers? Leo at least believed that it was very likely.

"See you soon, Darkie."

"Meow!"

'I can't miss out on this detail after already going to such lengths to hide everything.'

After bidding farewell to his snow-white cat, Leo left home on his bike a slight bit earlier than usual.

'Today, everything has to be randomly uniform.'