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Leveling Up Alone-Chapter 338 โ Ten Days In The Bastro Dimension (5)
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Chapter 338 โ Ten Days In The Bastro Dimension (5)
[Oh? You seem quite chill.]
Tak!
The Ox Warrior might appear crude and mischievous, yet he demonstrated respect for Han-Yeol by kneeling before him. It was the primary method for a Bastroling to display reverence toward another individual.
Ironically, while he conveyed respect through actions, he remained reticent verbally. Han-Yeol chose to overlook this disparity, finding it challenging to comprehend the Bastrolings' behavior even after having assumed the role of Dimension Lord and had resided there for two decades.
Consequently, Han-Yeol found himself with an Ox Warrior as his subordinate.
โShould I be grateful to those spotted bastards?โ he wondered when an alert suddenly rang.
Ding!
[A citizen from the first dimension has successfully asserted dominance over a citizen of the second dimension, compelling them to pledge loyalty. The Dimension Manager is impressed by your accomplishment and eagerly anticipates further displays of your capabilities.]
[A new skill has been created โ Oath of Loyalty (F)]
[A new skill has been created โ Rulerโs Eye (F)]
[A new skill has been created โ Kingโs Gift (F)]
Four messages appeared before him.
โI-Is this for real?โ Han-Yeol was bewildered and surprised upon seeing the three skills he had obtained.
Creating a single skill required a substantial investment of time and effort. That was why acquiring three unplanned skills, seemingly useful from their names alone, was undoubtedly astonishing.
He promptly checked the skills, urgently requesting, โO-Open skill descriptions!โ
[Oath of Loyalty (F)]
Type: Passive
Description: A passive skill that activates whenever a creature swears loyalty to the user. When a creature pledges loyalty, its HP increases by ten percent while reducing the likelihood of betrayal by fifty percent. These percentages will escalate as the skill's level advances.
[Rulerโs Eye (F)]
Type: Active
Description: Capable of seeing through the entirety of any creature that swears loyalty to the user, including their status, abilities, skills, and likelihood of betrayal. Prolonged exposure to the Rulerโs Eye results in the subject being charmed by the user's charisma, reducing the probability of disobedience while under its influence. Even a creature that has not sworn loyalty to the user will be influenced by the userโs charisma if a significant power gap exists between them.
[Kingโs Gift (F)]
Type: Active
Description: Enables the user to utilize their mana to enhance a piece of equipment wielded by a sworn subject. This skill can alter the equipmentโs stats and shape, with the capacity to enhance an additional piece of equipment each time the skill levels up.
โWowโฆ This is the bestโฆโ Han-Yeol ruminated, feeling a surge of catharsis.
By now, labeling his ability as overpowered was an understatement.
[What's on your mind right now?]
โHmmโฆ Itโs nothing.โ
[Oh well, what should I do now?]
The Ox Warrior spoke in a manner neither courteous nor rude.
โWeโre going hunting.โ
[Hunting?]
โYeah, I need to grow stronger.โ
[Geezโฆ if you say soโฆ Ah, I wanted to ask you something.]
โWhat?โ
[Are you an enemy of the hyenas or did you kill them just for the hell of it?]
โDo you want a clear answer?โ
[T-That would be bestโฆ]
โItโs either I die, or the hyenas go extinct.โ
The hyenas were Han-Yeolโs enemies in numerous ways. They nearly killed his father, aided the Dragon of Destruction, and even dared to desecrate his body. Technically, it was Harkanโs body, but it had been Han-Yeolโs home for two decades, and its desecration left a bitter taste.
Han-Yeol had countless reasons to exterminate every hyena in existence; they were a species unfit to share the sky with him.
[Bwahaha! That works for me! I'll gladly serve to obliterate those hyenas!]
Bam! Bam!
The Ox Warrior let out a hearty laugh and slapped Han-Yeol on the back twice.
โHmmโฆ I always knew you had it in you to become a ruler, master. Barely a day has passed since we arrived here, and you've already acquired a subordinate.โ
โHahaโฆ Is that how it appears?โ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ท๐ค๐๐๐ก.๐ฌ๐ค๐ข
โKyu!โ
Tia and Mavros returned after eliminating all of the Spotted Hyenas.
[Oh? These are the ones who took down the Spotted Hyenas. Are they your subordinates, boss?]
โYes, they are.โ
[Oh! That's fantastic! Hahaha!]
โGeezโฆ I canโt quite figure out whatโs going on in this guyโs headโฆโ Han-Yeol grumbled inwardly at the Ox Warriorโs enthusiasm.
***
Han-Yeol welcomed the Ox Warrior as the newest addition to his party, and they set off toward the dungeon he had scouted earlier.
โOh right, I havenโt asked your name yet. Whatโs your name?โ Han-Yeol inquired of the Ox Warrior.
He could easily check using the Rulerโs Eye, but he felt it might seem suspicious if he knew the name without an introduction.(f)reewe(b)novel
[Hmmโฆ I have already shed my past. I have pledged loyalty to you, soโฆ Why donโt you share your name first, and then you can grant me a name? I seek to begin anew with a fresh name.]
โHmmโฆ Well, my name is Lee Han-Yeol, and your name will beโฆโ Han-Yeol paused, rubbing his chin in thought.
โBastrolings often name themselves after the first alphabet of their animal names in English, soโฆโ[1]
This wasn't always the case; for instance, Kandir was a werewolf, yet his name didnโt start with 'w' but with 'k'. However, that's because the canines were quite liberal with their naming conventions. Most Bastrolings tended to stick to tradition.
โThis guyโs a part of the cows, soโฆ I should give him a cool name that at least starts with Cโฆโ Han-Yeol strained his mind, hoping for a stroke of creativity.
โHmmโฆ Ah!โ
[Have you thought of one?]
โYes, your name will be Camelot from now on!โ
[Bwahaha! Thatโs a cool name! I like it! My name will be Camelot from now on, and Iโll be in your care, boss!]
โCertainly, Camelot.โ
Han-Yeol felt proud that Camelot appreciated the name he had chosen.
Ding!
[Your first subject approves of the name you gave him.]
[His loyalty has increased.]
[You have gained +1 Charisma.]
โOh? I didnโt realize I could boost my stats like this,โ he exclaimed inwardly, surprised at the increase in his stats.
Han-Yeolโs party arrived at the entrance of the dungeon.
[This place isโฆ]
It was a forest near a lake fed by a now-dry waterfall. The vegetation was so dense that peering into the forest from outside proved impossible.
โDo you recognize this place, Camelot?โ
[I do, but Iโve never been here. I usually roam alone, so itโs quite burdensome for me to enter a dungeon alone. Hahaha!] Camelot burst into laughter despite the lack of humor.
โWell, youโre not alone anymore, so feel free to enter.โ
Han-Yeol was about to step into the dungeon when Camelot halted him.
[Before that.]
โHmm?โ Han-Yeol tilted his head, curious.
โWhatโs wrong with him?โ
Camelot rummaged through his pockets, retrieving three vials containing purple liquid, and handed one to Han-Yeol, another to Tia, and the last one to Mavros.
โWhatโs this?โ
[Heheheโฆ Itโs a special potion I made.]
โA potion? From you?โ Han-Yeol tilted his head again, surprised that an Ox Warrior had crafted a potion.
He scoured his memories from his time as Harkan but couldnโt recall any mention of an Ox Warrior creating potions.
Han-Yeol's caution might have seemed offensive to Camelot, given their limited acquaintance. However, Camelot appeared unfazed by Han-Yeolโs reaction.
[Bwahaha! You seem to know about us Bastrolings! Yes, most oxen among us only know how to fight and consider potion-making a waste of time. I might be among them, but I retained memories from my previous life.]
โHuh? Memories from your past life?โ
[Yes, I might not remember everything, but I recall things like potion-making and alchemy. Living with the Ox Warriors was suffocating. The Bastro Dimension could have been better if they put more effort into things beyond fightingโฆ Tskโฆ Tskโฆ]
โHahaโฆโ
Han-Yeol chuckled awkwardly, inwardly agreeing, โI had the same thought as himโฆโ
It appeared that Han-Yeol and Camelot shared some similarities. It made sense why Camelot readily surrendered and accepted being Han-Yeolโs subordinate.
โPerhaps he was a pragmatic being like humans in his previous lifeโฆโ
[Hmmโฆ If my memory serves correctlyโฆ I believe my race in my previous life was called 'human'?]
โAhโฆ Iโm a human tooโฆโ Han-Yeol subconsciously murmured.
[I knew it! No wonder something about you felt familiar!]
โStop lying through your teeth, will you? You attacked me the moment you saw me, remember?โ
[Ahem! How about we let bygones be bygones? Hahaha!]
โThatโs not how it works!โ
[Bwahahaha!]
Despite Han-Yeol's angry outburst, Camelot appeared unfazed.
[Anyway, bottoms up! I wasnโt able to create anything remarkable as Iโm on the run and had to make do with whatever I could find. But this potion enhances oneโs affinity with mana. Youโll find it much easier to control your mana after drinking this.]
โOh?โ Han-Yeolโs interest was piqued upon hearing about the potion's effects.
โItem Appraisal.โ
Ding!
[Mana Potion]
Rating: Low
Type: Buff Potion
Description: This potion is crafted from common plants and requires highly dexterous mana handling. Drinking it enhances oneโs mana sensitivity, enabling more efficient mana manipulation. However, its effectiveness is somewhat diminished due to the quality of the raw materials utilized.
โThis is quite impressive,โ Han-Yeol thought after confirming it was not poisonous.
He was not some fool who would drink whatever was given to him just because the Ox Warrior swore loyalty and became his slave.
โWell, it doesnโt really matter as both Tia and Mavros are immune to most poison too,โ he thought before he signaled to them it was safe to consume the potion.
Mavros was able to freely use poison while Tia would be unharmed even after devouring highly-toxic critters.
What about Han-Yeol?
He had the ability to detoxify himself thanks to his skills so he was safe from poisons too.
Not a single one of them was susceptible to poison, but he still checked nevertheless as there was no harm in being careful.
Han-Yeol drank the potion after confirming it was safe.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
โUghโฆ Itโs so bitterโฆ!โ
[Bwahaha! I usually add some sugar to make it sweet, but where will I find sugar while being on the run?]
โYou couldโve warned me first! Damn it! Ptooey!โ
Han-Yeol was not the type that could not stand bitter things. He usually ate most things without complaining, but the potion Camelot gave was far too bitter even for him.
[Bwahahaha!]
โStop laughing!โ
Han-Yeol and his subordinates entered the dungeon after their small โcommotionโ.
Ding!
[You will obtain double experience points.]
โAlright!โ Han-Yeol cheered inwardly after seeing the message.
He was worried the double experience buff disappeared after he returned to Earth, but his worries seemed to be unfounded as the buff was still in effect.
Tia looked around the dungeon as soon as she entered and said, โHmmโฆ Thereโs an odd smell hereโฆโ
1. I know this doesnโt make sense. I've reread it repeatedly for almost 20 minutes, but I keep arriving at the same conclusion. Please donโt shoot the messengerโIโm just a bunny. โ