radiothebook Chapter 119 : Chapter 119
Chapter 119 : Chapter 119
Chapter 119 : Analysis 2
"It gave a detailed analysis of all your coursework and licenses, Professor. It even had license numbers. Skills were displayed with cool stats, like how much is left until the next proficiency rank. There's also a list for efficiency, things like Essence absorption, mastery, refining, and calibration. And after that..."
"Wait."
When Upgrade raised her hand, Sal was relieved to see she had finally sat down across from him.
She didn't look angry like before; rather, she seemed confused.
"Proficiency rank? Isn't that a fixed skill? The only change I've felt in the last few years was when you untangled my threads. Before that, I never once felt an improvement in that ability."
Sal shrugged and pointed to himself.
"I thought that might be because of my Skill Master ability. Maybe it allows me to interpret skills differently. It doesn't feel like a lie. I can see that if I untangle other knots, your power could become much stronger. Maybe this visor is interpreting and showing what I can sense with my ability?"
Upgrade frowned and shook her head.
"I don't mean to disappoint you, Sal. But I think there's a problem with that visor. Lombardi is one of our top experts on skills, and he's never once said that skills can evolve after they've manifested. Of course, I could be wrong and your visor could be right... But if that's true, it's quite scary. Does it also tell you how to build up proficiency ranks?"
Instead of answering immediately, Sal decided to test something he had always been curious about.
He had been using the visor without activating his ability until now.
It was such an unfamiliar sensation to have information unfold before his eyes without drawing up Essence.
This time, instead of turning on his Mythos Crafter ability, he intentionally activated his Skill Master ability and examined Upgrade's internal threads.
He was curious if there were any changes since the last time he checked.
As if reading his intent, the visor operated in sync with his gaze, and Sal was once again speechless at the Tracker's amazing function.
Previously, he only saw beams of light, but now the visor overlaid specific data and explained the appearance.
His intuition was being confirmed as concrete facts.
Each knot appeared on the visor screen like a constellation, with thin lines extending from them.
Each line displayed a percentage of how much Upgrade's ability would improve.
Sal could finally gauge numerically how much of the knots could be safely untangled without harming her.
Quest's concerns were all valid.
There were knots that, if untangled, would plunge Upgrade into a state of severe imbalance.
If that happened, her Essence consumption would exceed her generation, and she would become unable to maintain her ability.
From what Sal understood, if he untangled all those knots, he guessed Upgrade would permanently suffer from Essence residue.
"This is working in tandem with my Skill Master ability."
Sal finally confessed after organizing his thoughts.
He continued, keeping his gaze fixed on Upgrade's internal beams of light.
"I can't say for sure, but it's showing the knots in your ability that can be safely untangled. It's actually calculating how much your stats would increase depending on which knot I look at. However, I don't think it naturally raises your proficiency... It seems more like it expands the upper limit of your potential."
Sal pondered the figures a bit longer, then moved his gaze to the smaller knots he would have instinctively targeted first.
They were like a minefield; touching them wrongly could drop Upgrade's Essence generation into the negative.
After examining them in detail about five times, Sal was seized by the thought that he had been insanely lucky to avoid a catastrophe when he first untangled a knot.
Upgrade stopped tapping the table and looked at Sal with confused eyes.
"I genuinely hope you're right. I wish it were really that easy and simple. But thinking realistically, I keep remembering that you've only been registered for two months, and I feel like you're going to make a huge mistake someday. You make evolving items, infuse attributes into equipment, and can even untangle people's ability knots... And now you say you can find out all their details just by looking at them? Doesn't that sound absolutely ridiculous?"
Upgrade shook her head and looked down at her palm.
"I never thought I would be jealous of anyone. When I enrolled in Quest Academy, half the students turned their backs on me because of my ability. I wanted to help train you to become the best Crafter. But it seems you've already reached the end of that path. Everything you say goes far beyond my capabilities. Your Mythos Crafter ability created three amazing pieces of equipment in just a weekend. Even my top-level second-year students would take at least a month to complete a single Rare rank item."
Sal felt a sudden guilt as Upgrade wore a dejected expression.
He thought she would be happy that her power could become stronger, but it felt like he had trampled on her dreams.
As he hesitated, not knowing what to do, Upgrade shook her head and forced a smile.
"Sorry, Sal. Don't mind what I just said. It's just that all of this was a bit shocking. What you've created is unbelievably great. It far exceeded my expectations. Just a few weeks ago, I saw equipment that was certain to grow to Mythos rank someday. It was truly shocking, and it was a result we barely achieved by combining all our strengths."
Upgrade pointed to the revolver and monocle on the table.
"Looking at it now, I wonder if we've actually been holding you back. These two pieces of equipment you made here have the potential to grow to Mythos rank. And you made them with just a few materials and an all-nighter's effort."
Sal sat quietly and listened to her.
He hadn't done anything wrong, but the mood seemed ruined.
He felt heavy-hearted at the thought that he might have broken Upgrade's spirit while making the revolver and visor.
An awkward silence soon covered the room, and Sal noticed Upgrade looking like she wanted to take back what she had just said.
Sal raised his hand.
"Wait a moment. Can I speak?"
Upgrade paused for a moment.
Sal could see shame reflected in her eyes.
Even without wearing the monocle, the emotions revealed on her face were clearly readable.
"I'm really terrified of monsters."
Sal smiled.
He knew Upgrade was about to speak, but he raised his hand higher to indicate it was still his turn.
"I've lived my whole life hating my ability. Every time I looked at myself in the mirror, every time I saw strong people, my head felt like it was splitting. Sometimes the ability would activate on its own, and I'd suffer from terrible migraines. That childhood wasn't fun at all, and what was worse was that I couldn't even tell people what my ability was. When I tried to mimic other abilities, my body couldn't handle it and I often hurt myself... or even if I succeeded, I was hated by kids who thought I stole their abilities."
Sal looked at Upgrade and chuckled hollowly.
"Honestly, I'm not trying to act pitiful, nor do I want you to pity me, Professor. I just hope you understand what kind of person I was when I first stepped into Quest Academy. Yes, it's only been two months, but in that time, I created my own ability. Not stolen from anyone, but an ability I created entirely anew. Of course, I borrowed your ability for a moment, Professor, and I completely smashed that machine... but you know what I mean, right?"
Upgrade smiled slightly but didn't interrupt.
"Professor Upgrade, as I said before, I'm really terrified of monsters. I never once wanted to be a hero. Yet, there are always amazing people around me with the resolve and drive to protect others. While I'm stuck in the lab tinkering with inventions or blueprints, I always feel guilty that I'm not learning how to go out and defeat monsters. In the lecture halls, they repeat every moment that we are at war and that we are losing. The more I hear that, the more my fear grows that I'll be a useless human being out there."
Sal placed a hand on his chest and looked at her seriously.
"This gun? It was Barry and the Headmaster's idea. So that I could hide at the very back of the team and deal with monsters from a distance. Honestly, I don't know if I even have the courage to pull the trigger. This visor? Originally, it was supposed to contain numerous attributes borrowed from heroes on external missions. But do you know how many missions I've been on? Not a single one. I was cowardly and made all sorts of excuses not to leave the Academy. And yet, you sit there and say you're jealous of me, Professor? I witnessed with my own eyes you jumping into a dungeon and wiping out monsters left and right. It was absolutely ridiculously amazing. Besides, you're a Support class just like me!"
Sal tried to suppress the rising emotions.
His throat felt tight.
He let out an annoyed sigh and shook his head.
"I just can't understand why you would be jealous of me. I should be the one jealous of you; I have a mountain of things to learn. I want you to train me, Professor. If you hadn't cheered me on, I wouldn't have even made it this far. And our journey isn't over yet. Let alone Ethical Crafting or Technocraft, I don't even know what synthesis techniques are. You have endless knowledge that can make me a better Crafter. If I create something great, it will all be thanks to your help and guidance. In fact, without you, Professor, I would have already died because of that absurd shirt that sucked all my Essence dry."
Upgrade scoffed, looked up at the ceiling, and let out a pained groan.
"My life would have been much simpler if you had just written me off as a failed mentor. But fine. Let's do it your way. Just remember, this is what you wanted."
Sal stood up with a smile, glad that Upgrade didn't look upset anymore.
However, her next words froze him in place.
"We're going into the dungeon together. And I'll show you personally how to kill your first monster."