Only I Am A Reader

While it was true that the previous questions Leo asked were for the sake of cover-up, they were also necessary to build up to his actual question!

"Hmmm, you mean people with 'Blocked Vessels'?"

Although Leo referred to his original condition as 'Blocked Meridians', this was simply his own interpretation using the common condition mentioned in hundreds of 'Cultivation' novels. In this novel where people didn't believe in the existence of 'Meridians', it was usually referred to as 'Blocked Vessels'.

"Is that what causes it?"

Not knowing the condition's name was merely Leo's acting to keep his disguise, but it was true that he knew nearly nothing about it as the author only used it as a convenient plot device, it was never really explained in detail. That was especially the case considering that it wasn't the protagonist who suffered from it as per its usual use.

'I need to receive a hint at the very least.'

The incident that acted as an 'epilogue' to his 'ascension' might seem to be beneficial and without aftereffects, that only held true for the first time!

Who knew if he would be able to endure the pain the next time or the one after it? What if the 'reconstruction' didn't come after the tearing? If that really happened, Leo would at least end up crippled if not dead!

Since he came to the conclusion that Arthur's body was the source of this 'advantageous' opportunity. Leo believed that he needed to know a little more about his 'condition' in preparation to solve any possible future 'problems' in advance…

"That's at least the term that most people use. Some people who studied this phenomenon believed that some people naturally accumulated 'something' that prevented Sword Breath from settling inside the body or were even born with it; this was even proved with tests done on the bodies of said people. However…"

Pausing to eat the last piece of cake on his plate, Rain looked at the window as if particularly affected by his own words before he opened his mouth once more.

"That explanation wasn't all-inclusive. In fact, only a fraction of the bodies inspected showed evidence supporting it. Countless other people who suffered the same fate had no abnormalities in their bodies."

'Hmmm…'

Noticing the disappointment on Rain's face, Leo felt slightly awkward for rubbing salt on his wound. But since Rain had already come to terms with his condition, Leo didn't end the discussion as he still needed to confirm his guess.

"So no one knows the real cause behind other cases?"

"Indeed. Furthermore, what everyone suffers from is mostly different. Some are still able to accumulate Sword Breath while unable to cross the threshold of the 'Accumulation Phase', others can only obtain a pitiful amount that makes it laughable to even try, and some others would receive nothing at all, to begin with. In reality, the condition known as 'Blocked Vessels' is none other than a makeshift term that is used to refer to all of these cases since the cause for most of them is still unknown."

By the time Rain finished speaking, the small frown on his face was already gone as he went back to smiling as if he put a weight off his shoulder.

'It's plausible.'

If there were other causes for the inability to 'practice' other than the normal 'Blocked Vessels' disregarding 'Low affinity' which was practically different, then Leo's condition could be a completely different one!

'There was definitely something 'cleansed' back then, but…'

Both the voice in his head and the intense sweat that he let out proved that he did suffer from some sort of 'Blockage'. However, what if this 'Blockage' wasn't the originator of his problem? What if it was rather something that originated from some other sort of 'special' condition?

'Just… How special is the body of a scapegoat character supposed to be?'

"Alright, that's enough for now. I would suggest you take a break from training today to think everything over and have some rest. Just remember that we are going somewhere early after breakfast."

Seeing that Leo was lost in thought, Rain left his seat with both of their empty plates. Leaving a small notice for Leo as he quickly made his way out of the kitchen…

"Oh?"

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

Dawn break.

"It's as strange as usual…"

After spending the rest of the day in the library, half-absentmindedly reading and thinking about Arthur's condition, Leo went to bed as usual. As soon as he woke up, however, his clear eyes stared at the ceiling as he found himself to be abnormally calm.

He was still childishly enjoying obtaining a flashy 'power' as a person who came from a normal world just the day before, but now, as if it was nothing but a dream, his excitement seemed to have turned faint.

In Leo's memory, this wasn't the first time something like this had occurred. Back then, he had just mysteriously arrived in this fantasy world, breaking all kinds of logic, yet it didn't even take him a day before he accepted everything in a similarly abnormal manner. At this point, Leo couldn't tell whether it was just his natural ability to adapt as a human or something that had to do with his ability as a 'Reader'.

As Leo headed to the kitchen as usual thinking about the mysteries that plagued his mind, he was shocked to see that Rain was there this early. Moreover… he was wearing an apron at that!

"You are awake as early as I expected. Just sit down for now and let me make breakfast for once."

Hearing Rain's words, Leo's abnormal calmness faded as he did his best to hold back his reaction. Even as serious as Rain's face was, the well-bodied old man wearing an apron seemed to be too much. He did say he was preparing breakfast, but… wasn't he just putting prepared ingredients into pots before moving them to the charcoal stove?

"If you say so, Teacher."

Sitting down as he turned his face to the side to hide his twisting expression, Leo waited till Rain finished preparing his 'pre-made' stew.

"What do you think?"

"It's… good."

Considering how Rain devoted most of his life to the pen and the sword, the meat stew he made using his 'heat management' skills wasn't bad. Thankfully, Leo managed to escape the random plot of being forced to eat 'colorful' food.

After finishing his stew early and going back up to change, Rain waited for Leo who was washing his hand in front of the kitchen's door.

"Alright, let's get going."

Not needing to change his casual outfit, Leo walked out with Rain who wore an outfit similar to the one he wore the day before.

'This is somewhat refreshing…'

As the duo made their way out of the private district and blended into the crowd, Leo's expression brightened. Having spent over 5 months isolated from the outside world doing nothing but training, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic about taking a walk outside even in the crowded streets of SwordKeep.

However, after walking silently for over an hour, Leo couldn't help but grow curious about their destination. He knew that 'something' was probably happening soon, but he had little clues as to what this prelude might be.

"We are here."

Before long, Leo found himself stepping into a silent alley that the crowd didn't extend to. As Rain suddenly stopped in front of what seemed to be a door, Leo's eyes caught sight of something distinct that they were accustomed to, a tall line of black fumes extending out of a red chimney…

'Ah.'

It seemed that they had stopped by a blacksmith.