Only I Am A Reader
chapter-158

Duangduang! Duangduang!

"Ho…"

Yeon's already thin voice sounded even more feeble than usual, adding another kind of pain in Leo's heart. For a moment, he just wanted to cause a ruckus so he would be thrown out along with Yeon. However, he knew that he couldn't do that for both their sakes.

Let alone how hard it would be to obtain an opportunity like this one even with his knowledge of the plot, the future Heavenly Demon couldn't rise against all obstacles without the foundation that was being laid here. If Leo really gave up now, then being stuck in the novel would be his last concern. Even mere survival couldn't be guaranteed.

"Only a few seconds more!"

However, that didn't mean that Leo planned to let Yeon endure the torture on her own for the sake of her growth arc. If he let everything progress as it was, then what was his identity as a 'reader' for?!

He didn't care what effect his assistance would have on her. If her personality would grow to be lacking, then he would complete what she lacked! If her abilities fell short at times then he would make up for it!

Baekho had long wanted to achieve his role as Yeon's pillar just like she was his, but he lacked the mental ability to do so. Now that he obtained his memories as Leo, he was finally able to accomplish what he could never do!

'Finally!'

The drumming had only sounded out three times, but that was enough for Leo to roughly locate the source to be extremely close. With no guards to perform their guiding routine, a dining hall appeared in front of the pair. Even though it was exactly next to the training hall, it still took Leo and Yeon over a dozen minutes to just get to the entrance.

Unlike the place they ate at the day before, this dining hall looked completely different. More guards clad in black stood in a line, obscuring half of the hall, leaving only the long table that occupied the other half for Leo to rush at.

Slurp!

Reaching out for the bowl of soup in front of the first seat, Leo only took a big gulp before seating Yeon on the next chair, bringing the other bowl of soup into her mouth. He wasn't going to let her suffer this time!

"Ho?"

Yeon's half-closed eyes slowly opened in surprise, she was almost incapable of moving a finger just a second ago. However, a single sip of warm soup seemed to have brought her back to life! She couldn't resist taking the bowl from Leo's hand, trying to down it in one sitting.

"Drink slowly, it will work better this way."

Seeing Yeon being this lively, the worry on Leo's face vanished, being replaced by a smile. He picked up his own bowl of soup, slowly taking a few mouthfuls as he recalled the setting of this phase. The Heavenly Strength Society sure liked being wasteful!

Although the food in front of them wasn't as plentiful as what they were presented with the day before, this ordinary-looking bowl of soup had the same effect as a top-grade healing medicinal soup! It didn't look like much, but this was being extremely extravagant!

"Ho, did you know about this?"

After finishing her own bowl, Yeon whispered in Leo's ears. Her guess was quite bold considering how impossible it was, yet she had pinned the truth this quick due to her deep understanding of Leo.

"Don't just drink the soup, have some meat! We can slowly talk about that later."

It wasn't only the soup that was special, the meat was actually that of beasts who had condensed internal cores. As for the ordinary-looking vegetables, they were elixirs with a few years of age. The price of a simple meal like this could probably cover a month's expenses for a normal murim-in.

However, even though he wasn't ignorant of their values, Leo still consumed everything without care. Martial artists might call him wasteful to consume this as a normal person who had yet to condense any internal energy in his dantian, but he thought otherwise. This was exactly what he needed in his current state!

Yeon's perception when it came to him seemed to be amplified ten times, so she couldn't be kept in the dark. He couldn't tell her about his identity as a reader, but it wasn't like this was the only way to explain this. In the elusive murim, there were all kinds of strange phenomena that could account for his change.

"Whatever. I'm just happy you are getting better."

Even that appeared to be unnecessary for the time being…

"Food!"

Leo and Yeon were already halfway through with their meal when a child who had similarly finished his task arrived at the dining hall. His hunger had overwhelmed his pain enough for him to crawl there, not caring about the pair as he grabbed the food on the seat opposite to them, throwing whatever he could into his mouth.

"Hm?"

The child faintly felt the food's effect, but that only prompted him to devour with more zeal. He simply didn't have the energy to think about it!

Munch! Munch! Munch!

By the time Leo finished his meal, the table was already full of hungry monsters who ate whatever they could get their hands in. His eyes darted towards the entrance, the unsuccessful children were coming in as well, Instructor Han slowly following them from behind.

Gulp…

The children couldn't help salivating at the sight before them. Had they held on a second more… Wouldn't they have been similarly eating their fill right now?

Snap!

The line of guards dividing the room in two suddenly broke, revealing another table full of glistening food. A few children couldn't help slowly approaching the table. However, being just a few steps away from the seats, they still turned to look in a certain direction…

"Aren't you going to eat?"

Instructor Han gently smiled after having snapped his fingers. This was just the first day, but their future had already been decided!