Chapter 7 – Tutorial (Survivor) - 7
However, what's done is done. Vesper embraces his mistake as a lesson and moves forward, laying the groundwork for future trials by consuming the remaining blue rune.
[You may choose one effect from the following options:
1. Temporarily increase strength by 1 for 10 minutes.
2. Permanently increase strength attribute by 0.5 Point.
3. Obtain one matchbox.>
It appears that the effects of all runes are random. Vesper selects the second option, investing in his status points. Once again, his muscle mass slightly increases.
'I wish I could see my status attributes. This situation is frustrating.'
As the C-grade reward is a 1kg gold bar, Vesper deems it useless in this world. For the sake of his survival, he aims for greater rewards.
- S Rank: Exceeds the designated quota = 3rd-Grade Skill
- A Rank: 90-100% of the quota = 3rd-Grade Gear
- B Rank: 70-89% of the quota = 3rd-Grade Runes
To achieve a better reward, Vesper strives for an S rank if possible. Believing that he can obtain a better score due to the house being full of runes, he sets his sights on this goal.
Vesper glances at the roof, but the spider lady is nowhere in sight.
Without the spider lady hindering him, Vesper reenters the house. Once again, he ignores the runes in the living room, knowing he can collect them on his way out at any time. Proceeding further into the house, Vesper spots a new door leading to an unexplored area.
With a holy stake in hand, Vesper feels confident in his survival. Taking his chances, he twists the doorknob and enters. A narrow and long corridor unfolds before him.
As usual, the light is off, shrouding everything in darkness. Despite his eyesight adjusting to the dark, Vesper struggles to see anything due to the absence of light.
'I wish I had a flashlight.'
As Vesper stood in the dimly lit washroom, the eerie ambiance seemed to seep into his bones. The faint flicker of the red candlestick provided a feeble sense of security amidst the unknown darkness that surrounded him. Despite the unsettling atmosphere, his determination remained unwavering as he embarked on his quest for survival.
With cautious steps, Vesper maneuvered through the unfamiliar space, relying on his senses to guide him. The sensation of cool tiles beneath his feet offered some semblance of grounding as he inched closer to the door on his right. His heart raced with anticipation, each beat echoing loudly in the silence of the corridor.
As he pushed open the door and stepped into the washroom, a wave of relief washed over him at the sight of the illuminated wash basin.
There is a candle there, and it is lighted. The soft glow of the basin's light beckoned to him, offering a glimpse of hope amidst the darkness that enveloped the room.
With the aid of the candlestick, Vesper's keen eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of salvation. His gaze fell upon the white rune nestled within the basin, a glimmer of potential amidst the chaos. Yet, his attention was soon drawn to another source of light emanating from the depths of the toilet bowl.
Intrigued yet apprehensive, Vesper approached the toilet, his stomach churning with a mixture of disgust and curiosity. The sight of the rune nestled among the unsavory mess within the bowl gave rise to a dilemma. Should he risk contamination to claim the prize within?
'Crap. Should I just flush? But that rune...'
The weight of his decision hung heavy in the air as Vesper wrestled with his inner turmoil. The allure of the rune's radiant glow tugged at his senses, promising untold power and opportunity. But at what cost?
In a moment of clarity, Vesper resolved to cast aside his reservations, steeling himself for the task ahead. With a steadying breath, he shed his jacket and plunged his hand into the foul liquid, gritting his teeth against the repulsive sensation that engulfed him.
The sensation is unpleasant—gooey, slimy, and sandy—but thankfully, the rune is the only solid object within. Retrieving the finger-sized marble, Vesper sees its golden light radiate through his fingers. Clutching the prize tightly, Vesper emerged from the depths of the toilet bowl, his resolve unshaken by the ordeal.
With the rune safely in his possession, Vesper made his way to the wash basin, the steady flow of water serving as a cleansing balm for his soiled hand. Yet, his moment of respite was short-lived as his gaze fell upon the reflection in the mirror.
The sight that greeted him sent a chill down his spine, his reflection standing before him, a sinister smirk twisting its features. A sense of foreboding washed over Vesper as he stared into the abyss of his own reflection, the echoes of his inner turmoil reverberating in the silence of the washroom.
That is not his reflection!
With a quickening pulse, Vesper retrieved the holy stake from his pocket, his grip tightening around the hilt as he prepared to face whatever darkness lurked beyond the mirror's facade. For in the depths of the unknown, salvation and damnation were but two sides of the same coin, and only time would tell which fate awaited him in the shadows.
WHOOSH
A gust of strong wind bursts forth from the mirror, extinguishing the candlelight. However, the golden rune clasped in Vesper's right hand still emanates a faint glow, offering him a source of illumination.
The apparition within the mirror undergoes a sudden transformation, morphing into the spectral form of the elderly man. Its ethereal arms elongate, extending out of the mirror's surface with menacing intent, aiming for Vesper's throat.
Reacting swiftly, Vesper's left hand retrieves the stake, poised to defend himself. With a decisive thrust, he drives the wooden weapon into one of the ghostly appendages. A sharp cry echoes through the room as the stake pierces the phantom's incorporeal flesh, eliciting a visceral reaction.
The ghost recoils, its ethereal form faltering as Vesper swiftly retrieves the stake from its incorporeal grasp. With a determined grip, he raises the stake high, his muscles tense with resolve as he channels all his strength into a single, decisive strike against the mirror.
CLANK
The mirror shatters, sending fragments of glass flying through the air, one of which slices into Vesper's left hand. Despite the searing pain, he grits his teeth and clenches his jaw, refusing to succumb to the agony as he staggers away from the washing basin.
With blood trickling from the wound, Vesper's grip tightens around the golden rune in his right hand, the pulsing glow of its power providing him with a faint sense of comfort amidst the chaos. As he retreats from the shattered remnants of the mirror.
"KIHIHIHIHIHIHIHI!"
The obnoxious laughter of the spider lady echoes from the ceiling as she stomps on the roof tiles and swiftly dashes toward the kitchen windows.