ALL NOVEL chapter 3
003. Empty Skill Book
[Obtained Empty Skill Book.]
[Your Skill Book has synced with ‘Empty Skill Book’.]
[Checking Empty Skill Book details.]
: Removes Skill Book page limit.
: Removes Skill Book genre limits. Skills from all disciplines can be obtained.
: Obtain tutorial. Skill Book page count increases based on tutorial progress.
: Monster souls engraved with skills can be obtained by defeating monsters.
: All skills obtained through the Growing Skill Book are undetectable by emotion readers.
[Tutorial: Enrolling in the National Seoul Hunter Academy]
[Reward: 1 Blank Page]
“This is….”
The corners of my lips rose unconsciously.
Somehow I’ve gained the absurd ability for my Skill Book’s pages to grow.
In the 6th regression, Sunghyun’s page count grows by 2 through [Empty Skill Book] as well.
But that didn’t remove the limit on Skill Book pages.
It’s true [Empty Skill Book] grants abilities based on the individual’s accumulated narrative.
But I didn’t expect my unremarkable narrative to contain such power, not being a regressor either.
‘Was it due to my strong desire to rise above my station….’
Anyway, I did it!
It doesn’t make me instantly stronger like Sunghyun’s complete Skill Book, [Myth of Ashter].
But depending on how it’s utilized, it’s a tremendous ability.
In the world of Awakened Hunter, increasing Skill Book pages is nonsensical.
Skill Books represent the limits of a hunter’s talents.
Which means the limits as a hunter.
A Page 1 Skill Book could never achieve what’s expected of an E-rank hunter.
Likewise, an ordinary human with a Page 3 Skill Book could never achieve what’s expected of a B-rank hunter.
In other words, increasing Skill Book pages means the limits of one’s talents and limits as a hunter disappear.
Moreover, the additional pages are ‘Blank’ with nothing written on them.
The absurd ability to write any skill on them.
When everyone walks the predetermined path, I get to draw my own.
With an infinite canvas to boot!
Suppressing the uncontrollable smile on my lips, I lay down as the dungeon’s scenery gradually faded away.
Gates disappear upon the boss’ death.
Originally, Sunghyun would take only [Myth of Ashter] and escape the gate until the 5th regression.
Which is why Inferno closing the gate after defeating the boss Black Dragon is Awakened Hunter’s progression.
But the reason the gate is vanishing now is because I, the hidden second boss of this gate, defeated the hidden boss ‘Statue’ of [Tomb of Myths].
‘I’ve pulled the progression from the 6th regression and beyond.’
I saw Inferno’s hunters running this way from the distance.
“Oh, you’re only coming now that it’s over.”
Hunters and police arriving late is the immutable truth of fiction from past to present.
‘I can finally rest now….’
…
“Situation resolved! Situation resolved! Confirming disappearance of [Anomalous Gate] codename. All monsters outside have been eliminated.”
“Discovered one injured presumed to be from inside the dungeon.”
“I’ll start by applying healing skills!”
“The constant smiling indicates possible mental damage. Hurry to the hospital….”
***
– The anomalous gate incident occurring in Seoul residential area early this morning. Resolved with minimal injuries to around 10 thanks to the quick response of police and Clan Inferno….
Beep- Beep- Beep- Beep-
I opened my eyes to a bright hospital room with fluorescent lights and saw the sunrise scenery outside the window, along with radio sounds and nurses chatting.
“I heard that patient had a Page 1 Skill Book yet still entered a dungeon, ending up like that.”
“Right? And seems the one skill he had was useless too.”
“Whether it was stupid or reckless…. Kids these days, really.”
A Page 1 Skill Book. Essentially treated as a quasi-disabled person in Awakened Hunter’s South Korea.
It probably did look reckless.
But isn’t that going too far?
Thanks to me, damages were reduced too.
I tried really hard here.
Can’t you comfort me a bit more?
As I rolled my eyes around to grasp the situation, the nurse replacing my IV exclaimed in surprise.
“Doctor, it appears patient Kim Siwoo has regained consciousness!”
…
“While you can’t call yourself healthy, it’s not life-threatening. Stay stable for now and you can be discharged in two days.”
The doctor gave a brief examination and promptly left the room.
It seemed after I collapsed, Clan Inferno dispatched to subdue the anomalous gate found and brought me to the hospital.
Two days later….
This is troubling.
The National Seoul Hunter Academy entrance exam practical test is in four days.
With Kim Siwoo’s Skill Book, even in perfect condition it’s like plucking stars from the sky, and now I’m in this state for the practical exam…
The first Empty Skill Book tutorial is enrolling in the Hunter Academy.
Even with the ability to gain skills, if there’s still only one page to engrave them, it’s meaningless.
In other words, I can’t utilize Empty Skill Book’s power until admission.
After barely surviving, I finally obtained Empty Skill Book.
Somehow I have to get admitted and pluck all the windfalls I can.
With that thought, when I opened the Skill Book,
An unexpected gift was waiting when I opened my Skill Book.
‘Skill Book’
Chilling-
[There is unviewed information. View it?]
YES/NO
Unviewed information…?
This text appeared like a notification when I opened the Skill Book.
When I pressed YES, sentences began printing out.
[Cleared first tutorial: Obtained [Empty Skill Book].]
[Reward: Skill Book pages increase by 1.]
[Reward: Recording 1 skill from your narrative.]
[Obtained Smoke Screen skill.]
[Skill Details]
□ Skill Name: Smoke Screen
□ Rank: D
□ Skill Effects:
– Generates black smoke surrounding you.
Is this really okay?
Just from obtaining [Empty Skill Book], I got a skill.
How can it be so generous?
＜Skill Book＞
□ Owner: Kim Siwoo
□ Genre: Essays
□ Pages Owned: 2
□ Skills Owned
– Pitiful Single Strike LV.2 (E-rank)
– Smoke Screen LV.1 (D-rank)
The Skill Book only appeared after I finished viewing all the information.
As expected, the Smoke Screen skill had been added.
‘Smoke Screen, huh….’
A skill simply spreading black smoke around you.
Thus no training required and high versatility.
In other words, useful for the approaching entrance exam.
“I’ll probably be running away a lot.”
A simple, clean effect.
Fortunate.
Honestly, with only [Pitiful Single Strike], taking the entrance exam was like gambling.
But gaining the Smoke Screen skill alone opens up more tactics.
With Smoke Screen, I should be able to pass no problem.
“And Smoke Screen….”
According to the Skill Book, it’s a skill gained from my narrative.
It might relate to me blinding that praying statue.
‘Or maybe it’s because I ran around all day.’
Telling me to hide well.
That’s probably the more convincing explanation.
Knock Knock-
As I was lost in thought, someone knocked on the hospital room door.
Along with the knocking, a man in a black suit entered.
He pushed up his glasses and spoke.
“Greetings, Mr. Kim Siwoo. Are you recovering well?”
“Oh…. Yes.”
Seeing my suspicious gaze, he took out a business card from his jacket and handed it over.
Clan Inferno….
With an enormous gate vanishing suddenly, I expected them to visit for an investigation.
The man smiled and said,
“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Inferno’s Hunter Kim Dohoon. On behalf of the Korean Hunter Association, Inferno is conducting an investigation. May I have your cooperation for a moment?”
‘Here it comes.’
An opportunity I couldn’t miss had arrived.
***
Unexpectedly, the investigation questions were insignificant.
Why I was alone there, the dungeon’s characteristics and form – formal things like that.
The CCTVs around the gate seemed to have malfunctioned when the gate appeared.
Thus I could avoid the narrative of ‘a civilian got caught up in the gate’ by cooperating properly with the investigation.
Lies must be hidden behind truths after all.
Of course I hid the fact of obtaining [Empty Skill Book].
No evidence, and they wouldn’t believe me if I claimed to have subjugated it.
‘If they discover the trait of my Skill Book page limit disappearing, who knows what problems could occur.’
Naturally, I also slipped in some hints about Lee Sunghyun.
With the investigation over, the man who introduced himself as Kim Dohoon politely bid farewell.
“Thank you for participating in the investigation. If you are discharged, would you be able to come to Inferno’s main office as an investigation witness?”
This must be the main point.
Given Youngho Kang’s personality, he likely suspects me.
The fact he’s specifically calling me to the main office shows Youngho Kang’s determination.
“And of course, we will provide transportation costs and gratuity.”
Gratuity?
“How much do you give?”
“Pardon? Oh…. I can’t state an exact amount but it won’t be a small sum.”
They want to improve Inferno’s impression.
As expected of Inferno.
Top clans really are different.
“Understood, I’ll head to Inferno’s main office right after I’m discharged.”
He opened his eyes wide, seemingly surprised by my cheerful agreement.
“Yes, please state your name to our employees when you arrive and they will guide you.”
Gratuity, doesn’t it sound nice?
Meaningless compared to the gains I’ll make from now on, though.
“Then I’ll take my leave. Please focus on recovering quickly.”
“Thank you.”
Thanks to Youngho Kang, it looks like my academy admission will go more smoothly.
I carefully suppressed my rising lips until the man before me left, to avoid being found out.