Chapter 60. Who Are You?

It had been a week since Kim Do-Joon entered Sky Road. Besides, it had been a while since he’d remained in a labyrinth for so long.

Throughout this period, Kim Do-Joon had focused solely on climbing upward. Not like he had any other choices besides that. The path was a single, continuous stairway leading upward.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

However, despite a week of running, he was still on the stairs, with no end in sight. Despite the seemingly endless journey, the presence of goals and achievements kept him from giving up or stopping.

His goal was simple: to defeat the labyrinth boss, who was likely at the top, and move on to the next labyrinth. There had to be a boss, so this path too, would eventually end.

And the achievements meant smashing the occasional statues that appeared and extracting their power sources.

[The item effect has been successfully copied and pasted.]

[The Unyielding God’s Power Source has been destroyed.]

[The transferred ability will be adjusted according to the recipient's classification.]

[Additional Effect]

- Passive: Mana Recovery Level 7

Over the week, his mana recovery had reached level seven. Naturally, the efficiency had drastically improved compared to level one.

At level one, it was just a minor aid.

Although noticeable due to its novelty, the recovery amount itself wasn’t significant. But now, it was substantial enough to make a significant impact in battle. Even if his mana intake through breathing was obstructed, he could manage for a while. This passive alone could sustain him to some extent.

The only downside is that it doesn’t increase my overall mana capacity...

But that was a minor complaint. Besides, if it did, the power source item would be overpowered, potentially qualifying as a legendary item. An item that passively increased one’s mana reserve would be extraordinary.

Recovery alone is already quite useful, especially in this labyrinth.

The enhanced recovery allowed him to rest less and climb the stairs more frequently, gradually recovering mana while at it. This created a positive cycle, enabling significant progress over the week.

In spite of this, the scenery remained unchanged, and the summit was nowhere in sight.

Regardless, his achievements over the past week weren’t limited to mana recovery.

I’ve also made considerable progress with the method of running.

The method of running involved kicking up wind to propel himself forward. The principle was simple, yet challenging to master. He had to concentrate the wind's force in his legs, preventing it from dispersing. To avoid giving away his position, the process also had to be silent.

Moreover, he had to maintain balance, land smoothly, and choose his steps wisely after each propulsion. Without these elements, it’d just be jumping, not running.

Now, Kim Do-Joon could control all these aspects, albeit imperfectly. He’d mastered the basics, but still had a long way to go. It’d be a while before he could reach the higher levels Karlish spoke of, such as treading on the sky.

Only after Kim Do-Joon had perfectly executed the method of running did Karlish reveal its name.

— This method of running is called Sky Thunder. Nox is known for riding a horse that treads upon the sky.

“A horse that treads upon the sky?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

— According to myth, many can fly in the sky, but only Nox’s steed was described as ‘treading.’ It could run from one end of the continent to the other in less than three days without stopping. To the beings of the lower realms, it appeared like a bolt of lightning, hence the name, Sky Thunder.

Karlish explained the origin of Sky Thunder.

Curious, Kim Do-Joon asked, “Did you mention that with higher mastery, one can tread upon the sky?”

— Yes, that’s right.

“But from what you’re saying, it sounds like the technique was designed with that goal in mind from the start.”

Initially, Kim Do-Joon thought treading upon the sky was a skill achievable at the pinnacle of martial arts. However, hearing its name and origin, this method seemed to have been designed for that very purpose from the beginning.

— Well, I don’t remember exactly, but probably. I dislike anything vague and indistinct.

“Vague?”

— Most of the martial arts and techniques in my knowledge are like that. They add unnecessary philosophy, making the techniques themselves bizarre. It’s suffocating just to think about!

Karlish spoke with disdain.

Kim Do-Joon then asked, “Are your martial arts different, then?”

— Of course! I used a very simple and concrete approach from the start. I aimed to recreate the scenes from Nox’s myth that thrilled me.

Karlish, the continent's foremost martial artist, had created his techniques with a clear intention. As such, there was no way the result would be disappointing. One of these techniques was Sky Thunder, inspired by Nox’s steed.

Karlish studied the difference between flying and treading, and pondered how one could tread on air. He discovered that not only one could perform such feats upon reaching a certain threshold, but the martial art itself was inherently designed to achieve such feats.

“That’s nice.” Kim Do-Joon resonated deeply with Karlish’s philosophy.

Concrete goals and expectations were what pushed a person forward, especially when they were on the verge of giving up. Kim Do-Joon’s reason for venturing into dangerous labyrinths and dungeons, and relentlessly training, was the same.

He envisioned his daughter’s complete recovery, her graduating from college, getting a job, meeting a good person, and starting a family. These images drove him to constantly push himself.

— You think so too, right? Martial arts aren’t complicated. The unskilled learn to defeat enemies, the skilled learn to overcome themselves. Ultimately, martial arts are about becoming the best version of oneself that one can imagine.

Karlish’s teachings were always straightforward and clear, meeting the needs of Kim Do-Joon all the time. His rapid progress was largely thanks to Karlish’s excellent instruction as well.

Despite the unchanging scenery, their conversations made the journey less tedious. Had he been alone, it would’ve been quite grueling.

Eating, sleeping, running—he repeated this cycle for two more days.

“

Hmm?

”

Suddenly, Kim Do-Joon felt as though he had passed through something. He stopped, feeling this way for the first time. Looking back, he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

There’s nothing there.

Yet, the sensation was undeniable. From then on, the air around him felt subtly different.

It feels like I’m in a different place.

However, the landscape remained the same, with just clouds, mist, and stairs. Feeling uneasy, Kim Do-Joon slowed his pace. Then, after a short while, he encountered something different.

For the first time in nine days, he saw something other than stairs.

It was a modest manor, not very large but certainly noticeable.

***

— What's with this building?

“I’m not sure...” Kim Do-Joon replied

With heightened caution, he approached the manor. All he could see was a wall, a large gate, and the tiled roof of a traditional house. It looked like something straight out of a history book.

“This must be the summit.”

— Then there must be a boss monster here.

“Maybe.”

Kim Do-Joon carefully pushed open the gate and stepped inside. He wondered what kind of boss he might find. Finding another statue monster seemed the most likely.

But there was no one inside. All he saw was the building, a small pond to one side, and a tree laden with fruit that seemed like peaches.

Surveying the yard, Kim Do-Joon entered, prepared to use his Return skill at any moment. Suddenly, he heard the gate closing behind him.

Squeak— Thud!

Instead of the abrupt slam of a horror movie door, it was a slow, almost automatic sound. In spite of that, the sight of the gate closing on its own was unsettling. It felt like the entrance to the boss room was sealed shut.

If necessary, I can always use the Return skill or climb the wall.

Despite the closed gate, Kim Do-Joon wasn’t too worried. There were still plenty of ways to escape. Turning his attention back to the yard, he saw something that hadn’t been there before.

“...!”

A figure stood there, seemingly appearing out of thin air.

No longer calm, Kim Do-Joon reflexively gripped his spear. Its point was not as sharp as usual. A being that appeared without a sound, like a ghost, was certainly startling. Yet, it had a humanlike appearance.

“It’s been a while since I had a visitor,” an old man with white hair muttered gruffly.

“Who... are you?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

An entity that can talk in a labyrinth was not entirely surprising. After all, Karlish, the spear he carried, had also been found in a labyrinth. However, just because one could speak did not mean they were an ally.

As Kim Do-Joon maintained his guard and questioned him, the old man glanced at the spear he held.

“Put that away and come in. Would you like some tea? I can at least offer you that.”

The old man then turned and walked toward the building. Seeing how the man didn’t hesitate to turn his back, Kim Do-Joon relaxed a bit, but he didn’t put away Karlish.

Kim Do-Joon used his Insight skill on the old man, who walked away.

[???]

- Compatibility: 0%

Kim Do-Joon’s eyes widened at the display.

Wait...

It was the same situation as with Siwelin, when he was tasked with restoring a name.

[A hidden quest has been created.]

[Hidden Quest]

- Collect forgotten names.

- A name, the basis of existence, distinguishes an individual from the countless nameless things in the world. A forgotten name leads to a forgotten existence, which eventually vanishes. Find the forgotten name and the individual will leave its mark once more in the memory of the stars.

- By finding the name, the soul will leave its mark once again in the memory of the stars.

As soon as Kim Do-Joon looked at the old man’s information window, a hidden quest appeared in front of him. It was just like the one from the ruined temple, where he had found Siwelin,

The only difference is that Siwelin was a ghoul with Compatibility over seventy percent.

The old man, in contrast, appeared human and had a 0% Compatibility.

Does that mean he lacks combat ability?

As if to contradict this thought, Karlish spoke in a low, serious tone—the gravest one Kim Do-Joon had ever heard from him.

— Be careful. He is exceptionally strong.

He had never sounded this solemn before... even during the fight with the elf Eldora.

Soon, Kim Do-Joon realized that Eldora also had a Compatibility of zero percent. But in reality, he was incredibly strong, likely stronger than most A-rank Hunters.

I guess Compatibility doesn’t necessarily equate to strength.

While Compatibility could be a general guideline, it wasn’t an absolute measure of power. Having encountered two exceptions in such a short span made this clear.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

The old man called back, showing neither friendliness nor hostility.

— ...

Karlish remained silent. If there had been any hidden danger, Karlish would have sensed it even if Kim Do-Joon missed it.

His silence meant the old man genuinely harbored no malice. Kim Do-Joon followed slowly, keeping Karlish on his shoulder.