Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 506: Skill Issue [Bonus Chapter]

Asher could be seen sleeping within his room as the morning sun rose from wherever it had disappeared the day before, golden rays spilling gently through the window and pouring across his face as he slept without a single care in the world, his breathing slow and even, his expression relaxed in a way that made him look far younger than he truly was.

He had no job or office to report to, no supervisor waiting to scold him, so there was absolutely no need to wake up early like he once did in his previous life. His eyes fluttered open lazily as he graced the world with those sharp purple irises, glowing faintly under the sunlight, ’a fine morning,’ he mused to himself as the long-awaited day for the solo missions had already arrived.

With a small smile on his face that seemed to dispel all traces of grogginess automatically, he rose to his feet and immediately went through his morning routine as usual, movements practiced and efficient, every action smooth and unhurried.

But this time, he didn’t wear the normal clothes he used for classes or casual training, no, today required something different, something more suited for real combat and real bloodshed, so he put on a compressed shirt that outlined his perfectly arranged chiseled muscles and defined abs, the fabric clinging tightly to his torso like a second skin, then he put on his trousers which were a bit loose yet designed to allow free and maximum movement without restriction.

He donned his armor, which consisted of a breastplate that fit snugly over his chest, a pair of vambraces which he carefully fitted onto his forearms, then greaves which he attached securely to his legs, each piece locking into place with quiet precision, and he changed into another type of shoes, crafted from reinforced leather, but the soles were lined with metallic plating that still allowed fast movement and agility without sacrificing protection.

He hung his sheath to his waist, and Virelass slid smoothly into it with a soft metallic whisper that felt almost alive, as though the blade itself anticipated the coming battles, then he finally put on his red cape around his shoulders, the fabric flowing down his back like a streak of crimson fire.

Staring at himself in the mirror, he seemed less like a regular student and more like a feudal lord preparing to charge into noble territory during wartime, a young commander rather than a mere academy attendee.

Asher nodded to himself in quiet approval, then stepped away from the mirror as he headed toward the door, his destination singular and simple; the Logistics and Missions Operation Hall.

The moment he accepted a mission, he would tear the teleportation scroll and begin immediately, after all, it was still early morning and there was absolutely no reason to delay or waste precious time.

Even with his metallic boots on, his footsteps didn’t make any metallic sound unless he deliberately allowed them to, such was the absurd level of control he possessed over his body and movements. But despite his silent steps, people still stared at him, and not only the first year students, even the upperclassmen couldn’t help but glance his way, because they had all heard stories of the freakish Tenth Sun.

Besides, at this moment, he seemed more like a noble than any noble present within the Separate Dimension as he walked as though he had created the place himself instead of Cindralis, there was an undeniable presence to him, an intangible aura that unconsciously commanded attention and made people stare simply because he passed by.

[The system advises the Host to stop over aura farming]

The mechanical tone of his system echoed within Asher’s mind as he walked casually down the corridor.

’I am just walking, how is it my fault that I’m just that handsome and charismatic,’ Asher replied internally, although he wanted to smile, he forced himself not to break this so-called aura farming moment.

’Besides, how do you still have a mechanical voice, you and I both know you possess some form of personality,’ Asher communicated with the system again, but the system didn’t reply, almost as though it was deliberately ignoring him and denying his words.

Asher didn’t push further or say anything more, because he didn’t have much attention to spare for the system right now as he was focused solely on his upcoming solo missions. Stepping into the Logistics and Missions Operation Hall, his eyes shifted directly toward the Facilitator he normally met, and since he was already familiar with the man, there was no need to deal with another stranger.

Asher walked toward him without hesitation, and as though sensing Asher’s gaze and presence, the Facilitator raised his head, his black eyes meeting Asher’s beautiful purple ones calmly.

Arriving at the desk, the Facilitator spoke first, "Back from the dead?" he asked casually, clearly referencing the fact that he hadn’t seen Asher for over a month and a half.

"I guess I am," Asher replied with a small laugh as he shook his head lightly.

The Facilitator nodded as he spoke again, "I’ve seen your other teammates about two times, but I haven’t seen you at all, so I guessed you were locked away in training, after all, many students vanish into their training whenever they have a large amount of points," he stated as he flipped the book he was holding lazily.

Asher didn’t reply immediately, his eyes shifting toward the other Facilitators who were busy addressing groups of students, answering questions, and distributing missions, yet this particular man, who was also a Facilitator, always seemed strangely free, with more than enough time on his hands to sit back and read books peacefully.

"How come you are always free while they are always busy?" he couldn’t help but ask, his purple eyes returning to the man with quiet curiosity.

The Facilitator met Asher’s gaze calmly as he replied, "Skill issue and efficiency," he stated simply without adding another word, as though that single sentence explained everything.

Asher stayed silent for a moment, then simply nodded his head, deciding not to ask more questions if the man clearly wasn’t going to elaborate.

"I guess you are here for your solo mission, which isn’t surprising since the Wargraves aren’t known for forming teams within the Star Academy," the Facilitator spoke again with a calm smile resting on his face.

"I am, I’m tired of the teamed missions and the sharing of points, the stronger one gets the higher the points they need to get even stronger," Asher stated with a quiet sigh, then continued, "and on that note, I would like you to show me the highest rewarding missions, as I don’t want to go through an endless list of low paying missions," he added as he made his preference clear.

The Facilitator closed his book with a gentle thud, his legs leaving the table as he finally sat upright, and the him that had been casually chatting with Asher seemed to vanish instantly as he slipped seamlessly into a professional mode, his relaxed demeanor replaced by the composed and efficient state of a true Facilitator.