After a short while, the wall opened, revealing a corridor beyond it. With Odey in the lead, the two of them stepped inside.
The passage wasn't particularly narrow, three or four people could walk through it side by side if needed. Though it was dark, Odey moved through it with ease. Perhaps he had walked these paths so many times that he knew them by heart. The only light came from Unwan's grimoire, floating in the air and casting a faint violet glow. They continued forward until Odey suddenly stopped.
When Unwan looked at him with a questioning expression, Odey reached out and opened a door.
Both the corridor and the door had been so pitch-black that Unwan hadn't even noticed it. The moment the door opened, light poured into the passage. It came from what appeared to be a spacious hall.
The hall looked wide and comfortable. There was a sofa, a table with chairs, and several other pieces of furniture. Multiple doors lined the walls. Unwan guessed this was both a meeting room and a waiting hall. A girl sat inside, paying absolutely no attention to the two of them.
Odey ignored her as well. They walked toward another door.
— This is where we all gather. We discuss our main matters and mission here.
'Just as I thought.'
'As if there were any other option.'
— I see.
They reached the door. Odey smiled faintly and opened it. At that very moment, something exploded inside the room with a loud bang. He said.
— Hey! I didn't build this place so you idiots could blow everything up!
Odey was addressing the two people inside.
As the smoke cleared near the doorway, their faces became visible. One of them was slightly older than Unwan, with brown hair, clad in armor, holding a golden spear. The other looked about Unwan's age, with blond hair, also armored, gripping a jian sword.
Strangely, their armors were nothing alike. In fact, they looked almost completely opposite in design.
"Harde, I told you not to use your one of your fire magic here. Did you wait until I left on purpose?" Odey snapped.
"No! If Slor hadn't used his ice magic, I wouldn't have used my fire either!" the boy with the jian shot back.
— Oh really? And who was it that heated up his jian to try and burn me?
— That doesn't count! I wasn't using it directly!
— Then I'll just extend my spear tip into a long crystal blade. Shall we start from the beginning?
Both of them looked ready to charge at each other again when Odey suddenly intervened.
— Fine. I'll allow it. But...
His next words came louder, sharper.
— You'll clean this place first. Then, maybe next month, I'll consider letting you try again.
Both of them deflated instantly.
"What kind of tyranny is that?" they said at the same time.
— Is there a problem?
"No, Captain," they answered in unison, a trace of fear in their voices.
— Good. You'll start cleaning later. I need to train someone.
— Ooo, a new member?
— Who else could it be, idiot Harde?
— Well then, should we befriend the new kid?..
They turned toward Unwan, staring at him with rather unsettling expressions. Understanding the situation, Odey spoke again.
— Trying to win him over already? No. If you're that eager to meet him, you can wait outside.
The two exchanged glances, then left without another word. Once the door closed, Odey began speaking again.
— Huh… That's the difference between grasping the meaning of a curse and truly owning it. They're not bad kids, not really. But still, this much was obvious.
— Yes, but… why did you trust me so easily? Why are you forcefully dismissing all the unpleasant signs and saying those things? I don't think an ordinary person could be that patient.
Odey exhaled lightly.
— Well, what else could I say? It's not something within your control, kid. Why should you worry about it? Curses aren't something you're meant to fret over. They're a bitter herb you must accept - harsh, but medicinal. Some people can't digest it. Some won't even taste it. I'm not praising you, but… people like you are forced to swallow it whole. In that case, you don't have much choice. And I carry a curse similar to yours. That's what keeps me restrained.
Unwan was moved by his words. Though there was still a faint trace of something unpleasant in Odey's tone, he could tell Odey was deliberately suppressing it.
— Thank you. So… where do we begin?
— First question, In your opinion, what should you pay attention to if you want to survive a fight against Night creatures?
Unwan thought for a moment before answering.
— Their appearance?
— No, idiot. Sorry. Partially yes, but you need to know their class and their rank. Do you know them?
— Of course. They're: Beast, Predator, Monster…
That was as far as his knowledge went. The lessons from the orphanage had long since faded from his memory. And Genius Nort had never paid much attention to that information anyway, he focused mostly on surviving without fighting.
'Hahaha, idiot. Only three? How do you forget something like that?'
'Fine, then you say it.'
"I'm not obligated to.'
Seeing Unwan hesitate, Odey understood immediately and continued.
— Serpent, Tyrant, Demon, Devourer. Right?
— Yes.
— Good. I'll explain briefly. In your current condition, physically as you are now you can kill Beasts. But stay away from Predators.
— But how do I tell them apart?
— Beasts are simple creatures. Predators, however, can consciously control their attacks. So remember this, even if a creature looks weak, never enter a fight without observing it first. Study it. This is your life we're talking about.
Unwan tried to engrave those words into his memory.
— Alright.
— Next – ranks. Just like humans, creatures have ranks too. They are: Dormant, Awakened, Cursed, Nightmare, Great, Mythical, Terror.
— How can I distinguish their ranks?
Odey smiled faintly.
— I told you earlier. 'Partially yes.' Usually, you can tell from their appearance.
He paused, letting Unwan digest the thought before continuing.
— For example, with something like this, you can determine the rank.
In the very next second, Unwan nearly bolted in terror. From Odey's shadow, something began to emerge.