Ten minutes later...
Muku could be seen running all over the room. Doing pushups, backflips and even running on walls.
A look of amusent appeared in the lady's eyes as she looked on.
Anyway, the healing and tempering process had ended just a minute or so before. And Muku, who had to drag his body for quite a few hours, was excited by how light it had gotten. It wasn't just healed, it was better. A lot better. And so, like a kid who had been given a new toy. He had to test it out.
It was a rather comical scene when one looked at his get-up. It just didn't match! It looked wrong in every way!
It was like if Darth Vader suddenly began jumping around, running on walls and screaming loudly all over the place. Who would still respect and fear him after that?!
A while later Muku ca back and stood in front of the lady shyly. The adrenaline was gone. All that was left was sha...
"Can we proceed now?" The lady spoke with a slight smile on her face. She didn't make fun of him like he expected.
"Yes. And thank you for the fruit. I'm in your debt. Also, how should I address you?" Muku spoke seriously. He was really grateful. The fruit was definitely a rare treasure. So, for her to be willing to give it to him. How could he not be grateful?
Even if she wanted him to do sothing slightly dangerous but doable as a way to repay her for it. He was very willing. It was worth at least that much.
"There's no need to repay for it. Like I said, it was a gift. And you already know how to address ... In fact, that fruit has a causality law. By eating it. You have to call mom every ti I call you son, or your head will explode in the next two minutes..." The lady spoke maturely for a bit before returning to her crazy ways at the end.
"Really?" Muku asked in a neutral tone. Based on her personality from what he has seen so far. He wasn't sure whether she was joking or not. With her, it could be either.
"Pfft. Of course not. I'd never endanger my child like th... Anyway, your head won't explode. You'll only lose all your hair and go bald" The lady replied.
Sothing seed fishy about how she didn't finish her statent about endangering her child. However, Muku had other things to worry about.
"Mother!" Muku, being the narcissist he was, imdiately called her mother. He could risk an exploding head but never going bald! Without his mane, his pride, his hair. Would he dare show his face to anyone? Of course not! That would be absurd and should never be a possibility!
"Hehe. And I thought I was crazy" The lady gave a little comnt. Her overbearing personality flickered for a bit. Was she aware of her own absurd behaviour from the start? Well, only she'd know the answer to that.
It seems she didn't expect Muku to actually call her mother. So, it caught her off guard. However, a big smile appeared on her face soon after. She looked even happier than Muku when he was jumping around the place.
Though unlike him, she didn't lose all her sha. A smile was enough to express her joy.
Muku was dazed by her smile for a second. For so reason, he felt happy to see her smile. He wanted to keep her smiling always.
He had to shake his head to get rid of such thoughts. Since when was he so weak-willed! Was he already having filial thoughts just because she called him son?? What the hell? Did he secretly long for a mother or sothing??
"Anyway, that was a lie also. It was just a normal fruit which has already done all it can do. However, for being such a good sport. I'll give you ten more before you leave. But before we get to that. I think it's ti we get to business" The lady spoke happily before switching the topic to why Muku was there.
Even her unreliable personality seed to get a little more restrained at the end. Which made Muku listen intently in preparation for what she was about to say.
It was obvious that it was going to be sothing important. For that reason, he didn't want to miss a single word.
"No need to be so serious. It's not as bad as you might think. In fact, you're quite lucky to have randomly dropped into this place. Maybe it was fate since you et the requirents to access it directly anyway" The lady continued speaking. Her eyes got a little shifty when she ntioned how Muku got there randomly. However, he chose to ignore it.
He was certain that if he asked. It would only waste their ti and she won't say anything substantial.
"So, firstly. This is what the local residents of this world call a restricted zone. However, it's actually just a trial ground for those who et a certain standard. Which you fortunately et. I'm not going to go into detail about that. Just know that you et the standard, that's all," The lady continued speaking.
So of the things made her seem more and more suspicious in Muku's eyes. However, he chose to ignore it. Maybe she was setting him up for another trap again. She seed to like making him seem really gullible, after all.
"With that said. The purpose of this place should be clear from the na, right? It's to test and train various attributes of the qualified individuals. Of course, there's a prize at the end of it. It will be yours as long as you can pass all the floors. This place has ten floors" The lady continued speaking clearly and seriously.
Her current behaviour matched the initial impression Muku had of her a lot more. Unfortunately, she'll probably return to her hyper mode after she's done with the serious stuff. He was pretty certain of that.
"When it cos to the floors. You'll start from floor one, where so of your abilities will be restricted along with your rank. It has already been tried and tested that it's possible to pass the floors with the leftover abilities. So, don't assu that you're being targeted when the ti cos. Now, if you look behind . You'll see a closed door with the number "1" on it. That's where you start. After you clear the floor. Two doors with the numbers "2" and "0" will appear. You can either proceed deeper through "2" or co back here through "0". Are you still with so far?" The lady stopped explaining for a bit and asked Muku if he understood everything up to that point.
To which he nodded in agreent. Giving her the go-ahead to proceed.
"Good. Now let's move on to the trials themselves. I won't tell you anything about trials 2-10. However, I will tell you sothing about trial "1". In trial one. You'll face R1 beasts with your strength reduced to the sa level and you'll only be able to use your body to fight. Anyway, you'll find out the rest later. Since the creator of this place is magnanimous and beautiful. They have built-in safe words you can say to pause the trial if it's too much for you. And you have to understand that this has nothing to do with . I only just found out myself. It seems the safe words are "Mom! Please save !" And you have to really shout out loud for it to work. What! I'm telling the truth!" The lady continued speaking seriously until Muku's glare stopped her.
His expression had long gotten dark. He already had a bad feeling when she ntioned how she had nothing to do with the creation of the place. And how she casually complinted the creator. Then the safe words were dropped.
If he had been drinking tea or water. He'd have gotten choked instantly as well as spat it out. What kind of safe words were those?!
And how can she shalessly say she had nothing to do with the safe words when they have her written all over them! Hell, they are literally a cry for help from her!
Was everyone's mother so unscrupulous when they were new? Or was his a special case?! And why was he already thinking of her as his mother?!
"You know what... Fine. I have no problem with the safe words. Is there anything else I need to know before going in?" Muku, who was certain that she would deny any involvent in the safe words until the end, gave in.
So, what if the safe words were embarrassing? Wouldn't he be fine as long as he doesn't say them? And why were they safe words instead of one safe word?! Ah! Whatever!
Muku stopped thinking about it. He'd probably get a headache if he kept on trying to think about it. She had him on check and that's all that mattered.
"Really?! You're okay with it? I was planning to chan... I an, yeah! Of course, you're okay with it. It's not like we can change it. Anyway, I don't think there's anything else. At least I don't think there is. If sothing cos up I'll tell you through the speaker" The lady almost exposed herself before changing her statent.
It was almost like she was still new to lying or sothing...
At that point, Muku didn't even say anything. He just quietly walked toward the door which led to the first floor. If he stayed around her any longer he'd definitely get a headache.
He didn't even mind how she wasn't certain if there was any more stuff she needed to tell him. Even though he was almost certain that sothing important would definitely pop up eventually. Probably after he suffers a bit.
"Oh wait, this little one can't go in with you. The lady spoke from beside Muku. Again, he didn't know how she suddenly stood there.
Anyway, as she spoke. She reached her hand toward his head. It then disappeared into space just as it touched his armour. Then she pulled it back.
Surprisingly, Raya was now in her hand.
"... Oooof course", Muku comnted tiredly after a little silence, then proceeded to walk forward.
Not because she took Raya from him. But because of how she did it. So casually too!
Fortunately, he was already used to her mysterious ways. Otherwise, he might have had a heart attack on the spot.
What kind of broken move was that?!...
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