Chapter 147: Self-Deception

A man worshipped as a god, a man who had a great many people who feared him, admired him, and respected him.

A man who was actually misunderstood in many ways.

As for that figure, while his disciples were struggling to create a cult that worshipped him, Julian instead stood and stared at his system screen, expressionless.

There was no emotion on his face, but say that it was perhaps the expression Julian wore when he was surprised. When he was angry, his expression would remain the same, and when he was happy, his expression would not change.

In short, whatever the situation, Julian’s expression would always be flat, cold, and calm. The most he could show was perhaps a small smile and the words he let out of his lips.

That flat figure, deep within his mind now, was gaping in disbelief.

’What on earth happened to me?’

Julian clearly understood that he had been asleep for quite a long time. But exactly how long that was remained truly vague, and when he saw his status, it began to make Julian uneasy.

How could it not?

With all his progress so far, it truly showed just how absurd the authority he possessed was.

[STATUS]

Name: [Julian Clair]

Rank: [B] — [51.2%]

Talent: [Unbroken Mask] — [SSS-Grade]

Skills:

Innate Skills:

• [Unshaken Facade]

• [Fearless]

• [Self-Deception]

Created Skills:

• [Winterfall] — [B] — [16.0%]

• [Glacial Rupture] — [B] — [0.0%]

Skills from Kina Mivelo:

• [One Slash] — [B] — [6.3%]

• [Flash Step] — [C] — [25.6%]

• [Frost Edge] — [B] — [76.1%]

• [Afterimage] — [C] — [56.0%]

• [Frostgrave] — [B] — [0.9%]

• [Frozen Elysium] — [C] — [68.9%]

• [Sword Sovereignty] — [D] — [89.0%]

Skills from Ilunia Novalin:

• [Unbidden Prophecy] — [A] — [5.3%]

• [Fate’s Blind Spot] — [C] — [22.4%]

• [Hunter’s Hearing] — [C] — [77.9%]

• [Sky Mirror] — [B] — [9.1%]

• [Blind Shoot] — [B] — [8.9%]

• [Fate Perception] — [C] — [11.9%]

• [Oracle’s Revelation] — [B] — [36.9%]

• [Mana Bow] — [C] — [0.9%]

• [Trajectory Control] — [C] — [15.9%]

• [Celestial Arrowgarden] — [B] — [57.9%]

Unique Authority:

MASTER

Disciple Slots: [2/5]

First, Julian found that he was indeed already at Rank-B, exactly one Rank below the legends of humanity.

On second thought, that explained why Julian had been able to win against that impolite Dragon.

His progress stood at half a step from Rank-A. Although Julian did not know how his disciples were doing at present, could he assume that they were fine for the time being, since they were still continuing to grow?

’Nothing bad happened, right?’

Julian thought with the hope that he was right. Anyway, he needed to find a way home soon.

Next, Julian found that his skill tab had been updated with several categories that made it much more comfortable to look at.

With that, Julian could tell the skills he owned apart. Seeing that he had, surprisingly, created one more new skill, obtained several additional skills from Kina and Ilunia, and gained one new skill that came from his Talent.

Like Julian’s other two innate skills, Self-Deception also had no grade, which looked strange. However, strangely, Julian could not feel much of anything and simply saw it all as natural.

And, if asked who the culprit was, it was surely Self-Deception itself. An Active Skill that had somehow made Julian too confident in himself and his strength.

After all, who would have expected Julian to receive a skill like that. A skill that let him immerse himself in his acting even further, even influencing his own feelings so that he would appear to behave according to whatever he was aiming to act out.

Considering that all this time Julian had been trying to act as a calm, confident figure that fit the image he had, then with the Self-Deception skill, which he might have activated unintentionally, Julian had become a confident figure.

So confident that his own safety was worth questioning.

That was why Julian reflexively deactivated the skill, and immediately felt the change.

’Damn... I really almost died.’

Only now did Julian feel how urgent the previous situation had been. How could he have acted like such a fool?

Trying to play games in front of a Dragon whose Rank was unknown, and when he recalled how overwhelmingly threatening that Dragon’s aura had been, Julian could not even estimate the danger he had toyed with before.

He had been very lucky to survive up to this point.

’...Whatever happens, I have to think carefully before using this skill again.’

Becoming confident, moving away from cowardice, and freeing himself from the burden of acting to immerse himself sincerely in the role was indeed a good thing to do.

But, just like Fearless, it also brought its own consequences. If only Julian were not a coward, he would surely refuse to use Fearless as well.

With a small sigh, Julian looked again at his surroundings, full of beautiful, wide landscapes.

The feeling of being in a fantasy world that matched the imagination of his childhood gave him an extraordinary sense of accomplishment.

It was a rare and unique kind of joy and satisfaction.

Now, considering what needed to be done about his current situation, Julian thought of starting by resting.

Not without reason, but Julian needed time to understand himself, how far he had developed, and to stabilize his mind, which was currently in a complicated state.

Because there were so many new skills, and considering how each skill was conveyed to Julian through his brain and the instinct to use it, Julian had really struggled for some time before.

Fortunately, Julian was able to endure it somehow.

For a moment, he ignored Monk, who still looked panicked, and his gaze went to the surrounding landscape, trying to weigh the dangers that might be present.

But recalling that he was already Rank-B made Julian reset his decision, because with his current strength, there should not be much that could threaten his safety except a dragon.

’And, I also need to recover my Mana, which was drained so much before.’

Julian let out a small sigh once more, but at that moment he frowned and looked across the way.

Right where he could see bushes shifting by themselves, moving as if something were hiding and watching from there.