No one could tell what was wrong with Neo’s Shadow element.
The only explanation they had was Neo’s Shadow element was, somehow, stuck in a half-awakened state.
Something that was impossible.
“I’ll find out the answer soon.”
He returned to the mansion when it got chilly.
After taking a shower, he turned to the bed for sleep.
Next morning, he had a short breakfast.
“Where are you going?” Morrigan questioned him just as he was hurrying to leave before Henry caught him.
Because Henry wouldn’t let him go if he told him where he was going.
“I’m going for training,” he answered ambiguously.
“Stay safe,” Morrigan said as she leaned against the wall. “The Supreme Deity of Shadows isn’t hostile to outsiders.
“But it won’t help you as easily as you think.”
“….how did you know where I was going?”
“Felix told me a week ago that you will try to enter the World of Shadows soon.
“I just felt like you were going there today.”
“Felt?”
Neo almost rolled his eyes.
‘Well, I guess it makes sense.’
‘She doesn’t know I know about her Fate affinity. So she can’t say how she knows I’m going to the World of Shadows today.’
“Be back on time. The second semester will start in a few days,” Morrigan said.
Neo was thankful to her since she didn’t try to stop or impede him.
After leaving the mansion, Neo visited a high-end potion shop.
He bought 50 vials of the highest quality of Diviner Energy replenishment elixir his body could handle.
Since he was a Grade 5 Mythic Demigod, he couldn’t drink elixirs which were too strong,
or he would burst like a balloon.
He had to buy elixirs that were suitable for demigods of his rank.
He purchased another fifty bottles of healing elixir.
There were elixirs for temporary boosts for different stat boosts, but Neo did not buy them.
Consuming too many elixirs could harm his future growth.
Besides, the stat boosts weren’t anything substantial.
It was good for average demigods, but for someone like Neo, it was too weak.
Using stronger elixirs could solve such problems.
However, a single vial of stronger elixir was a lethal dose for demigods if his rank.
He would burst as soon as he consumed them.
After buying a few more essentials, Neo met with Jack at the station.
“Why are you carrying all that?” Jack questioned with a confused gaze.
“I don’t have Shadow Space.”
“Right.” Jack nodded. “Give them to me.”
Jack stored the items inside his Shadow Space.
Neo looked around.
“You came here alone?”
“Yeah, I didn’t tell anyone you were going to Shadow Window.”
“…?”
“They were planning to stop you. So I sneaked out without telling them you were doing it today.”
“Thanks, I guess?”
“I don’t need thanks. Give me something else,” Jack said. “Let me come with you to the World of Shadows.”
“No—”
Before Neo could refuse, Jack took out his device and dialed Arthur’s number.
It was an open blackmail.
“Fine. You can come with me.”
Neo clicked his tongue.
If Arthur and others knew he was going to the World of Shadows, they would definitely stop him or inform Henry.
“But I won’t take a guarantee for your life,” Neo added. “I won’t rescue you if you die again this time.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve already taken proper precautions,” Jack said mysteriously.
The two entered the station.
They took a bullet train to Pelgona City.
“Why Pelgona?” Neo questioned. “We have to enter a Shadow Window to enter the World of Shadows.
“There is no Shadow Window in Pelgona City.”
“Just come with me. There is something I have to show you before we head towards the World of Shadows.”
The journey lasted a few hours.
The bullet train dropped them off at their destination.
Jack called for a taxi with familiar ease.
“Where to, sir?” The taxi driver questioned.
“Dtri Complex. It’s near Gragolgyule Statue in the south sector,” Jack said. “How much will you take?”
“1000 dollars for both of you.”
“Huh!? Do you think this is the time we are coming here?
“This is my hometown. The fare is only 300 for Dtri complex.”
The taxi driver realized Neo and Jack weren’t tourists.
“The prices increased, sir. Though, if you insist, I’ll take only 800 dollars from you.”
“300. We won’t pay a penny more.”
Neo felt there was no need to bargain and was about to give the money to the driver.
He stopped himself at the last second.
‘When did I gain the habit of splurging money?’
‘I used to bargain for every last dollar, and now I’m spending thousands like it is nothing.’
He shook his head, embarrassed to have nearly lost his title of haggling lord.
Jack and the taxi driver settled at 450 dollars in the end.
The driver opened the door for Neo and Jack.
“So, care to tell where we are going?”
“My home.”
Jack looked out of the window at the forest beyond the road.
“My family wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
Neo had an idea, but he asked the question nonetheless.
“It’s for the Labyrinth and the Window. My dad will tell you the complete details.”
The taxi driver dropped them off before a dilapidated mansion.
It had three floors and a large garden.
However, it was clear that no one had been maintaining the garden.
The rest of the pace wasn’t better.
Even the paint on the mansion was starting to fall off.
“Welcome, my cutie!”
A woman, her features similar to Jack, hugged Jack as soon as he entered.
She squeezed the life out of him and turned to Neo.
“Welcome, Sir Divine Ruler.”
“Neo is enough.”
“We can’t be rude to someone who brought salvation to our house,” Jack’s mother smiled. “Please come inside.”
She took Neo and Jack to another room before serving them tea and snacks.
Few minutes later, a man entered the room.
He was thin, almost only bones.
His emerald eyes, however, had a fiery determination behind them.
“I’m sorry for being late, Sir Divine Ruler. There were some matters to attend to.”
“It’s fine.”
Neo didn’t bother telling them to use his name anymore.
He stared at Jack from the corner of his gaze.
Unlike what he had expected, Jack had a serious expression and he was not laughing at Neo for being called by his title.
“Please, sit,” Jack’s father said.
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The man had an uncanny power behind his words.
Despite his appearance that suggested he was weak, Neo could tell he had no chance of victory against the man.
They talked about their academy and the courses.
The man looked at Neo with a serious gaze after a few minutes of idle talk.
“There is a reason why we asked Jack to bring you here.”
Jack’s father turned to the door where Jack’s mother was standing with a book in her hand.
He nodded.
She brought the book and placed it before Neo.
“Please take this as a gift for defeating the Niles Radcliffe, the Necromancer you encountered inside the Window.”
Neo remained silent.