Chapter 5: “EXTRA life” Part 5
Elric and Noir stood outside the ruined cave, both breathing heavily Cold morning air hit their lungs. Sweat and dust mixed on their faces.
Noir looked at the horizon.
The sky was turning orange.
“…Sunrise already?” Noir cursed under his breath. “What bad timing i want to sleep now”
Elric looked at him, clearly angry and worried at the same time.
“Master, you almost got buried alive,” Elric said. “Next time, at least tell me before entering a death cave like this wait there's no Next time”
Noir gave a tired glance. “If I told you, you would talk for one hour and stop me and we are alive barley”
“That’s because it was dangerous!! If lady Ilyana found out I'm dead okay and what about Duchess this is not a small matter anymore you get artifact”
Nearby, Libra sat on a rock, calmly picking up small stones and stacking them into a neat tower like a child at play.
Elric stared. “…Is she really a weapon?or Golem”
Libra replied flatly, “I can hear you”
Elric coughed. “I said nothing”
After a few minutes of rest, they mounted their horses and began riding toward the nearest village road Hoofbeats echoed in the quiet morning.
Elric finally spoke again, unable to hold it in.
“By the way… how did you even find that place? And how were you planning to take that artifact and golem at home? ”
<There are too many questions, for Master but safety first and no matter what he needs to report this Duchess.>
Noir pulled out a folded bundle of papers and handed it to him.
“Read,i prepared and researched my whole time I looked for this artifact” Noir said calmly.
Elric opened them while riding. Maps. Excavation permits—Old ruin surveys—Fake authorization seals that look really
His eyes widened. “You prepared all this?”
“Yes”
<Thank God I made fake documents a week ago, Preparation saves lives i didn't waste my time and create this because no matter what Deon mansion shake if they found out i awaken>
Noir spoke again, voice steady.
“Elric,the artifacts have ranks. Common, rare, epic, legendary… and mythical.”
Elric looked up slowly. “i know why are you telling me Don’t tell me…”
Noir nodded once. “This artifact is Mythical rank and congrats me I'm Awaken now.”
Elric almost dropped the papers. “Master, that means this is a national-level treasure! Choose you as your master congratulations”
“Exactly.”
Elric let out a long breath. “You are either very lucky… or very crazy and that place was sacry you researched lot to get this”
“Both,” Noir replied.
After few hours long way Ahead, a small village came into view through the morning mist. Smoke rose from chimneys. Roosters cried in the distance.
Noir turned to Libra.
“New order,” he said. “From now on, act like a human No golem behavior No strange words. And your name is Libra and you are our companion ”
Libra stood still for one second.
Then her posture changed.
Her mechanical stiffness disappeared. Shoulders relaxed. Head tilt adjusted. Eyes blinked naturally. Even her voice softened.
“Understood,” she said gently. “I will behave like a normal woman.”
Elric stared.
“…That’s more scary than the golems, this really shocked people but what are those swords I didn't see them again” he whispered.
Libra smiled politely.
“That comment has been recorded,” she said.
Elric: “…Master, save me your golem plan to kill me”
After a few minutes, they rented two rooms at a roadside inn.
The building was small but clean. Wooden walls. Warm lamps. Smell of soup from the kitchen below.
Elric dropped his bag the moment he entered the room.
“I’m dead,” Elric declared. “If anyone wakes me up, I will resign from being alive.”
Noir replied, “You say that every time.”
Elric was already asleep.
Noir sat on the edge of his bed in the next room. Libra sat properly on the couch, hands on her lap, posture perfect.
The cube artifact rested on the table between them.
Noir looked at her.
“Libra, explain something,” he said. “Why does this cube turn into a sword?”
Libra answered in a calm mechanical tone.
“No specific database found. However, the core directive exists: protect the master. Self-defense weaponization is an automatic function.”
“So it changes shape depending on danger?”
“Yes.”
Noir leaned back slightly.
“How does it decide the shape?”
“Based on master intent, threat pattern, and mental signal,” Libra replied.
“Adaptive response system.”
<I still need to understand this fully,but in novle cube only found no one actives that and send in Royal inventory but soon in chapter 455 it's revealed that this is not simple thing>
He reached toward the cube and mentally try to imagine
The cube unfolded with a soft click — turning into a blade — then slipped from his grip and hit the floor.
Clang.
Noir blinked. “its work.”
He lifted a finger and focused again.
The cube shifted — sword → prism → ring → short dagger → shield plate — changing forms smoothly.
Noir’s eyes sharpened with interest.
“So that’s how it works,” he murmured. “It reacts to thought and move in direction but some how i feel like my stamina is gone i feel tired”
<It feels like nano-machine tech from my past world,we always try to formed i read this kind of things in novle sci-fi novel>
<Shape-change through command signal.>
He formed the sword again and swung lightly Not heavy.
Too balanced.
“to light to swing and this thing stuck in that giant Golem head…” Noir muttered.
He placed the cube on the floor and stepped back.
“Let’s try distance control.”
He moved two fingers like a conductor.
Four short blades unfolded from the cube and floated in the air They rotated slowly.
He moved his hand again.
The blades shot forward — stopped — returned — circled him — aligned — hovered.
“…Like a music conductor,” Noir said quietly. “I control the tempo, they follow.”
Libra watched silently.
“Motion accuracy is acceptable,” she commented. “Master learning speed: high but this drains mental and stamina energy”
“ That's why i feel like my head hurts Let's stop right now,” Noir replied dryly.
He closed his fist.
The floating blades folded and snapped back into cube form.
He exhaled.
“Enough testing for today but if i need to use this i need to build stamina and mental state of mine if not i will die .”
Noir looked at Libra.
“I’m going to sleep You should rest too.”
Libra tilted her head slightly. “I do not require sleep.”
“Then pretend,” Noir said. “Human mode human sleep okay take rest and don't stare at me ”
“…Understood.”
She lay down stiffly on the couch like a perfectly arranged doll Noir turned off the lamp.
The cube gave one faint blue pulse — then went still.
Several hours passed.
The inn was quiet. Dawn light had just started to touch the window.
Then—BANG! BANG!
The door shook violently.
“MASTER! IT’S URGENT!”
Noir opened the door with half-closed eyes and messy hair.
“Elric,” Noir said calmly, “I know breakups are painful, but you don’t need to destroy the door.”
Elric stared. “Why are you worried about my relationship at a time like this?! That’s not important!”
He pointed outside.
“Red Orcs near the village The scouts just reported it Everyone is on alert—”
BOOM!
A distant explosion rolled from the forest side Both of them froze.
Noir stepped into the corridor Elric moved behind him automatically. Libra appeared silently from the stair corner.
“Master,” Libra said, eyes glowing faint blue. “Orc signatures detected.”
“How many? Wait did you say that from this distance” Noir asked.
“Counting… increasing… final count: twelve. All pre-mature units. Direction — this village.”
Elric closed his eyes and focused his aura sense.
“if …She’s right,” Elric said quietly. “Twelve And pre-mature types too that mean small group act it's own just for fun.”
Noir clicked his tongue.
“Elric, we should evacuate the villagers now Their defenses won’t hold.”
Elric turned sharply. “Good. Then we leave too.”
“No,” Noir answered.
“No?” Elric repeated.
Noir shook his head. “We delay them first Even ten minutes helps and there is something i want to try actually”
Elric grabbed his shoulder. “You just awakened that artifact That doesn’t mean you go fight a red orc pack. Not happening.”
Noir replied evenly, “Compared to what we saw in that ruin, red orcs are smaller problems.”
“That’s not how comparison works!and as a knight without proper training i didn't let you go ” Elric snapped.
Noir ignore him
“Libra,” Noir said, “bring the cube from the room.”
Libra vanished and returned within seconds, placing the cube in his hand Noir The cube split.
Two blades formed.
His arm trembled slightly.
<Too fast drain is real fast it's this because of practice earlier, i Need to learn control output this body is weak>
Elric stared. “What is that now? How are you already so skilled with it? You got this thing a few hours ago!”
Noir paused.
(That is also what I want to know,HOW!!!>
He looked away with a straight face.
“I’m a genius,” Noir said.
Libra looked at Elric, then spoke flatly.
“Correction. The master is a genius. This boy has a low brain cell to understand”
Both froze Elric pointed at himself. “Did she just insult me?”
Noir nodded. “She is learning human behavior This is called honesty.”
Elric gasped. “That’s not honesty — that's an insult what are teach”
Outside, another sound echoed from the forest edge Villagers began shouting.
Noir rolled his shoulders and stepped forward.“we are going in forest ”
After a few minutes follow the libra lead
The forest was thick and damp with night mist Leaves barely moved. Even the bug were silent.
Noir and Elric stood behind a broken stone ridge Libra was perched on a high tree branch, perfectly still, like a decoration carved from moonlight.
Her eyes glowed faint blue.
“Targets located,” Libra said. She pointed forward.
“Two red orcs. Distance— forty meters.”
Elric squinted. “You can see that far through trees? That’s cheating ”
Noir replied calmly, “She is an artifact. Not your cousin.”
“I don’t even have that kind of cousin,” Elric muttered.
The two red orcs stepped into a clearing — huge bodies, red skin, iron clubs, tusk-like teeth. Their breath came out like smoke.
Noir looked at Elric.
“Elric. Can you handle one?”
Elric straightened proudly. “Of course. I’m a 2-Star Knight, you know.”
“Yes,” Noir said.
“Very impressive Go demonstrate.”
He shoved Elric forward.
“HEY—!”
CRACK — SNAP — THUD
Branches broke under Elric’s sudden entrance Both red orcs turned.
Elric cursed loudly. “You traitor!”
The orcs roared and charged.
Elric dashed sideways, planted a foot on a tree trunk, and launched himself upward.
“Come here, ugly wall!” he shouted, bringing his sword down.
CLANG — SLASH
The blade cut deep into the first orc’s shoulder Black-red blood sprayed.
The orc howled From the tree, Libra spoke again, calm as ever.
“Master. Additional signatures detected. Three more approaching.”
Elric yelled mid-fight, “WHY DO YOU SOUND SO RELAXED SAYING THAT?!”
Noir did not answer He lifted two fingers.
Two floating swords shot forward like silver comets.
WHOOSH — WHOOSH — WHOOSH
Three distant impacts.
The charging red orcs dropped before they could even roar — blades buried in their foreheads.
Elric blinked. “That’s unfair Extremely unfair.”
Noir rotated his wrist.The swords tore free and flew back, circling once before hovering near him again.
“Focus on your homework,” Noir said.
“My homework is trying not to die!” Elric shouted, ducking a club swing.
Meanwhile, the second red orc rushed toward Libra’s tree It grabbed the trunk and shook it violently.
Libra tilted her head.
“ threats for master” she said.
She jumped down.Her fist glowed blue.
“Output — eight percent.”
BOOM
Her punch crushed straight through the orc’s chest plate and bone. The impact burst out its back. Blood splashed across the ground.
Elric stared with wide eyes. “She’s scarier than my mother.”
Noir answered calmly, “Correct i agree”
Libra looked at her fist, then at the blood everywhere.“Observation,more orc coming this way” she said.
Elric laughed breathlessly. “Welcome to forest life ”
From deeper in the woods, more roars echoed Noir’s gaze turned sharp.
“Warm-up finished,” he said quietly. “The real group is coming.”
