Only I Am A Reader

This wasn't something that seemed to be drawn, but it also didn't seem like a picture taken by a camera. Leo was perplexed how this could even work since he himself didn't see this point of view. However, he was more interested in the content of the book.

For a book that had a cover promising to tell an epic story, there were only 9 pages inside. As Leo revealed the first page, a smile quickly took shape on his face!

[ Talent - 'Sword Body' ]

The page only had three words on it, but they were enough for Leo to fall in delight. Most importantly, the rest of the page wasn't empty, rather, it contained a front image of Arthur wielding two 'Hand Swords'.

From the very first moment he recovered his complete memory, Leo had been disappointed for not feeling the presence of the sword fragment in his body. Now, however, he could barely contain his anticipation.

"This is it!"

There were no instructions, but Leo instinctively knew what to do once again. He slightly exerted force, tearing the page from the cover's restraints. As soon as it was completely separated, the page scattered into ink-like shadows before disappearing into Leo's body!

Leo didn't feel anything as his body absorbed the 'ink'. However, the response didn't come much later! As if he had more than one heart, another source of beating suddenly emerged before dispersing into his body!

This was undeniably the digested Progenitor Sword's fragment making its presence known! Unfortunately, before Leo could completely rejoice, slight twinges of pain spread out.

The fragment was rejecting his body's containment!

"Wait…"

Leo's eyes quickly came into focus, trying to suppress the pain as he flipped the second page without bothering to look at it. The only solution he could think of was to quickly tear out the third page!

[ Ability - 'Universal Sword Breathing' - Grade 5 ]

Barely glimpsing at Arthur's dancing figure as he held a sword, Leo let the page scatter. Painfully waiting for the 'absorption' to take effect. It was only when he felt something other than blood flooding his insides that the grimace on his face lightened.

He had already become a Swordsman before he completed his mutation, so… How should Leo have known what it would be like to do the opposite? It was only now that he realized the difference.

Even to a digested fragment, his 'breathless' body was like a barren desert. Without the existence of its 'nutrient', it could never accept this new vessel of his! Thankfully, Leo managed to guess what was happening. At this point, he couldn't even imagine what would have happened if he didn't purchase 'Universal Sword Breathing'.

"Another close call to add to the list."

After his body no longer showed any deviant reaction, Leo closed his eyes, trying to sense the partially liquified Sword Breath. Surprisingly enough, his attempt was a complete success.

"It… still doesn't make sense."

'Universal Sword Breathing' was merely a method for attracting and gathering Sword Breath, yet it somehow granted him the ability to sense it as well. While understandable when he was in a world following the logic of novels, in reality, this was already a supernatural trait on its own.

In the end, Leo could only guess that this ability he purchased was more of a package. While it wasn't stated on the 'product name', it compiled all of the aspects that Sword Breathing required.

"Other than the Sword Breath itself, that is."

Despite being the only Sword Breathing method with the ability to 'produce' its Innate Sword Breath, this was only possible in an environment surrounded by it. As unrealistic as it was, it still adhered to the Law of Energy Conservation.

However, Leo didn't let his blocked path depress him. If his current state wasn't only temporarily possible thanks to being inside the Reading Space, then this was already far from enough. Although he wasn't as familiar as he was during the final battle, Leo's hand easily took the form of a blade!

"Now then…"

Holding back to the urge to test everything, Leo restored his hand before returning his attention to the book in his hand, the fourth page no longer contained his figure as Arthur. Instead, there was an image of a sack bursting with Gold Swords!

[ Item - '500 Sword-inscribed Gold Coins' ]

Leo could understand talents and abilities merging into his body, but what about items? The torn page still turned to inky shadows, but it didn't dive into Leo's body this time!

The scattered shadows swam in the empty air before reconnecting once again, forming the exact same item shown on the page it originated from! Leo directly picked a coin in interest. He could clearly feel its physical form, but would he be able to take it outside?

"...Right."

Just as he had this thought, Leo found himself in his room holding the shiny coin. He had momentarily forgotten how 'effective' his thoughts could be…

'In that case…'

Sensing that the changes within his body still remained, Leo decided to delay testing it out. Receiving his old abilities in reality was exciting, but obtaining a new ability was even more extremely so!

With a flashing thought, Leo found himself back in the Reading Space, the coin still in his hand. If he wasn't just getting ahead of himself, Leo was sure he had just obtained his own spatial storage!

'Again!'

Back at his room in another second, Leo randomly picked one of the books on his bed before flashing away. Taking the coin out was fascinating, but Leo wasn't satisfied with just that. He had to know if this 'storage' was restricted to items that originated from it!

"Success!"

Looking at the book that Lia had just gifted him, Leo could barely hold his excitement he accumulated from everything that happened today. He had once believed that 'returning' would result in his ultimate boredom. Undeniably, however, this was far from being the case!

It hadn't even been a day, yet he was already experiencing so many emotions. Even if this world was boring, his 'world' was so much more interesting!

'This is just the beginning!'