Only I Am A Reader

Gulp.

Despite steeling his heart, Leo couldn't help gulping as he felt the Sword Demon's heart beating in his hand. He had only killed him in this manner because it would be efficient for him, but it felt terribly extreme upon execution…

"Ha…a…aaa…"

Although his heart had already left his body, the Sword Demon consciousness didn't immediately disappear. His life and plans flashed before his eyes as sound struggled to escape his throat, but it was too late.

This moment was something he had waited a whole third of his age for, his grand harvest would have at least supported his ascension to the 16th stage! He planned to drain this world of whatever resource he could get before attempting to break the void, returning back to his world after refining the Progenitor Sword to be his own!

He was going to get payback for every humiliation he had endured… He was going to establish his very own Demonic Sword School, eventually forming a force that could stand among the upper echelons of their world… This should have never been the end of his path! He hadn't even given up when he was sent this far away from home, So… Why?

Why were his thoughts fading away? Why did he no longer feel anything?

Splichtt!

As Leo took his arm out, the Sword Demon's body silently collapsed to the ground. The person who had just strolled in and decapitated the new emperor had met his end just like this.

[ Plot change confirmed. Legendary event occurrence has been detected. ]

[ The Reader's character has been involved in a battle between main characters, taking the last hit and achieving a plot-ending feat! ]

[ You have received 999 Reading Points! ]

[ As the event's rating exceeds the reward limit, a specified bonus will be given! ]

The voice in Leo's mind flared even more than usual, it was usually quite monotone. Now, it suddenly contained a hint of excitement and… praise?

[ Your peak personal skill has been chosen, bonus designation in progress… ]

[ Your reading of 'Intermediate Swordsmanship' has deepened as a bonus! ]

Leo's state of mind was already elevated by his 'accomplishment', but the deepening of his reading almost cut him off from the world around him. Although it was a bit late now that the final battle had already ended, he could tell that he was very close. Even the third bonus in a row didn't seem enough… Just as Leo accepted his 'defeat', however…

[ Legendary event bonus granting in process… ]

[ Protagonist Ray's 'Swordsmanship' is temporarily available for reading… ]

[ Reading Attribute, 'Skill Reading', has been activated! ]

A unique sensation wantonly made its way into his consciousness as various scenes flashed out in his mind! Leo felt lost at the beginning, but he quickly understood what he was seeing, he had just witnessed the exact same final battle, only that it was from Ray's point of view!

This was a totally new 'reading' experience. Before this, he would just receive the relevant experience that the book contained as his own. However, this reading was basically 'raw' and unprocessed. This was also his first time 'reading' someone!

As much as processing what just happened felt intriguing, Leo's mind instantly forgot about everything but absorbing the 'Swordsmanship' of a genius. The understanding ratio was terrible, but the continuously repeated scenes made up for it. Unfortunately, Leo barely understood the limit of Ray's comprehension before everything came to a pause.

[ Temporary 'Skill Reading' has been suspended. ]

It was merely a glimpse, even then, the wall stopping Leo had directly sprung open under its pressure, the scenes briefly revisited his mind as another monotone message made it official.

[ The Second Chapter of the Reader's 'Swordsmanship' has ended. ]

[ 'Intermediate Swordsmanship' has been corrected to 'Advanced Swordsmanship'. ]

[ The Third Chapter, 'Advanced Swordsmanship', has started. ]

This time, Leo wasn't even holding a sword in hand. Yet, he felt like he held one. This time, however, the illusory training effect of chapter advancement wasn't limited to him as Leo. He was Leo, but he was also Ray, both views clashed with each other… He was basically fighting himself!

"Ar…"

Despite being extremely confusing, Leo did feel his Swordsmanship taking several more steps, even parts of Ray's Swordsmanship that he missed just now were successfully absorbed. It was only when the battle came to a conclusive tie that his mind finally cleared up.

"Arthur!"

The whole process only took a minute or so, but Leo's expression during it all was that of one in shock. When he came to, he discovered that Ray was trying to shake him awake.

"Ahem… I'm okay."

Holding Ray's arm still, Leo quickly considered what just happened. This was his first time reading a 'person' or… was Ray even a person?

Since fictional novels that contained no actual information usually gave him little to no 'experience', was this the true method of 'reading' them?

Undeniably, this was also his first time triggering a 'Legendary Event'. It wasn't plainly said, but it seemed like something that would only trigger from interfering in a finale. Perhaps it was only by getting embroiled with the main characters that he would be able to obtain part of their stage…

"Is this really you?"

Looking into Leo's eyes, Ray's lips awkwardly moved. His edginess surprisingly disappeared when he was dealing with family. His mental growth was obviously unstable, but it made sense since he spent most of his life chasing a sword once again, only this time, this sword could really talk. Though he supposedly lived two 'lives', in none of them did he actually grow as a normal child would.

"Yeah, things weren't exactly normal for the past few years, but I'm 'me'."

Leo didn't particularly have good feelings for this typical protagonist, but he was technically the brother that 'he' used to look up to. He naturally wasn't planning to explain his whole story on the spot. Rather, his mind was almost completely occupied with something else… What was next?

[ The Sword Master's Second Life… Epilogue Starts… ]