Chapter 90: The Tsundere Ferret Dean with a Sharp Tongue but Honest Actions
“That big oaf actually brought out something as good as a Holy Grenade… looks like he really values you.”
Dean Silver squatted on Rast’s shoulder, mumbling a couple of words.
Although Barbalossa spoke as if his Holy Grenades were worthless leftovers that he couldn't even give away, that judgment was based on the standards of other fifth- or sixth-tier Night Travelers.
For those who had already reached the sixth tier and could deal considerable damage on their own, a one-time item like the Holy Grenade, with a maximum damage range limited to the sixth tier, naturally couldn't play a decisive role.
Still, it was a supernatural item of golden rarity, with a very low drop rate in the Nightworld, and could only be obtained from Nightworlds of tier five and above.
In terms of value alone, it could rival a piece of slightly inferior emblem gear.
Just… if that big oaf knew that Rast was only so diligent in order to copy his Nightblade, who knew what he would think?
Hmm… on second thought, even if that big oaf found out, he probably wouldn’t care.
After all, back when Barbalossa still looked human, he was the kind of hot-blooded middle-aged man who shouted about bonds, friendship, and burning youth all day long—utterly thick-skinned, the type who’d probably be happy as long as someone mixed him drinks and gave him a good fight.
Thinking this, Dean Silver flicked her tail, just about to pull a dried fish snack out from her subspace to enjoy…
Only to realize that her tail had suddenly been grabbed by someone’s big hand.
Her tail stiffened like it had been electrocuted.
She was about to puff up in rage and teach Rast a lesson about respecting her elders.
But then, Dean Silver noticed that the dried fish snack she’d just retrieved from her little warehouse, which was transitioning from a subdimension into the real world, suddenly froze in mid-air.
Immediately after, the dried fish snack lost control.
In her teary-eyed gaze, the dried fish was swept into a spatial turbulence and quickly disappeared.
“You really managed to get Barbalossa’s Nightblade?”
Dean Silver narrowed her ruby-like beast eyes slightly and glanced at Rast, who had just removed his hand from her tail and looked clear-eyed.
Although the power he had infused into that dried fish just now was very minimal and casual,
It was still an application of spatial law—something a normal person could not interfere with unless they possessed a space-related Nightblade.
Yet, at that moment, when Dean Silver activated her ability, she clearly felt a brief resistance.
Though that resistance was very slight and she could easily break through it—
The implication behind it was undeniable.
Without question, that was the exclusive ability of Barbalossa’s Nightblade, 「Disqualified Silence」.
“Mm, Professor Barbalossa really is a good man.”
Rast deactivated the ability of his 「Disqualified Silence: Withering Pebble」 and nodded approvingly.
This wasn’t just a polite remark, but heartfelt appreciation.
Even putting aside the Nightblade prototype and the golden-grade supernatural item 「Holy Grenade」 that he had received from Barbalossa—
Even the seemingly perfunctory live combat training had benefited Rast immensely.
He did indeed possess master-level martial arts experience—skills forged through hundreds of years of hide-and-seek and life-or-death struggles with the Iron Crosses throughout Deep Blue Port,
Much like his marksmanship, these techniques had long since reached perfection.
However, they were, after all, military combat techniques learned from the Deep Blue Port Marines, honed over three centuries of real battle.
Ultimately, his opponents had always been ordinary humans and Iron Crosses, not supernatural beings.
But clearly, to high-tier Night Travelers, those ordinary Iron Crosses were nothing more than roadside mobs, easily wiped out with a single AOE skill.
Their true enemies were other high-tier supernaturals.
And Rast had little to no real close-combat experience against such foes.
In most cases, he could rely on sheer proficiency to dominate, but if he encountered someone like Shiltina, a veteran immersed in such battles for years, he could easily fall behind.
Fortunately—while Rast lacked this experience, Professor Barbalossa did not.
With that special training, combined with the Nightblade prototype now in his hands, Rast had finally filled in his close-combat shortcomings.
As long as he could close the distance, then under the effects of the Withering Pebble’s near magic-immunity, even enemies a full tier above him would become nothing more than silenced super soldiers unable to cast a single skill.
“No wonder it’s rated A+—this Nightblade truly didn’t disappoint.”
Rast murmured to himself.
Within the Ruins Institute, Nightblades were categorized into various grades based on their type and potential.
The potential rating system referenced the Nightworld’s mission scores, ranging from “F” to “EX”.
Barbalossa’s 「Disqualified Silence」 was graded A+ and belonged to the psychic superpower category.
Among all the Nightblade prototypes Rast had acquired so far, it was second only to Shiltina’s “EX”-rated 「Infinite Sword of Nightblade」.
Of course, there were also some Nightblades deemed too dangerous or uncontrollable by the Institute and thus not listed in the official Nightblade database.
Like Akxia’s 「Angel of Death’s Decree」, which carried only two tags: “Extremely Hazardous” and “Forbidden”.
But if one were to grade it, it would no doubt also reach EX level.
This made Rast even more eager to one day obtain the prototype of 「Angel of Death’s Decree」.
“But by this comparison… Senior Ingrid really hasn’t had it easy.”
Because of its overly severe side effects, even potentially fatal, Ingrid’s 「Dark Shade」 Nightblade was only ranked “F”.
And yet, she had reached her current standing relying on such a mediocre Nightblade.
However, for some reason…
By Rast’s estimation, his relationship with Ingrid should already have reached the “acquaintance” stage, enough to unlock Bond 1.
But the notification indicating the unlocking of her Justice Sequence Level never appeared.
This made Rast recall the strange way Dean Silver deliberately avoided Ingrid when he saw her.
“Seems like this senior of mine… probably isn’t as simple as she appears on the surface.”
Perhaps, she had her own secrets hidden as well.
With that thought, Rast suddenly felt his shoulder lighten.
“Just like that oaf, I can’t stand farewell scenes like this.”
“You’ll go to the Terminal Nightworld on your own.”
Dean Silver’s voice drifted in the air.
With a flash of silver light in the air, her figure vanished completely.
Rast reached up to touch his shoulder and found a pair of chess piece-like objects left where Dean Silver had disappeared.
【Substitute Chess Pieces (King and Rook)】
【Type: Supernatural Item, One-Time Use Consumable】
【Rarity: Purple】
【Item Description: A pair of chess pieces. While holding one of them, the user can activate “Castling”.】
【“Castling”: Swaps the user’s position with the piece at the other location.】
All Rast could say was, that tsundere ferret dean really did have a sharp tongue but honest actions.