Unholy Player-Chapter 42: Linguistics Has Arrived

The next morning, Adyr arrived at headquarters wearing his university uniform. Without wasting time, he headed straight to the designated player quarters and entered his room.

He changed out of his uniform into more comfortable clothes: pajamas and crocs. Then he powered on his computer and opened the forum.

Dozens of new threads had been posted since the one he created the day before. Most were filled with questions aimed at other players, but a few offered bits of information.

One thread stood out. It appeared to have been posted by a player from another shelter city and contained some basic details about Sparks, along with a note claiming access to further data.

It was clear now that Adyr wasn't the only one who had encountered them. There might even be others who had successfully captured a spark.

He scanned the thread, but most of the content aligned with what he already knew. For a brief moment, he considered sharing his own findings in exchange for Merit points, but dismissed the idea.

He still hadn't received any feedback from the Latin-language thread, and more importantly, he wasn't interested in giving away everything he knew. Information was power, and he preferred to share only what was necessary, when it was necessary.

After browsing a bit longer, he shut the computer down and moved toward the door to head to the playroom. Just as he reached for the handle, a soft beep echoed through the room, and a face appeared on the digital panel by the entrance.

It indicated someone was waiting outside.

The screen displayed a middle-aged woman in a lab coat, accompanied by a younger woman who appeared to be her assistant. Both wore the insignia of the research department.

"They must be the linguists Henry mentioned," Adyr thought, and opened the door.

"Good morning, Mr. Adyr," the older woman said with a polite nod. "I'm Professor Lilian Vide, and this is my assistant, Mary. We're from the linguistics division of the research department. If you're available, we would like to speak with you briefly regarding the language sample you submitted."

Her tone was composed and respectful, though there was a subtle eagerness in her eyes, carefully restrained by professional decorum.

"Hello, I was waiting for you," Adyr replied, then turned back into his room. He retrieved a folder from his leather bag, returned to the door, and handed it to her.

"You'll find everything you need about the language in there. Take care." With that, he closed the door and walked off toward the elevator.

The folder contained notes he had prepared the previous night—just enough to fulfill his side of the exchange, without engaging in lengthy explanations.

"Wait," Lilian said, startled as she looked from the folder to Adyr's retreating figure. But he didn't respond.

"What a rude individual," Mary muttered, frowning. "Professor, I seriously doubt someone like him can have any real understanding of an undocumented language. He's probably just trying to stand out."

Lilian didn't respond immediately. She gave a slight nod and began examining the contents of the folder.

After a few seconds, her expression shifted.

"Professor? Is something wrong?" Mary asked, noticing the change.

Lilian continued scanning the pages, her tone suddenly more focused.

"These documents go well beyond what you'd expect from someone without formal training. The phonetic system is consistent, the grammar is internally structured, and even the morphological patterns show deliberate construction."

She flipped through a few more pages, her tone more focused now.

"This isn't amateur work. It reads like a foundational draft—something you'd expect from someone with a background in linguistic theory. Possibly even a trained linguist."

She then turned to Mary and asked, "Do you know what this man's background is?" Her tone carried genuine concern.

"He's one of the first-year university students on a scholarship," Mary answered. The irritation that had been on her face earlier was gone, replaced by shock and clear confusion.

"A first-year student?" Lilian repeated, even more stunned. She looked back at the pages in her hands and murmured, "Looks like we've found a genius the linguistics department will be dying to work with."

The sudden sparkle in her eyes and the shift in her voice were almost unsettling.

—

Adyr stepped out of the elevator onto the simulation wing. Today, the floor didn't seem as crowded as the day before—most players had likely already entered their gamepods or hadn't logged out since yesterday.

After walking a short distance, he found his assigned playroom and scanned his wristwatch at the door to unlock it.

"Good morning, Mr. Adyr," the nurse from yesterday greeted him with respectful formality.

"Good morning," Adyr replied with a polite smile.

"I'll notify the doctor now. If you don't mind, I'd like to perform the daily checkup while preparing your pod," Mira said as she began adjusting the system for use.

"I don't mind," Adyr responded simply.

As she worked, it didn't take long for Elion Vance, his assigned physician, to enter the room and greet him. His demeanor was just as professional as the day before, but there was a noticeable shift—an improvement—in the way he carried himself.

Clearly, yesterday's encounter with Henry Bates had left an impression. The doctor's attitude toward Adyr now held a subtle layer of respect, likely influenced by Henry's behavior. He wasn't just treating another boy from nowhere anymore. Adyr might not have a surname or a known background, but Elion was smart enough to understand that anyone Henry Bates took seriously wasn't to be overlooked. Proper courtesy and care were now a given.

Without wasting time, the doctor and nurse carried out the routine checks efficiently and assisted him into the pod.

"Enjoy the session," the doctor said with genuine warmth as he closed the lid.

"Thanks. My body's in your care," Adyr replied, then the lid sealed shut, his vision darkened, and his consciousness slipped away from his body.

—

When his consciousness returned, he was met with the sound of hushed voices around him.

"Lady Vesha, I don't mean to be rude, but saying no royal knights are coming to help is hard to believe. I saw it with my own eyes yesterday—twelve monstrous wolves. Sending this boy alone is nothing short of sending him to his death."

The voice belonged to the elderly woman Adyr had met the day before. Her tone was thick with worry and doubt.

"Don't worry, Grandma," Vesha replied, her voice calm and reassuring. "Even if the kingdom sent an entire army, they wouldn't be as effective as him going alone. Leave the worrying to me and just stay here. He'll wake up soon—you'll see."

Adyr smiled faintly at that, satisfied with what he heard. Looks like she has what it takes to lead. Definitely worth investing in.

He had been observing her closely since yesterday, watching how she handled pressure and uncertainty. In her, he saw potential—the kind of edge he looked for. All she needed was a little push, and he believed she could become someone of real significance within the kingdom.

After a few more moments of silent listening, Adyr slowly opened his eyes and sat up.

At once, the entire underground shelter went quiet. Every eye turned toward him, watching with silent anticipation.