episode_0008

“Huh!…”

What, what is it?…

Suddenly, an unbearable drowsiness rushed over me, and I felt my eyes closing….

Regaining my senses and looking around, thankfully, not much time seemed to have passed.

The Sword King was still sitting, guarding the campfire.

…But when did he put a pot on the campfire?

“Did you sleep well?”

“Ugh…, um…, did I sleep?”

“Yes, you slept soundly.”

“I, I’m sorry.”

He even passed on his skills, and I fell asleep.

The Sword King chuckled at my words and shook his head.

“Haha, don’t mention it. That’s a side effect of this skill.”

“You mean…, falling asleep?”

“That’s right. Secret Technique, Injection Education. It’s a technique that transfers all the skills, theories, and memories related to swordsmanship that I’ve accumulated throughout my life, so a heavy mental burden is inevitable. I actually thought you woke up early. I thought you’d be asleep all day, but you only slept for about 6 hours.”

6 hours?!…

I was asleep for 6 hours? Is that skill even safe?…

Realizing the helplessly vanished passage of time, my body soon announced its hunger by rumbling.

What an honest body.

“Have some.”

“T, thank you.”

As if he expected it, the Sword King handed me the soup.

I took the soup from the Sword King and confirmed the new skills that decorated my skill window with my own eyes.

【Sword King’s Memory】

【Lv : MAX】

【Detailed Explanation: The Sword King’s memory passed down through injection education. The Sword King’s enlightenment comes to mind in combat situations.】

【Sword King’s Secret Technique】

【Lv : MAX】

【Detailed Explanation: The Sword King’s swordsmanship, completed over a lifetime by the Sword King. Because it is a swordsmanship that has trained the three basics of swordsmanship—horizontal slash, vertical slash, and thrust—to the extreme, even someone with no talent can theoretically learn it. Therefore, completing the Sword King’s Secret Technique depends solely on pure talent.】

【Additional Effects: 1) Partially ignores physical/magic defense when using skills by consuming magic power.

2) Additional damage based on your Strength and Dexterity stats.

3) ‘Ki’ stat is added. (Initial value = Magic Power/2)】

˙ Horizontal Slash: Sword King’s Secret Technique: Mountain Splitter

˙ Vertical Slash: Sword King’s Secret Technique: Earth Splitter

˙ Thrust: Sword King’s Secret Technique: Sea Splitter

˙ Special Move: Sword King’s Secret Technique: Sword King’s Intimidation

˙ Ultimate: Sword King’s Ultimate: Heaven and Earth Splitter

【Sword King’s Secret Technique】 is a known skill.

But 【Sword King’s Memory】…, I’ve never seen this before?

‘Lv : MAX.’

When I played the game, the skill level was limited to level 8…, and there’s additional detail I haven’t seen before in the detailed explanation.

Judging from the added explanation, the reason why the Sword King’s Secret Technique was weak in the later stages was because Leon was weak.

Also, the stat called ‘Ki’ is something I’ve never seen before…, this must also be an effect of the Sword King’s Secret Technique reaching max level.

“You won’t recall much right now. But as you continue to fight, the memories I’ve given you will definitely be of great help.”

He must be talking about the 【Sword King’s Memory】 skill.

The activation condition must be a combat situation. The Sword King’s memory coming to mind means…, can I learn the Sword King’s skills?

That’s quite tempting.

“Thank you. I will not forget the Sword King’s teachings.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

The Sword King tilted his head, looking like he didn’t understand.

That made me feel uneasy, so I opened my mouth with a hopeful heart.

“Um, what is….”

“I’ve crammed all the theory into you through injection education…, but true skill requires a harmonious combination of theory and practice.”

“…So that means?”

“Do you know? Snow Mountain is a mysterious region where human hands rarely reach. As a result, there are many naturally formed labyrinths.”

Chuckling, the Sword King looked at me.

“In about 10 years, the basics will be complete.”

That’s too long!!!

* * *

2 weeks later.

Snow Mountain, 3rd peak.

An ice labyrinth filled with bluish ice.

The labyrinth, naturally formed by the energy of nature and the extreme environment, was transformed into a powerful and difficult labyrinth.

The average stats of the labyrinth monsters are about 100.

They are beasts that can easily butcher most adventurers and can rightly be called monsters.

And one man set foot in this labyrinth.

Krrr Rrrr Rrrr

As if rejecting those who were different from them, as soon as the beasts smelled the intruder, they bared their teeth and charged ferociously.

The distance between the beasts and the man quickly narrowed, and just as they were about to open their mouths and tear the man apart, the man drew his sword.

“Sword King’s Secret Technique, Mountain Splitter.”

A flash.

A huge slash that horizontally cuts a huge mountain cuts through all the beasts, scattering blood.

The man, who showed off his skill of bisecting all the approaching beasts with a single strike, didn’t even pay attention to the sight and glanced at the empty air before shaking his head.

“I still don’t level up. I should have leveled up by now after raiding labyrinths to this extent.”

The man who entered the labyrinth, Leon, moved his steps deeper into the labyrinth.

【Labyrinth】 is an element of the concept of an instant dungeon commonly seen in games.

The reasons for its formation are various: natural occurrence, made by ancient humans, the death of a monster with strong inherent power, and its influence, etc.

If these labyrinths are left unattended, the monsters attracted to the labyrinth’s magic absorb the labyrinth’s magic and become stronger, causing a disaster called 【Monster Party】, so the labyrinth must be solved by subduing them in advance.

And the simplest and most common way to solve a labyrinth is….

Kuaaaaaaaaah!!!

“There you are.”

You need to deal with the demonic beast that is the core of the labyrinth.

In that sense, the demonic beast that is the core of this labyrinth is a huge wolf with fur like white snow.

In addition, it’s a troublesome type that takes its pack around with it.

Naturally, the intruder who entered its home without permission is annoying it, so it roars and gives the order to attack to its subordinate pack around it. Each one of them has quite high stats, and they are also large beasts with bodies as big as an average adult man’s waist.

“Slow.”

Swish

The beasts are easily cut down, and he takes a light step forward.

At the same time, the boss of the labyrinth is even more furious because all of its subordinates were sliced up, and it opens its mouth wide.

“Sword King’s Secret Technique, Earth Splitter.”

From top to bottom.

A straight sword strike that cleanly plunges down.

It charged at me without even realizing that it had been cut by the sword, and then it split in two and died.

“…Then, shall we start farming?”

There are several advantages to clearing a labyrinth.

One of them is that you have ownership of the demonic beasts you defeated in the labyrinth.

The demonic beasts of the labyrinth are stronger than other ordinary demonic beasts. And as much as that, the materials you can get from their corpses are considered to be of higher quality than other ordinary demonic beasts.

Money is always good, so if I keep this in mind, there will be a time when I can use it.

Or I can make armor out of these guys’ leather and use it.

“Oh, magic stone…, lucky.”

As expected of a boss, it gave me something expensive.

I roughly put the bodies of the harvested guys in my inventory and came out of the labyrinth, and I saw the Sword King waiting for me at the entrance of the labyrinth.

“You finished it even faster.”

“…Thanks to you.”

“Haha, it seems that my memory is adapting better than I thought.”

“Um, that’s right.”

Is it thanks to the Dexterity stat’s influence?

This Sword King’s memory is more effective than I thought. Thanks to this Sword King’s Memory skill, I can count all the skills that have appeared in these two weeks with one hand.

【Intuition】

【Detailed Explanation: The logic of combat that was realized on countless battlefields. A sense trained to the extreme to lead the situation to where one wants it to be.】

【Sword King’s Footwork】

【Detailed Explanation: The optimal footwork trained by the Sword King. Moving more nimbly and quickly, as secretly as a shadow and as bravely as a lion.】

【Breath of All Things】

【Detailed Explanation: The ability to hear the sound of the breath of all things in heaven and earth. Following the breath of all things, it splits the gaps, and eventually cuts through all things.】

【Spatial Slash】

【Detailed Explanation: Unleashes a slash that cuts through space beyond distance.】

【Counterattack】

【Detailed Explanation: A parrying swordsmanship. A sword that protects oneself. Special buffs are applied to defensive and counterattacking actions.】

“….”

These are some of the skills that the Sword King has, but I have no idea how many skills the Sword King himself has.

I thought I could become quite strong if I learned the Sword King’s Secret Technique, but I never thought I would become this strong.

“We can go down now.”

“Huh? But you said it would take 10 years….”

“That’s true. But it seems that you have more talent than I thought. You’ve managed to establish a certain level of skill in just 2 weeks. You can go down now. Will you follow me for a moment?”

The place I followed the Sword King to was a cave hidden in the 1st peak where the Sword King was staying.

The Sword King went inside and brought out a black wooden box after a while.

“What is this?”

“Before that, I’ll ask you, what are your stats?”

“Yes, yes?… Why suddenly stats….”

“I’ve been watching you so far, and your strength is quite different. Generally, stats or levels…, are achieved through long training. And that’s the same even if you receive the goddess’s blessing. But you’re not. It’s like…, you suddenly gained strength…, that kind of feeling?”

He’s really sharp.

At this point, I can’t help but admit it no matter what excuses I make.

Besides, he’s the teacher who taught me anyway. There’s no reason to hide it.

“All stats, 999.”

“999… You’re definitely a monster.”

“Do you believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I believe you? There’s no reason for you to lie to me.”

That’s…, that’s true.

However, the stat of 999 itself is quite bizarre, but he naturally believes it.

“You have a good body, but you don’t have enough experience to use it. It’s inevitable because it’s a power given to you by the goddess, not a power you created yourself. But don’t forget. The important thing is not a good sword, but the person who uses the sword.”

“I understand.”

“Your movements have a strong power, but they are like a child who doesn’t know how to use that power. The disconnect creates awkwardness, and awkwardness leads to fatal mistakes. Use the memories I’ve given you well.”

As expected…, is that what it means to have a capacity to be called a Sword King?

It’s all advice that becomes flesh and blood.

“Well, that’s not what I was going to tell you…, this is a graduation gift. Originally, I would have liked to make a sword for you like I did for my other disciples, but you already have a good enough sword.”

Holy Sword….

Come to think of it, there was one big problem with the Holy Sword….

Let’s skip that for now.

I received the black wooden box that the Sword King handed me.

It doesn’t weigh much, but what’s inside that makes him do this? I opened the wooden box.

“!”

【Degraded Great Elixir】

【Detailed Explanation: A panacea made in the Flame Kingdom in the east of the Philgreas continent. Its effects have been greatly weakened now that it has been degraded.】

A, a Great Elixir?…

Why is this here?…

I looked at the Sword King in confusion, and the Sword King chuckled as if recalling the past.

“About…, 150 years ago?…, I received it when I went to the Flame Kingdom for personal business. The energy of the elixir has weakened a lot now, but it will help improve your unstable physical condition.”

“Ah….”

Then I should eat it right away!

I put the Great Elixir that the Sword King handed me in my mouth in one bite.

The moment I ate it, the elixir disappeared as if it were melting. The taste was…, honestly, not good.

But the elixir that seemed to have melted and disappeared turned into an intangible energy and spread throughout my body.

【Ki : 499 -> 519】

【HP : 16883 -> 42857】

【MP : 1840 -> 17824】

“!”

My health and magic power have greatly recovered! And my Ki stat has also increased.

“I’m glad to see that your physical condition has improved considerably.”

“Not only did you teach me swordsmanship, but you also did this…, I don’t know how to repay this favor….”

“If my sword is passed on to you and you can cut off the Demon King’s head with that sword, wouldn’t that be glory enough? I wouldn’t have used it even if I had it anyway, so don’t worry about it.”

After saying that, the Sword King paused for a moment as if thinking about something and said.

“…But, one thing. There’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it? If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”

“If you happen to meet the Sword Demon…, my old disciple, please kill that child.”

Sword Demon.

The Sword King’s first disciple and the Sword King’s dark history.

The one who committed great slaughter while drunk on revenge. Is he asking me instead to kill her, whom he cannot kill because he is caught up in emotion?

“But, wouldn’t she be dead already? Time has passed…”

“That child is not a pure human.”

“!”

“So that child is alive.”

“I understand.”

What is she if she’s not a pure human? I was curious, but I held back because the atmosphere didn’t seem like he wanted to say more.

“So, what are you going to do from now on? Are you going to go straight to catch the Demon King?”

“Of course not. I have to find a party.”

“Indeed, so you’re thinking of finding comrades who will share your will.”

“Ah, but before that, there’s something I have to do.”

* * *

“Are you sure this is the place?”

“Yes, yes!… That’s right!”

The hero Ragna and his party were currently aiming to clear a labyrinth.

Clearing a labyrinth is a high-priced reward in itself due to the monsters that appear in the labyrinth, but the important thing is the treasure at the very center of the labyrinth. In the case of naturally generated labyrinths, there are often no such treasures, but conversely, in the case of labyrinths created by artificial generation.

For example, if someone made a labyrinth because they wanted to ‘hide’ something, or if a labyrinth was created by an artifact with strong power. Naturally, the one who breaks through the labyrinth first takes the treasure they find there.

“When I was in a party with Leon, I received a clue about the labyrinth as a reward…, I’m sure this is the place.”

“Hmph….”

Ragna looked at Marie, who was cautiously watching his reaction, with cold, sunken eyes.

“Do you remember why I brought you from Leon’s party?”

“Yes, yes! Of course!”

“I’m glad you know. I brought you because I valued your talent. But you disappointed me.”

“….”

Marie trembled at Ragna’s cold words.

“So…, huh?”

There were people who had come before them, ahead.

“Abel…”

“What, how did you guys get here?”

“That’s what I want to say…, well, I guess I know without looking.”

The two women next to Abel.

He looked at the priest and hunter who used to be in Leon’s party and raised the corners of his mouth.

The man in front of him also came here wanting the reward for the labyrinth that Leon found out.

“It looks like the front of here is in front of the labyrinth boss, shall we fight?”

“…No, it’s okay. There are many places I’ve found out even if it’s not here. Isn’t that right? Marie.”

“Yes, yes!!”

“Hmph, it’s no fun.”

Better rewards come from labyrinths with high difficulty.

That’s common sense. The difficulty of breaking through this labyrinth was quite low. I felt sorry for the hero Leon, who couldn’t break through this labyrinth and promised himself to do it later, because the difficulty was so low.

“If the difficulty of the labyrinth is so low, then the reward will be nothing special.”

“…That…”

“What is it?”

“…Ah, no. Nothing….”

‘That’s strange…, was the difficulty here this low?….’

Certainly, in the old days when I was in Leon’s party.

This was definitely a labyrinth with high difficulty.

In fact, we failed to break through the labyrinth and only managed to deal with the monsters somehow and prevent a monster party from happening.

But if I compare it to that time…, the monsters have clearly become weaker.

* * *

“Cowardly bastard.”

Abel laughed at Ragna, who was returning, and turned his gaze to the boss room.

“All I have to do is clear this place, right?”

“Yes.”

“…Right.”

Noren nodded and Phia frowned, reluctantly nodding.

“Okay~ Then, shall I clean up Leon’s mess~?”

He opened the door.

“Huh?”

And in that huge labyrinth room, all Abel found was a huge slash drawn diagonally like a giant had swung a sword and the dead labyrinth boss.