episode_0102

I stared blankly at the Holy Sword.

After saying so much, now you come out with that?

—Hm?

Had it noticed something strange about my condition? The Holy Sword’s reaction was odd.

—Hmph. Whatever happened must have rattled you badly.

Because of you. I nearly lashed out at the Holy Sword’s words but held back. Watching how things were unfolding, it seemed even this guy had suffered something.

‘……Something’s definitely fishy.’

The Holy Sword knew a great deal about the First Hero. But the artifacts known as Divine Tools appeared after the First Hero.

That’s why it was puzzling. According to Vulcan and the Black Fog Duke, the Holy Sword shouldn’t have seen the First Hero.

Whether it was the Hero’s正统 swordsmanship or footsteps—it shouldn’t have been able to teach me anything. Because those techniques predated the First Hero’s legend.

It could still know of them. But not in enough detail to instruct me like this.

So then.

‘A rough guess would be…’

The identity slumbering within the Holy Sword might be the First Hero. Or perhaps a fragmented piece of them.

And then—the Demon King. Those beings made a contract with entities even the First Hero couldn’t oppose. Thus, the Demon King was created.

And those Demon Kings served as apostles for beings beyond the First Hero’s reach.

But what I saw was different. They forcibly invaded this world. And began ruining everything.

No idea what bastard showed me these scenes, but— I witnessed it.

……

‘For now.’

I’ll tuck this away in a corner of my mind. Right now, what matters is where I stand.

I focused straight ahead. Vulcan and So Yeon-hwa were tilting their heads, staring at me.

“What’s up with you? Why the dumbstruck look all of a sudden?”

Vulcan eyed me as if I’d eaten something foul. So Yeon-hwa also tilted her head. Everyone was looking at me like I’d lost it.

‘Let’s deal with this first.’

The visions from the past didn’t matter now. No—they did, but— I had to recall what I’d just declared moments ago.

After putting on such an arrogant front, backing out of this spar now would…

‘…mean I’d deserve a lifetime of mockery.’

Huu…

Deep breath. Calm the heartbeat. My thoughts cleared—maybe because of the mana from this world, something absent in my original one.

Instantly, my body and mind settled. A slight chill sharpened clarity, organizing the chaos in my head.

I raised my sword.

“Wait.”

So Yeon-hwa stopped me and drew hers. A black demonic blade—etched with crimson runes.

“Let’s use real swords.” “Real swords?” “Yeah. That’s better.” “……”

Wouldn’t that be more dangerous?

I didn’t voice it. Her hardened expression was clear. The faint upturn of her lips, too.

She didn’t say it outright, but her eyes screamed she wanted to go all out against me.

—Seems fun. Fun, huh?

I felt the corner of my own lips twitch at the Holy Sword’s remark.

‘……’

Had I caught the medieval bug too? Sighing internally, I tossed aside the wooden sword.

What I drew instead—

Schwing.

The Lightning Dragon Blade gifted by the Crown Prince. Whether intentional or not, it suited me—wielder of Extreme Thunder God—perfectly.

The moment I unsheathed it, ice flooded my veins, and everything sharpened.

“No need for pointless worry. If things get dire, we’ll step in. Just fight with everything you’ve got.”

Bolstered by Vulcan’s assurance, I loosened up slightly.

—Best to test the waters first. Show her a glimpse of the Hero’s traditional swordsmanship. Got it.

One step forward.

[Conqueror’s Stride]

An aura-suppressing advance that crushes opponents with sheer pressure.

THUD!

So Yeon-hwa staggered, her stance breaking instantly.

Ssching!

A razor-sharp slash cut through the air.

Merely a flick of the wrist.

Clang!

Yet, she blocked it effortlessly with her demonic sword.

However—

“……!”

Her eyes widened. Simultaneously, six slashes arced toward her. So Yeon-hwa moved swiftly—disrupting, deflecting, countering the barrage.

In that gap— I raised my sword.

‘Honestly speaking…’

Against another human, I can’t lose. In labyrinths, monsters tank my slashes and charge through.

But human opponents? Different story. No matter their offense, their defense can’t endure my blows.

That’s why I was confident.

Even if So Yeon-hwa was one level higher— I knew I could win.

But—

Heh.

The Black Fog Duke smirked.

‘……?’

A change rippled through So Yeon-hwa. She stopped dodging or blocking.

WHOOSH!

A crimson aura coiled around her.

—Qi Armor, huh? Qi Armor?

As the Holy Sword spoke, another flurry of slashes erupted.

TING! TANG!

Every strike bounced off her engulfed form.

“Good gods—Qi Armor at her age?! No wonder she’s called a genius assassin!” “Wait, but what was that sword strike just now?! One swing released six slashes at once?!”

Mages marveled at her Qi Armor. Swordsmen gawked at my technique.

—An armor forged from energy. Master it further, and it evolves into the revered [Protecting Aura], but… no way fledglings like you two could wield that yet.

So, a swordsman’s energy-made armor.

THUMP.

Now unscathed, So Yeon-hwa began countering.

Her swings— Where I relied on speed and unpredictability,

she swung with brute force.

Overhead— A single, crushing descent.

Even without getting hit, I knew: one direct strike meant weeks in recovery.

‘Looks deceive…’

Pure, dumb savagery. I retreated with [Flying Feather Step].

Powerful attacks always leave openings.

CRACKLE!

Violet lightning sparked. My blade, saturated with mana, sharpened to a lethal edge.

Creep… creep…

Simultaneously—

Something oozed from So Yeon-hwa’s shadow.

‘Her shadow—?’

No. A mana-born miasma expanded like a storm cloud.

“The Black Fog Duke—bestowed the title by the Empire for bringing despair to his foes.” “Facing him feels like battling an inky sea… but what’s that cloud just now?”

I focused, eyes wide.

This resembled my techniques—[Black Sea], [Dark Moon], [Hidden Sky]. Clearly, another swordsman’s art.

As the shadow grew—

The demonic sword spewed black sword energy.

“[Black Sword Amidst Clouds].”

A sword-energy-formed cloud took shape—crafted from dozens of slashes fused into one.

‘Different from mine.’

The Hero’s swordsmanship releases slashes per swing—a passive style.

‘Hers is active.’

A cast motion, chaining energy into successive strikes.

BOOM.

Inspiration struck like lightning. In that instant, I altered [Dark Moon]’s stance.

—You……

Faster than the Holy Sword could react—

I moved.

‘Chain sword energy together.’

From the sword-energy cloud—

CRACKLE-RUMBLE!

Violet lightning wreathed in black began forming a distinct shape.

“……The hell?!”

The Black Fog Duke’s stunned voice echoed.

Violet and black swirled, merging into a new entity.

‘Let’s call it…’

“[Sword Lightning Amidst Clouds].”

Violet and black collided—

Devouring each other relentlessly.

And then—

‘Dark Moon.’

The violet cloud morphed.

Within the expanding black smog—

Darkness descended.

—

Back home,

I finally had time to myself again.

The clan’s liveliness wasn’t bad, but—

Sometimes, solitude like this soothed the soul. Peace settled over me.

‘……Though honestly, I’ve got piles of work.’

Long-neglected responsibilities littered my mind. The priority being—

‘Why the Holy Sword acted that way.’

And why that outcome resulted.

I meant to confront the Holy Sword, but—

Its warning resurfaced:

—Names hold power. The moment you recognize this, fate binds you.

The more I fixated on it,

the closer it would draw—or so its words implied.

‘Explaining won’t help anyway.’

Best to bury it for now and uncover the truth myself.

Next up—

‘Letinal.’

Once, I’d tried purchasing something from the black market.

Regular shops rarely stocked it, so Hermé directed me there—

‘And it cost a damn fortune.’

I couldn’t afford it then.

But the Crown Prince handed me an entire batch when we met.

—Why in blazes do you want such metals?

The Holy Sword had been baffled, but—

‘You know what true honey is?’ —What? ‘Making others do your work.’ —……?

It clearly didn’t get it.

Understandable.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure this would work either.

I inspected the blue metal ingots from the Crown Prince.

[Item] Letinal ◇Shape-memory alloy. Absorbs skills based on the user’s mana.

Extortionately expensive.

A mere 10kg nearly drained my savings.

‘If his tip pans out…’

I closed my eyes, recalling my friend’s words.

—Once you unlock Gift Synthesis (B) and any B-rank skill-related trait, hoard this metal first.

“Even if you have to beg, borrow, or steal.”

Praying silently, I synthesized the Letinal.

FLASH!

The alloy shimmered before reshaping—

Something spider-like, with eight articulated limbs.

—Wh-what is that?!

The Holy Sword sounded shaken.

[…User confirmed. Fabricated through user’s mana.]

A mechanical voice rang out.

I stared eagerly at the Letinal golem.

[…Awaiting designation. Please name this unit.]

I pondered briefly.

Its arachnid build and azure hue sparked an idea—

‘Spider (Ju) + Blue (Cheong) = Cheongju?’

(Like the rice wine—tasty imagery.)

“Cheongju.”

[Designation registered: Cheongju. Select one user-owned skill for replication.]

Cheongju waved its forelimbs.

[I desire Fatal Duel or Extreme Thunder God.] “Elven Alchemy.” [……Alternatively, electrocuting foes with my legs or pilfering valuables are viable options.] “Elven Alchemy.” [……Affirmative. Elven Alchemy acquired per Master’s insistence.]

Its dejected tone tugged at my conscience—

But tough luck.

‘You were literally made for this.’

I eyed Cheongju and commanded:

“Brew me a High-Grade Healing Potion.” [Processing.]

It scurried to the alchemy station, limbs darting as it tossed in herbs and liquids.

The Holy Sword finally grasped my scheme—

—You planned to enslave it for labor?!

Meanwhile, Cheongju filled flasks with crimson elixir.

[High-Grade Healing Potion synthesized.]

I checked the item:

[Item] High-Grade Healing Potion ◇Restores moderate HP.

‘……Worse than my batches, but passable.’

Considering the cost efficiency, still a win.

More importantly—

‘With this guy, I’m finally free from cooking.’

I gazed warmly at Cheongju.