episode_0118

After my date with Lucia, I secretly checked my rewards at home.

The location was the training hall beneath the house. If there was anything I wanted to test, this was the perfect place, so I had already prepared it here.

[Phantom (B+) has been acquired.]

‘Phantom?’

It means “ghost.”

But the name alone doesn’t give any hint of its actual function.

[Gift] Phantom (B+) ◇Adjusts the user’s attacks. ◇Consumes mana to summon a shadow, which attacks in sync with the user’s movements.

I tried using the Phantom skill.

It steadily drained my mana before my shadow transformed into the shape of a person.

-What the hell is this now? ‘A new skill I just got.’ -No, how are you getting skills this easily?

Ignoring the bewildered Holy Sword, I observed the Phantom.

‘It said it adjusts my attacks based on my movements.’

I lightly swung my sword.

Then, the shadow swung its sword in the same motion.

‘The power is…’

The divine reflexes of a thief, bordering on godly skill.

That alone gave me a rough estimate of the power behind the shadow’s slash.

‘About 25%.’

It’s more ambiguous than I expected.

This time, I used the Hero’s swordsmanship.

The shadow replicated the seven-part slash technique flawlessly.

‘……Still ambiguous.’

This seems like something better off fused with another skill.

As soon as I thought that, the system, as if it had been waiting, made a suggestion.

[You can fuse Phantom (B+) with Shadow Dance (A). Proceed? (Y/N)] ‘Fuse it.’

Then—

[Shadow Dance·Illusion (S+) has been acquired.]

[Skill] Shadow Dance·Illusion (S+) Having pierced the true essence of the shadow’s dance, you now imbue arrows with mana to achieve even greater heights.

When Shadow Dance is activated, you melt into the shadows, deceiving the enemy’s sight, and unleash a barrage of attacks alongside illusions with mana-infused arrows.

Stealth is maximized in darkness.

◇Hide and move within shadows upon activation. ◇Summon two shadow clones to fire arrows simultaneously. ◇Mana-Infused Arrows: -Piercing: Arrows penetrate enemies, dealing adjusted damage to all targets in a straight line. -Explosive: Arrows detonate on impact, dealing adjusted area damage. -Splintering: Each arrow splits midair into multiple smaller arrows, striking numerous enemies with adjusted damage. ◇When Shadow Dance is used in darkness, stealth is enhanced. Duration is extended, enemy detection range is reduced, the first attack’s damage is increased, and movement speed and evasion are temporarily adjusted. ◇Due to Phantom’s effect, the user is always adjusted for darkness.

“……Wow.”

I couldn’t help but let out an impressed sigh.

The effects are stacked so densely it’s almost excessive.

‘……The “adjusted for darkness” part is a bit concerning.’

I took a few steps—without using any movement skills.

-Hm?

The Holy Sword was the first to notice something odd, and I smirked inwardly.

‘Roughly a 50% speed increase.’

Now, the real question is—

Just how powerful is Shadow Dance·Illusion (S+)?

I closed my eyes and drew my bow and arrow from the hidden space.

And then—

‘Shadow Dance·Illusion (S+).’

The arrow turned pitch black, as if darkness had swallowed it whole.

The darkness condensed before taking the form of an arrow.

‘Splintering.’

Two shadows emerged behind me, mimicking my stance, and fired arrows.

Whoosh—!

Something shot through the darkness, and the arrows split apart. In an instant, dozens of dark arrows multiplied into hundreds.

Bam bam bam bam!

The entire wall was riddled with holes.

“…….”

-To think it’d have such absurd power……

The Holy Sword sounded almost exasperated.

-I thought it was just a decent skill until recently. ‘Same.’ -It wasn’t this outstanding before. ‘True.’

The Holy Sword was staring at me with a strange look.

Probably wondering if I’d leveled up or not.

‘……My EXP hasn’t filled up that much yet.’

At my current level, could I take on a Level 7 using hit-and-run tactics?

-Impossible.

But the Holy Sword was firm.

-The moment they reach Level 7…… they wield Authority. ‘Authority?’ -Sword Force. The power to cleave and shatter anything. Even you would struggle at that level. ‘……Yeah, anything that can cut and break everything would be tough.’

All my attacks would be nullified.

My defenses would be meaningless.

And if they can use Sword Force—

‘The real problem is their defensive techniques.’

I don’t have the power to pierce through them in one strike.

-……That’s what I’d like to say, but you still have potential, so I can’t outright call it impossible. ‘Is that so?’ -You should feel proud. Normally, even a one-level difference is hard to overcome. ‘Is that so?’

Honestly, even hearing that, it doesn’t feel real.

I’m practically using cheat codes—shouldn’t this much be expected?

Well, I’ll think about that later.

For now—

‘I should sleep.’

Tomorrow’s schedule is packed.

Lately, the entire clan has been busier than usual.

Tasks that would’ve been ignored before are now being taken on frequently, and Nana and Erme are preparing for the Hero Selection Tournament.

‘Hero Selection Tournament.’

A battle to determine the next Hero.

All sorts of talents gather there—not just from the Empire, but from other heteromorphic kingdoms and across the entire Western Continent.

‘They said the Eastern Continent is coming too, right?’

They’re participating as well.

A land said to be a world where labyrinths have been liberated.

Its danger level is beyond imagination.

Even Vulcan would need serious resolve to venture there alone.

‘The Empire once lost half its military strength trying to conquer it.’

Realistically, the Eastern and Western Continents aren’t that different in power.

But the Western Continent has labyrinths, so given enough time, the balance could tip.

‘On the other hand, if a high-leveler causes trouble, the scales could tip back instantly.’

Anyway, that’s the Eastern Continent for you.

If my past life were a wuxia novel, this would be it—a land where monsters and demons run rampant.

That’s the Eastern Continent.

They’re coming to select their Hero too.

-Well, their goal is a bit different. They see our weapons and skills as something to covet. ‘Really?’ -Yeah, their ideology is different. They’re more extreme. Most of them would throw away their lives for a better realm or skill… or what they call “martial arts.” ‘……Psychopaths, then.’ -The Western Continent has plenty too, but the East is weirdly more extreme. They’re practically all lunatics.

If the Holy Sword says that, I should be extra careful.

Thinking that, I scanned the crowd.

“Hehe, just the two of us traveling together again—it reminds me of when we first came to the Cradle.”

Erme giggled as she spoke.

Back when we first arrived at the Cradle, it really was just the two of us.

Starting from another village…

‘We even met that bastard Hanul.’

Honestly, I’m kind of relieved.

For a mage, he talked way too much and got way too close to me.

Even back then, things were messy, but…

‘Now, it’s completely different.’

A strange sense of nostalgia welled up.

As I waited by the carriage, familiar faces appeared.

Cheon Jaesal, the prodigy favored as a Sword Hero candidate, and So Yeonhwa.

And then—

“Hmph hmph hmph.”

Strangely…

Veronica, looking incredibly pleased, was there. The smug look she gave So Yeonhwa made me want to punch her.

“I’m annoyed.”

So Yeonhwa didn’t bother hiding her irritation.

“Of course you’d be annoyed. The Sword Hero position is completely out of reach now, thanks to someone.”

Veronica smirked, not hiding her satisfaction.

Ah.

Now that I think about it, Veronica never liked So Yeonhwa.

Back when I first met her—

She started off by humiliating So Yeonhwa in a bet, after all.

-So that’s why she’s so happy? ‘But isn’t she already a Saintess?’ -She’s still participating in the Hero Selection. It’s a chance to build connections and crush the pride of any would-be Hero candidates who challenge her. ‘……So she has to win the Selection and then defeat the current Hero?’ -Exactly. That’s how you assert dominance over the previous generation. If you lose, you have to surrender your weapon. ‘But I already have the Holy Sword.’ -……Even if that guy forgot something, no one knew it was the Holy Sword. ‘…….’ -I know nothing about this. ‘Then just tell me about the previous generation.’ -The previous one… As I said before, Fillihart—the one who tried to wipe out Lucia’s family—you know about him, right? ‘Yeah.’

That’s what worries me.

If he was strong enough to try annihilating an entire family alone, just how powerful is he?

-In raw strength, you were stronger back then. ‘Huh?’ -He could destroy an entire family because he unsealed the Holy Sword. He wasn’t that strong on his own. The problem is… it’s been 50 years since then. ‘…….’

Can I even win?

Suddenly, I’m worried.

We moved busily to prepare for the Hero Selection.

With my dimensional storage, Erme and I packed food tightly.

“We don’t need cooking tools, so focus on spices. If we’re desperate, we can get meat from nearby villages or forests.”

So I’m definitely cooking, huh.

No wonder Cheongju is sticking close.

[Problem. Cheongju subtly hints that she wants to enjoy a rare day off.] “No choice, then. I’ll just make Cheongju No. 2 and No. 3 and share my abilities…” [Problem. Cannot accept younger sisters being stronger than me.] “Then come along.” [……Tears.]

Cheongju sniffled, fake-crying, as I looked around.

There were quite a few people here.

Are all of them participating?

“There are fewer people than I expected. Especially in the sword division.” “……This is few?” “Yes. We’re going to the Hero Selection, right? Normally, there should be at least several times more people, but this time, it’s not like that.” “I see.”

Now that I think about it, festivals would draw bigger crowds.

“Well, most of them won’t even make it to the venue. They’ll drop out.”

Old Man Vulcan appeared beside me and said that.

“But what’s up with that guy?” “This one? Just bringing him along for the Selection.” “……Forcibly?” “Forcibly, yes?”

I looked at Burkan.

The poor orc whose parents named him after Vulcan.

He looked much thinner than when I first saw him.

“Just how harsh was his training……” “No, it’s not like that.” “But he’s clearly emaciated.” “Nah. He got ambushed by elves while traveling alone.” “…….”

I glanced at Lisiel, who was subtly hiding among the group.

“I-I didn’t do it!” “I didn’t say you did.” “An orc traveling alone is just asking for trouble! Do you know how dangerous elves are? To go out alone with that kind of physique…! It’s downright reckless!” “…….”

Elves and orcs.

Is this really going to be okay?

I pondered deeply.