Perm Power

While eating dinner.

Nabi stares.

“What is it?”

“I was just thinking that the Young Lady was right.”

“What did Skilla say?”

“A genius. She watched all the videos from the 1st floor and said that someone who didn’t use any Skills on the 1st floor has changed her Form since meeting a certain knight.”

“….”

Americano continued to listen while eating the bread that came with dinner.

“I won’t bother mentioning which knight it is, but had you never learned swordsmanship before that? Not even once?”

“Never. I had a few opportunities, but it wasn’t my thing back then.”

“Well, you had your Awakened Ability.”

No, she was swinging a great hammer, so she had no interest in swords.

“So, you’re saying that even though you’d never learned swordsmanship before, you developed skills that everyone is amazed by in less than a month?”

“Haha. I guess so.”

Everyone was amazed, huh.

Hearing praise about herself from someone else’s mouth made the meal taste even better.

The menu was ordinary.

It was one of the more expensive options in the cafeteria, but every moment of cutting and eating the meat was filled with sparkling joy.

Was she allowed to be this happy?

After finding out she was ranked 1st.

Americano was still overwhelmed with happiness.

She couldn’t believe she was still ranked 1st, and her body would wiggle whenever she thought about it. There was no way a meal wouldn’t be delicious when she was eating so excitedly.

Nabi saw a fragment of Anonymous through the Bronze Golem and even put its majesty into words.

‘To think I’ve been ignoring something this good.’

Well, there were many unavoidable aspects in the past.

In her Unawakened Hunter days, she was no different from an ordinary person without a Magical Power weapon, so even if she was stronger than most Hunters, she couldn’t show off that she was stronger than others.

She had been lowering herself with self-hypnosis and preventing herself from being conceited, and even after Awakening, she habitually followed and continued that habit in the game.

Even though there was no need to continue it.

Habit is a kind of perspective.

Changing her perspective made her realize that it was okay to pretend to be strong.

‘I’m strong.’

She was strong.

Americano was giddy.

Nabi, watching her, also felt a sense of satisfaction.

Night.

Dream.

Americano had a Dream.

Cappuccino stood facing her.

Appearing in Americano’s form, she stood before her.

She imitated her appearance and followed her actions.

Holding a sword.

Swinging a sword.

In the Dream World created by Cappuccino, Americano recalled the sword of the Bronze Golem she had faced today.

[Form 1] Downward Slash.

[Form 2] Thrusting Slash.

[Form 3] Rotational Slash.

[Form 4] Ranged Slash.

[Secret Technique Execution Sword]

The image of a sword was superimposed on the sword.

A Magical Power greatsword with a right-angled end.

The vertical Downward Slash split the ground and sank deep.

The Dream created by Cappuccino was used as her training ground.

[Northern Empire Swordsmanship].

The swordsmanship she was currently using.

As indicated by [Chapter 6] in the Skill name, there were at least five more chapters of swordsmanship left.

In fact, these six chapters of sword forms didn’t appeal to her. It was closer to ‘Will this be useful someday?’ than ‘Wow! I have to learn this!’

The activation timing was slow, and the movements were large, making it unsuitable for practical use.

“I don’t like that I have to hold it with both hands.”

“But isn’t it powerful?”

“Power?”

[Boost]

Flames erupted on her body.

The flames emitted by the [Magic Sword] taken from her Inventory enveloped her body.

Americano, wrapped in blue flames, unleashed a [Slash] to the side.

“This is stronger. Faster too.”

“Wouldn’t it be stronger if you used Form 1 in that state?”

“The Northern Swordsmanship doesn’t get stronger just by increasing Magical Power. Want to see?”

She used [Form 1] with [Boost] activated.

There was no difference in power before and after activating [Boost].

The [Northern Empire Swordsmanship] required more manipulation than Magical Power.

“Even if I were to increase the power, I’d have to let go of the Magic Sword.”

Another problem with the [Northern Empire Swordsmanship] was that it had to be used with ‘both hands.’

[Form 4] could be used with one hand, but it was impossible because of the charge-up. In the first place, it was a delicate technique and unsuitable for increasing power.

In any case, she had to let go of the [Magic Sword] because she was using both hands.

“That’s true. You have to let go of the Magic Sword.”

“Of course, I could throw it away. I could use it as a bomb since my hands would be free. But I’d probably freeze to death before I could defeat the enemy because of the gradually cooling flames, right?”

[Boost] was powerful, but it was a double-edged sword where heat and Chill balanced each other.

Cappuccino replied.

“Is it that bad?”

“It’s hard to use. I could probably unleash three Slashes while Form 1 is activating.”

“Still, I think it would be good to use it if you time it right. Like, to cut through their guard.”

“Swordsmanship needs to be more agile than you think. The idea of cutting through their guard isn’t great. Besides, do you think monsters as small as people will come out in the Tower from now on? Look, I’m a Challenger.”

Yes, she was a Challenger.

Probably the only one.

“You seem happy?”

“I am. Anyway, I think I’ll only be catching large monsters from now on, so how would I catch them without using Boost? If I use Boost, the Northern Empire Swordsmanship is useless in terms of power.”

“But why are you learning it then?”

“I think it would be good to use when catching mages.”

“Why mages?”

“Try using it. You’ll know when you use it.”

“Why would I use it?”

“It might be helpful to learn it when you go to the Dream World later.”

“I can just read your memories, so what’s the point?”

“Well. Just do as I say.”

Cappuccino shared Americano’s memories and unfolded the [Northern Empire Swordsmanship].

[Form 1]

[Form 2]

[Form 3]

[Form 4]… was blocked.

“Huh?”

“I guess it’s not working.”

“What’s wrong with this?”

“It’s the Anti-Magic Power.”

“Anti, Anti-Magic?”

“I only vaguely guessed it, so I guess you didn’t notice?”

She shared her memories. She also shared memories of thoughts only in her head, but it required an effort to recall them.

Cappuccino tried to use the ranged Slash of [Form 4], but,

“It’s not working.”

It didn’t work.

The energy didn’t gather.

“Is it because we’re in a Dream?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Still, why Anti-Magic all of a sudden?”

“Anti-Magic. The power to repel magic. I named it.”

“You named it?”

“Of course, it’s just called Anti-Magic, it doesn’t mean it’s poisonous or harmful to monsters.”

“I wasn’t asking about the meaning.”

Americano didn’t know well either.

But she felt the power of Anti-Magic in the subtle Magical Power she felt while unfolding the [Northern Empire Swordsmanship] in the [Field] unfolded by the Bronze Golem.

The Anti-Magic mentioned here doesn’t mean the power to drive away evil spirits.

Anti-Magic.

Magic.

The power to repel Magical Power.

It was different from Anti-Magic Resistance, but if she had to compare it, it was similar to Anti-Magic Resistance.

It’s just that if Anti-Magic Resistance was defense, Anti-Magic was siege.

Anti-Magic had the property of erosion.

‘Should I call it Anti-Magic Power?’

Anyway, that was it.

The reason Cappuccino couldn’t use [Form 4] was because it was the technique that required the most Anti-Magic Power.

The Slash that [Form 4] unleashed was a mass of Anti-Magic Power.

It was the power of Anti-Magic that would effectively split the barrier if the opponent was protecting their body with a barrier.

Of course, it didn’t have much physical property, so it only exerted power on the properties of Magical Power.

“What does it feel like specifically?”

“Why don’t you just read my memories?”

“You only thought about it in your head. It’s hard to find and read.”

I guess I have no choice.

She explained it verbally.

“It means that the more something is made of Magical Power like a barrier, or the stronger the Magical Power is, the more impact it can give.”

“That’s totally broken, isn’t it?”

“I think so too. It’ll be fatal to mages. But on the other hand, it’s also likely that it won’t do much damage to opponents with high health compared to their Magical Power, like ogres.”

“So, we won’t know the actual power until we use it in actual combat?”

Cappuccino stomped her feet and jumped.

Jump, jump.

She was excited.

“What is it?”

“I feel like it’s almost my turn to go into actual combat. If there’s a storage space in your chest, you can just put me in there and carry me around!”

“Are you planning to set up a household in my chest?”

“What’s wrong with that! It’s great! Honestly, you’re jealous, aren’t you.”

“….”

She was speechless.

She still liked having breasts, even as a woman.

In the first place, her real body was a man.

The shell was a woman, but the core was still a man.

As evidence, she could see herself subtly looking at other women’s bodies.

Then her gaze would be fixed on her own breasts.

She sometimes resented that she happened to be the owner of this body, and sometimes she didn’t.

Because if she hadn’t become the owner of this body, she would never have been involved with a woman from the celestial realm.

‘But my thoughts keep drifting to my chest.’

That’s how big the presence of her breasts was.

“Haa…”

“Why are you sighing? Do you want to touch my breasts?”

“….”

“Kyaheung.”

Anyway, Americano used the [Northern Empire Swordsmanship] in succession.

[Form 1] Downward Slash.

[Form 2] Thrusting Slash.

[Form 3] Rotational Slash.

[Form 4] Ranged Slash.

[Secret Technique Execution Sword].

To emphasize once again, the disadvantage of the [Northern Empire Swordsmanship] was that it used ‘both hands.’

She had unfolded the [Execution Sword] with one hand before.

But that was an incomplete [Execution Sword] back then.

The complete [Execution Sword] now was,

───shatter.

…Her proficiency was still lacking.

The Magical Power greatsword shattered like glass.

“It’s not working.”

“But.”

“Yeah?”

Cappuccino asked.

“In the end, what’s the reason I can’t use Form 4?”

“Isn’t it a difference in talent?”

“You and I are the same.”

“We’re different.”

What nonsense was she talking about, saying they were the same?

“How can we be the same when the way you use Magical Power and the way I use Magical Power are different? Even if you imitate 100 percent of me, the Dream Frog is added as a plus alpha, so how can it be the same? If you want to use it, you have to find your own way.”

“Tch.”

“Trying to get something for free.”

Swordsmanship has a set form.

Just as the function of a tool and how to use it are set, each sword form of swordsmanship has its own set of usage methods.

But among the gold hands, there are those who directly modify tools to make them more comfortable for themselves.

[Form 1] is a Downward Slash.

From top to bottom.

Slashes the sword down.

You have to Slash down to use [Form 1].

The detailed principle required delving into the control of Magical Power used to use [Form 1], and the explanation would be long.

“I know.”

“Just listen quietly.”

Americano taught Cappuccino the [Northern Empire Swordsmanship].

She didn’t just teach it.

[Form 1] is a Downward Slash.

Does it have to be a Downward Slash?

Horizontal Slash.

Success.

“You succeeded easily.”

“Well, it’s Form 1.”

[Form 1] was easy.

As easy as it was, the Anti-Magic Power was also weak. The difficulty increased along with it if she wanted to draw it out more.

Based on her experience of using the [Execution Sword] with one hand, she was able to modify and use [Form 1] from vertical to horizontal. Then what about one hand?

“Ah.”

“It’s not working.”

[Form 1] was released.

I guess it’s not working yet.

Still, they continued to practice.

Since it was a Dream, there was a sleeping effect.

“But you’ll still be tired, right?”

“But if I sleep for 8 hours like this, it’ll have the effect of 4 hours, right?”

“How long are you going to sleep?”

“I usually only sleep for about 5 hours, so let’s sleep for 10 hours.”

It would be like sleeping for 10 hours, but it was a much more useful way to spend time than wasting 5 hours entirely.

You don’t get tired in a Dream.

You don’t freeze to death in a Dream.

There’s no chance of burning to death either.

There was no space as good for training as here.

Of course, she couldn’t train using [Boost] outside of the Dream… it felt a bit strange to call it reality, but anyway.

“Then how about practicing your Awakened Ability too?”

“Should I?”

Americano accepted Cappuccino’s advice.

She stirred up the Magical Power stored in the [Mana Hole] and consumed it as an Awakened Ability.

She reached out her hand.

Sparks flew from her fingertips.

Clang.

The Dream shattered.