The Meaning of the Name
Exactly, the name was ‘Brugos Deswan Herthian’. It had that instant noble vibe, just from looking at it. Even as an undead, there was an air of dignity about him.
Normally, when you think of undead, you picture something shambling along with a guttural “Groooar...”, drooling and sluggish. But Brugos was clearly a cut above that. Despite being undead, he stood ramrod straight, no slobber dripping anywhere. Though, come to think of it, wasn't not drooling pretty standard for undead? Anyway, he just screamed aristocracy.
I decided to dig deeper with Observation.
Name:Brugos Deswan Herthian (Level 45)
He was the lord of the Brugos region. Cursed with death, he became undead, yet he still loves his territory. He's deeply disheartened watching it turn into barren wasteland. As a member of the Herthian family, he has fully mastered Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship.
So, just as I'd suspected, Brugos wasn't the creator of Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship. But he was definitely one of its successors. After all, he'd mastered the beginner level—whose full extent even I didn't know yet.
“Hoya, so you want me to learn Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship from that guy here?”
Meow!
Meow meow meow!
“You brought him because my swordplay looks like his?”
According to Hoya, my sword swings resembled Brugos's, so she'd dragged him here. This cat was scary smart—she always knew exactly what I needed.
“I have to fight him, right? He's no pushover.”
A named monster at my level. That fight wouldn't be easy...
Thwack!
Meow meow!
Meow meow meow!
“What? You think I'd lose to him? You don't overhype your dad too much, do you?”
I bristled at Hoya's meows, and she chin-pointed somewhere with her jaw. There, undead knights in full armor shuffled about—guys I hadn't even noticed before.
“Me? Against those losers...? Yeah, right. Hell yeah, I get pumped taking down small fry. Haha!”
I started to argue but locked eyes with Hoya, and suddenly I got why Baekya feared her so much. The hilarious part? She was still adorable.
“Come at me!”
I shouted boldly. That's how you do these things.
But they actually came. All four of them.
I fought the urge to smack my cocky mouth with the flat of my blade and checked the distance to them. Then I flicked my lighter on.
Smack! Thud!
Hoya batted my lighter away. At this level, she could definitely interrupt monster casts. Like a rogue's main job in WoW: spell-breaking. And Hoya nailed it.
The problem? She wasn't breaking the monsters' casts. She broke mine. Felt like she was cutting my lifeline.
“Hey! Isn't that overkill?”
Meow!
Grow strong, she insisted. Strong...
What level was I now, and she still wanted me stronger? But Master Hoya-max-level always had her reasons. I had to follow.
I channeled mana into my steel sword. Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship had hit level 6 by now, so infusing mana should be...
Zero progress. It just let me stab, slash, and block better. The mana infusion? That was all me. Pure grit.
Sensing my thoughts, the system responded.
Mana Manipulation (Passive) has been created at Level 3.
A level 3 passive skill, no less. It let me handle mana better.
“Duruwa, duruwa.”
I taunted the monsters, quoting that famous wild boar actor line. I even tried Fear just in case, but as expected, it didn't faze undead. Game rules.
The armored knights didn't rush. They slowly formed up and advanced.
They were the ‘Brugos Territory Knight Squad’. All level 40.
As they closed in, a thought hit me. Lord, knight squad. Brugos lamented his territory's ruin, even in death. Had his land's fall killed him? Or his death doomed the land? Order unclear, but the territory's collapse had crushed him.
Maybe Brugos had been a gate owner like me? No way to know. For now, block this.
Clang!
Four undead knights with swords rivaling mine. True knights—they synergized perfectly. Their swordplay felt like near-mastery of Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship. I could learn new applications, combos I hadn't seen.
Still, four-on-one was brutal. The fight dragged twenty minutes. Undead don't tire; humans do. I was on the verge of collapse yet somehow held on.
Then mana swirled around my body. I realized: Mana Manipulation wasn't just for weapons.
“Heal.”
I cast it on myself. Barely hurt, right? Simple reason: Heal restores raw vitality. My screaming muscles needed it now.
“Come on, you bastards! Tired already? Want a Heal? Heal!”
Crack!
The balance cracked. One knight's arm flew off.
I'd just Healed myself...
Right—they're undead. Holy power's their bane. So Heal became an attack spell. Like in games. But this was reality.
“Or is it more like a game now?”
The line blurred. But lopping an arm meant the equilibrium shattered. Refreshed, I hammered them.
Could've Healed them all to dust, but Master Hoya would've smacked my head. Sword it was.
And then...
Focus (Passive) has risen to Level 5.
Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship (Active) has risen to Level 8.
Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship (Active) has risen to Level 9.
Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship (Active) has risen to Level 10.
Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship (Active) has been mastered.
To evolve Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship into Intermediate, you must duel its master.
How long had I swung that sword? I'd mastered Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship.
Ahead lay only the Brugos knight squad's armor and weapons. "Killed" them? They vanished post-defeat, leaving gear.
I checked a sword.
◈ Herthian Swordsmanship Level +3, Strength +7, Agility +7, Stamina +7
◈ A sword made for learning and using Herthian Swordsmanship. Little effect for other styles.
Made for Herthian Swordsmanship. Grip felt perfect. But I wouldn't use it. I'd have Si-yeon smith with it as reference. Blacksmithing's her thing anyway.
I gathered the armor and swords. Then eyed Brugos. He just stood, watching.
Meooow.
“Yeah, that's enough for today. See you tomorrow, Brugos.”
That was why Hoya brought me here.
Mastering Hertian Beginner Swordsmanship didn't change much. Just smoother, fiercer flows—insights I'd missed.
“If only I could learn something like Heavenly Demon Divine Art. No luck in this joint.”
Pure fantasy world. No demonic kung fu here. Shame.
Myaaaaah.
Hoya's long sigh washed over me.
“Sorry. No more nonsense.”
Meow!
“Alright, let's head back. C'mere.”
Hoya leaped into my arms. Holding her felt like cradling the world.
Thus ended today's battle. I returned to the territory.
Thud thud thud.
I dumped four suits of armor and four swords in front of Si-yeon. Her face twisted sour.
“Customer, no outside items allowed.”
“Your bro risked his neck for these. Here's the deal...”
I recited the item details. Her eyes sparkled.
Lifetime watching her, I'd only seen that twice: pineapples and now.
“Knew they looked fancy.”
“No outside items, huh?”
“Joking, customer.”
“Anyway, infuse water essence. Great success? I take it.”
“Taking it for granted, aren't you, customer?”
“Where's that gate authority delete menu...”
“I'll serve you like a king!”
Instant pivot.
“You've been fighting tough guys lately, so. Your level cap might be 'cause you're catching up to mine.”
“Huh, maybe? Thought it was territory size.”
Her words hit like a hammer. Made sense—why wouldn't other gate owners cap high? Her theory fit better.
“Never thought I'd agree with you. Live long and learn.”
“Wanna taste hot iron, bro?”
“Pass.”
“Hmph!”
Si-yeon dismantled the swords, nodding in admiration. Impressive.
“Figured it out just from teardown? My sis is a genius.”
“Nah. No clue, just nodding.”
“Don't you shake your head then?”
“You still think your sis is normal? Cute.”
I was speechless.
“Mom was looking for you. Go see.”
“Got it.”
I headed for Mom—probably new product time. But spotting Seon-woo, I veered off.