Swordmaster-to-Be!
I finished the mid-check, gulped down another bowl of mixed grain porridge laced with Femicon, and fired up the gallery. Why? Because the time had finally come.
I opened the gallery straight away.
Now was the time to learn some real martial arts. Of course, I wasn't without weapons up to now. My main weapon slot still proudly lists the pickaxe.
That trusty pickaxe had been my number one hero, smashing the heads of rigid mutants or breaking through blocked paths—keeping me alive in this brutal world.
But early-game Yeopo gear that carries you through low levels always has a clear ceiling. Even Sickle Ham, the improvised weapon expert, said while eyeing my pickaxe that it was good but I'd have to switch eventually.
I agreed to some extent, which is why I was seeking a new martial arts master. And naturally, that new art would be swordsmanship.
As soon as I posted, out came the sword bros, led by Sword Heaven, president of the entire Sword Alliance.
"Mm, yeah, bro."
Martial God Gallery's favorite idol. Post generator extraordinaire. The gallery's one true complete bastard and lord.
The gallery has its active users and its lurkers, but news of the top mod learning the sword had everyone poking their heads out.
Of course, it wasn't just the sword bros joining the fun.
Sword vs. blade was ultimately just posturing between sword bros and blade bros. To us non-blade gallery users, it was just recurring bait on cooldown.
Anyway, so—
The one problem with sword builds? Too damn many users.
I get the first job change is sword bro, but what's the second?
Luckily, there was a clear answer to that.
The Sword Alliance had the answer ready. And who was this master?
Swordmaster-to-Be
Truth be told, the name felt a bit off from the start. It looks as lightweight as mine.
Just from her activity in the gallery.
From what I'd seen of Swordmaster-to-Be—Soma for short—she'd been busy sucking up to Sword Heaven, the Sword Alliance president, in the Sword Heaven Fan Club.
So yeah, I tilted my head when she was picked as my sword instructor, but "She can't be a pushover."
No gallery user is to be underestimated after all this time. Even Pill Seller, who cosplays as a pill peddler, is a transcendent elixir master in reality.
Gallery concept aside, reality's probably different. Especially since—
The Sword Alliance's nightmare. The Sword Alliance's nemesis. The Sword Alliance's widow maker.
Even Anger Control Good, with her sky-high pride, acknowledged her as a sword bro.
Meaning Soma's gallery persona might be that, but her true self is likely a peerless sword master!
At Soma's signal, I dug out a room. This Bi-Wu Field skin was plain old classic Bi-Wu Field, true to name. Considering how gallery users swapped skins to their tastes, it ramped up my curiosity about her true form.
Moments later, that familiar otherworldly sensation washed over me, and the classic Bi-Wu Field landscape appeared.
I thought to myself in the center: Come at me. Be it an old man who'd honed a single sword his whole life or a three-headed six-armed asura sword demon—I wouldn't flinch at anything.
As I steeled myself—
"NewbieMod!"
A clear voice rang from the opposite side of the Bi-Wu Field.
"Huh?"
I turned to see—
"You're NewbieMod, right? First time seeing you in person!"
Long braided hair. Eyes brimming with energy and confidence. Ten swords strapped all over her body were distinctive, but what really stood out was—
"Swordmaster-to-Be...?"
"Hehe, that's me. But just call me Soma casually. Everyone does!"
Just like her speech—standing before me was a Swordmaster-to-Be who looked like an isekai-transmigrated high school girl.
What the fuck!! This is so jarring!!!
No twist—that was the twist. A gallery nick, concept, and reality perfectly aligned.
Her bright smile as she approached was hard to process for a whole different reason.
But I snapped out of it. Gallery users' appearances were like Bi-Wu skins. Don't forget—they're all ancient monster martial gods over a thousand years old at minimum.
"I heard you're my swordsmanship master, right?"
"Yes! And our Sword Alliance president recommended me as the perfect fit—such an honor!"
The Sword Alliance president was, of course, Sword Heaven—Black Sky. The unrivaled sword god of the gallery.
Meaning Soma here was a martial god endorsed by her—
"Please take care of me, Soma!"
"Hehe. The pleasure's mine."
I bowed deeply once more, showing the top of my head with flexible waist work. Soma waved her hands frantically in response.
Anyway, our first meeting wrapped on that note. Now for the real deal.
"Alright, NewbieMod must have a lot on your plate, so straight to business... But first, one question. Do you know why I became your sword instructor?"
Hm, that's what I was most curious about too. Why her out of all those martial gods?
Soma gave the answer.
"Simple reason. If it's just about 'how to wield a sword,' I'm the best in the gallery."
Plain and simple: Because I'm the top.
I let out a gasp at her brimming confidence.
"Whoa! For real?!"
"Heh. Of course. If you're chasing the ultimate in swordsmanship, Sword Heaven's the pinnacle. But for handling swords? That's me."
"Whoaaa!"
"You have no idea what I mean, do you?"
"...That obvious?"
Damn, how'd she know? Soma burst out laughing, shattering my poker face and reading me like a book.
"To get it, you'd need to reach a certain realm first. But that's way off. So simply put: I have a special constitution. Well, others in the gallery do too... but mine's specialized."
A thought struck me mid-explanation.
"Is it related to those ten swords you're wearing?"
"Sharp intuition. Or did I hint too obviously?"
Even masters have their favorite tools. Black Sky and Anger Control Good always bring the same weapons to ice duels.
And Soma's ten swords? All unique. Honestly, over half barely qualified as "swords."
Yet she called them swords proudly. And she added one more fact.
"My special constitution is called Myriad Swords Lover."
In plain terms,
"A constitution loved by every sword in the world."