To the Forest of Ten Thousand Swords

First-Class martial artist. It was the realm where one could infuse internal energy—or will—into their weapons, and for the vast majority of martial artists, it was the final destination of their journey. While it didn't reach the level of the Peak Realm, where one felt less like a human and more like a force of nature, it was still a realm recognized as being a "master," a monster in its own right.

And the context for why this topic had suddenly come up was quite clear.

It was because Seo-ah, having finally regained her senses after the duel, realized she had broken through the wall and reached the First-Class realm. And she had done it before even reaching the age of twenty. She had achieved it in just three months of training. In truth, she had gained the enlightenment for the First-Class realm two months ago, so in a way, it hadn't been that fast. Perhaps she had just lacked the decisive catalyst—which she had finally overcome through this recent duel.

And regardless of that, Shin So-so, who was nursing Seo-ah back to health, didn't even pay her any mind, shoving a spoonful of porridge toward her mouth.

"Yes, yes, I get it. Now, say 'ah'."

"Ah..."

"That's it, good girl."

Seo-ah didn't feel much dissatisfaction with being treated like a newborn baby. To be precise, she wasn't in a position to complain. The reason was that Seo-ah’s physical state after the duel was, quite frankly, a disaster. Her side had been deeply pierced by a sword. Even before reaching the First-Class realm, she had poured so much will into her blade that her meridians were shredded. She had swung her sword like a madwoman with muscles that had only been tempered for a week, and she had blocked attacks imbued with First-Class power so many times that several parts of her body had ruptured to the point where she couldn't move.

So... it was unavoidable. This was also the reason why Seo-ah had fallen into self-praise once again. If she didn't intoxicate herself with her own success, she didn't think she could endure the reality of being treated like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a helpless infant with a clear mind.

As the porridge entered her mouth and she began to snap out of her escapist self-intoxication, Seo-ah’s expression began to stiffen. Seeing this, So-so clicked her tongue and said, "You should have been more careful. Seriously... ever since you started learning martial arts, you lose consciousness every chance you get. If I take my eyes off you for a second, you’re brought back covered in wounds..."

"It couldn't be helped."

"No... even if that was the case until now. This was a duel, wasn't it? You told me not to worry because it was fine even if you didn't win."

"..."

Seo-ah’s mouth shut tight as So-so, for once, spoke the absolute truth. As So-so said, Seo-ah hadn't expected to push herself this far in the duel. But... how should she put it? It felt as if she had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠poured too much power into the heat of the moment. It was the first time she had felt the competitive spirit of a true martial artist. Until now, for Seo-ah, martial arts had been nothing more than a tool for success or a desperate struggle for survival. And since she had mostly faced far inferior opponents since those thoughts had faded... it seemed she had felt the competitive spirit for the first time against a worthy rival and had overexerted herself.

'Is this... what it means to be a martial artist?'

Yes. On that dueling stage, she had been a martial artist with genuine pride.

Seo-ah clicked her tongue and retorted to So-so’s fact-filled statement. "Tsk tsk. You, a mere lay-disciple, how could you understand the pride of a martial artist from the True Sect!"

"Yeah, yeah. I wouldn't know. Hmph. Forget it, just open your mouth. Here comes the porridge."

"...Ah..."

It was the moment Seo-ah opened her mouth without further complaint, following So-so’s lead. That was when it happened.

— BANG!

"Would you be my sparring friend?!"

"Hiccup!"

Startled by the uninvited guest who had suddenly kicked the door open, So-so dropped the bowl of porridge from her hands.

— CRASH!

Seo-ah, who had been waiting with her mouth wide open like a baby bird waiting for its mother to bring food, locked eyes with the intruder for a moment before snapping her mouth shut. Afterward, So-so and Seo-ah simultaneously glared at the intruder who had kicked the door open. Jin A-rin broke into a cold sweat, bowed her waist, and said in a low voice, "Ah... that... that is... ahem. I apologize."

"Oh, my..." Seo-ah sighed. She had scolded Jin A-rin for such sudden, baseless rudeness, but the girl just kept bowing her head and offering apologies. Because those apologies weren't just empty words but carried genuine sincerity, Seo-ah didn't scold her any further.

'A sparring friend?'

There were levels to friendship, of course. Not in terms of superiority, but in depth. There were classmates you just knew by face. Friends you were moderately close with, making plans to meet up occasionally. And then, there were childhood friends you shared everything with. A "sparring friend" was no different from the latter. It meant becoming an intimate companion with whom one shared their unique martial arts more than anyone else.

"Suddenly?"

"Ah...! That was a bit abrupt. Our realms and skills are similar, and...! That... yes! I received the most inspiration from my duel with you, Seo-ah!"

Jin A-rin stammered, rambling incoherently. Seo-ah stared at her with a puzzled expression. To summarize the conclusion, she was saying they could be good friends. Seo-ah had initially suspected there might be some other motive, but seeing her innocent attitude and the way she was fidgeting with genuine anticipation, she realized that wasn't the case.

"Yes... well..."

"Th-thank you!"

A week passed. Although she couldn't spar with Jin A-rin because she was still bedridden, the girl visited her almost every day to chat. Afterward, she would talk with So-so and browse through the hidden weapon techniques provided as compensation by the Swift Sword Sect. And today, Seo-ah was finally leaving her bed... and leaving the Sword Family.

Jin A-rin had come again today, bringing a basket of various foods as a "get-well" gift. Most of it was sweets and snacks. Seo-ah habitually picked up a piece of candy from the basket and brought it to her mouth. Jin A-rin said, "Um... today was the day, wasn't it? The day you head to the Forest of Ten Thousand Swords."

Even though Jin A-rin had maintained a friendly distance, she still couldn't drop the honorifics. The reason was as follows:

— You can speak comfortably.

— I appreciate the offer, but I've never dropped honorifics before, so it feels very awkward. If... if you could give me a little time, maybe someday?

Seo-ah answered Jin A-rin’s question. "Yes. I think I'll be leaving around noon."

"I see. Understood."

"What is it? Are you leaving already?"

"Ah, that is... I came too early in the morning, and there are some things I haven't finished dealing with yet. Ahem... I will come back to see you off around noon."

Seo-ah just let it slide, seeing Jin A-rin’s flustered, rambling attitude. She had learned over the past week that Jin A-rin rambling was a common occurrence, perhaps because she wasn't used to human relationships.

After Jin A-rin left the room, time passed. Before Seo-ah boarded the carriage heading to the Forest of Ten Thousand Swords, she realized why Jin A-rin had been so flustered. The person who had come to see Seo-ah off wasn't just Jin A-rin, but her father, the former Swift Sword Sect Leader, as well. She knew his crimes weren't as heavy as she had initially thought, but they weren't non-existent, so she couldn't help but look at him with some discomfort.

When the Sword Holy Sovereign (Noya) stepped forward to face the former Swift Sword Sect Leader, Jin A-rin and her father bowed.

"We pay our respects to the Sword Holy Sovereign."

"Yes. Young Sect Master, I'll let it slide since you've been hanging around my disciple, but what brings you here?"

"I felt that I hadn't properly offered my apologies, so I came to do so."

"Didn't the Swift Sword Sect already provide compensation, and didn't the Young Sect Master convey your apologies personally?"

"That was the organization's duty... as an individual, shouldn't I offer my own apology?"

"Hmm..."

Noya seemed hesitant about having Seo-ah face the former sect leader, but after stroking his beard, he nodded. It was permission. Unlike when she saw him at the gathering, the sect leader’s face was gaunt, and Seo-ah could easily guess the reason. She had heard that to prove his innocence, he had taken a truth serum with severe side effects, causing him to lose consciousness and remain bedridden for days. That seemed to be why he looked like that.

'My heart doesn't feel entirely comfortable.'

Seeing a friend's parent bowing before her friend was a strange sight. She couldn't help but think that the slander he had faced was, to some extent, his own doing. "I heard you are participating in the Divine Maiden competition."

"That is correct."

"Empty apologies will not reach your heart. It is small, but it is my sincerity."

The Swift Sword Sect Leader handed her a wooden box. When Seo-ah accepted it and opened the lid, what was inside was... "Ginseng?"

The sect leader said, "It is a Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. If you participate in the Divine Maiden competition, you will surely learn an internal energy cultivation method that uses Yin energy. This ginseng will be of great help."

"Th-this is so precious... are you sure about this?"

Seo-ah was greatly flustered. It wasn't a first-grade spiritual elixir, but a Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng was a third-grade one. However, for martial arts utilizing Yin internal energy, it was an elixir that could provide effects surpassing even second-grade ones. In terms of absolute internal energy, it couldn't compare to the Ash Body Pill she had consumed in the past, but it was still a rare elixir of the ages.

The Swift Sword Sect Leader clasped his hands and continued, "Of course. Because of my greed, I almost caused harm to many, including you, Seo-ah. To that rival... to the Swift Sword Sect... and to my daughter... I am simply grateful to you for forgiving me. Please, accept it."

"Yes... thank you."

Seo-ah tucked the wooden box into her robes, along with the unexpected harvest.

"If I stay here, it will be uncomfortable for you. I will take my leave first."

It was a statement laden with meaning. Regardless, there were many who would feel uncomfortable around the Swift Sword Sect Leader. He took the hint and stepped back. Soon after, Jin A-rin approached her.

"Thank you for forgiving my father. He insisted that he absolutely had to offer his apologies..."

"What... I'm actually the one who's grateful. I even received such a gift. But wait, wasn't this originally yours?"

A ginseng that would be a huge help in the Divine Maiden competition. The timing was so perfect that Seo-ah looked at Jin A-rin with a worried expression, wondering if this was meant for her.

Fortunately, it seemed to be a groundless fear. "It's fine. I have another one. The Swift Sword Sect isn't that poor. More than that..."

"More than that?"

"After you go to the Forest of Ten Thousand Swords, may I send you letters?"

"Of course."

"Then, I will see you at the Divine Maiden competition next year."

Seo-ah nodded.

Seo-ah boarded the carriage, leaving the Sword Family behind as it faded into the distance outside the window. She was engrossed in reading the hidden weapon technique manual she had received from the Swift Sword Sect. So-so, exhausted for some reason, was leaning against the carriage door, trying to catch some sleep. Noya, inside the carriage, looked displeased that she was reading the manual and said bluntly, "Read as much as you want now. In any case, if you go to the Sword Forest, you won't need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to rely on such trivial skills."

"Trivial skills? This has saved my life several times..."

"Hmph. Once you learn my insights and the supreme sword techniques of this house, you will understand what I mean."

"Are you that against me learning hidden weapon techniques?"

Noya shut his mouth. It seemed he really, truly disliked it. Seo-ah closed the manual and fell into thought.

'Supreme sword techniques...'

Seo-ah recalled the Soul-Severing Shadow Sword that Jin A-rin had displayed in the past. It was the only supreme sword technique she had ever encountered. Although it had been clumsy, the dozens of afterimages surrounding her were a skill that still sent chills down her spine when she thought about it. Jin A-rin had said their realms were similar, but for Seo-ah, it was a skill she dared not even attempt to reach. At least, for now.

'How much stronger can I become?'

In terms of being a swordsman, Seo-ah hadn't even stood at the proper starting line yet. Her external training was pathetic, and the only sword techniques she had learned were the basics. If she were to seriously train her external body, learn supreme sword techniques, and start running from the starting line... what would happen?

Seo-ah asked, "If I learn supreme sword techniques, how strong can I become?"

"Your question is wrong."

"Pardon?"

"If you inherit all my insights... and achieve great success, you will surely reach the same realm as me. But do you think that will be easy? You should ask how much stronger you can become in one year."

He was right. Even for Seo-ah, she couldn't master a supreme sword technique in just one year.

"Then, how much stronger will I become in one year?"

Noya finally smiled faintly, as if satisfied. "Well... doesn't it depend on you? At the very least... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you won't be eliminated from the competition in vain."

"That doesn't really hit home."

"It won't be overcoming crises by luck like you have until now, but the true demeanor of a martial artist, worthy of your mindset... will be completed."

Seo-ah nodded. This was a statement that hit much closer to home than before. The carriage stopped, and Seo-ah and her party stepped out. A massive gate towering in the middle of a dense forest. Magnificent pavilions. It was the moment Seo-ah first set foot in the Forest of Ten Thousand Swords.

And so... a year had passed.