Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Villainess
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Villainess.
I ran into difficulties right from the start.
At Soyeonhwa's request, I ended up teaching her the sword.
Though I said I was teaching her swordsmanship...
'...How the hell do I even teach this?'
It felt utterly daunting from the get-go.
Of course, it made sense.
I'd already received the Holy Sword's permission.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -You grasped it in one go, but the Hero's orthodox swordsmanship isn't something you pick up that easily. The Holy Sword had said that while watching me with the Hero's orthodox swordsmanship.
Come to think of it, the Holy Sword had bragged that if someone could learn it instantly, it'd do anything—and even proposed a bet.
Still, for a genius dubbed the "Genius Slayer"...
I'd figured Soyeonhwa would pick it up in no time.
...At one point, anyway.
"It's hard."
After an hour of grappling with the sword, all Soyeonhwa had to show for it was that she couldn't learn the Hero's orthodox swordsmanship I'd mastered.
'What the hell is this.'
Is it really that tough?
It had felt tricky, but since I'd stolen it with Steal Strike, maybe it hadn't seemed so bad.
I looked at Soyeonhwa.
She stared right back at me.
"This is hard."
"How hard?"
"...It took me a month to learn Heukmanggong's sword aura. But this is even tougher."
"...".
Does that mean I'd have to drill the Hero's orthodox swordsmanship into her for at least a month straight?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Her talent's better than expected? Mastering this swordsmanship in less than a month? 'Is that impressive?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -If you knew why this swordsmanship became mainstream, you wouldn't say that. Average fools can't even touch it, and plenty of so-called geniuses fail too. You're the weird one for learning it like it's nothing. The Holy Sword praised me like that.
Is it really that kind of swordsmanship?
'Well, the sword qi splits into multiple strands...'
And yet it doesn't lose any destructive power.
That was an insanely powerful advantage.
My attacks hit the enemy from multiple angles at once.
While they had to block each one individually.
"...Still."
How should I teach Soyeonhwa?
As I pondered the Hero's orthodox swordsmanship, Soyeonhwa looked at me.
"I think I've got a feel for it."
"You've got the feel?"
"Yeah."
Soyeonhwa said that and swung her sword. Pitch-black sword qi flowed along her demon sword.
Swoosh!
I heard the air slicing as it split into two slashing waves.
'...The split power's uneven, but...'
She really seems to have grasped it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -...... I could feel the Holy Sword's shock.
Didn't this girl just say it'd taken over a month?
"Huh? Of course. I've learned a lot more about the sword since then."
Soyeonhwa answered my unspoken question like that.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -...This girl's a real genius. The Holy Sword said.
*
After teaching Soyeonhwa,
I stopped by home briefly and headed to the training ground.
I'd built it just in case, but who'd have thought it'd come in handy like this.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Sit properly there. I sat straight down as the Holy Sword instructed.
The Holy Sword spoke.
Now that I'd learned the Hero's swordsmanship and footwork,
it was time for the next stage.
'Next stage, huh.'
Honestly, I was excited.
The swordsmanship Paecheon that the Holy Sword had shown me before.
It was swordsmanship boasting truly tremendous power.
Among my techniques, Hyeoncheon was the strongest,
but Paecheon was close to an upgrade of it.
'Plus, the orthodox swordsmanship and footwork already packed insane power.'
So of course I had high expectations for what came next.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -First off, I didn't expect you'd reach this stage so soon. 'Huh?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Normally, you'd pour five years into swordsmanship and five into footwork, and still few master it properly. For the last 500 years, no one's even bothered trying. '...?'
Not learning something this useful?
That thought crossed my mind, but then I recalled the Holy Sword's words and nodded.
'They can't learn it.'
From their perspective, sticking to what they knew made sense.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Some tried anyway... but most failed to master even one. So you're my first real disciple. '...You dragged out the preamble just to say that?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Obviously. Seeing inferiors take disciples after me... Keuk... They didn't even inherit the true orthodoxy properly! The Holy Sword ranted at some unknown figures.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -You'll run into them soon enough. The Holy Bow, Holy Staff, Holy Book. Those annoying bastards. 'They're the annoying ones?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Yep. They didn't properly inherit their own orthodox arts. Sure, what they have isn't weak... but you can't reach the 'end' with that. Anyway, let's move on. The Holy Sword said that, then continued.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Only about two Heroes made it this far. The second Hero received true guidance from the first his whole life, but only mastered it in his later years. '...Really?'
If the first Hero was truly a divine being among men,
the second was the pinnacle of talent after him.
These days, many saw it as myth, calling the second Hero the peak of humanity.
Without the Genius Slayer Soyeonhwa, even the second Hero's talents might've been dismissed as fiction.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Hmph, that girl wouldn't lose to the second. She's closer to the first. Anyway, after swordsmanship and footwork, next is breathing. 'Breathing?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Yes, the Hero's orthodox breathing. That's what you'll learn this time. Breathing.
At that word, I showed some hesitation.
Because I already practiced a breathing technique called Brain Lightning Art.
'Though it evolved into Extreme Lightning God.'
It still lingered in my body, constantly boosting my mana.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -I know what you're worried about. But the Hero's orthodox breathing overrides all that, so don't sweat it. 'Overrides?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Yeah. Normally, one sticks to a single breathing method for life, but this one isn't affected. It even encourages learning multiple. 'Encourages learning multiple?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Exactly. It binds multiple breathings together, like stars embroidered in the night sky. That's the Hero's breathing method. Sounded pretty damn good.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -First, listen to the incantation. But rather than pondering its profound meaning, feel the energy flowing through your body. As the Holy Sword began reciting the incantation,
the energy in my body started circulating in a new direction.
And then.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Skill: Acquired Hero's Orthodox Breathing] "...?"
I blankly stared at the blue window.
It hadn't popped up when I learned the footwork or swordsmanship.
Why now?
'This one's different somehow.'
I narrowed my eyes at it before giving up.
The system had always been unpredictable.
I kept practicing the breathing,
and focused.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Stat: Magic Power +1] [Stat: Magic Power +1] [Stat: Magic Power +1] ... *
A few days after finishing my training,
I was at the Adventurer's Guild.
Nothing special.
Volkan and Heukmanggong had come looking for me.
'Feels unusually quiet.'
The atmosphere was off.
Normally it'd be hectic.
'Super clean too.'
For an Adventurer's Guild, spotless was rare.
Adventurers came and went constantly.
As I wondered about it, the Holy Sword asked me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -So, what about that fiancée thing? 'Gotta do it.'
I answered the Holy Sword immediately.
No matter what, it had to be done.
For various reasons, but mainly...
I could utilize Lucia as a combat asset,
and...
'...It's been a while since a quest.'
📜 NEW QUEST 📜 [Encounter Quest Chapter 2]
You've encountered the Villainess Lucia and captured her heart.
But she's bound by her family and her fiancé. Change her relationship with her fiancé by reaching out with your influence.
🎁 Reward: ???
Why had I grown so strong so fast?
This quest let me power-level at insane speeds.
Hadn't seen one in a while lately.
'Seems like they only trigger for people I've encountered.'
Then why no quests for Ermé or Rozante?
As my doubts deepened while waiting for Volkan and Heukmanggong,
they approached me.
"Your presence grows sharper by the day."
"Growing every single day."
Heukmanggong eyed me with disbelief.
Volkan grinned like he'd done well.
"Hmph, you two should be fine."
"What? Send this kid with us?"
Heukmanggong frowned at Volkan's words.
"What're you talking about all of a sudden."
"We were arguing about why these guys came here."
"Not to see Yuseong?"
"That's the surface reason, but internally, it's to calm the Labyrinth situation."
I nodded.
I hadn't entered the Labyrinth lately for no reason.
'It's getting really dangerous now.'
Things had been manageable so far,
but luck had saved me a few times.
Because of that, we'd delayed proper expeditions.
And those eternal plague bastards or whatever.
They kept coming.
"Above all, this guy's got a way to kill those weird plague forces."
"Those things?"
Heukmanggong gave me a suspicious look before closing his eyes in resignation.
"Well, he's an impossibly bizarre existence anyway."
"Mm, you get it."
Volkan nodded at Heukmanggong's words.
Some weird rapport had formed.
"No way, you're going into the Labyrinth together?"
"Yeah."
Heukmanggong nodded at my question.
"I came here myself to enter the Labyrinth."