Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Training
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Training.
I went to Hilda to collect my reward.
"Here's the reward that Volkan left for you."
A pouch stuffed full of gold coins and a single black box.
It looked incredibly simple, but that only made me more curious.
Still, what could this black box be?
"It's something that's incredibly hard to obtain."
Hilda whispered to me as if sharing a secret.
Something incredibly hard to obtain.
'...I wonder what it is.'
I eyed the reward with eager anticipation before heading back to the inn. The path to the inn was quiet.
As long as I blended into the crowds and the shadows, only a handful of people could possibly notice me.
Once I vanished like that, I opened the reward inside my inn room.
There were five platinum coins—coins made from platinum—and thirty gold coins.
'So these are platinum coins.'
Platinum coins were made by mixing in the rare metal platinum.
Each one was worth a hundred gold coins. They were easy to carry, though the downside was that they encouraged black market dealings. But in this era without digital currency, they were pretty handy.
Anyway, five platinum coins and thirty gold ones.
'...That's an insane amount.'
It was more than enough to buy the house I'd dreamed of in my past life.
However, in this era, weapons often cost more than houses had back then.
What I'd done was impressive, but was this really the right price for it?
'...Is it?'
Maybe it included a bit extra to keep my mouth shut.
I moved on to the next reward.
The black box I was most curious about.
Click.
Opening the box revealed a transparent vial filled with liquid.
'...A potion?'
Wasn't this a bit underwhelming?
I took another look, but it didn't seem like your standard potion.
⚙ ITEM ACQUIRED ⚙ Elixir Elixir of Sublimation ◇ Greatly increases the user's stats upon consumption. '...Oh.'
Was this one of those elixirs from fantasy worlds?
An elixir.
Unlike what I knew, this one boosted your stats.
'No warnings or anything, so I guess it's safe to drink?'
-Yes, it is. The Elixir of Sublimation is just meant to be—
As I glanced at Rishiel, she nodded.
I uncorked the elixir and poured it into my mouth. How should I describe it?
A blissful sweetness brushed across my tongue, sliding down into me.
Whoosh!
It slowly began melting into my body. And at the same time, my body started to change.
My senses sharpened, my muscles strengthened, and I felt myself speeding up.
'...Whoa.'
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 15 → 25 💨 Agility: 24(20+4) → 35(31+4) ✨ Magic Power: 15 → 25 💪 Stamina: 15 → 25 🧠 Mind: 15 → 25 👁️ Senses: 15 → 25 Name: Han Yuseong (Lv. 3) '...That's a massive increase?'
I'd suddenly gotten way stronger.
I'd already surpassed your average level 3.
'...'
The rest of my party came to mind. Rosen, Glasses, Teresa.
Ermé and Viola could probably keep up. I had a feeling Rosen might too.
But Glasses and Teresa? No.
At some point, they just wouldn't be able to join our party anymore.
'...I figured it'd be later.'
But it seemed like that time was coming sooner than expected.
*
I'd thought about it emotionally, but emotions are emotions, and business is business.
I'd told Ermé I'd rest for a week, so I spent the time rolling around in my room.
Just rolling around, really.
Even exhausted Rishiel begged me to do something, but...
'...Rest periods like this are necessary.'
I had plenty of money and time. So I focused on exploring food spots.
Before I knew it, I knew all the best places to eat.
After all that, my mental energy felt pretty recovered.
'About three days of rest.'
Four days left. Ermé had gone down into the Labyrinth today, and I had nothing particular to do.
'Time for some maintenance.'
Swordsmanship first.
I headed to the courtyard.
The best training hall in the Cradle was the one at the Adventurer's Guild.
But there were too many eyes there.
'They do have private rooms.'
But I couldn't use them. I had the money, but you needed a certain level or clan rank.
'I could ask Volkan.'
But I didn't want to owe that old man even more.
So I came to the courtyard.
To warm up.
'...I've changed a lot.'
Me, who used to know nothing about violence, now swinging a sword just to loosen up.
Whatever. Dropped into this era, I'd just have to get used to it.
Besides, it was fun.
'...Kinda miss Volkan.'
I was just swinging a sword anyway—Rishiel's advice would be enough.
I didn't know many sword techniques.
Just textbook basics, some of Rishiel's swordsmanship, and bits of Volkan's.
Volkan's interrupted the opponent's flow.
Rishiel's rode the flow to overwhelm them.
Both excellent. I practiced them with dual swords.
'I want to get stronger.'
What if.
What if I'd been able to withstand even a single blow from that guy.
What if Glasses had gotten unlucky and died to him.
I drew out dark emotions and swung my sword. After a moment like that, I stopped.
-Why did you stop?
'Someone's here.'
-Someone?
Before Rishiel could finish questioning...
A man emerged.
Or rather, his skin was greenish.
-An orc, huh.
Rishiel looked at him with disgust.
'Bad memories with orcs?'
-No, orcs are just ugly.
'...'
That was just plain prejudice.
Ignoring Rishiel, I sized up the orc.
'He's huge.'
The orc was massive. About two meters tall, packed with muscle.
"Sorry about that. Didn't mean to interrupt your training."
The orc bowed his head to me.
'...No grunting?'
One of my ingrained stereotypes crumbled.
"No problem. My fault for training here anyway."
"Haha, you're a gracious one. Your sword didn't seem so forgiving."
"You wield a sword?"
"A bit."
The orc chuckled as he spoke to me.
"Oh, forgot to introduce myself. Just call me Burkan."
"Han Yuseong."
"Oh? From the East? Eastern swordsmanship is pretty sharp."
Burkan grinned at me.
'The East.'
There was an empire on the Western Continent.
And one on the Eastern Continent too, apparently.
I didn't know the details, and I wasn't Eastern anyway, so I shook my head.
"Not Eastern? That agile swordplay is their specialty."
Burkan grinned wider as he spoke.
"Fate brought us together like this—wanna spar?"
Fate? Why spar then?
I had a lot I wanted to say.
'But I like his eyes.'
Blazing with passion.
I didn't have that kind of fire.
-Planning to fight an orc? Orcs are trustworthy.
'Orcs?'
-They honor different values than you, but they love battle. Violent, sure, but they try to keep their word.
'Elves?'
-We elves revere peace and love.
'...'
I gave Rishiel a cold stare.
We got along now, but remembering our first meeting was nightmare fuel.
I turned to Burkan.
'A duel.'
Burkan looked strong at a glance.
Rogue Mastery whispered to me. His level was 4.
A monster still out of my reach.
'That's why it's fun.'
When else could I cut loose against someone like this?
I grinned fiercely and accepted.
"You look ready without an audience... so let's go right now."
"Here I come."
"Bring it."
As Burkan grabbed a wooden sword and beckoned me, I charged.
"Ho, pretty fast."
I swung my right sword. Rishiel's style—making their flow mine and pressing the attack.
Burkan swung wide. It was bizarre. His sword was coming at me, but...
'Can't dodge?'
My instincts screamed it. I stepped back and crossed my swords to block.
Boom!
Immense force hit me.
"Ho, you blocked that? Impressive."
"..."
I didn't reply.
A strange focus built up. Burkan's sword was inspiring me in every way.
'Swordsmanship I've never seen.'
From muscle twitches to movements unlike any swordsman I'd faced.
They ignited a strange hunger in me.
"Looks like you're focused. You really know your swords... "
Burkan said something.
I ignored him and swung. Right sword—Burkan blocked easily.
Left sword—he swung wide to flick both away.
'Footwork.'
I kicked for his gut. But Burkan didn't dodge.
"Hup!"
-Such brute force.
Burkan grunted and blocked my kick.
Then...
Kaboom!
He slammed his sword down.
'Barely dodged.'
By a hair. But a little closer next time...
Burkan's sword didn't suit me.
But I'd found a counter. I rushed him, swinging.
Strength and stamina favored him. All I had were agility and senses.
Clang clang clang clang clang!
I chipped away at the space where he swung.
One mistake, and I'd lose.
One slip he'd catch, and he'd win.
Like walking a tightrope, but this was my only path to victory.
'Magic or aura might change things.'
But this was just a duel of pure swordsmanship.
As I pressed forward, eroding his sword's domain...
Flash!
My vision went black. Everything turned to white lines in a bizarre world.
'...This.'
I'd seen it once before.
When practicing Rishiel's sword.
It was the same.
Like the silhouettes from mastering her sword—Dark Moon.
Similar shadows appeared.
Those from Rishiel's sword were a single sword wiping everything away. My ultimate technique, Dark Moon.
Something similar emerged.
I dropped one sword. Swung with one.
Nosebleed trickled out.
And.
'...Black Sea.'
Slash!
The darkness split open.