Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Heavenly Sword and Chain Shirt
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Baek Sa-young waved with a pleased expression.
I muttered that there was no way and walked over, then nodded.
“It's real.”
Baek Sa-young was right.
Lying beneath the Heavenly Sword, emitting a faint glow, was not mere decoration but armament.
At a glance, it looked like a thin short-sleeved T-shirt, but up close, it was armor woven from small metal rings.
Was it because there were two challengers, so two rewards?
As I pondered a reason,
Baek Sa-young, who seemed to recognize the type of armament, spoke up.
“It's a chain shirt.”
“Chain shirt?”
“It's an auxiliary armor similar to Western chain mail. Low defense, but light and comfortable, so it's used worn under clothes.”
Baek Sa-young stepped aside as if to say check it out.
I approached without hesitation and activated Appraisal.
A surprising amount of mana drained away—whoosh—and a bluish window appeared.
[0000's Chain Shirt] [Sealed Armament]
[Grade: Rare (Mid)]
[Description: A type of chain armor wearable in daily life. Light, but boasts considerable defense capable of blocking mana-infused swords. Details are veiled. Unlockable upon achieving special conditions.]
[Effects]
-Defense Enhancement: Inject mana to temporarily enhance defense.
Honestly, the description itself was quite unfriendly.
However, the reason my mouth dropped open anyway was the words "sealed armament."
It meant growth-type, like the Heavenly Sword. Its true value would reveal itself over time.
Thus, this chain shirt was also a lost clan's heirloom. A prepared contingency.
It was a reward worthy of being called a serendipitous encounter, so for a fleeting moment, I wondered if an outsider like me could take it.
“Is it okay if I take this?”
But the hesitation vanished quickly.
Lost clan or whatever.
In a life where you can't predict even the next moment,
You have to take what's offered. Nitpicking would just lead to regrets later.
“Of course. I'll talk to the senior nicely.”
Baek Sa-young placed a hand on my shoulder as if to say don't worry. But I asked again.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“Absolutely sure?”
“…….”
“No take-backs later. I asked you multiple times, okay?”
“Hey, what do you take me for? Just take it already.”
Baek Sa-young thumped his chest in exasperation.
Only then did I pretend to relent and snatch up the armor, stuffing it into my subspace pocket.
His ancestors might lament if they knew, but what could be done.
He was offering it so insistently; I couldn't heartlessly refuse.
[Greed praises your greed.]
Shut up.
“Now let's go. Hurry and pull the sword.”
With everything gathered, I pointed at the Heavenly Sword.
The moment he gripped that sword, Baek Sa-young's growth would accelerate even further.
Attribute Conversion and Martial God Body.
The ascending sword arts linking the two. The intangible legacy that allowed the lost clan to stand as the strongest would be steadily passed down through the Heavenly Sword as a medium.
Well, mastering it fully would still take quite some time.
“Thanks a lot.”
Baek Sa-young stood before the Heavenly Sword with a serious expression, gripped it firmly, and pulled it out in one go.
I wondered if ragged peasant Arthur had done it like this.
The scene I'd painstakingly imagined played out right before my eyes, leaving me momentarily entranced.
Tzzzzzt.
In that instant, my vision shifted.
A crisp wind carrying a sense of dissonance blew, and soon red paint smeared across the surroundings.
It felt like we'd stayed half a day, but real-world time had flowed slower; the sun was already setting, and the crowds of tourists had ebbed away like the tide.
“Let's get out quick. It'll be trouble if we're caught.”
Entry time had passed, so we hurried along as I glanced at Baek Sa-young.
“Haa, haa.”
But what was this.
Baek Sa-young, who had been keeping up fine, was sprawled on the ground.
Ah, right. This guy overdid it big time.
Only then did I recall Baek Sa-young's condition, which I'd forgotten.
No visible external wounds caught the eye, so I'd momentarily forgotten, but it was no wonder he'd collapsed.
Over twelve hours in heat exceeding 40 degrees, repeating battles.
Mana naturally depleted, and the cumulative damage from the golem fight right after getting beaten by Han Su-hyeok would be severe.
I quickly went over and supported him as I asked,
“You okay?”
“No. Feels like I'm dying.”
Baek Sa-young said it with a face that truly looked like death.
In the end, moving right away seemed impossible, so we decided to rest a bit.
We plopped down on the bare ground anywhere.
We absentmindedly watched the vast sea swallow the fireball.
“They say sunsets are best on the West Sea. It's true.”
“…….”
Two dudes unintentionally sharing sunset viewing time, but fortunately, a vibration broke the silence.
Viiiing.
Not mine—Baek Sa-young's.
Baek Sa-young pulled out his phone and suddenly gasped, sitting up.
“Ah, right.”
What now.
His quite serious face staring at the phone made my mouth go dry for a moment.
Had something else happened that I didn't know about?
“Ha-yul. One favor.”
Baek Sa-young rolled his eyes as if pondering, then said it with a resolute expression.
I cautiously asked,
“What.”
“Nothing big. Meet Cheon Seo-yoon tomorrow.”
“What?”
Cheon Seo-yoon out of nowhere?
The sudden name made me tilt my head.
Then Baek Sa-young scratched the back of his head and continued.
“She said let's go buy a sword together, so I set it for Sunday. But as you see, I can't go.”
Then was I free to go?
“Just cancel.”
“You want me to die? You know Seo-yoon's temper.”
“Then die, man.”
“…….”
Baek Sa-young drooped his head a bit sullenly but didn't give up.
“You two are still awkward, right? Use this chance to smooth things over. You know swords better than me anyway.”
“What are you talking about? Why would I know swords better than you.”
I was naturally going to refuse.
But suddenly realizing I had business with Cheon Seo-yoon, words slipped out against my intent.
“What time was it set for.”
* * *
Before the scorching sunlight poured down, on a Sunday morning with a bright, clear blue sky.
Cheon Seo-yoon, who woke earlier than usual, paced before the full-body mirror.
Well, not exactly a date, but somehow it ended up just the two of us.
Leaving Taehak grounds at that, so maybe dress up a little for the day.
Thus, she pulled out a dress she rarely wore.
But imagining picking a sword in that outfit, she shook her head vigorously.
“Too much after all. Pass.”
Cheon Seo-yoon rummaged through the closet again. This time, she pulled out a crop top that barely showed her navel.
“Hmm.”
But holding it to her body, she quickly gave up.
She wouldn't even be able to walk properly with that much skin showing subtly.
In the end, after going around, she chose plain blue jeans and a white tee.
However, Cheon Seo-yoon straightened her clothes with a pose more confident than ever.
As they say, the completion of fashion is figure and face.
After about thirty minutes like that.
By her standards, quite a long prep time, she left the dorm.
Bright sunlight welcomed her, and a breeze thick with greenery gently brushed her hair, making a hum slip out unwittingly.
In her rare upbeat mood, she arrived at the meeting spot, the park in front of the dorm.
She arrived almost exactly on time.
“Mm.”
But no Baek Sa-young.
Considering his usual habits, he'd be the upright guy waiting ten—no, twenty minutes early. What gives?
“No way he forgot?”
Cheon Seo-yoon thought that for a moment, then shook her head.
He's the type who always keeps promises, so slim chance.
“Something came up.”
So, not by choice but circumstance. An unavoidable situation maybe.
As she made various assumptions,
While tapping the innocent ground with her foot, Cheon Seo-yoon finally pulled out her phone.
She was about to call when.
Viiiing.
It rang right then.
[Seo-yoon, sorry. I'm feeling really bad.]
Sorry?
The first line already soured her mood.
“Then call sooner. I got all dressed up for nothing.”
Grumbling, Cheon Seo-yoon read on.
But.
[Instead, sending Park Ha-yul as substitute, expert sword appraiser. You know him, so look forward to it.]
What the hell? Expert appraiser?
And someone I know?
“Damn it.”
For a moment thinking of Lee Dae-ho, Cheon Seo-yoon unwittingly frowned.
“Ah, he's not an appraiser.”
Thinking the worst companion averted, she sighed in relief.
Then who?
Cheon Seo-yoon scanned her acquaintances matching the criteria again.
Soon, she recalled someone 99% certain.
“No way, Seol Yun-gi?”
A chill ran through Cheon Seo-yoon's body.
She didn't know how he roped him in, but imagining picking swords with that lone wolf jerk made her heart sink.
They'd never even properly talked before.
“That crazy bastard Baek Sa-young.”
Cheon Seo-yoon bit her lip, glaring at the phone, then realized this wasn't the time.
Staying here meant inevitably running into Seol Yun-gi, and refusing then would be harder than plucking stars.
“Better go alone.”
Cheon Seo-yoon quickly decided and turned to leave.
She heightened all her senses, even ready to draw mana if needed.
“Where you going.”
A familiar voice sounded right then.
Cheon Seo-yoon turned to see Park Ha-yul, who appeared out of nowhere.
“Oh, uh. That.”
But no time to hesitate.
Even now, the distance to Seol Yun-gi was closing, so she had to escape this place ASAP.
“I'm busy right now. Have a good weekend.”
Cheon Seo-yoon waved roughly and turned again.
She was about to dash back to the dorm when.
“Not going sword shopping?”
“Huh?”
She had to stop dead again.
How did Park Ha-yul know that?
Staring questioningly, Park Ha-yul continued.
“Baek Sa-young texted something, so you running away?”
“Wh-what. Then you?”
“Why? Disappointed?”
Park Ha-yul shrugged and asked the obvious.
“You call that telling me? What makes you an expert appraiser.”
“Ah, Baek Sa-young said that? Expert appraiser? Nah. But I know a thing or two.”
“What?”
“At least my eye's better than yours.”
Park Ha-yul continued with his usual indifferent face.
This... is provocation, right?
Old memories resurfacing, Cheon Seo-yoon instantly flared up and yelled.
“Hey, picking the armament to entrust your life to is harder than wielding a sword your whole life. Gotta check weight balance, blade angle, and more.”
Cheon Seo-yoon lashed out harshly, disappointment over Baek Sa-young's absence fueling her.
But the opponent surprisingly didn't seem up for a fight.
“You know your stuff. So just trust me this once. I owe you one anyway, so I'll pick carefully.”
Instead, he smirked and strode ahead.
“No, what the.”
“Save the cursing for after we go.”
Cheon Seo-yoon stared at his back in bewilderment, then followed.
Really intending to curse him out once there.