Enlightenment (1)
Enlightenment (1)
In the game, this is how the swordswoman is described.
She has flowing long black hair, doe-like eyes, a prominent nose, and luscious lips tinged with red.
In essence, she was beautiful.
As a result of her beauty, there were a lot of men around her. But do the men who are crazy about her actually know her?
According to the settings, she is 83 years old.
Although she appears younger than her age due to her transformation, her youthful appearance is an illusion created by makeup.
"Drink! Drink!"
"It's going in. Chug, chug, chug!"
She glanced at him, then raised her beer mug. With a gulp, a large amount of beer flowed into her small body.
Thud!
She put the mug down and wiped her mouth.
Drinking is the only hobby of the sword maiden.
The amount of alcohol she consumes is enormous, and it's rumored that the underground warehouses of the Moon Pavilion are filled with liquor for her.
"Who's next!"
With her shout, the man next to her raised his beer glass. Starting with him, the people around them started drinking beer.
Redin casually glanced around.
The man who appeared to be the owner of the tavern was smiling with satisfaction and wiping a clear glass box.
Contained within was a small dagger.
The dagger was a prize for the beer drinking contest. Looking at the black jewel on the dagger, He understood why she was here.
Redin understood why he was here, and how to use it.
He walked over to the owner and spoke softly to him.
"Is it possible to participate at this point?"
"Late entrants start after two rounds of drinks..."
The owner looked at Redin up and down.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Of course."
"The entry fee is ten pennies."
Thump!
He fished the money out of his pocket and handed it over.
Redin rolled up his sleeves, walked over to the competition table, took a seat, and lifted the beer mug in front of him and raised it to his mouth.
Glug!
Glug!
The whole tavern went silent.¹
Bam!
After finishing the beer, he slammed it down and picked up the next one.
Glug!
Glug!
If it were him in his previous life, he would have collapsed at the first sip. However, Redin's current body could hardly register the alcohol.
At the celebration at the end of the training.
He drank all the alcohol the seniors gave him and still survived. They tried to get him intoxicated, but they got drunk and passed out first.
Bam!
Everyone around Redin was gawking at him. He emptied his third glass right after.
Bam!
"Next."
"Oooooooooh!"
"Kid's on a roll considering he's a skinny brat, hahahaha."
Everyone made it through the first five beers without dropping out. But from the sixth beer, one by one, they started to drop out.
Seven beers.
Eight beers.
.
.
.
.
"I can't drink anymore!"
"I surrender...."
Thirteenth round.
Fourteenth round.
.
.
.
"What a monster... Urgh!"
"Sa... Save me. No more... Ugh!"
There are only two people left at the table, him and the Sword woman.
"You're good at being a brat, aren't you?"
"Give it up."
"That's cute. How dare you taunt me with alcohol in front of me."
"Well then, don't waste your time and down it, I have dinner plans and need to get going."
The sword woman's eyes widened.
"You're crazy... What else are you going to eat after drinking this much?"
Judging by the way she kept stalling, she must have reached her limit. Eventually, his eyes began to relax.
"Now drink."
"...."
"You little brat... Wait."
In fact, if you're as good as the swordswoman, it's possible to use mana to dispel the intoxication. However, if he remembers correctly, the line from....
-You drink to get drunk.
Swordswoman is a pretty serious drinker.²
"Uuuuufffff!"
Covering her mouth with her hands, she ran into the bathroom, causing the onlookers around to burst into cheers.
"Yaaaaaaaah!"
“Waaaaaaaa!”
"You're so awesome. You're really good at drinking."
"I've never seen anyone drink twenty pints of rum in a glass like that before."³
Rum?
"Not beer?"
"What?"
"What is he talking about, beer? Kahahahaha. He's a freak, isn't he?"
"I'm just saying, you're a freak at Zarkal."
The liquor in his beer glass was red.
But he thought, 'This is what beer is like in this world,' so he drank it without thinking about it.
For some reason, it was a tad harsh.
"It's your victory."
The store owner approached him and handed over the prize. He looked down at the dagger and the sack of money for a moment.
He had entered the competition not for these two things, but to win the favor of the sword lady⁴ in hopes of gaining her favor.
"Give the dagger to the woman earlier. I'll spend the winnings on snacks and drinks for everyone here."
"You're a really cool guy, aren't you? You should stop by my shop sometime. I'll fix anything that's broken for free."
"My place, too. It's pretty good."
Triumphant, Redin walked out of the tavern. It was still bright when he came in, but now the moon was up.
Hwiiing.
Is it because the cold wind is blowing?
He was a little tipsy.
"I'm not completely sober."
He's not the type of person who likes to feel drunk, so he used his mana to drive the intoxication away and started walking.
There was nothing to worry about with the swordswoman.
She's not one to live in debt, and she'll come to him when she's sober. For now, he needs to focus on what he has to do.
"A barbecue... I'm looking forward to it."
* * *
'Heh'
The whole pig was spinning around on skewers. The smell wafted out as it cooked to a golden brown.
"What do you think?"
"It smells bad..."⁵
A platter of cut-up pieces of the whole pig was placed on the table. White smoke billowed from the meat.
"Try it."
At Reto's suggestion, he picked up a knife and fork. He sliced through the crispy skin and flesh and shoved it into his mouth.
"It's really delicious."
"Isn't it?"
Reto picked up his fork as well and began to eat the meat on his plate, and the two of them focused on eating in silence.
He'd cleared about three plates.
Redin patted his full stomach and sighed. Although there may be a lingering uneasiness that comes to mind when returning to the hotel.
It feels like his stomach could burst.
"I can't eat anymore."
"Me too... I'm about to burst. How about a simple homemade burger for breakfast tomorrow?"
"As long as it tastes good, I'm all for it."
After a long break.
Reto paid the bill, so he walked out first, and a woman with a familiar face was smiling at him.
Swordswoman Jin Sowol.
She came sooner than he had expected.
"Child, have you finished eating?"
"How could you find...."
"There's a method to find anything. By the way, I'm not one to live in debt. You gave me this, didn't you?"
A dagger in her hand.
He nodded lightly and replied.
"Yes. I don't need it."
"Then why did you participate in the drinking competition?"
"Wasn't it a provocation from the way you were staring at me while drinking? I also have a competitive spirit and I don't like to lose...."
"That's enough. Come follow for a minute."
Swordswoman snapped her fingers and turned away.⁶ Reto, who had come out late, scanned the atmosphere and asked.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing much. You go back first."
"Okay."
He left Reto behind and followed after the swordswoman.
After walking in silence for quite some time, they arrived at the entrance to the northern labyrinth, where a path to the right led to a small training center among the collapsed buildings.
"Do you use a sword?"
"Yes."
"Draw it, and I'll take a look."
He drew the steel sword he'd purchased today.⁷
Swish!
He took a stance, held the hilt of the sword up, and asked like he didn't know something.
"So you can see how good I am, and you're willing to help me... what, you're a sword master?"
"That's right."
"... ..."
"Sword Master. That's right."
Redin didn't expect her to admit it so easily.
This is convenient for him.
"Why are you here if you're such an amazing person?"
"Kid, that's none of your business. I'm running out of time, so get on with it."
He wonders if she realizes he intentionally reached out to her, but judging by the way she treats him, she probably doesn't.
Therefore, he decided to relax and start moving.
Thud!
He stuck out his left foot and moved quickly using a slashing motion. He quickly approached the swordsman and brought his sword down vertically.
Swoosh!
The sword caught between her index and middle finger.
"Ugh!"
The Sword Master flicked her hand away with a relaxed expression.
Her light gesture was imbued with a heavenly force, and it sent him flying backwards like the wind. He spun and landed on the ground.
Is this the difference in skill?
He felt like he was standing in front of a huge wall.
"Come on, I said I don't have much time."
"Then I'll go again."
"Come"
There's no point in looking at things timidly.
He sprints off once more, drawing on all his mana. Temporarily strengthening his body, he channeled the mana into his sword.
Pushing his speed as hard as he could.
The best attack he has ever made.
Time slowed in his peripheral vision. The swordswoman froze as well. The force directed at her swung with all its might.
“Hwaaaaaap!”
A sword stretched out with determination.
But in his slowed vision, Swordswoman smiled inexplicably.
"What a mysterious fellow."
And then the flow returned to normal.
The sword he'd thrust out with all his might was blocked by her nail,⁸ and all the mana he'd gathered was gone.
The Sword Master flicked the sword away.
Ting!
The sword left his hand and flew through the air, landing on the ground. She slowly approached and cocked her head to the side.
"Do you know your problem?"
Before he came to Zarkal.
A week of traveling in a carriage.
Every morning, he took time to train his sword and mana holes, but after the first day, he felt no enlightenment.
He thought about it day after day.
And yet, he still hadn't found the answer.
"I don't know."
He answered honestly.
Swordswoman lightly clicked her tongue.
"You learned the sword too easily, that's the biggest problem."
"Easily..."
"Your movements are too monotonous. You seem to have learned some good sword techniques and had fun with them, but the meaning behind them is completely missing... Yes, it looks like an empty gangjeong.”⁹
There was no denying the swordswoman's words.
"Looking at your swordsmanship, it looks like you just got a lucky break on the road... But when I see you wielding a sword, you have excellent basics like how to apply force and your posture...."
After listening to the swordswoman's words, his stomach was in knots.
He felt like he was about to get an answer, but he couldn't figure out what it was.
"What should I do?"
"Take a look at the sword techniques you've mastered. Unfold them slowly, unfold them quickly. Try combining them, try dividing them, try everything you can think of, and the answer will come."
After answering, the swordswoman turned away.
As if this was the end.
Without another word, he walked away.
He turned and called out to the swordswoman.
"I have a proposition for you."
"No deal."
"Are you not looking for the jewel that was in the dagger?"
At that moment, the swordswoman froze in place.
"How did you know?"
"It was too ordinary a dagger for your liking, so I simply guessed."
"Well?"
The swordswoman turned and regarded him.
"Let me hear your proposal."
"I'll help you find the jewel."
"At what cost?"
He swallowed hard.
There is a way through the wall in front of him. And a way to use the Swordswoman is in his head.
If so,
Shouldn't he make the most of it?
"One jewel, one question. What do you think?"
"Hmmm... I'm interested..."
The sword master thought for a moment.
"This is a temporary arrangement. Alright, I'll accept the proposal. However, if your skills don't meet my satisfaction, consider the contract null and void."
"All right."
"When you find the jewel, come here and draw a cross. Then I'll find you myself."
With that, the swordswoman blurred out of view and disappeared. He didn't sense her presence until she was out of sight.
What a skill.
"I'll have to be diligent."
But first, he needs to do a brief study.
** ** **
TL/N:
1. Redin is in his early-20's whereas the other participating people in the drinking contest are above his age.
2. Naruto Tsunade 2.0
3. Oktoberfest Germany Beer Mug Size.
4. Got to call the 83 year old Swordswoman a Lady or a Maiden to win extra favor points.
5. The herbs and spices used while roasting the pig is quite strong for Redin, remember he is Korean. Spices like capsicum(hot chili) are okay, but other flavorful spices such as cumin, nutmeg, oregano and such Koreans would often describe it as "tasting like Chinese medicine." due to the strong scent they give off.
6. Jin Sowol never gave her name or introduced herself to Redin yet.
7. Famed Sword Cairo is well Famed so those who are proficient in the way of the Sword can at a glance notice that the Sword being used by Redin is Unique, compare to the generic ones being sold.
8. Swordswoman Jin Sowol (Overlord Shalltear 2.0) vs Redin (Brain Unglaus)
9. Ganjeong - sweet rice puffs: Traditional Korean confectionery made of rice (They taste good too had these way back during childhood)