A Day Off

It was a day off.

The moment I opened my eyes, the first thing I did was move my right shoulder.

I lifted it, rotated it, put strength into it. For something that had only been scraped by an arrow, it wasn't bad at all.

...Holy Power is straight-up broken, isn't it?

I stretched long and hard, then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pushed myself up.

No commissions today, but training was the exception.

Even with my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes closed, I felt like I could see Garen's face.

"Haa... gotta go..."

I let out a small sigh and got to my feet.

Morning sunlight slanted down across the center of the training ground, where Garen stood motionless with a wooden sword in hand.

The instant I reached for a wooden sword with my right hand, Garen's eyes snagged on my shoulder.

"Injured."

"Yes. Got a little scraped up in the goblin den yesterday."

Garen only nodded once, then looked straight at my hands.

"Hold it with your left."

"What?"

I stared down at the wooden sword, thrown off.

"My left?"

"Yeah."

That was all he said.

I was originally left-handed. Writing, chopsticks—my left hand always went first. But for some reason, when it came to using my body, the right side felt more natural. Throwing, swinging—everything was right-handed.

Then I went to the military, picked up a rifle, and suddenly the left felt better again.

That was just how my body worked. So I'd always held a sword with my right.

While I hesitated, Garen looked me up and down.

"For an ordinary person, your body is far too perfect."

The words snagged strangely in my mind.

After awakening the Dimensional Archive and hitting the body optimization function, my body had changed... so that was probably why.

"Eh, praise like that is a little... embarrassing."

"It's a fact."

Garen ignored my reply and jerked his chin.

"Right or left—once you're used to it, it doesn't matter."

I gripped the wooden sword with my left hand. Even the way it caught against my finger joints felt different.

Garen added shortly,

"Turn it into a strength."

At those words, my heart gave a little jump.

Ambidextrous, huh... does that mean I can go dual-wield too...?!

Right then, a wooden sword came flying at me.

Thwack!

"Ow!"

"Fix your stance."

"What? No, you at least have to give me time to get ready!"

"Cut the nonsense."

Feet, sword tip, wrist, shoulder, center of gravity.

Garen paid zero attention to my injury. If anything, he was even harsher.

"Feet."

"Lower."

"You're leaning left. Again."

"Lower still. Again."

"Again."

Every time I stepped in, corrections came flying.

It felt unfamiliar, but it wasn't impossible. My body was catching up faster than I expected.

And with that came certainty. The certainty that a few more rounds and I'd improve.

Heavenly Demon Physique... this is broken as hell.

Just when I was wondering when it would end, Garen lowered his wooden sword.

"Enough."

I was half-dead. My left arm trembled, and my right shoulder throbbed worse than before training.

"Huu... cough!... Isn't this a bit much?"

Garen, looking completely fine as ever, held out a water bottle.

"An injury is no excuse."

"..."

"Don't sit down just because you're hurt."

I gulped the water and slowly let out my roughened breath.

"Huu... so basically, you're telling me to become a real man."

Garen didn't even pretend to hear it.

"Thank you for today as well, hyung-nim."

Then I put the wooden swords away.

Even on a day off, even with an injury, I'd still gotten the training done.

Somehow it felt like I was turning into that kind of hardass, and I didn't hate it.

The second training ended, I bolted for the bathhouse. Bringing spare clothes had paid off.

I roughly scrubbed myself clean and stepped out, and the peculiar floating emptiness of a day off settled over me.

Normally I'd already be deep in the forest by now...

There was nothing.

I stood in front of the bathhouse for a moment.

Pfft.

A laugh slipped out.

What am I even doing?

Before I knew it, my feet were pointed toward the guild.

It wasn't like I had no business there.

Well. I kind of did.

Probably.

The guild was quiet.

At the sound of someone entering, Luce looked up—then her eyes widened a little when she saw me.

"Oh, Siyun-ssi?"

"Good morning... wait, no. Good late morning."

"Pfft. Yes. Good late morning, Siyun-ssi."

Luce accepted it with a soft laugh.

"Are you taking the day off?"

"Yep, rest day."

I casually propped my arms on the reception counter.

Luce closed the ledger and looked at me. Her expression was far brighter than yesterday.

Maybe she'd figured out that I'd come on purpose.

Her gaze touched my right shoulder.

"Is your shoulder all right?"

"A lot better. I think it's thanks to you, Luce-ssi."

The corner of her mouth lifted a little.

"I'm really glad to hear that."

The conversation paused for a moment. It was a comfortable silence.

I picked up a quill for no reason, then set it back down.

Then my eyes caught for a second on the wooden plaque beside the ledger.

In that instant, a translucent window flickered at the edge of my vision.

The Dimensional Archive seemed to have recognized this place's time system.

I ignored the window and looked at Luce.

"Do you change this plaque every day?"

"Yes. Otherwise the ledgers get tangled."

I leaned a little toward her.

"But you're always here whenever I come by... when do you even rest?"

"I rest too. Sometimes."

"Come on, you're always here, so I thought you just lived at the counter~"

"That's mean."

Luce laughed softly and closed the ledger.

"Normally it's six days on, one day off. But lately we've been so busy I've been coming in every day."

"You really work hard."

"Still, tomorrow I get the day off."

I layered on a deliberately disappointed tone.

"Ah, then that's a problem."

"What is?"

"Won't you get bored?"

"You, Siyun-ssi? Or me?"

That left me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠speechless for a second—then I laughed.

"Obviously you, Luce-ssi. Without me around, you'd be bored."

Luce narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at me.

"Is that so~?"

"Ehk, what kind of reaction is that."

In the end Luce burst out laughing. And for some reason, that made me happy.

"Siyun-ssi, rest properly today."

"Yes ma'am, I came here to rest~"

"Really?"

"Heh, probably. Mm... I've been hanging around too long while you're working, haven't I?"

"Well, a little."

I gave a small smile and stepped back from the counter.

Just as I was about to leave, Luce spoke.

"Still... I'm glad you came."

The foot I'd been about to lift stopped short.

I scratched the back of my neck for no reason, then waved.

"Me too."

Afraid the smile would show, I quickly slipped out of the guild.

...This is fun.

My mood lifted for no good reason.

When I got back to the healing sanctuary, Ren and Riena already had lunch set out.

Bread, soup, boiled vegetables.

Same as usual, yet somehow it felt more comfortable.

After we finished eating, I helped Riena with the laundry.

Under the good sunlight at the washing area, the two of us finished it in no time.

Normally at this hour I'd be in the forest wringing goblin necks. Right now I was shaking out wet cloth under the sun.

Well. It wasn't bad.

On the way back I stopped by Roy's room for a moment.

"Oh, you're here."

"Yes. You're looking a lot better."

"Well, I can at least walk the hallway now."

"That's huge progress."

I pulled a chair over and sat, smiling.

"Then you'll be able to rejoin the party soon, right?"

"Don't rush it."

"Heh, got it. Roy-hyung."

The corner of Roy's mouth lifted a little.

"It's a rest day, so eat well and don't get hurt."

"Yes."

It was a short conversation. Still, it was enough.

I stepped out of Roy's room and nearly collided with Kaya in the hallway.

"Oh, Kaya. Sleep well?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Well, slept fine."

Kaya was in comfortable clothes, a thin book in her hand. She looked like she was actually having a day off.

"You sure you're resting? Seems like you've been wandering all over."

"This is resting. I'm taking a walk."

Kaya gave a soft laugh.

"You went to morning training though, right?"

"That's separate."

"You really are something..."

"Garen-hyung-nim said an injury isn't even an excuse."

Kaya looked at my shoulder, and her eyebrows rose slightly.

"At least don't push yourself today."

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

A moment later Mari appeared too. Seeing her without a single weapon felt strangely unfamiliar.

"What are you doing here."

"Resting."

"But you went to training."

"That's... just routine."

"You're kind of pitiful, you know~"

"Hey, listen to this kid talking like it's someone else's problem."

"At least I don't get beaten up by Garen."

I had no comeback. That made it even more unfair.

The three of us walked side by side, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and I spoke up.

"I was thinking of going to check on some gear..."

"I'll come with. I've got something to buy too."

Mari shrugged a beat later.

"I'll just look around."

We wandered the village a little before Kaya turned her steps toward the blacksmith.

The moment the door opened, choking heat rolled out at us.

The smell of heated iron and charcoal stabbed at my nose, and the sound of hammering rang low through the air.

The blacksmith looked at the iron sword before he looked at my face.

"You're that outsider."

"Yes. Baek Siyun."

"Why are you here."

"To get my iron sword maintained."

His hand came out before any reply.

"Give it here."

I unfastened the iron sword at my hip and set it in the blacksmith's hand.

The moment he took it, he narrowed one eye and scanned the blade, the grip, even the scabbard in order.

It wasn't just looking. It was the gaze of someone reading every mark the sword had walked through.

"Where'd you get this sword."

"Guild warehouse sword."

"...Not bad."

I shrugged for no particular reason.

"I didn't treat it carelessly."

He drew the iron sword from its scabbard. He held the edge to the light, scraped it with a nail, pressed the grip with his thumb. Every motion was practiced.

"Edge's dead, and the inside of the scabbard is worn."

"That's why I came."

Only then did the blacksmith's eyes turn toward me.

"How'd you know."

"Well... after using it long enough, you just know. The edge stopped biting, and it snags coming out of the scabbard... the feel is different."

A short silence settled.

His gaze dropped back to the sword.

"Not many people notice that."

The words were gruff, but the temperature in them had shifted, just a little.

I smiled faintly.

"I take care of it. It's my first sword, after all."

He looked at my hands.

Palm, knuckles, the placement of the calluses.

He scanned them briefly, then brushed the mouth of the scabbard with his fingertips.

"You oil it?"

"Well... now and then."

"Now and then isn't enough."

The blacksmith cut it short and jerked his chin toward the workbench.

"Sit."

I glanced once at Kaya and Mari's faces, then sat quietly.

That was when a young man poked his head out from the back. Burn scars on the backs of his hands, an old apron dusted with metal filings, a face that had the forge smell soaked into it.

"Toby."

"Yes, Master!"

"Whetstone, oil, awl."

"Yes!"

Toby ran to the shelves and came back with the items. His hands were quick; his body already knew where everything was.

Toby looked at the iron sword and casually added,

"The edge is better than I expected."

"Watch and learn."

"...Yes."

Even after getting lightly scolded, Toby smiled to himself. It was oddly funny.

Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.

The sound of the whetstone laid down a steady rhythm.

In the middle he held the sword up to check the angle, then set the stone to it again. His hands never shook once.

Just watching it somehow made me trust him.

A little later he picked up the scabbard as well. He peered inside, slipped a thin tool in to even out the worn spots, and reinforced the leather at the mouth a little.

"What's the point of a live edge."

"Sorry?"

"If the scabbard dies, the edge dies with it."

My head nodded on its own. He was right.

The blacksmith worked his hands a while longer, then held the sword out.

"Look."

I took it and drew it slowly, carefully.

Shhhk.

It was different.

Even the feel of it coming free was different. The line of light along the edge had changed, and my fingertips itched for no reason.

"Whoa..."

A sound of admiration slipped out of me before I could stop it.

The blacksmith spoke like it was nothing.

"I just put an edge on it. It's still just a cheap sword."

"Still, it's good."

"...What's good about it."

"Even a cheap sword—you made it so I can use it properly."

He gave a short snort of laughter.

"You've got a smooth tongue."

I sheathed the sword and buckled it at my hip. My hand brushed the end of the grip on its own.

The blacksmith looked at my hand and said,

"You're not the type to abuse a sword."

"Well, it's mine. I tend to take care of anything that's mine."

"..."

At first he'd looked at me with full suspicion. Now the texture of that look had shifted, just a little.

While tidying the workbench, the blacksmith suddenly said,

"Bram Codel."

I paused a second, then smiled.

"Ah, yes. Good to meet you, Bram-ssi."

"I don't need 'good to meet you.'"

"I do, though."

Bram glanced at me.

"I have a feeling I'll be in your care a lot from now on."

Bram rubbed the bridge of his nose once, then simply turned his head away.

"Check your gear often. Leave metal unmanaged and even a lump of iron dies fast."

"I'll keep that in mind."

I picked out one whetstone, one bottle of oil, and two leather cords.

Kaya chose bandages and a bundle of herbs. Mari browsed the weapons side until her feet stopped in front of a dagger. Dark brown leather grip, a short, solidly forged blade.

"Like that one?"

"No."

"You were staring at it for a while."

"I was just looking."

She totally likes it.

Kaya finished paying and went out, and Mari followed after her.

I smiled to myself and turned toward the shelf.

I picked up the dagger Mari had been staring at.

"Ready to settle up?"

"Yes."

"This dagger too?"

"Yes, that as well."

Toby lined the items up on the workbench one by one and spoke quickly.

"Iron sword maintenance, whetstone, oil, two leather cords, one dagger... that comes to three silver and eight copp—"

"Forget the maintenance fee."

Bram cut him off.

I froze for a second.

"...What?"

"I'm not taking it."

A laugh slipped out of me.

"Come on, you can't just do that."

Bram waved a hand and shut it down.

"I said it's fine, so it's fine."

"Aww..."

While trailing off, I moved my hands fast.

"Three silver and eight copper, right?"

Clink. Clink. Clink.

Bram's eyebrows rose a fraction.

"Thank you, Bram-ssi! I'll be back!"

With those words I almost ran outside.

Then I shoved the dagger straight at Mari.

"Take it. It's yours."

"...What?"

Mari took it on reflex. Then her eyes went wide.

"Why did you buy this."

"You were staring at it forever earlier."

"...I don't even like it that much."

She said that, but the dagger never left her hand.

Beside us, Kaya smiled quietly.

"Let's go."

After walking a little, Kaya glanced at me.

"Siyun."

"Hm?"

"Bram-ssi... is pretty particular. How'd you manage that?"

"Ah, that?"

I shrugged.

"Well... I figured most of the decent gear in this town has passed through Bram-ssi's hands."

"And so?"

"For someone like that, wouldn't he like people who properly take care of the things that went through his hands?"

A brief silence fell.

Kaya's expression was surprisingly startled.

"...You thought that far?"

"I just looked at him roughly and it seemed that way."

Mari passed by my side and muttered low,

"You're weirdly sharp about useless things."

I flicked a glance at the dagger in her hand.

"Looks like you like it."

Kaya laughed softly and said,

"Your instincts really are sharp in the strangest places."

"That so? Haha!"

I tapped the iron sword at my hip. It sat solid and heavy.

A grin slipped out of me.

The three of us wandered Bresen's streets a little longer.

The noticeably looser faces of the people caught my eye.

The village on a rest day had a strange kind of romance to it.

We ate dinner at the Sunset Hearth.

No one talked much, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Eating, drinking water, exchanging a few short words—that stretch of time felt strangely easy.

By the time we left, the sky was already dark.

It felt like I hadn't done anything, yet the day had flown by.

I came into my room and sat on the edge of the bed, and my body melted loose all at once.

A rest day wasn't bad either. No—honestly, it was pretty good.

Starting tomorrow I'll be running like a maniac again.

I snorted a laugh and toppled straight over.

Rest days were over before you knew it.

But... I didn't mind.