The Broken Blade Fragment

The dagger floated in the air. The revived dagger moved this way and that, as if it were alive. Or was it moving according to my gaze?

Then...

I shifted my eyes just in case. My guess was right. The dagger moved according to my will.

"Y-you bastard..."

In the meantime, the flustered guard kept his distance, his face pale with fear.

"W-what the hell are you?"

The guard's eyes widened as he followed the dagger. It must have shocked him to see a dagger moving on its own out of nowhere. But he still hadn't figured out who I was. He must have been pretty drunk.

Whoosh!

Regardless of whether the guy was trembling or not, I tested the dagger.

Swish! Swish!

It swung exactly as I wanted. But the blade was too short.

Then...

Whoooosh! Clang!

It was awkward to swing it directly, so I tried throwing it... As expected, it wasn't easy to hit the mark. I was clearly aiming for the guard, but the dagger embedded itself in the wall.

Still, better than swinging it myself.

I needed to get used to this ability. But I wasn't worried. Damian's Aptitude was exceptional.

In my vision, messages popped up relentlessly every time I swung the dagger.

Now I get it.

The experience gain was definitely different. Normally, with swordsmanship or magic, the gauge would rise with each use, but not every single time. It usually took countless uses for even a tiny increase.

Whoosh! Stab!

"G-gahk!"

I fixed my gaze on the guy's chest. This time, it obeyed my will perfectly. Along with his scream, I heard the sound of flesh tearing.

Even so, I didn't stop. I had to repay those who messed with me tenfold.

Thud!

I repeated stabbing and slashing. The tattered guy staggered and collapsed.

Just like in the game, the guy was recognized as a monster and gave EXP. It wasn't much, fitting for a starting point. But Aptitude added extra EXP on top—double in total.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt no emotion at all from killing a man. It was thanks to the drugs.

Time's running short.

I took the key from his belt and the money from his pocket. Felt just like playing a game...

I wonder if the dagger's basic option is applying?

To gauge the Weapon Summoner, I checked if it was active.

The dagger's basic Agility +1 option was applied. Meaning, even without equipping it myself, the weapon's options would transfer directly. Plus, I discovered something else: Weapons revived with Weapon Revive consumed a bit of mana with each use.

Mana quantity is key. If I solve that, I could wield as many as I want. Low-grade gear doesn't consume much anyway.

Basic options weren't that impactful on their own. But what if ten stacked up?

Every little bit adds up.

I quietly opened the stairwell door. A red carpet covered the floor, with countless doors lining both sides.

There it is.

A black door at the end of the hallway caught my eye. That was the researchers' office.

Clank.

I unlocked it with the guard's key. Desks piled with documents, the air thick with dust and paper scent.

Drugs first.

So this was Damian's medicine.

A transparent glass drawer. Inside a pouch were seven blue pills.

In the game, I'd skipped them as useless. But now...

Side effects from mana drain. If I manage mana well, these seven should hold me for a while...

Seven pills. That'd do for now. First goal achieved.

But there was a second: documents on Damian's gear. There had to be more info here.

"It's unusually quiet today."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

Voices from the hall—patrolling guards, probably.

No time. They could find the downed guard anytime.

I rifled through the papers frantically. No sign on the desks. Locked away separately?

Urgency built. I yanked open drawers. First, second, third—no luck. Two left.

No time. Hurry.

This?

Luckily, the next drawer revealed neatly bundled files.

Shuffle shuffle.

I flipped through the thick stack. If I was right, info on that weapon was here.

...It has to be somewhere.

I dug deeper. And soon found it.

This is it. The weapon unused due to Damian's rampage.

Some details on Damian. One entry about his exclusive weapon.

Damian had gone berserk contrary to plans, so he never fully used the researchers' weapon.

The log ended there. Destroyed midway? Different from what I remembered.

...Come to think of it, the game story wasn't fully accurate.

The game only hinted at "a custom weapon created by researchers." Hard to get precise info from story alone.

Anyway, time to search. The log said one fragment was stored here.

Maybe in this researchers' room? I scanned around. Nothing special, but...

...No way.

A faint gray glow leaked from a box ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the corner. So dim I'd overlooked it at first, but now it was clear.

Rattle.

I opened the box. Inside the large container lay a tiny blade fragment.

This was the quest starter item.

Legendary grade, as expected. Damian's weapon.

No clues on the rest, though.

Weapon's Memory lets you view memories through weapons, right?

Fitting for Damian's exclusive weapon—only he could unlock it? Tricky now, but first thing outside.

Then—

"Hey, wanna grab a drink later?"

"Heh, do I need to ask? Let's check here quick and go."

Clank.

"Huh? Door's open?"

I pocketed the fragment and focused on the sound. The doorknob turned slowly. The dagger was already in my hand.

Status shows less than half mana left.

I sensed faint mana. Hard to gauge precisely by feel, but enough for maybe one or two skill uses.

Avoid combat. Only if absolutely necessary.

"Anything there?"

A guard thrust a lantern into the dark room. The light ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠swept the shadows. I ducked under the desk.

Two men's shadows on the wall.

Just go. Just go. Just go...

"Hmm... Nobody here. Looks like that researcher earlier forgot to lock up."

"Be more careful. If something happens, they'll pin it on us. Damn bastards."

"Tell me about it. Screw 'em."

Slam.

The guards grumbled and shut the door. I exhaled slowly. Crisis averted.

Time to wrap up.

With the guards dodged, I executed my final plan to leave. Not nicely, though. Repay what I endured manifold.

"Repay favors with grace, enemies with double."

That was my creed.

Back to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the basement. No guards visible. But my room's door was open—they'd noticed.

Beeeep! Beeeep!

As expected... Emergency bells blared everywhere. Red lights flooded the halls.

This'll shake off pursuit too.

Time short. All I needed acquired. Now erase traces. No playing by their rules.

Fear and tension peaked, but I stayed composed.

There.

The mansion's steam boiler room. Hot air and machinery hum hit as I opened the door.

Thud. Thud. Hiss!

A long, round machine about 5 meters. Not like real-world boilers—different purpose.

This smell. Same chemical from the room.

Familiar chemical scent wafted from the steam boiler. For extracting special experimental substances. Memories of being bound surfaced.

To explode it...

Steam spewed from a connected hose. No one would block it, thinking it vital.

I planned to do the unthinkable.

Clank.

I jammed the guard's dagger into the hose. Steam output dropped sharply; the boiler shuddered violently over time.

Rat-tat-tat!

No time to hesitate. I kicked the door and bolted upstairs, retracing my path through the hall.

Last step to escape.

"There! The test subject's there!"

Guards shouted.

Just a bit more. Almost out.

I ignored them, ducking behind the central stair pillar.

"Where'd it go?!"

"It came this way! Search everywhere!"

"Behind that pillar...!"

Rumble! Boom!

Massive explosion rocked the building. Boiler blew.

Just once.

Mana left for one fight. I resummoned the dagger from the boiler.

Swish.

Charred blade, melted hilt. Rough shape from blast.

Still lethal.

Swish! Stab!

The summoned dagger whipped around the pillar, slashing an approaching guard's throat.

A dagger's a dagger. Shallow even up close? But fast.

Swish swish swish!

I swung relentlessly.

"G-gahk...!"

Flesh tearing mixed with screams. Blood sprayed everywhere. I didn't care.

Thud!

"Urk..."

Then—breathing got hard. Something solidified. Agonizing pain as skin tore across my body.

Mana drain side effect.

The pill...

I fumbled a pill into my mouth. Pain eased gradually.

Need to fix mana issue fast.

"You bastard! Stay still!"

"..."

While swallowing, another guard spotted me. Gun barrel aimed at my face. Dangerous range.

Rumble.

Staying calm, I glanced above him. Ceiling quaking. Faint cracks forming. About to collapse.

I backed up, luring him closer.

"What tricks! Move again and I shoot—!"

Boom! Crash!

Thunderous roar as ceiling caved.

"Gahk!"

Crunch!

Debris buried the guard mid-scream. Building started crumbling.

Rumble! Thud! Boom!

"Get out! Everyone out!"

"Aaaagh!"

Guards crushed or fleeing in panic. Mansion in chaos.

Time to go.

Chaos was opportunity. Guards scattered for their lives.

I barely slipped through the collapsing main gate, vanishing into dark alleys, the blazing mansion behind me.

Where to now?

New destination needed. But first...

Swish.

I pulled out the blade fragment and activated Weapon's Memory. Its memories flooded my mind.