Chapter 51: A Brief Respite (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 51: A Brief Respite (2)
I returned to the dormitory after stopping by the blacksmith shop. Propping my head up with both arms, I sank my back into the bedsheets. I stared blankly at the familiar ceiling and muttered to myself.
“…Why did it have to be Magic Stones?”
When I first received Murasame, I had high hopes for it, given its sheer growth potential.
And as if to meet those expectations, a new feature had been added.
It was a staggering perk: the ability to slot in up to three special abilities. When I first saw it, I had let out a silent cheer of triumph.
“Haa.”
A deep sigh escaped my lips. While the result was undoubtedly satisfying, the phrase ‘Magic Stone’ weighed heavily on my mind.
In the game, the description was bloated with flowery language, but the ore itself was practically useless.
They say you can’t find dog dung when you actually need it for medicine, and the old sayings were proving to be spot on.
Why on earth were Magic Stones the catalyst for granting special abilities? Just as that question crossed my mind, the final sentence of Murasame’s description flashed through my head.
「It might be small, but its performance may vary depending on the user?」
“…….”
Could it be because the character for ‘Demon’ is in my name? It sounds like nonsense, but for some reason, I felt the possibility leaning in that direction.
Whatever. My blessing is ‘Sword God’ yet my name is ‘Sword Demon’—at the point where the world starts playing with wordplay, why should I be surprised? I let out a resigned sigh.
Magic Stones—ores imbued with magic power.
They were materials dropped upon subjugating the bosses of specific dungeons.
The problem was that while the bosses that spat out Magic Stones were technically magical beasts, they were entities with a danger rating of at least A-rank—essentially no different from Majin.
For instance, take Gigant, who drops the ‘Gigant Magic Stone’ that serves as the key to the stone gate of a certain dungeon. It was a magical beast with the epithet ‘Great Beast.’
For some reason, it seemed someone had already subjugated it and taken its Magic Stone, but Gigant was undeniably a high-ranking magical beast.
A golem-type beast with an absurdly massive frame and endurance, it was described as being able to shake the entire region just by stomping its foot.
Yet, Gigant was cute compared to what came after. The beasts that dropped Magic Stones after him were called magical beasts in name only; in reality, they were walking natural disasters.
The impure snake ‘Basilisk,’ the vicious beast ‘Manticore,’ the Lich King ‘Draugr,’ and so on.
Among players who insisted on being ‘free-to-play’ or ‘low-spenders’ before the full-scale conflict with the demons began, these were the branch bosses known as the ‘Wall of Sighs.’
Back when I was a low-spending player, even I had clicked my tongue at the sheer difficulty.
On paper, these beasts were devices meant to build up the protagonist Leon’s achievements, but in reality, that insane game company probably designed them just to suck the players’ wallets dry.
Of course, I never spent money on the microtransactions that made subjugating beasts easier. I found their greedy intentions repulsive.
Being the stubborn type, I had analyzed their patterns and tackled them head-on, even turning off the auto-battle feature. Looking back, I wonder why I worked so hard at it.
Anyway, was it worth the risk of facing such dangers just to grant special abilities to an armament?
Especially when subjugating them should be Leon’s job.
I stared vacantly at the ceiling, lost in thought. Then, I sat up abruptly and leaned against the window frame.
‘…It’s definitely worth it.’
Special abilities, which could usually only be granted to A-rank armaments or higher, could be slotted three times.
Even if the fact that they triggered randomly was a risk, based on my play experience, the difference between having a special ability and not having one was as absurdly clear as in any other mass-produced game.
After all, the main reason players spent money was for armament enhancement and the special ability gacha.
That was how much an armament’s special ability could advance a user’s martial prowess.
To put it another way, it was a miracle I had managed to overcome so many crises until now with armaments that didn’t have a single special ability.
I turned my head toward the window. A round full moon had risen.
Watching it, my worries eased, and my thoughts deepened.
Right now, I hungered for strength. I had set aside the complacent thoughts of a peaceful, uneventful, and safe life, but my fundamental goal remained the same as before. To survive.
Unexpected variables that didn’t exist during my time as a player were proliferating, and dangers targeting me lurked everywhere.
As if this world were rejecting me, I kept getting swept up in unintended incidents, and the ‘official history’ I knew was being twisted.
I had known from the start that academy life wouldn’t be easy, but with so many things piling up, my personality had become quite cynical.
Moreover, a month had already passed since I entered the academy. The 2nd Human-Demon War, scheduled for three years from now, would gradually begin to reveal its inner workings.
As a safeguard against that, increasing my personal martial power and granting special abilities to my armament wasn’t an option—it was a necessity.
Because, honestly, I couldn’t even guarantee the outcome of the Human-Demon War three years later. The reason being…
Our protagonist, Leon von Reinhardt. For some reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to trust him.
No matter how much of a Majin that Mermaid was, it was quite a shock to see the supposed future Hero get taken out by a single basic attack.
Well, his actions since then hadn’t differed much from the Leon I knew, but frankly, he didn’t inspire confidence.
Nevertheless, his results were clear; I frequently heard rumors that the party he formed had subjugated high-level dungeons.
At this rate, during the upcoming ‘Uninhabited Island Survival Training’ on the island of ‘Avallon,’ he would obtain the hilt of ‘Balmung’—the sword that resonates with both Light and Dark attributes and serves as a core armament of the narrative.
‘Lucky bastard.’
It was just a hypothesis, but maybe my existence was something like a lightning rod for the protagonist Leon? Like I was taking the hits and cleaning up the shit that was originally meant for him. Thinking about it that way didn't feel great.
Feeling uneasy, I grabbed Murasame and half-unwrapped its cord. A clear ki-ring—the vibration of the blade—settled softly in the room.
The blade drank in the moonlight. My face was reflected on its surface.
Eyes as black as ink, and black hair where only the tips were bleached white, as if the color had been drained away.
My appearance, which looked somewhat bleak, was the polar opposite of Leon, who blazed like the sun. Like a shadow that follows the light.
I couldn't rule out the possibility that whatever threw me into this world had such a spiteful intention—
I stared at Murasame for a while, then gripped the hilt tightly. I gripped it so hard the blood drained from my hand.
I looked up at the night sky and thought.
—Living in this world, I am Kang Geomma. I have neither the reason nor the desire to follow the path of perfect goodness like a protagonist.
If it is to survive.
I will swing my blade without hesitation.
“…If I cut it, it will be severed, no matter what it is.”
I murmured the words. A nostalgic feeling lingered, like a phrase I had heard somewhere before.
At the same time, the stars that had been blurred by the bright moonlight began to appear one by one, filling the pitch-black sky. I remembered something a professor had mentioned in passing during a lecture.
That the stars in this world are the souls of the Holy Heroes who went before us.
That even in death, they burn their souls to look down upon and protect the human world.
At that moment, a single star drew an arc, trailing a long tail behind it.
A shooting star.
From that falling star, which felt like a response to me, I gained an inexplicable sense of relief and comfort.
* * *
A week flew by, and the day of the written exam arrived.
I woke up earlier than usual and washed my body with a cold rubdown.
It was early summer now, and I tried it as a sort of exam-day ritual, but the cold water running over my body chilled me to the bone.
Still, the sleepiness clinging to my eyes vanished instantly, so I suppose I achieved my minor goal.
Standing before the mirror, I wiped the moisture from every corner of my body with a towel. Thanks to the exercise I squeezed in during morning drills, I had well-defined six-pack abs and a lean physique.
And above all, that heavy thing below the dantian. I guess if you’re tall and lean, other things are big too.
“Not bad, kid.”
I let out a genuine chuckle, then finished by drying my hair and facing my reflection in the mirror.
Unlike others my age, most of the baby fat was gone from my face. However, the fine fuzz still on my skin marked me as undeniably a teenager.
I didn't have a sculpted face like Leon’s, but I figured I was decent-looking enough. My skin was fair, and my jawline was very sharp.
Still, compared to my previous life where I had a more rugged, ‘alpha’ look, I couldn't help but feel a sense of alienation because I looked so much like a ‘pretty boy.’
“I feel like I’ve become a low-tier man.”
Even though I am originally Kang Geomma.
It was a strange feeling to fully perceive my current self as ‘me.’ In the webtoons and such I used to read occasionally, I think they called this ‘possession.’
Suddenly curious, I finished drying off in the bathroom and searched for the meaning of ‘possession’ on my phone.
* * *
Possession (憑依)
[Noun]
– A phenomenon where the soul of another person, an evil spirit, a vengeful ghost, or a god enters and dwells within a person's body.
* * *
“Hmm.”
It wasn't much different from the common-sense definition I knew.
Actually, it was a bit ridiculous for someone in my position to be nitpicking these things one by one. There were already too many things to take issue with, starting with the fact that I had entered a game world in the first place.
“It’s not like it matters much now.”
I tossed my phone onto the bedsheets and buttoned up my shirt.
Fully dressed in my school uniform, I chewed on a sandwich I had made before going to bed while flipping through my notebook to review my notes.
‘The age of blessing manifestation… 694 years ago, the aftermath of the Heroic Revolution that began in France….’
The academic culture of Joaquin Academy was fundamentally practical. As someone who had achieved satisfactory results in the midterm exams, I didn't really have a reason to be this serious.
Nevertheless, the reason I was being so earnest about a written exam with a low weight in the final grade was…
Because the rankings would be posted on a bulletin board in the hallway of the faculty building for all students to see.
They said the purpose was to instill a sense of urgency regarding grades, but I couldn't help but feel it was a bit cruel to the growing sprouts. Myself included.
Honestly, if it weren't for that, I would have just coasted through it, but two members of my club happened to be the top and second-ranked students in the written exams.
It might not matter much, but as the president, I didn't want to be looked down upon by my members because of my grades.
And since the club’s founding purpose was ostensibly a Dungeon Conquest Research Society, would any student want to join if the president’s grades were low?
Snap.
I closed my notebook, finished the last of my sandwich, and slung my backpack over my shoulder. A strange tension made my shoulders stiffen. So this is how a test-taker feels.
Back on Earth, I had dropped out of high school because my family’s finances collapsed in an instant, but back in middle school, my grades hadn't been bad.
I don't know about academic brilliance, but I’ve had quick wits since I was young, so I could usually pick the answer that looked right and get it mostly correct.
‘If you don't know, pick C.’
I whispered the firm resolution to myself. Just as I was about to finish my preparations.
Rollin’~♬
My phone vibrated with a ringtone, announcing an incoming message. I was planning to leave it behind today since I’d have to hand it in during the exam anyway.
“Who is it this early?”
I tilted my head and picked up the phone.
[Saki Ryozo: It’s the written exam today. Did you eat breakfast?]
Ryozo, sending a text like a mother out of nowhere. She occasionally sent useless texts. Usually, they were links to academic journals about sweet red bean jelly that had no nutritional value.
[Me: Yeah. Had a sandwich.]
The ‘1’ next to the message disappeared in less than 0.5 seconds.
[Saki Ryozo: You need to supplement your sugar intake sufficiently before an exam. Otherwise, your brain won't function properly. That’s why I always carry sweet red bean jelly with me… blah blah blah.]
Ryozo was rambling, even attaching links to academic papers.
“She’s at it again this early.”
I was about to coolly leave her on read when a thought occurred to me, and I tapped on the keypad.
[Me: In our country, there’s a traditional sweet we eat before taking an exam.]
[Saki Ryozo: Really? What kind???]
I could practically see Saki drooling on the other side of the phone. I let out a faint smile and tapped the screen again.
[Me: Eat taffy.]
The ‘1’ disappeared, but silence followed for a moment.
Rollin’~♬
The notification sounded soon after.
[Saki Ryozo: …You’re messing with me, aren’t you?]
“She’s more fun to tease than I thought.”
I let out a short laugh, tossed the phone back onto the bed, and turned away.
Rollin’~♬, Rollin’~♬, Rollin’~♬
I closed the door behind me, leaving the sound of the phone ringing incessantly.