Chapter 11
Chapter 11
The Adventurer Rolls the Dice
I never expected to meet Rinshu here.
After everyone had left and the night grew deep, I couldn’t sleep no matter how much I tossed and turned.
Kirinshu.
I know her.
While playing Rolf, she was an NPC I ended up relying on quite a lot.
In the world of Rolf, where everything is decided by random chance, Rinshu was special.
She had a unique skill gimmick called “Inheritance.”
Inheritance allowed skills to be shared among those within the same category, meaning she had a fixed skill. In Rolf, that alone was a massive advantage.
Her inherited skill was “Kirin Sword.”
Which meant her development path was essentially locked from the start.
If this were a game, I would have just prayed with all my heart for Rinshu to somehow bloom into her potential.
But now—
I could do something about it.
I could make her the greatest swordswoman in the world.
I reached out into the empty air and summoned the dice.
“Do you want to use Fate Dice on Kirinshu?”
“You may temporarily reconstruct a skill.”
“Reconstruction consumes five dice.”
“I’ll reconstruct Body Slam.”
The dice rolled.
A faint light flickered, and something unnatural left my hand.
What a mage needs to become a swordsman.
There is only one target.
Rattle—
The dice rolled.
“Skill acquired: Eat a Tangerine.”
“What is this supposed to be? Is Rinshu going to get scurvy or something? What use is eating tangerines? Again.”
“Skill acquired: Fireball.”
“No, that’s not it. It’s not bad for Rinshu, but that’s not what I’m aiming for.”
“Skill acquired: Toy Turret…”
“Again. Again. Again.”
Again and again.
“Isn’t this a bit much?”
Remaining dice: 9744.
I had rolled nearly a thousand times, but I still hadn’t gotten what I wanted.
The dice didn’t let me choose. It only gave me attempts.
I should have anticipated this.
Still, I thought I would get it at least once in a thousand tries.
I still had nearly ten thousand dice left, but I needed those for future recruits.
Once the party grew, they would disappear even faster.
Should I give up?
The cost was higher than expected.
If I kept investing and failed, it would be disastrous.
Maybe I was aiming too high.
I calmed myself down.
It was just not meant to be.
Instead, I had given her the decent skill “Wind Fire.”
That should be enough.
My eyes were tired.
I decided to take a walk.
“It’s cold…”
The night air was sharp. A chill wind made it worse.
It was March, but winter still lingered.
I pulled my coat tighter and walked through the dark streets.
The cold air cleared my head a bit.
“Hmm.”
I stopped.
Where was it again?
I retraced my steps, checking the signs on buildings one by one.
After five turns away from the main road, the atmosphere changed.
This was like an eastern district inside a western city.
A place called the Great Gold Road, built for people of the Gold Empire to preserve their culture.
And there it was.
A large traditional building stood out.
True Bright Kirin Sword Sect.
The clan led by Rinshu’s family.
I placed my hand on the gate and gently pushed it open.
“…Anyone here?”
Silence.
Of course. It was the middle of the night.
I turned to leave.
Then—
“Haaah!”
“…?”
“Haaaah!”
A sharp training shout echoed from inside.
I was drawn in without thinking.
Only one place had its lights on.
Peering through a small window, I saw her.
Rinshu.
She was training.
Focused, unaware of anything else.
Her clear eyes.
Her tightly pressed lips as she controlled her breath.
Sweat ran down her pale neck.
Her hands gripping a wooden sword tightly, already covered in small wounds.
“Haaah!”
Clang!
The wooden sword sliced through the air and struck the training dummy.
Clean movement.
But I couldn’t call it impressive.
She lost her balance.
Collapsed.
It was rough. Too rough.
Footwork, grip, timing, trajectory.
Everything was slightly off.
Unfortunate.
“…Not yet. Not yet!”
She wiped her sweat and stood again.
And again, she struck.
Over and over.
I kept watching.
“Rinshu.”
“…?”
“It’s me.”
“Ah! Master!”
She quickly straightened and bowed.
Even though I had shown up unexpectedly, she didn’t seem disturbed.
Instead, she looked embarrassed.
She apologized repeatedly for not being able to offer proper hospitality.
“It’s fine. I just wandered here.”
“Still… I’m ashamed to show such an unworthy sight…”
She was referring to her training.
“I saw your practice earlier. That was Kirin Sword, right?”
“Yes… it is.”
Her face turned red.
“You’re working really hard.”
“I am simply lacking. I still do not understand Kirin Sword fully…”
I already knew her story.
The 11th head of the Kirin Sect.
A genius who was never allowed to bloom.
A sword that never fit her hands.
But she still swung it anyway.
“Do you resent it?”
“Resent…?”
“The world. Your fate. The god who gave you this.”
“…Perhaps.”
She looked at me calmly.
Then she spoke.
“At least… I found one star.”
“A star?”
She gently touched my cheek.
“You, Siu. You are my star.”
I frowned.
Ridiculous.
You don’t know anything about me.
“You’re trash, Rinshu. You’ll never succeed with the sword.”
“I do not pursue success. I pursue not betraying myself.”
“Then become a mage. You might actually succeed at that.”
“I will study anything if needed.”
“Do you even know what you’re worth? Seventy gold is your price.”
“Then that is my value.”
Her voice didn’t shake.
It only became clearer.
“I am the cloud, the wind, and the rain. Nothing can cut me down.”
I felt disgust rise in my throat.
Say something else. Anything.
But I couldn’t find the words.
“Then… what do you see in me?”
“Your eyes. Your experience. Your time. I believe in what you have built.”
The moonlight fell on her smile.
Too bright.
Too clean.
“Do you still want to become a swordsman?”
“There is no correct or incorrect way to use my sword. I already walk with Kirin Sword.”
“Then do you want to become stronger?”
“Yes. Always.”
“Then promise me something. Rest for the next two days. Do nothing.”
“…I will.”
The next morning.
“Master! Master!”
A loud voice filled the cramped office.
Rinshu burst in, cheerful and teary-eyed.
She held something in her hand.
A staff.
“Look at this!”
“What is that? A staff? Where’s your sword—”
Then it happened.
Shuu—
Three blue swords appeared in the air.
“Kirin Sword answered me!”
Skill: Kirin Sword – Clear Heart (MAX)
Rank: Master
Effect: Materializes will into swords.
Additional effect: Ether Sword merged. Three swords attack the same target and apply Thunder Mark.
Remaining dice: 1744
“…Good job, Rinshu.”
She smiled brightly.
And for the first time,
I had nothing left to say.