Chapter 9
That day, as training time approached once more, I arrived at Tren Park. I drew my sword to practice, gazing along the blade, when a curse slipped out unbidden.
"What the hell."
The sword had changed. Dramatically.
Unlike yesterday, when it bore only the turquoise engraving, now a pitch-black one had appeared.
Swift Darkblade
Grade: A-
An artifact crafted by a young mage as a hobby, made to show his master. It was the pinnacle of his life's work, but he never got the chance—the master perished the day it was completed. Forgotten, it languished in a corner of the lab for ages. Eventually, someone added a new magic engraving, making it far stronger. Now, it's not easily broken.
※ All stats +2.
※ Absorbs external mana, storing it in the black magic engraving. Can be released at will for attacks.
※ Inject or absorb mana to charge Haste magic up to 5 times per day.
'Something about the feel is different too.'
I checked the weapon's info just in case.
"Am I hallucinating or going crazy?"
Was all this just a dream? If not...
"Fuck, the grade jumped?"
From C-grade to A- overnight? A weapon like that would fetch a fortune anywhere.
'Not that I'd sell it.'
But the real issue was that line in the info window.
[Eventually, someone added a new magic engraving, making it far stronger.]
'That wasn't there yesterday, right?'
Someone had engraved new magic on it without me knowing, sometime between yesterday and today.
'...Even with my [Sixth Sense], I didn't notice?'
The dark enhancement pointed straight to Dina Polaris, protagonist of Become Outer...
'No way.'
Dina, possessed into Akarnak Star, had every reason to hate me for snatching her cheat item. She'd chew me out before helping. Sure, she only used dark magic and was a total munchkin, but others could use it too. Dark affinity was rare, and even those with it barely scraped by—better to stick with other elements.
'Probably just a hidden engraving that activates with an owner.'
Lots of junk-lookalikes revealed killer abilities on use. Way more realistic than some dark magic overlord watching me and upgrading my sword.
"Whatever. Profit."
No weapon worries for a while. With my new swordsmanship teacher, all that was left was getting stronger.
'Glad Park Serin accepted so readily.'
I'd expected rejection, gone in with a "worst case, no loss" mindset. Her yes shocked me. She thought it was just a date invite, felt bad for misunderstanding, and liked being called "senior"...
'Was Senior a villain after all...!'
Plotting to devour me...!
I muttered nonsense inwardly, then glanced sideways.
'As expected.'
Presence had nagged me before, but since gaining [Sixth Sense] yesterday, I knew for sure. Someone cloaked in faint-mana artifacts was watching my training. The robe's subtle curves marked her female.
I knew nothing else about her. And right now...
'...She's eating snacks...'
Mask off—an artifact, probably—she crunched away merrily. Robe hid her face, but...
Despite the artifacts, she didn't feel threatening. No malice, not even that strong. A real powerhouse wouldn't rely so blindly on gear; she'd stay alert. This one...
'Trusts her artifacts so much she's snacking right beside me, unhidden...'
Pure boredom, probably. Felt like mild stalking, but harmless.
'Am I an exhibitionist or something?'
Come to think, I'd always craved a bit of attention pre-possession.
'Starting tomorrow, Senior teaches swordsmanship—no more chances. Talk to her today?'
'Too reckless?'
But with [Sixth Sense], artifacts or not, I'd sense hostility.
'Finish training first, then decide.'
Test the upgraded sword. Weight unchanged. Next, infuse mana—it sucked it right in.
I could direct absorption to specific engravings. Turquoise first: more mana-hungry now, charges up to 5 from 3.
Fully charged turquoise, then black.
'Holy shit. Does this thing have a limit?'
Mana poured endlessly. I'd empty my reserves filling it halfway, so I stopped.
Infused black engraving leaked dark aura.
'Black engraving adds dark attribute by default.'
Formed sword aura—dark attribute.
'This'll be handy.'
Dark was top-tier cheat attribute from Akarnak Star to Become Outer—superior matchups, insane damage. Too OP for daily use, but lifesaver in crises.
'Gotta test it.'
Swing with dark aura—air ripped.
Cheat as hell.
'Next: release stored mana?'
Re-infuse, swing with "release"—dark aura shot out.
'Whoa, insane.'
Lucky empty park—would've bisected anything.
"Ah... crap."
Even partial release gouged deep into the ground.
'Sealed for now.'
Mistake toward a person? Murderer instant.
'Naming: "black mana" sucks. Vibe wrong.'
Pitch-black engraving: Jet-Black Engraving. Aura: Darkblade Aura.
Then it hit me.
'Did anything actually change?'
Cooler, anyway. Sword shortened to [Swift Darkblade]. Release unnamed, on hold.
'Swift engraving changes?'
More charges—maybe more.
'Why "swift," though? It's haste magic—should be "haste engraving."'
Kid mage named it [Sword of Swiftness]—his whim.
'Just kid taste. Whatever.'
Stance, activate Haste, swing.
"Huh?"
Blink—sword gone, me airborne.
"Gah!"
Screamed, tumbled across dirt.
"Crazy! What?!"
Upgrade too fast? Unusable...
Glanced at remaining charges thoughtlessly.
"...?"
'Did I just burn three at once?'
Explains the excess speed.
'Didn't know multiples possible.'
Bonus intel. Too much for now—save for later strength. Grab sword, stance.
'One this time...'
Whoosh!
Swing as intended! Slightly faster than yesterday, but I held ground.
'Mostly from [Swift Darkblade]'s all-stats +2...'
Good call raiding [Young Mage's Tomb]. Gains galore.
Keep the luck flowing...
'Thanks, generous young mage...!'
I'll never forget you.