Befriending the Sylph
Gulp—gulp—the only sound echoing at the top of the stone tower was the old man's boozy slurps. Twenty empty bottles were neatly lined up around him.
"Bro, you sure he's okay? He's pounded that many?"
"Leave him be. That's just how he is."
-That old coot's really going at it;
-Not non-alcoholic, right?
-Even 20 bottles of water would KO him.
-Fr, he's stuffed.
Juyeonu watched with concern, but the man showed no signs of faltering. If anyone snuck up for an attack right now, he'd react in an instant.
"Kahaa!"
Finally draining the last bottle, the old man wiped his mouth and stood. Turning around, he said, "Not bad liquor at all."
His plain assessment didn't match the deeply satisfied look on his face. Hanbit knew full well that was the man's highest praise.
'After all the effort I put into brewing it.'
Ever since spotting the spirit user in the city, Hanbit had scoured the area for ingredients to brew this special brew. It was a method he'd learned from a remote tribe at the world's edge in his 7th cycle.
"Glad you liked it. So, can we talk now?"
"...Fine. You've brought this, I see."
The old man held up the cloth tied to the bottle, examining the emblem of a green sword etched on it.
"Hah. So Baldor really sent you."
His short sigh carried a note of surprise. No one knew Baldor's pride better than this old man. It wasn't easy to just nod along when such a disciple had acknowledged someone's skill and sent them here.
"What did Baldor say?"
"That I could learn something entirely different here."
"Hmph."
With a hollow chuckle, the old man tucked the cloth into his belt. Then, in a cold voice, he said, "Go home. I can't teach you my sword."
"Why? Because no one's ever succeeded in learning it?"
"...Sharp eyes you've got."
The Wind Swordsman had taken on plenty of disciples. But none had ever fully grasped his sword. Even his last promising student, Baldor, had failed. That was when he'd given up and vanished into seclusion.
"The talent needed for my sword isn't simple. Just swinging a blade well means nothing."
Whoosh—!
Murmuring quietly, the old man slowly raised his hand. The scattered winds naturally gathered there, moving as if with a will of their own.
"That talent's gotta be spirit affinity, right?"
"...Looks like Baldor blabbed more than he should have."
The old man assumed it came from his disciple. But Hanbit knew from personal experience, having crashed headfirst into the wall of talent.
-Real spirits? For real?
-Didn't expect this here.
-Spirit innate talent theory +1.
-Every game needs talent, huh.
-That's why you'll be stuck in beginner zones forever.
-Why hit me?
'Talent does matter.'
Hanbit hadn't started with high spirit affinity. He'd just stubbornly kept trying to connect with them. The amazing part? That effort accumulated across cycles, stacking up steadily. Eventually, he'd gotten to where minimal steps bridged the gap instantly.
'No time for that now.'
This was a technique he knew like the back of his hand. The best skill available in Edlen. Essential for opening the door to spirit communion. The merits went on forever—he had to learn it as fast as possible.
"Hmph."
The old man eyed Hanbit steadily. His first test had been navigating the tower's traps to reach the top. He'd watched every step without missing a beat: sleek, efficient movements, calm and adaptable judgment. For basic swordsmanship, he'd have extended a hand himself.
If it were just basic swordsmanship, that is.
"Go home. Nothing for me to teach you."
Resigned, the old man turned away with a bitter tone. And with a chime, a message appeared.
Ding—
[Quest completed.]
[Linked quest unlocked.]
[Hidden Quest]
Persuade Asla to teach you his skills. First, change his mind.
Objective: Choose the best method from the options.
1. Prove your sword skills properly?
2. Persuade him with words as best you can?
3. Just get friendly with a spirit somehow?
Rewards: 100,000 gold, Asla's secret manual, 10 stat points, 10,000 EXP
-Whoa.
-Wtf, hidden quest dropped.
-It pops up like this?
-Skills? That's the hidden one?
-Doubting till the end.
-Rewards are insane lol
[ㅇㅇ donated 10,000 won.]
[For real hidden?]
[ㅈbug donated 20,000 won.]
[It's ㅈbug.]
The sudden hidden quest set the chat ablaze.
"Whoa."
Juyeonu's eyes went wide in shock.
'So that's how it triggers.'
Hidden quests had fancier message windows, framed in flashy gold.
Hanbit reviewed the objective again.
1. Prove your sword skills properly?
2. Persuade him with words as best you can?
3. Just get friendly with a spirit somehow?
Asla had no intention of teaching. This quest was about finding the best way to sway him.
'No need to choose.'
Hanbit reached out and tapped 3 without hesitation. The move stunned everyone.
"...Bro, you just picked 3?"
-He's finally lost it.
-Throwing away the hidden skill?
-Gonna camp here now?
-Camping won't work lol
-I believe in Black Dragon.
-Yeah, no chance.
As doubts and chaos swirled, whoosh—the breeze lightly brushed his cheek.
'Here it comes.'
The spirit's way of showing curiosity. A sensation he'd felt countless times, achingly familiar. And he knew exactly which spirit it was.
Swish—
The wind's texture thickened, carrying a vivid will. Playful as a mischievous child.
Closing and opening his eyes, Hanbit murmured low, "Sylph."
Whoosh—!
The low-rank wind spirit, Sylph. Calling its name whipped the winds into a frenzy.
And with the chime, a message appeared.
[Title: Recorder of 55 Regressions - New effect unlocked.]
'...!'
Reacting fast, Hanbit pulled up the title info.
[Recorder of 55 Regressions]
The recorder's accumulated experiences unlock.
1. Proficiency in all experienced skills rises at extreme speed. Performance scales with experience depth.
2. All spirit affinity activates; effects from spirit power surge dramatically.
3. Locked (Keyword: Item)
'Yes!'
Fist clenched tight at the sight. When he'd first gotten Recorder of 55 Regressions, the second slot was locked. The keyword? Spirits. Planning for Wind Swordsmanship early, he'd foreseen this moment: first communion, calling its name.
'Now, how's it implemented?'
Spirits don't approach humans lightly. No numerical intimacy gauge either. How did the game system handle spirits? Was communication identical to memory?
Whoosh—the wind now gently wrapped his hand.
Ding—
[Wind spirit Sylph feels strong curiosity toward you.]
-Spirit message just popped?
-Just call the name?
-If it were that easy, no one'd suffer.
-How tf did he do it?
-Rapina sobbing.
-Pioneer Spirit User <<<< Black Dragon
No need to interpret—the grin said it all. Hanbit turned to the old man. "Prove spirit affinity, right?"
"That's not something you prove easily. Mess up and anger it, it might shove you off..."
The old man glanced back, but his words trailed off.
"Hah."
His gaze froze solid. Winds were gathering around Hanbit in droves.
'It's working.'
The rippling breeze felt vivid. Strictly speaking, a tad off from memory—likely a level 2 gear limit. No issue, though. Time to greet the spirit.
Swish—
Hanbit raised his hand lightly, guiding the wind like an embrace. Slowly, gently. Spirits were animal-like; they loved this communion.
Ding—
[Wind spirit Sylph laughs as if amused.]
[Wind spirit Sylph shows greater interest in you.]
[Wind spirit Sylph expresses surprise at your high affinity.]
…….
Messages kept coming with intensifying winds. Soon, they enveloped him broadly.
"...Spirit, you..."
The old man, deep knower of wind spirits, grasped how absurd this was.
Whoosh—!
The swirling gale threatened to devour everything nearby. At its heart, Hanbit felt it through his whole body.
And as a cozy sensation nestled in...
[Wind spirit Sylph wants to stay with you.]
The spirit's will appeared in message form.
Swish—
Beyond the shimmering text, the wind took shape. Gaining contours, it formed into a bird-like figure.
Chirp—!
Hand-sized. Its translucent form perfectly captured the spirit's mystique.
[Low-rank Wind Spirit Sylph]
Flap—!
The little bird spread tiny wings and perched on Hanbit's shoulder.
Then another chime rang.
Ding—
[Title: Friend of Spirits added to list.]
[Friend of Spirits]
All spirit-based skill effects increase by 20%.
-Title too? OP.
-20% is broken, right?
-What'd he do to friend-zone it?
-Spirits ez;
-Gonna grab one now.
-Breaking: Still people falling off the cliff.
-Entrance cut's brutal lol
'Friend already?'
An insane leap past stages. Friend of Spirits carried massive weight—elusive beings manifesting like this.
Swish—
Hanbit gently stroked the spirit's head with a finger. It flapped happily in delight.
"......"
The old man stared blankly, speechless.
Stepping right up, Hanbit grinned. "You'll teach me the swordsmanship now, right?"
"...Kuh."
A weird noise escaped the old man at the bold question. Then laughter exploded.
"Kahahaha!"
His booming laugh brimmed with layered emotions. After a long guffaw, he eyed the tiny bird on Hanbit's shoulder.
"You didn't keep me waiting too long."
The muttered aside was for the spirit.
Turning, he pulled a green book from his robes and handed it over. "You're my disciple from now on."
Ding—
[Quest completed.]