Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Brudette
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Do-yoon called up the description for his skill [Manifest Sword].
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Manifest Sword Lv.- Rate.-]
"...?"
It wouldn't display.
He moved his hand again, trying to bring up the [Manifest Sword] description.
'...It still won't display.'
The skill description for [Manifest Sword] simply didn't exist. The rate wasn't normal either.
'Why?'
...Truth be told, he had a rough idea.
"Manifest" referred to the power the Demon King had displayed, if only for a fleeting moment, by stepping into the Demigod Realm. In other words, it was divine might.
With that in mind, couldn't the Manifest Sword based on it be considered part of the divine domain as well?
In the final moments of the decisive battle in the 18th regression, the cornered Demon King had manifested the phenomenon of death against Do-yoon, just as she had in the 17th. But Do-yoon had sliced it apart with the Manifest Sword.
Only equal divinity could neutralize divinity. From this fact, he could infer the answer to his question.
But the idea was so arrogant and profound on its own that he couldn't fully commit to it. And now, this provided further evidence to support his hypothesis.
This just might be the key to victory in his future battle with the current Demon King.
'...'
Do-yoon finished his musings and looked back at his status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
[Swordsmanship Lv.3 Rate.A]
Sub-skill:
[Buske Style Swordsmanship Rate.A]
Thanks to the recent battle, [Swordsmanship] had leveled up from 2 to 3.
'They say fighting demons is the fastest way to grow, and it's true.'
It had taken days to go from level 1 to 2, but level 3 was achieved in just a single battle. The merits from real combat were undeniably huge.
This alone was motivation enough for others to throw themselves into war willingly. It was a solid system.
'I was hoping Buske Style would hit S-rate... not yet, huh.'
Raising a skill's rate seemed far harder than leveling it up. Which made sense, of course.
Whether it would take much longer or just a little more time, who could say.
Do-yoon's growth was abnormally fast to begin with, and he'd even unlocked the [Manifest Sword] skill, which was the core of S-rate Buske Style.
A rate-up might be right around the corner.
Do-yoon organized his thoughts and headed to the mana circulation chamber.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day, after finishing her duties, Eloa summoned guild member Han Do-yoon.
She felt uneasy about daring to summon the Hero herself, but on the surface, Eloa was his superior, so it was the proper procedure. Do-yoon, of course, didn't mind a bit.
The two sipped on his uncle's special tea, picking up where they'd left off the previous day.
Eloa grinned from ear to ear throughout, clearly delighted just to spend time with the Hero, regardless of the topic.
But she soon found herself caught off guard by a sudden strike.
"That plate right in the center of the table at the Last Supper."
"Pfft!"
Eloa spat out her tea.
"That fried egg. Your handiwork, right, Eloa?"
"H-How did you...?"
"How? No reason to shove two plates of fried eggs into the middle when Uncle's fancy main courses were right there."
"Y-You knew from the start...?"
"Probably no one in the guild didn't know. No one touched it until I did, and everyone snickered when I reached for it. And those big, shiny eyes of yours staring right at me—priceless."
"Ah, aaah... Stop... Please stop...!"
"It was delicious. The bottom was charred black, but not bad. Our little chick's first dish, made for me. Made me so happy."
"S-Stop...!"
Eloa's face flushed beet red as she covered it with her hands. Do-yoon smirked at her reaction.
"I want to taste it again. Think your cooking's improved a bit now?"
"Well..."
"Could you make it for me?"
"......"
Eloa nodded slowly, hands still over her face, without a word. Do-yoon nodded back in satisfaction. Her reaction to this kind of teasing was the same as ever.
A moment later, once her face had cooled a bit, Eloa fanned herself with her hands and desperately changed the subject.
"B-By the way... What about the team you'll be working with in the guild going forward? Operating like 100 years ago would draw too much attention."
"Mm... True."
Enoch's team from 100 years ago wasn't a normal setup. With Enoch, the Sword Emperor, and the Fist Emperor leading the front line, their firepower was overwhelmingly dominant.
A standard team had the tank up front pulling aggro and holding the line, with the frontliners fighting alongside.
The sub-tank and backline melee dealers protected the ranged DPS and supports. That was the normal formation.
But Enoch's team was different.
The tanks and everyone else focused solely on protecting the backline. Up front, without a tank, Enoch, the Sword Emperor, and the Fist Emperor swept the battlefield. The backline's role was purely to support those three.
It was an utterly freakish formation, possible only for Enoch's team.
"I'd like to teach Sophie standard team play."
"Yes, of course! I'll tell Mellein. Shall we fill shortages with new recruits? Or have her join an existing team as an apprentice?"
"The latter. I couldn't teach her the basics properly."
He hadn't done standard team play in ages.
"I'll arrange for her to go under skilled members."
"Thanks for handling it."
"Hehe. If there's anything inconvenient or you need, just say the word!"
"Mm..."
Do-yoon started to bring up one more thing after hearing Eloa, then closed his mouth.
'The guild must have an alchemy workshop...'
...Yeah. Better not ask. Smelling that workshop scent might not sit well right now.
Surprisingly, Do-yoon had considerable skill in alchemy.
His talent there was as mediocre as in other fields, and since it was summoning-based rather than elixir-making, it had zero combat utility.
Yet from the 6th regression when he first touched it, all the way to the 18th, he never abandoned alchemy—not even once. Not even in regressions 10 through 13, when he'd shed all humanity to live as a monster.
Amid repeated deaths and endless trials, the murderous stress piling up regression after regression, gnawing at his mind—alchemy was the core of his survival method against it.
Alchemy, lightly learned in the 6th to boost elixir efficiency. And a little familiar he'd made on a whim.
That one tiny thing was the sole light holding back Enoch as he turned into a monster through dozens of deaths.
Regression after regression, Enoch studied summoning a bit more. And his little friend grew more refined each time, matching his improving skills.
Connections reset by regression. Companions who didn't recognize him despite decades together. No one to comfort the curse of death and return.
In that, only his little friend—changing form with each regression and skill growth—carried his memories forward, the sole constant.
The one precious friend who regressed alongside Enoch.
Even though it was just a complex of mechanisms and mana circuits, without soul, ego, or memory.
Without alchemy. Without that one tiny, precious friend who regressed with him.
Enoch would have gone mad long ago.
'...But in this life, stay away from workshops.'
This 19th life, where Do-yoon now breathed. Connected to the 18th from 100 years ago, not reset by regression mechanics.
Meaning his little friend still existed somewhere on the continent, powered down.
He couldn't make a new one while that child still existed in this regression. It would be unforgivable.
'Someday... when I have time.'
Find my workshop and bring that child back.
Definitely bring them back.
'...'
Do-yoon shifted the topic.
"By the way, Eloa. Do you know anything about the gods of this era...?"
Bzzz— Bzzz—
But just then, Eloa's communicator blinked and rang.
"Ah, one moment."
Eloa stood and went to the communicator. Checking the caller, she turned to Do-yoon with an excited grin.
"...?"
Ignoring Do-yoon's puzzled look, the connection went through.
"What's up? Aren't you busy training?"
[Doesn't seem like enlightenment's hitting anytime soon.]
Do-yoon's eyes lit up at the familiar voice from the communicator. Seeing it, Eloa's playful smile deepened.
"Hey! I'm coming to your place! Got something to show you!"
[Huh? Suddenly?]
Eloa stomped her feet, barely holding back laughter.
"You're not gonna say the Hero's too busy, right? Clear your schedule!"
[Got time for a while. But what's got you so excited?]
"Excited? When was I—!"
The owner of that familiar voice...
"Don't spoil it ahead of time!"
...was someone Do-yoon knew very well.
"Get ready to be shocked, Brudette!"
His closest friend's disciple.