Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: [Reality] It Was Too Big to Be Called a Sword
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Curiosity drew me in, and I crept closer to the commotion.
At the center of the uproar was a Hunter Market employee... and a petite girl in a hood arguing with him.
And next to that girl...
"...Huh."
A laugh burst out of me.
What the hell is that?
There stood a massive greatsword propped up at an angle beside her.
A greatsword completely out of place next to such a tiny girl.
Could you even call that a weapon?
It was far too big to be called a sword.
Enormously large, thick, heavy, and crude.
It was a mace in every sense of the word.
A giant hunk of metal.
It looked like a sword in shape, but the edge that should have been sharp was blunt as hell, and the blade's spine was as thick as my palm.
The length had to be at least two meters, and the width was insane.
I'd called it a greatsword, but could you really call that thing a sword?
Without even an edge?
It looked like someone had roughly cut a slab of iron into shape and slapped a handle on it.
The employee continued awkwardly.
"Ma'am, as I said, our store can't buy that item. It's against policy. There's nothing I can do. And honestly, it's hard to even call that a weapon."
"Hard to call it a weapon? How can you say that about something this big and awesome? Can't you see its beautiful form?"
"Beautiful... Anyway, objectively speaking, it's just too heavy. Too big and heavy to swing properly. The balance is off, and there's no edge. It's basically just an oversized club."
"That's why it's great! An edged blade would need maintenance and could chip, but this one? No worries there! The weight is meant to crush and smash. It's built tough so you can swing it wildly without breaking— the perfect weapon with no downsides!"
"Sigh... Ma'am, lugging around something that brutishly heavy would tire you out just carrying it."
"That's why clueless people are the worst! The bigger and thicker, the better! Full, hefty—that's what makes it amazing!"
"M-Ma'am, please lower your voice. People are getting the wrong idea."
I nodded unconsciously at the employee's words.
It didn't seem intentional, but the phrasing was a bit suggestive.
The other hunters who'd gathered to watch like me started averting their eyes.
But the girl seemed oblivious to the surroundings and kept ranting.
"Look at this thickness! This overwhelming girth! The impact when you thrust it in! You can't get that sensation from some short, skinny sword! Once you try it, you can't go back—why don't you get it? That's the dream!"
Is she doing this on purpose?
She has to be.
First time might be a slip, but twice? Intentional.
If it's on purpose, it's kinda clever.
Distracting with innuendo or whatever.
But the employee, true professional, shook off the fluster quickly.
Back to business in no time.
"Ma'am, you're free to call it your dream weapon. But we can't buy this... eyesore at the price you're asking."
"Eyesore?! My life's first masterpiece!"
"I get that you put effort and love into it. But it's got no cost-performance, and zero demand. Who would use it? It's so heavy, you'd need insane strength and agility to wield it freely. Hunters at that level can use mana anyway. They'd pick something faster, more efficient, sharper—not this lump of metal. You get it? We can only offer scrap value, like I said."
"Scrap value?! What about all the effort and sweat I poured into making it?!"
"That's not our concern. Keep causing a scene, and I'll call security. If you're not selling, take it and go."
The employee issued his ultimatum.
Couldn't argue with a word of it.
Dream weapon or not, who uses something like that?
Sure, it looked kinda cool, but cool doesn't pay the bills.
The girl clamped her mouth shut and glared at the employee, eyes welling up with tears of injustice.
Kid emotions hit hard.
"Fine! I'm not selling to filthy blind idiots like you! I must be crazy showing my masterpiece to people like this!"
She huffed, reaching for the massive metal slab beside her.
Could that shrimp even lift it?
Bigger than me, even.
But somehow, that tiny frame summoned the strength.
She hoisted the enormous greatsword effortlessly, slung it over her back, and walked off with light steps that belied its weight.
Watching her back, I fell into thought.
'...Wait a sec.'
Big, thick, heavy...
And no edge.
Like the employee said, more club than sword.
So...
'It looks like a sword, but it's blunt. Counts as a bludgeon, right?'
I have the [Club Strike] skill right now.
Boosts power and proficiency with blunt weapons.
But clubs lack style, so I'd been planning to buy a cool sword.
That weapon, though?
Looks like a greatsword, no doubt.
A stupidly huge one that screams manly fantasy, oozing cool factor.
And it gets the [Club Strike] bonus too.
Performance and style.
The one answer that catches both rabbits.
'Fuck yeah. That's the one.'
I can't let that slip away.
It's made for me.
Decision made, I chased after the huffing girl.
Her tiny legs moved fast; I had to sprint to catch up outside the building.
"Hey! Kid! Hold up!"
No response, just kept walking.
"Hey, kid! Stop for a sec!"
Second call finally got her to whip around.
She glanced left and right, then scowled.
"Kid? You talking to me?"
"Yeah, you."
"Who you calling kid, you ugly bastard."
Her face was all round and innocent, the type you'd simp over on Roblox daily.
But that mouth.
These gen Z kids are no joke.
"Hey, watch your mouth with an adult. Anyway, that thing on your back. Sell it to me?"
"...What?"
"Saw you struggling to sell it back there. I'll buy it. Sell to me."
No buyers anyway, so she'd be thrilled.
Scrap value at best, per the employee.
She'd be grateful.
"Adult my ass. Bullshit. How old are you, punk?"
But her face twisted ugly.
Something rubbed her wrong.
"What? I'm being nice calling you cute. Twenty-four. Why?"
"Ha! Twenty-four? A literal baby."
"What? Baby?"
"Don't fuck around. I'm twenty-seven this year."
"Twenty-seven? Bullshit."
Her nonsense triggered my reflexes; a curse slipped out.
Twenty-seven at face value?
Calling that a lie?
Up close, she looked even smaller than from afar.
Height barely to my navel, let alone chest.
Baby fat still on her cheeks.
And she claims twenty-seven? Bullshit.
"Lie all you want, but within reason. If you're twenty-seven, I'm fifty-seven. Where you selling that crap?"
"Oh yeah? Don't believe me?"
Irritated, the little girl yanked off her hood.
Swoosh.
Brown wavy hair cascaded to her shoulders—not too long, not too short.
Between the spilling locks, pointy ears poked out.
A bit long, tips sharp.
Not full elf-long, but not human either.
"...Huh?"
"What, never seen a half-dwarf before?"
"Half-dwarf?"
"Yeah, dumbass. Calling me kid this, kid that. Pissing me off."
No, really a half-dwarf?
Not shocked by the demi-human thing.
Met dwarves in the smithy in [Abyssal Miner].
Knew from news: 20+ years since Gates opened, demi-humans crossing over or found in dungeons, blending into society sometimes.
Most stick to their autonomous zones, though.
Half or not, running into one among civilians... in central Seoul? Rare.
Explains lifting that greatsword easy.
Thought she was some newly awakened midget.
Happens in school days.
Demi-humans have superior physiques baseline; many match awakeners barehanded.
Whole race basically awakened.
Some grind life for lotto awakening; others born with it.
What a scam.
First real demi-human sighting on Earth had me surprised.
"For real... twenty-seven?"
"Yeah. Baby face is racial trait. Dwarf blood keeps me short."
"Ah."
About to nod...
No, fuck.
Almost fell for it.
Demi-hybrid, fine.
"You scamming me? Demi or not, you could still be younger."
"So damn suspicious!"
"You look suspicious! Can't believe it. Who'd buy twenty-seven on that face?"
"Ugh, fine. Didn't wanna pull this out here. Look close if you got eyes!"
She shoved some ID card at me.
Demi-human registration.
[Registration No: 190127-4XXXXXX]
[Name: Marie]
[Nation/Region: Dwarf Autonomous District]
Basics like that, plus residency permit dates, current address.
Whatever about registration for demis in Korea.
Birthdate grabbed my eye.
January 27, 2019...
26 internationally, 27 Korean age.
And the photo matched the tiny... no, woman before me.
She really was older.
By three years, even.
"Believe me now? You little shit."
Who's little now.
She still looks...
Explains the employee's polite treatment.
Thought she made it herself, grabbed family junk to pawn for pocket money.
Did that as a kid.
"...Ahem. Fine, you're the noona."
"Noona? I'll smash your face!"
The half-dwarf menaced like swinging her greatsword.
Temper like fire.
Dwarf blood, huh.
"Okay, okay. Sorry for kid. Noona, noona. Happy?"
"Hmph. Good. Human men got no manners."
Sounded jaded.
Fixed the title, face softened.
"Anyway, wanna sell that to me?"
"Sell this?"
"Yeah. That."
"For real? Not messing with me?"
"No, seriously. Heard you at the shop. Totally got it."
"Got it?"
"Yeah. Big, thick, heavy—that's key. I agree. That's the romance that sets a man's heart ablaze. Idiots like that clerk can't see it. Clueless fucks."
Used to think she was talking nonsense, but changed my mind ages ago.
Ultimate cool gear with skill bonus?
Can't pass.
Plus [Deception] skill working overtime.
Bound to land.
"You... know your stuff?"
"Damn right. Crushing with this weight—that's a real man's weapon. What's fun about dainty slicing like a girl? Smash it to hell, hot and heavy."
"R-Right? See, I'm right?"
"Duh, what're you asking. But those morons treat it like scrap—pissed me off watching."
"Ooh..."
Her lips crept up with every word.
Getting into it myself.
"So I'll buy it and prove how OP it is. Make those clueless bastards eat it."
Now she stared at me, visibly touched.
Thirsty for praise, huh.
Too easy.
"Alright! You pass! Selling to you."
"Thanks! Price? Missed the start."
"Eh, money talk later."
Huh?
Isn't price most important?
What then?
"Let's hit a cafe first, chat. First guy I vibe with like this. Share hobbies too. Sound good? Noona'll buy coffee."
Something.
I think I've hooked the wrong fish.