Episode 4
The transcendents of the gallery were all focused on Suho's broadcast.
They were the type who usually spent their time posting disgusting images to terrorize one another, making pointless conversation, and fighting amongst themselves before Suho came on.
Sometimes, anyone would turn on a gallery broadcast and play the clown, and other times they would trade items with each other for fun.
These days, everyone was living for the joy of watching Suho's broadcast.
They had taken a liking to Suho.
It was novel that he had beaten five goblins to death bare-handed without a trace of mana or internal energy.
Not only that, he seemed to be hiding quite an interesting family history, so watching Suho always left them curious.
So they had tried to raise and cherish him as much as possible, to help him climb to the floor where he had been stranded.
- …No, fuck, if he's like this, how are we supposed to help him.
- Why aren't you going the original route, you crazy bastard.
‘No, it's not like I didn't go the original route.’
- That's what I'm saying! Why did you go into the disaster! You should've avoided it!!
- Holy shit, this is the first time I've seen a bastard party up with Ian.
- …Why is the 3rd floor quest about finding out Ian's past, how are you supposed to find out that crazy bitch's past.
- …Honestly, if you're curious, upvote lollll.
- Upvote lollll
- Upvote lollll
- …Shouldn't we sponsor at least a skill to the newbie for now?
- You can only sponsor a skill once at the 10th floor. We should wait until he at least clears the 5th floor and gets some mana.
- That's right. If we sponsor a skill now when his mana pool is small, he can't use it.
Learning a high-grade skill when you have little mana becomes poison.
Even if his mana increases later, he won't be able to draw out the skill's maximum efficiency.
That is why he needs to receive a high-grade skill sponsorship when his mana pool is sufficient.
- What if Ian goes crazy and kills the newbie?
- We'll have to mourn him.
- It's a shame.
- Fuck… our newbie is so pitiful, what do we do.
(Sineun Wae Nareul Nago): …I'm curious about the newbie's past. Hey, Suho. Just somehow hold out until the 5th floor. After that, I'll help you.
(Cheonsalseong): Yes, you must hold out until the 5th floor. Keep as much distance from Ian as possible and don't rub her the wrong way. And open the Random Boxes you received as rewards too.
I Suho looked away from the chat window and at Ian.
“Hehe, Oppa. Shall we take a walk?”
Ian asked, poking her face out from a distance just barely wide enough to fit a fist.
He had no choice but to nod.
“Yeah, let's take a walk together.”
“Hehe, great!”
As they walked, he opened the system window and unboxed the Random Boxes.
[Random Weapon Box]
[High-Grade Random Box]
Random Weapon Box first.
[You have acquired a D-rank item, Longsword!]
[Longsword has been stored in inventory!]
…A dud.
- LOLLLL rip.
- LOL moron.
- Don't you usually get C-rank or higher?
- I got A-rank.
- Well anyway, you should get something decent from the High-Grade Random Box.
- Ah, right. The chance of getting D-rank from a High-Grade Random Box is 1%. You'll probably get B-rank or higher.
- An item B-rank or higher will help. Go get 'em.
Trusting the gallery users' words, he opened the High-Grade Random Box too.
The moment it opened, I Suho's expression visibly crumbled.
It was the kind of expression you might make after eating rotten fish.
[D-rank item, Longsword acquired!]
- WTF LOLLLLLL.
- Byoooooh—, shit LOLLLLL.
- Moron LOLLLLLL.
- So fucking bewildering….
- Since it turned out like this, pull one more longsword and go triple blade style.
- LOL I've never seen a bastard pull a longsword from a High-Grade Random Box.
- Now you have two longswords~!
(Sineun Wae Nareul Nago): …That fucking luck. I like it. Let's work hard and strive.
(Cheonsalseong): …How bewildering.
“Oppa, did you open the Random Boxes?”
At Ian's words, I Suho nodded.
“What'd you get?”
With an expression that seemed genuinely curious.
I Suho pulled out two longswords from his inventory with a stiff expression.
“…Pffft!”
“….”
Ian, even you're laughing?
- She's pretty cute when she laughs….
- She could laugh out loud like that? Why didn't you show me that side…? Ian, we had a good thing going.
- We had a good thing going = You ran at me with a knife trying to kill me.
- Upvote….
“Oppa's so cute!”
- What's cute about having shitty luck?
“Hehe, don't feel too bad, I'll give you this!”
Ian pulled something out of her back pocket.
Even though it was a small back pocket, a massive weapon came out of it.
It meant Ian's back pocket was a subspace.
The gallery users were curious about Ian's identity, seeing that she carried a separate subspace bag.
[A-rank item, Heukwol (Black Moon) Sword acquired!]
- …???
- No, fuck, what is this.
‘Is this a good thing?’
- He's even playing the noob, fuck.
- Heukwol Sword… it's fucking good.
- Isn't it the item closest to S-rank?
- But how does Ian have that?
(Sineun Wae Nareul Nago): Isn't that the Heukwol Sword? The one only executive-level members of the Heukwol Guild can receive.
(Cheonsalseong): …Now I remember. Because the final quest of the 5th floor was war with the Heukwol Guild.
(Sineun Wae Nareul Nago): But how does Ian have the Heukwol Sword?
(Cheonsalseong): It seems Ian has some connection with the Heukwol Guild.
(Sineun Wae Nareul Nago): What the hell is Ian's true identity….
#
I looked at the Heukwol Sword Ian had given me.
A distorted black moon pattern was engraved on the hilt.
How should I put it, it was as if the sword had swallowed the light.
“Oppa.”
“Hm?”
“Put mana into the sword.”
Humm—, humm—!!
The moment he put mana in, the sword trembled.
“Hehe, the sword seems to like Oppa!”
…Is this how you tame a sword?
“Slowly, swing down from top to bottom!”
As if becoming my swordsmanship teacher, Ian taught me a downward strike.
Gripping the sword tightly with both hands, putting strength into both legs.
Quickly from top to bottom.
Whoosh—!
Fwip—!!
Along with the tearing sound of wind splitting, the red moonlight split.
In other words… a small light came from the sword.
Following that light, I had unknowingly demonstrated a perfect sword path.
“Oppa has talent! It's not easy to follow the sword path. Anyway, that's Heukwol's ability. It shows you the sword path.”
“…Isn't that an incredible ability?”
“For beginners like Oppa, it's the best sword.”
- It's not just a decent sword? It's literally a sword that lets you learn perfect fundamentals.
- Fuck, I Suho you fucking bastard, why is your world the only one that sparkles like that.
That was when.
“Oppa, but even if you have this sword, even if you have that armor, don't run away from me. If you do, I'll kill you. I can kill.”
Ian's tone was icy.
In an extremely low voice.
- …So fucking scary, shit.
- I take back what I said about your world sparkling. I think I'm gonna piss myself.
#
There was a fact I learned while walking with Ian.
In this world, day and night changed rapidly.
In other words… there was a time discrepancy between Earth and this other world.
Also, during the day, it was more peaceful and beautiful than any other world.
Fragrant flower scents tickled the nose, and lying down on the grass brought a sense of stability.
On the other hand, the night….
Two moons rose, and the moonlight was red.
The flowers blooming nearby turned into poisonous weeds, and monsters popped out everywhere.
Orcs, skeletons, and sometimes tough, strong monsters like alpha orcs popped out.
Every time that happened, Ian protected me.
With a single gesture, an intangible sword aura came out, and that aura sliced through the monsters.
As if on auto-hunt, I could walk the night road peacefully.
“Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Catch that orc.”
“…All of a sudden?”
“Yeah.”
Ian shot me a sharp glare as if she would kill me if I refused.
…Yeah, I couldn't refuse.
But I wanted to try my luck at least once.
Since I had to clear the quest eventually.
“Ian, wanna bet?”
“What kind of bet? I do like betting.”
“If I catch all those orcs, tell me your story.”
“…My story?”
Her voice dropped once more.
Her hand twitched.
An intangible sword aura was drawn from Ian's hand.
I broke out in a cold sweat.
If I moved a single step, if I flinched even slightly, I felt like I would die.
My body felt bound by spider silk.
But I couldn't back down here.
Since I'd already thrown the dice, I had to see it through.
“Yeah. I'll kill the alpha orc too.”
“…If you fail to kill the alpha orc?”
“I'll stay by your side forever.”
Ian's cheeks flushed red.
“…Okay.”
I drew the Heukwol Sword.
(Cheonsalseong): Child.
Cheonsalseong's tone changed.
(Cheonsalseong): Focus. Do not show weakness to Ian. I shall aid you, so absorb my teachings as they are. This is the first lesson and test bestowed by This Venerable One.
- …It's rare for the Heavenly Demon to personally instruct in swordsmanship, the newbie hit the jackpot.
- Golden Sun, tucking both Ian and the Heavenly Demon under your arms… you fucking bastard!!
(Sineun Wae Nareul Nago): Learning from an 89th-floor scrub isn't something to brag about, it's pitiful.
(Cheonsalseong): …Child, focus.
‘Yes.’
Without realizing it, I too began speaking formally.
(Cheonsalseong): There are five orcs, one alpha orc. All are too much for you to handle. Even with the Heukwol Sword, even if you have an innate talent for mana manipulation. Even if you are someone who trained external arts in your original world, catching all the orcs is too much. You must begin by feeling your limits to the bone.
‘Yes.’
(Cheonsalseong): Orcs possess a hive mind. That is what makes them difficult. Above all, their defense is high. Their strength is great, and the alpha orc is fast as well. What do you think you should do?
‘You said they have a hive mind? They likely have the nature to follow a leader.’
(Cheonsalseong): Correct.
‘I think I need to kill the alpha orc first somehow.’
(Cheonsalseong): A smart child. Concentrate all your strength. Put two-tenths of your body's mana into your legs, and eight-tenths into your sword.
I gripped the sword.
I infused mana into my legs, and the remaining eight-tenths into the sword.
My head emptied.
Fwiiiish—!
A desolate wind blew.
The moment I focused all my mind on the sword, I could not feel the wind.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a red line.
The Heukwol Sword was showing the optimal sword path.
(Cheonsalseong): Child, the sword is a weapon. Martial arts is the way to efficiently use a weapon. Here, the weapon can be your entire body. Combat is simply killing the opponent by any means.
‘….’
I know that better than anyone.
Because I was someone who had gone to the brink of being a champion.
Because I was someone who had boxed to prove I was alive.
(Cheonsalseong): Combat is, in short, proving that you are alive. It is showing those who deny your existence.
Mother came to mind.
Mother who had strangled my neck.
Father came to mind.
Father who had thrown liquor bottles at me.
(Cheonsalseong): Empty your mind. Leave only hatred.
‘…I don't particularly feel hatred. They must have had their reasons.’
(Cheonsalseong): Then that is your Heart. Put your Heart into the sword. That mind as firm as a pine tree is your weapon.
It was abstract.
But… I roughly understood.
I moved my legs along the sword path and raised the sword.
I struck down.
Shrrrk—!!
The alpha orc's neck flew into the sky.
A brief silence.
Splat—!
Blood burst forth.
Thud—!
The alpha orc's head fell to the ground.
- …?
- ??
- ????
- What the fuck.
- Did someone who got mana less than a day ago kill an alpha orc? In one hit?
- He's a talent freak.
(Sineun Wae Nareul Nago): …Fuck!!! Why did God give birth to I Suho and then give birth to me!!! You fucking bastard, I Suho!!!!
‘…Is this hard?’
(Sineun Wae Nareul Nago): Hey, you son of a bitch!!!
(Cheonsalseong): Child, This Venerable One favors you. There is no equal for you in this world. Because This Venerable One favors you.