I Became a Swordsmanship Genius in the Game

Chapter 28. A Small and Precious Time

Several days had passed since his visit to Lotus.

There was still no news about the Sylvester request.

At this rate, he thought he might have to fight one more match.

Just as Hyunwoo was about to start training, Van came to him.

"Take it. The Super Rookie reward and... the other one is from Lotus."

Just in time, two items arrived at once.

The Super Rookie reward, the 'Boots of Nightmare,' and the 'Good Sleep Incense Burner' he had ordered from Lotus.

Hyunwoo took out the two items and placed them on the floor.

First, he examined the 'Boots of Nightmare.'

They were shabby boots made of layers of fragmented cloth, as if sewn from rags.

"...I told you to pick something ordinary. It looks like something you shouldn't wear just by looking at it."

"Cursed equipment is quite effective, though."

"But it comes with its own side effects. It would be better to get something else instead of just wearing it."

Hyunwoo nodded.

As Van said, he had no intention of wearing the 'Boots of Nightmare' as they were.

He set the boots aside and picked up the good sleep incense burner.

Literally for 'good sleep.'

It was an ordinary incense burner that emitted a pleasant fragrance when lit.

"Why did you buy that? Have you been having trouble sleeping lately?"

"Sleep? I sleep just fine."

"Then why did you buy it? I heard the price was enormous."

"I bought it for a reason."

The incense burner itself wasn't expensive, but the cost of finding the seller and the shipping fees combined made it not a cheap price.

Thanks to that, he had used up most of the 5,000 mana stones.

'It's a good thing I have Pierre working for me.'

It was a relief to have a cash cow (?) like Pierre.

Since he had been working hard, he felt less burdened about using mana stones than before.

Hyunwoo held a small wooden stick that was part of a set with the incense burner.

The incense burner without the incense was, of course, a magical item.

By striking the wooden stick like a match inside the empty burner, he could light the incense.

Hyunwoo struck the stick inside the incense burner.

Flick―

The 'Good Sleep Incense Burner' and the 'Boots of Nightmare' were both magical items created by a Lich named Gregory.

The reason a Lich, who didn't need sleep, created something like a 'Good Sleep Incense Burner' was because it was an item to solve the curse of the boots.

Since he was the one who had cast the curse, it was as if he had left a hint for the user.

A moment later, smoke began to rise with a small spark.

A faint scent wafted through the air.

There was no way to check if it really helped with good sleep.

Because today would be the last day the incense burner existed.

Flick― Flick― Flick―

He struck the sticks inside the incense burner in succession.

The smoke inside began to grow.

The room became hazy, filled with white smoke.

Van, startled, grabbed Hyunwoo's arm.

"Stop...! What are you doing. He said it could start a fire if you use it continuously."

"I'm going to start a fire."

"...What did you say?"

"I said I'm trying to start a fire. Just watch."

"......"

Hyunwoo shook off Van and continued his work.

At his resolute demeanor, Van stepped back.

After striking the stick a few more times, a fire finally started.

Fwoosh―

A small spark soon.

Fwooooosh―!

It filled the inside of the incense burner and grew large enough to rise above it.

The preparations were complete.

Hyunwoo immediately picked up the 'Boots of Nightmare' and threw them on top.

"...No matter how trashy the item you received, you don't need to burn it. It would have been better to sell it."

"What do you mean, burn it? Look closely."

"You put the boots... huh?"

"I told you to just watch."

Hyunwoo grinned― and watched the 'Boots of Nightmare' transform.

Its shabby, rag-like appearance was covered in a black gloss.

As the boots turned black, the fire died down.

It was as if the boots were devouring all the magical effects coming from the incense burner.

No, it wasn't as if; that was what was happening.

It was the process of the curse on the 'Boots of Nightmare' being lifted.

A moment later, after the entire process was over, he picked up the shoes that had transformed from the 'Boots of Nightmare' into a good item called 'Footsteps of the Abyss.'

"Looks good."

"What is this... did you know how to lift the curse on the boots?"

"I saw it in a book once."

"The method of lifting a curse on an item should be rare..."

It was an easy task for Hyunwoo, who hadn't just memorized the book called the 'Setting Collection' but had written it himself.

Hyunwoo, wearing the 'Footsteps of the Abyss,' turned to look at Van.

"How is it?"

"It looks good... but honestly, I'm not sure."

"Turn around."

"......"

Van obediently turned his back as he was told.

And Hyunwoo spoke again.

"How about now?"

"...What are you talking about?"

"Do you know where I am?"

"What an obvious question...? Where are you speaking from?"

"Check again."

Van turned around to look for Hyunwoo.

He could definitely hear his voice, but he couldn't pinpoint his location.

"A strange item. I couldn't tell your location at all until I saw you with my own eyes."

"Right? I told you it was a useful item."

The performance was as he had expected.

Moreover, this effect was maintained just by wearing the 'Footsteps of the Abyss.'

Even if he wasn't an aspiring assassin (?), there were countless ways to use it.

Hyunwoo moved around, testing the fit, and nodded his head with a satisfied smile.

"Shoes that erase your presence... the more I look at them, the more fascinating they are."

"Tell me if you need them. I'll let you have a look."

"...Never mind."

Van was flailing his arms, trying to clear the remaining smoke in the quarters.

The flames had died down, but the smoke remained.

He was being faithful to his role as an 'administrator,' which included 'managing the quarters.'

Hyunwoo watched him for a moment and then picked up his Cheonbyeondo.

'I have to do my part too.'

If Van's job was management, his was growth.

For the past few days, whenever he had time, Hyunwoo had been doing a certain training.

Leaving Van behind, he found a wide space and took a swordsmanship stance.

Swish―

First, he transformed the Cheonbyeondo into a thin rapier.

It was a slightly different kind of training from what he had done so far.

He immediately used the Skirma Swordsmanship with the rapier.

⌜Skirma Swordsmanship (2-Star)―100%(M)⌟

Shiik―!

When a 2-star or higher swordsmanship is mastered, a trait is acquired.

The swordsmanship, enhanced by the 'Swiftness I' trait he had obtained after mastering the Skirma Swordsmanship, moved swiftly, adding speed beyond that of his physical body.

Hyunwoo slowly changed his stance and swung the Cheonbyeondo wide.

A swing from the Sabla Swordsmanship following a thrust!

In the meantime, the proficiency of his Sabla Swordsmanship had increased by about 2%.

⌜Sabla Swordsmanship (2-Star)―85%⌟

Hyunwoo continued the motion and pictured the form of a greatsword in his head.

'Transform.'

As the sword moved forward, the rapier undulated and transformed into a greatsword.

The movement flowed like water, but beads of sweat formed on Hyunwoo's forehead.

"Phew. I'm finally getting used to it."

Transforming the sword in the middle of a swordsmanship motion consumed a considerable amount of stamina.

Using a single Cheonbyeondo transformation and a swordsmanship change at the same time consumed about the same amount of stamina as swinging the sword 10 times in a row.

However, it was well worth using.

'The length and weight of the sword are different. Even the swordsmanship used is different.'

If used in the middle of a fight, it could give the effect of suddenly facing a different swordsman.

It was a good technique to confuse the enemy.

Moreover, it had the advantage of being able to choose the advantageous swordsmanship depending on the opponent.

The task of transforming the Cheonbyeondo while using a swordsmanship was more difficult than he had thought, but he quickly got used to it with practice.

The transformation speed was gradually increasing.

Hyunwoo, with a satisfied expression, sheathed the Cheonbyeondo.

Now that today's routine was over, Hyunwoo prepared to go out.

Lately, he had always looked forward to this time.

The best thing about becoming a Silver Gladiator wasn't the bigger room.

It was the resting place provided to Silver Gladiators and above.

'Twilight's Dew'.

For a tavern in the Demon World, it had a strangely sentimental name.

Although he couldn't see any twilight or dew in his windowless quarters, Hyunwoo loved the tavern's name, 'Twilight's Dew.'

He couldn't help it.

Because what 'Twilight's Dew' meant was the yellow golden drink. Beer.

Hyunwoo was about to leave the quarters when he made eye contact with Van.

Van, who had somehow cleared all the smoke from the quarters, was sitting on the sofa, resting.

"You want to go too?"

"The tavern? You've been going there often lately."

"You have to have a drink after training. So, are you going?"

"Never mind. It's not a place where administrators are forbidden, but... the other gladiators will be uncomfortable."

Hyunwoo shrugged and left the quarters.

He had only asked out of courtesy, and he didn't want to drag him along if he didn't want to go.

Drinking alone had its own charm.

"Ahem."

On his way to enjoy the small and precious happiness that had recently come to him.

Hyunwoo's steps were light as he hummed and went outside.

***

Hyunwoo soon arrived at 'Twilight's Dew' in the rest area.

The tavern was filled with boisterous noise.

Hyunwoo, who had taken a seat in a corner, downed the glass of beer in his hand in one go.

"Kuh― This is the taste!"

The only pleasure he had since becoming Silver.

A glass of beer after training.

Something unimaginable during his Bronze days, when he was treated no better than livestock in an iron cage.

It was only natural that the Silver Gladiators, who had gained some freedom, needed a place to rest.

The tavern had its own story.

'To think a place like this almost wasn't even made...'

Hyunwoo, downing the cool beer, recalled a conversation with a colleague from his developer days.

[Hey! Why are you making something useless like a tavern.]

[What's wrong with a tavern?]

[It just eats up resources. There are no buffs on the food, so why bother making it.]

[The Demon World is a place where living creatures live, so we can pay some attention to what they eat.]

He didn't stop his colleague, who was determined to put in what he wanted even if it meant working overtime.

If not for him, he wouldn't have been able to enjoy such a luxury in the Demon World.

'...A toast to Mr. Kim, who poured his soul into it and then quit.'

Thanks to him single-handedly planning all these useless... no, small and precious things, he was a guy who had left the project midway.

If not for him, he would have been eating some unknown Demon World food every day.

Perhaps, since he didn't even get the chance to be possessed in the Demon World like him, the one who had quit midway could be called the winner.

...His mood suddenly became gloomy.

Kyaa―

He hurriedly took another sip of beer and shook off his gloom.

In any case, he had been doing well so far.

Hyunwoo quickly shook off his gloom and focused on the beer in front of him.

Just then, someone approached.

"Greetings, human. May I sit for a moment?"

Hyunwoo looked up and examined the uninvited guest's face.

The one who had approached him had a huge upper body, long limbs, and was covered in fur...

'A gorilla?'

He was the spitting image of a gorilla.

The one with the face of a gorilla seemed to be a Godran, a demon race.

Hyunwoo looked him up and down and frowned.

"I refuse." Thɪs chapter is updated by novel·fiɾe·net

"Then, excuse me for a moment."

The guy, ignoring Hyunwoo's words, sat down in the opposite chair.

Hyunwoo, with his hand on his Cheonbyeondo, contemplated.

'...Should I kill him?'

Anyone who disturbed this small and precious time deserved to disappear.