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[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 09: Adelia von Goldheart (2)
"You..."
Right then, Adelia, who had been staring intently at me, cautiously opened her mouth.
Her androgynous voice—it was exactly as I remembered from the game.
"You're one of the Twelve Swordmasters... aren’t you?"
The Twelve Swordmasters.
Transcendents of this world, known for having attained the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Most of them lived secluded from the mundane world, acting only in accordance with the revelations of the ancient gods, the Elders—true seekers of the sword.
Adelia was now mistaking me for one of them.
"I saw your swordsmanship in the Underground Arena."
"……"
"It was… it was truly astonishing. That incredible movement, where you cut down Barba the Human Butcher in a single stroke… I couldn’t even follow it with my eyes."
Yeah.
Adelia had been tailing me since yesterday afternoon.
From the very moment I parted ways with Lea de Karayan and walked out of the Underground Arena.
Of course, she probably thought she was tailing me stealthily.
But a Level 77 monster creeping around among common folk? You bet she stood out.
…I never imagined the floating level window would come in this handy. Being able to instantly spot someone tailing me? Invaluable.
‘At this point in the timeline, the only level 77 character wandering around Dungard is Adelia.’
Thanks to having played the game over 200 times, I identified the tail right away.
And from the moment I realized it was her, I started making plans accordingly.
Honestly, if Adelia hadn’t started following me, I doubt I would’ve even come up with the whole "get carried by an NPC" strategy.
I probably would’ve looked for a different way to grow stronger.
‘And it makes sense Adelia would mistake me for a Swordmaster.’
While the Soul of the Swordmaster is active, it turns the user into an actual Swordmaster.
At least in the instant I killed Barba the Human Butcher, I was a Swordmaster.
So I could understand why she was so shaken.
At this point in her story, Adelia’s driven by revenge. To get it, she has to grow stronger.
And there’s no better way to improve than to be taught directly by a Swordmaster. Of course she’d cling to any chance—even if that meant following me like a shadow.
"What is it you want?"
Even knowing all that, I asked her the question.
Adelia hesitated briefly, then a resolute expression crossed her face.
Soon, with a voice full of determination, she answered, "Please… teach me the sword."
…As expected. Just as I predicted.
"As you probably know, I’m a swordswoman. But for years now, I’ve been blocked by an insurmountable wall."
"……"
"I have to overcome it. I have a reason—one that makes it absolutely necessary for me to grow stronger."
Shing—!
Before I could even respond, Adelia drew her sword.
The blade rang out in a cold, metallic pitch as it slid free from its scabbard.
"I know you're a busy man."
She raised her blade with both hands and took a combat stance.
At the same time, the tip of her sharp sword pointed directly at my throat.
"Just one exchange."
"……"
"Nothing more, nothing less—just one exchange is all I ask. I’ll use what I learn in that moment to shatter the wall myself."
Hearing this left me more than a little dumbfounded.
“…?”
Wait.
Hold on.
‘…Why the hell is she suddenly trying to fight me?’
She's gone ahead and assumed I’m some busy Swordmaster.
When I haven’t said a single word in response.
And now she wants just one clash with me? Says she doesn’t need anything else?
She’s off playing both the drums and the cymbals by herself.
‘And even worse, if I actually fight her, I’ll be dead before I can react, you lunatic.’
I’m a weakling whose average stat is 1.
If someone like me went up against a Level 77 beast, I’d get obliterated on the spot.
Trying to stay calm, I glanced quickly at my mana display:
[MP: 1/1]
Thankfully, I had enough MP to use the skill.
I’d only come into this alley after seeing my mana had recovered, after all.
But…
‘If I recklessly activate the skill, won’t Adelia end up dead?’
Under these circumstances, I couldn’t just carelessly use my trump card.
No way was I going to kill the bus driver that just fell into my lap.
‘Which means…’
There was only one move I could make in this situation.
* * *
Gulp—
Adelia stared nervously at her opponent.
He stood there in silence, unmoving. No response. Just staring at the tip of her blade with a cold, indifferent gaze.
Forcing herself to calm her thudding heart, Adelia spoke steadily, "I don’t care if I lose an arm. I don’t care if I lose a leg."
"……"
"As long as I can gain some enlightenment… As long as I can step beyond this wall… I’m willing to give everything I have."
Adelia needed strength for her revenge.
And to gain that strength, she had to overcome the barrier holding her back.
‘I have to find some new insight—some awakening.’
And what better way to achieve that than by crossing blades with someone far beyond her level?
Yes.
If she could exchange swords with that man, she was sure she’d learn something.
From the moment she witnessed his divine swordplay in the Underground Arena, that vague instinct had taken root in her mind.
‘I know nothing about who he really is…’
But that didn’t matter.
If he was truly a Swordmaster—if he could help her find her breakthrough—then Adelia was ready to give up everything.
"Did you just say you’re fine losing your arms and legs?"
Just then, the man finally spoke.
"Fine. If you clash blades with me, you’ll surely break past your limits. You might even gain a revelation beyond that."
His voice echoed softly through the alley—cold, sharp, and quiet.
"But my blade… does not aim for arms or legs."
"……"
"It only… takes lives."
Slick—
The man trailed off for a moment… and then slowly lifted his head.
His golden eyes—burning like flames—seemed to pierce straight through Adelia’s very soul.
“So I’ll ask you again.”
“……”
“Are you prepared to risk your life just to see my sword?”
Flinch—
Adelia’s grip on her sword trembled involuntarily.
There was no killing intent coming from the man. His stance was riddled with openings. Every part of it was loose, defenseless.
And yet, it was precisely that indifference that sent a chill down her spine.
‘Just… what is this man…?’
Because of that, Adelia found herself hesitating.
A sudden wave of fear crept in.
Enlightenment? That was fine and all. But even if she shattered her wall—what did it matter if she lost her life in the very next moment?
…The silence dragged on too long.
Just as Adelia opened her mouth to say something—anything—to buy time—
“I… I…”
“That’s enough.”
The man cut her off, firmly.
As if he'd lost interest, he turned his back to her with a sharp motion.
Step, step—
His figure grew smaller as he walked away. Adelia, wearing a stunned expression, let out a faint sigh.
“…Ah.”
Her hands began to shake.
Now that the standoff had ended, her survival instincts gradually faded, and rational thought finally began returning.
She was furious—with herself. She had thought she was ready to do anything for revenge.
But when it came down to it, her resolve was only this shallow.
‘Why?! Why did I get scared in that final moment…?!’
Just then, as Adelia berated herself—
Stop—
The man suddenly halted in his tracks.
He looked over his shoulder and asked a question she hadn’t anticipated at all.
“What are you doing, just standing there?”
“…Pardon?”
“Didn’t you ask me to teach you the sword?”
He jerked his chin toward the far end of the alley.
“There’s a good place to train nearby.”
“……?”
Adelia blinked blankly for a second—then finally realized what had just happened.
The man had agreed to take her in as his disciple, despite the hassle.
“Th-thank you…!”
She had no idea what had changed his mind, but in any case, she felt she had to follow him.
Sheathed her sword, straightened her clothes, and hurried after the man.
* * *
‘Yes!’
I clenched my fist tightly.
I had successfully recruited Adelia von Goldheart as my ride—or, in gaming terms, my bus driver.
This was the happiest moment since I fell into this cursed world.
And why wouldn’t it be? Adelia wasn’t just powerful and full of potential—she was a versatile asset who could prove useful in many different ways.
‘But that’s for later…’
…Right now, I needed to take care of what was immediately in front of me.
“We’re here.”
Stop—
After winding my way through the back alleys of Dungard, the lawless dark city, I came to a halt.
Standing before us was a shabby, abandoned factory.
The windows were shattered, and the inside was cloaked in darkness.
Dust blanketed everything, showing that no one had set foot here in a very long time.
“What is this place…?” Adelia cautiously asked.
“It’s the training spot I mentioned.”
“This place…?”
“Yeah.”
“……”
Adelia pressed her lips together, clearly unconvinced.
And honestly, who could blame her? On the surface, this building looked like any other run-down factory scattered across Dungard.
But I—someone who had cleared the game over 200 times—knew better.
I knew that inside that factory was a hidden Trial, one that granted a Sacred Piece—a shard of divine power.
Step, step—
I approached the building without hesitation.
A huge iron door blocked the entrance.
I gave the handle a tug. It didn’t budge an inch.
The outer surface was rusted to hell, but the weight behind it was still massive.
‘To enter this dungeon, you need to fulfill one of two requirements…’
Either: have high Agility and scale the wall to slip through the broken windows…
Or: have high Strength and just bust the damn door down.
Of course, I currently met neither condition.
‘With average stats of 1, both are physically impossible for me.’
But—
“Break the door down.”
“Yes.”
…for a Level 77 monster, it was the easiest thing in the world.
Whummm—!
Mystical energy gathered around Adelia’s body.
A radiant teal aura shimmered around her—a perfect fusion of gold and blue.
“Hup—!”
Concentrating that aura into her fist, Adelia twisted her body and hurled a full-power punch at the door.
BOOOOOM—!
A deafening crash echoed through the air as the metal caved inward.
The hinges creaked. Soon, the once-locked door began to slowly creak open.
The internal locking mechanism had completely shattered from the force.
Seeing this, I couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle in my head.
‘…So this is the power of Level 77?’
Absolutely absurd.
Eventually, I’d have to raise my physical stats to at least that baseline—without relying on the Soul of the Swordmaster.
Damn it. My frail, bony body felt even more pathetic today.
‘Still…’
This wretched frame of mine can be fixed, step by step, starting now.
‘And this dungeon will be my first step.’
The abandoned factory in the dark city of Dungard.
Inside lay a hidden Trial—and a Sacred Piece as its reward.
By obtaining it, I would gain tremendous power.
‘And not just temporary power… but consistent, long-term growth.’
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[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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