Chapter 53
“What?”
Jin So-yul thought for a moment that she had misheard. So she asked again.
“Take your sword and finish it.”
And the same answer came back.
“B-but, Faction Leader—”
“I left my weapon behind.”
Yoo Yi-joo’s sword had long been thrown to the ground on the opposite side, as she had rushed here in a hurry.
“I put up a barrier, but it will break soon. You have to do it.”
Because you’re the only one with a sword right now. As Yoo Yi-joo added that, Jin So-yul’s pupils shook.
“C-can’t you just use this, Faction Leader?”
“That’s not possible.”
“Why…? I’m too scared. I’m not strong enough to wield this sword.”
“That sword is not something I can use.”
Yoo Yi-joo was more resolute than ever.
“I can feel it. It’s not something I can properly use.”
Yoo Yi-joo began an unexpected story while looking straight at Jin So-yul’s visibly tense face.
“You know what? I once playfully picked up Cha Si-hyeon’s sword, and it was so heavy. It felt so heavy, as if it was rejecting me. When Cha Si-hyeon picked up my sword, he said it was too light and his movements flew off. Back then, I thought it was just a difference in strength, but…”
Thinking about it again, it was strange.
‘I held a sword for the first time, and according to Baek Doha, I seemed to have more talent with guns or bows. Why couldn’t Cha Si-hyeon handle a sword that even someone like me could use?’
“I got this sword just before I was about to die.”
“…..”
“How did you get yours?”
At that question, Jin So-yul kept blinking her lips. How did she get it?
Originally, she couldn’t use weapons. Even guns, which most people find easiest to use, were difficult for her. It was like all the weapons she had held so far didn’t suit her.
When she fell into the first dungeon, [Forgotten Forest], she brought a dagger for survival, but she hardly ever used it. She would occasionally help the person who fell with her in the first dungeon, or try to engage in combat when she couldn’t just stand by and watch, but she couldn’t use it effectively.
And even that dagger was lost during the boss battle.
In that boss battle, only one person, including Jin So-yul herself, survived. Just before the two of them moved on to the next dungeon, something caught Jin So-yul’s eye as she turned around.
“I… I picked up the sword the boss was using in the dungeon [Forgotten Forest]… the sword that fell after killing the boss.”
That’s why she felt even more uneasy. Is it right for me to use a sword that a monster used? Is it okay for someone like me to use a sword that was wielded by a boss-level being?
She knew she wouldn’t be able to use it anyway. She had never used a sword before, and she was just holding onto it, thinking that maybe she could sell it for a high price if she ever got out of the dungeon.
So, in the end, this sword had found the wrong owner.
“There must be a reason why you, among all the people, picked up that sword.”
But Yoo Yi-joo thought differently.
“Jin So-yul.”
Yoo Yi-joo covered Jin So-yul’s eyes.
“Trust me and throw it.”
Yoo Yi-joo slowly pulled back Jin So-yul’s arm holding the sword.
‘If my guess is correct, the ability this sword has is…’
Yoo Yi-joo was certain as she saw the sword gleaming from where Jin So-yul was holding it.
‘The sword has already chosen Jin So-yul as its owner. But Jin So-yul wasn’t accepting it.’
That’s why it was ‘deactivated’.
‘You just need to accept it.’
When Jin So-yul, with nothing visible in her sight, focused only on the sword and pulled her arm back all the way.
“Now.”
Yoo Yi-joo removed her hand.
[The skill ‘Boundary Line (C)’ is breaking!]
At the same time, almost instinctively, Jin So-yul threw the sword with all her might. Whoosh! Along with the sound of cutting through the air, what followed was the sound of the monster using a skill, the sound of something scattering, and then…
[Kiiieeek!!]
The monster’s cry. At the same time, she felt the weight covering her eyes fall away. In the slowly brightening field of view, before she could check her surroundings, a system window popped up.
[SYSTEM] Item ‘First Sword (-)’ has awakened!
[SYSTEM] The characteristic of item ‘First Sword (-)’ is manifesting!
[SYSTEM] Ability, ‘Neutralization (-)’ is imbued in the sword!
Jin So-yul looked up. The monster writhed in pain, struck directly in the shoulder by the sword.
The sword gleamed in the monster’s shoulder, and a new system window appeared.
[SYSTEM] Due to the ability, ‘Nullification (-)’, all illusions have disappeared!
The cave slowly disappeared. The space that had been emitting a bluish light like jewels was gradually covered with stone walls.
As if such a space had never existed in the first place, everything disappeared, and when it was gone, the first thing visible was…
Clang! It was a sword that fell from midair.
[SYSTEM] Title ‘Master of the First Sword’ is activated.
💎
“Yi-joo-ssi!”
“Noona!”
When Yoo Yi-joo opened her eyes, she was in the corridor leading to the faction space.
She saw Baek Doha and Lee Cheong-sin running toward her and looked up.
[DUNGEON GUIDE] ‘Protecting the Faction from External Intruders – Stage 2’ has ended!
The system window filled her view.
[DUNGEON GUIDE] Participant: Jin So-yul, Yoo Yi-joo.
[DUNGEON GUIDE] The personal rankings will now be announced!
“Noona, where on earth did you go!”
Lee Cheong-sin shouted as he helped Yoo Yi-joo, who was sitting on the floor, to her feet. Even as she awkwardly got up from her seat due to his help, Yoo Yi-joo couldn’t take her eyes off the system window.
[DUNGEON GUIDE] <5th place>, Shin Shawol, 2,400 points.
The results started coming out one by one.
[DUNGEON GUIDE] <4th place>, Cha Si-hyeon, 3,800 points.
With each alarm that rang, she could feel her heart pounding.
‘Please.’
[DUNGEON GUIDE] <3rd place>, Baek Doha, 4,000 points.
Soon after, 2nd and 1st place were announced. The result she confirmed while biting her lips tightly was…
“It’s a lie.”
A surprised voice was heard in front of Yoo Yi-joo.
She looked up at the owner of the voice.
[DUNGEON GUIDE] <2nd place>, Yoo Yi-joo, 5,100 points.
[DUNGEON GUIDE] <1st place>, Jin So-yul, 6,000 points.
Jin So-yul muttered as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“First place? Me…?”
“It’s true.”
“You can see it too.”
Yi-joo added as she helped the slumped Jin So-yul to her feet. Jin So-yul muttered, confused.
“But I killed it with you… why am I ranked higher…?”
“Because you contributed more.”
“No way…. I’m in first place.”
“Yep, I see it too.”
Smiling slightly, she extended her hand towards Jin So-yul.
[Inviting ‘Jin So-yul’ to join the faction.]
Jin So-yul blinked blankly, staring into space.
Too many things had changed.
[SYSTEM] Title ‘Owner of the First Sword’ has been activated!
[SYSTEM] Title activation reward! Four A-rank skills are given!
[SYSTEM] Congratulations! The trait ‘Most A-rank Skills Holder’ acquired!
It felt as though she had become a whole new person.
Could this be a dream? Was that why such unreal things were happening?
Jin So-yul absentmindedly raised her hand and pressed the system window.
[‘Jin So-yul’ has accepted the invitation.]
[‘Jin So-yul’ has joined the White Moon Faction!]
As if by magic, her affiliation changed to ‘White Moon’, which she had longed for.
When she turned her head, she saw a woman smiling softly. She felt almost mesmerized by the smile resting on that pale white skin.
The woman smiled gently as if she had predicted all of this.
“Welcome.”
💎
After the second stage ended, Jin So-yul entered the faction.
Still dazed by these facts, Jin So-yul spoke uncertainly.
“Thank you…”
“There’s nothing to thank me for. I just kept my promise.”
Saying that, I slowly turned my back.
“So I hope there are no complaints, everyone.”
I could see the others staring blankly at us two.
They were people who believed they were naturally stronger than me, or Jin So-yul.
‘It’s not exactly wrong.’
If we’re just talking about strength, there were plenty of people stronger than me. Although I’m known as C-rank, my actual rank is E.
‘No mana, don’t know much about hunters, just stealing and using other people’s skills.’
Even I thought I was weak. But what can I do? In this dungeon, you can survive if you do well, even if you’re weak.
I shrugged my shoulders, and someone voiced their dissatisfaction again.
“W-what? What is this? Did you two plan this?!”
That is the question I was waiting for. Well, I expected it, but…
“Think whatever you want. The results speak for themselves.”
“Now that I think about it, this all makes sense! There’s no way just the two of you could take down a boss!”
“Yeah, they’re both C-rank. It’s just sympathy for the weak, right?”
“These losers would’ve been dead if they hadn’t been lucky…”
Hearing even the muttering from the other side, I smirked.
“Even if that were the case, I brought her because she’s more useful than you lot.”
Do you really think I’d bring someone useless? As I looked at them as if asking that, the ones who were chattering until just now shut their mouths.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Wait!”
“I don’t have time to listen to more of this.”
I shook off the hand that tried to stop me and turned to leave but paused for a moment. Then, I turned back and asked.
“If you’re so desperate to be part of the top faction, there’s always another way, isn’t there?”
The man’s eyes wavered.
“My mark. If you’re that desperate, go ahead and try to take it.”
If you can, that is. I smiled slyly, as if daring them, and turned to leave. Just as I stepped into the faction’s territory—
“Eeeekkhh!!”
A sound of gritted teeth spread behind my back. As I turned around, feeling the threat.
“Don’t you know who’s behind this person that you’re just rushing at?”
Baek Doha appeared.
Baek Doha lifted the man he was holding by the nape of his neck and slammed him into the ground with a thud.
‘That must hurt.’
I frowned without realizing it.
Cha Si-hyeon, who had been watching them, raised his head.
“Anyone else?”
And with that single sentence, the situation was settled.
💎
Thank you for reading! ♡
