Chapter 5
The comments section caught fire in an instant.
-Is it even possible to learn aura imbuement this fast? Is this guy actually pretending to be a newbie?
-This makes the theory that the newbie is an old Sword Saint even more likely…
-GreatswordFan) F@ck, he’s got a color and can manipulate aura too? What a freak.
-GeniusSwordMaiden) I’ll give you my permanent username, newbie…!
-PureAndLovely*) Hey, TS girl, tell me straight. Have you really never learned swordsmanship before?
└WokeUpAsATSGirl) I’m a genuine, pure newbie. I really don’t know anything.
└WokeUpAsATSGirl) But is this really that surprising? It’s already a given that I’m a genius, yeah.
└PureAndLovely*) This bastard’s gotten arrogant after we praised him a little.
└GreatswordFan) F@ck, I want a color too.
I could see someone without a color crying out in despair, but I ignored it and continued talking with the blue-tag mod.
└PureAndLovely*) The color manifesting in your aura could just be a matter of constitution. It means your body is practically perfected.
└PureAndLovely*) But this ‘aura imbuement’ you just learned is on a whole different level.
└PureAndLovely*) You need not only highly refined aura, but also insane precision in manipulating it. Even the slightest mistake could be disastrous.
└WokeUpAsATSGirl) What happens if you mess up?
└PureAndLovely*) Your body gets chopped into tiny pieces and explodes in every direction.
“…Huh?”
Hearing the mod say that sent a chill through my whole body.
Didn’t that mean I could’ve died like that if I’d made one wrong move?
└WokeUpAsATSGirl) I’m never using aura imbuement again.
└PureAndLovely*) lol, no need to be that scared. You’ve already succeeded in imbuing aura, so as long as you don’t force it, you won’t get hurt.
└GeniusSwordMaiden) But if your heart starts hurting, stop immediately! It means your body can’t withstand the aura…!
I’d been getting useful information from the gallery when…
[The climber’s body has fully recovered.]
A system window appeared before my eyes.
[Your clear rewards are being calculated!]
[Final score: 150,000 points]
[The world record for the Tutorial Ranking has been updated from ‘12,937 points’ to ‘150,000’ points!]
[Please enter the name you wish to register on the rankings!]
“Huh?”
I was suddenly being asked to choose a name.
Even my permanent username on the Swordsmanship Gallery was a half-assed name like ‘WokeUpAsATSGirl,’ so coming up with a name was an awfully difficult task for me.
“Hmm.”
I was wondering what name I should use when…
A permanent username from the Swordsmanship Gallery came to mind.
“…GeniusSwordMaiden?”
[The climber’s record has been registered in the rankings!]
[Tutorial Rankings]
1st—GeniusSwordMaiden (150,000 points)
2nd—Elf LOVE (12,937 points)
3rd—Mage (10,860 points)
…
…
…
[A blessing will be bestowed upon the region where the top-ranked climber in the Tutorial is located!]
[Mana stones and points earned in all Towers in South Korea +20%]
“Damn.”
I’d made the name of the Swordsmanship Gallery’s beloved regular, ‘GeniusSwordMaiden,’ known across the entire world.
It was an achievement that would go down in the annals of my life.
‘I have to brag about this in the gallery.’
The system kept droning on about boring rewards, but I casually ignored it and opened the gallery.
[Title: GeniusSwordMaiden has arrived]
(A rough photo of the ranking screen)
I broke the record, and it told me to register on the rankings.
I thought about it for a while, then decided to make our idol, ‘GeniusSwordMaiden,’ known across the world…
-Damn, now that’s what I’m talking about.
-Is this guy seriously insane? lol
-[Web message] You must respect Sword Maiden. Sword Maiden is the Swordsmanship Gallery’s greatest and most beloved goddess…
-PureAndLovely*) Sword Maiden deserves all the respect, you bastard lol
└Even the blue-tag mod can’t let this one slide. Is Sword Maiden your buddy? From now on, call her ‘Sword Maiden-sama-sama-sama.’
└PureAndLovely*) That was my mistake. Sorry, sorry.
-GeniusSwordMaiden) W-what have you done!!!!
└WokeUpAsATSGirl) I humbly greet the most exalted permanent username in the Swordsmanship Gallery, Sword Maiden-sama-sama-sama…
└GeniusSwordMaiden) Eeeek, you’re embarrassing me when you keep saying that!!!
-Ding!
Just as I was praising Sword Maiden’s greatness, the system interrupted me.
[Hidden Stage rewards are being distributed!]
---
[Blazing Flame Sword (A)]
The blazing flames will devour your enemies.
-Fire damage +150%
-Ignores 10% of boss monsters’ defense
…and 4 other additional stats.
----
“Whoa.”
A ridiculously cool, flame-shaped sword appeared in my hand.
Just looking at it, you could tell it was overflowing with style.
‘And it’s A-Rank?’
I’d assumed they’d toss me some low-end B-Rank item, but I’d hit the jackpot with an A-Rank one.
Weapons of the same rank can cost up to twice as much as other items, after all.
‘This must be worth at least a few billion won.’
With that kind of money, I could move to a safe part of Hwaseong City, even if I couldn’t move to another city.
But…
‘I should use something good myself.’
I couldn’t sacrifice my future just to get money right away.
I was planning to keep getting stronger from here on out, after all.
If this was a good weapon, I was better off just using it.
‘I should ask the gallery.’
[Title: Got the ultimate magic sword lol]
(A photo showing the sword’s stats)
The options don’t seem like a good fit for me, though.
Still, it’s better than that piece-of-junk longsword, right?
-It looks nice, but it doesn’t seem practical.
-Hmm… It might look good mounted on the wall as a decorative sword in a mansion?
-GreatswordFan) It’s useless, so sell it to whoever.
“Hmm?”
Most of the comments were telling me not to use it because it wasn’t any good.
-WokeUpAsATSGirl) Why isn’t it any good?
└PureAndLovely*) The material doesn’t work with aura.
└PureAndLovely*) At a glance, it looks like adamantium, but that stuff has a strong attraction to mana.
└PureAndLovely*) If you channel aura into the sword, the metal will resist it, and either the metal or the aura will be destroyed.
“Hmm…”
└PureAndLovely*) You didn’t understand, did you?
└WokeUpAsATSGirl) Nope.
└PureAndLovely*) Try channeling a little aura into the sword. You’ll understand right away.
Okay, got it.
-Shaa…
I let a little aura seep into the A-Rank weapon, just like the blue-tag mod said.
With the longsword, I could just force it in roughly, but…
-Crackle, crackle!
The aura was gradually pushed back, then disappeared in an instant.
‘So that’s what she meant.’
The material of the sword was rejecting my aura.
It wouldn’t matter if I planned to fight by strengthening only my body, but…
‘I can’t give up this ridiculously overpowered skill.’
Aura imbuement was such an overpowered technique that it could turn even an ordinary longsword into a legendary magic sword.
Giving it up over one weapon just wasn’t worth it.
-WokeUpAsATSGirl) Then what kind of sword should I use? You said the material was the problem.
└GeniusSwordMaiden) A mithril sword! It conducts aura incredibly well!
“Hmm.”
A mithril sword, huh.
It was such a common material in fantasy that it didn’t feel very impressive.
└WokeUpAsATSGirl) Is there anything better?
└PureAndLovely*) Just use mithril.
└WokeUpAsATSGirl) But it’s not cool at all;;
└PureAndLovely*) You can get it modified with alloys and stuff later, but I’ll tell you about that after you go kill a dragon.
So someone as weak as me had to make do with a mithril sword.
‘Can’t be helped, I guess.’
I swallowed my disappointment and closed the gallery.
I’d done everything I needed to, so now I should go home.
I took the mana stones and A-Rank weapon I’d gotten as tutorial rewards and headed home.
***
As soon as I got home, I sat down in front of my computer.
‘Let’s see how much a mithril sword costs.’
I searched online and checked the prices.
I’d have plenty of money if I sold the A-Rank weapon anyway, so I was daydreaming about what to do with the money left after buying a mithril sword when…
[Average transaction price over the past 10 years: 1.2 billion won]
“…?”
I froze, dumbfounded.
Wait, A-Rank weapons usually cost less than a billion won. Was this right?
‘Come on. There’s no way.’
I scoured all sorts of websites to check the market price of mithril swords.
But contrary to my hopes, reality was cruel.
[Last transaction: 5 years ago]
[Transaction price: 1.4 billion won]
Not only was it expensive, there weren’t any available at all.
After looking into it, I found that both supply and demand had disappeared.
It was outrageously expensive, and even if I had the money, it was impossible to get one.
‘…Maybe the system exchange has one?’
The system that opened after clearing the Tower’s tutorial.
Maybe I could find a mithril sword in its exchange.
‘System.’
As soon as I called out in my mind, a blue window appeared in the air.
[Climber-only system.]
User: GeniusSwordMaiden (Lee Sion)
The system UI had all kinds of features, but I headed straight for the exchange.
Hoping for the best, I searched for a mithril sword, and…
[No results found for ‘mithril sword.’]
[Most recent transaction: 4 years and 3 months ago.]
“What?”
A shocking screen greeted me.
‘…I’ll have to get a mithril sword eventually.’
I accepted reality and decided to give up quickly.
There was no point obsessing over something I couldn’t get.
Besides, getting an endgame weapon right at the start was ridiculous.
Even just looking at the Swordsmanship Gallery, most people said they got their mithril swords around the time they became Sword Masters.
‘I was being way too greedy.’
Mm-hmm. I’m definitely not just making excuses because I’m disappointed.
There’s no way I can get a mithril sword right now, obviously!
‘For now, I should deal with the A-Rank weapon.’
Since I couldn’t use it anyway, I’d feel better if I sold it quickly.
I searched for A-Rank weapons with options similar to mine.
[Breath of the Glacier (A)—7,500,000 gold]
[Exploding Agony (A)—8,300,000 gold]
…
…
…
Most of them seemed to be selling for around 8 million gold.
If one gold was roughly 100 won, then… it looked like about 800 million won.
‘And I still can’t buy a mithril sword?’
A useless decorative sword -> no listings, costs 1.4 billion won.
A ridiculously cool A-Rank weapon -> worth about 800 million won.
‘What a rotten world.’
I grumbled about this unfair state of affairs, but still put the weapon up for auction in the exchange.
[Auction starting bid: 4,000,000 gold]
This should sell on its own.
I was about to browse the gallery and get ready for bed when…
-Ding-a-ling!
A system alert sounded.
[‘HwaseongIsGreat’ has sent you a message request.]
-Hey
-Hey
-Hey, please check your messages…!
Someone had seen my auction listing and sent me a private message.
Did they want to buy it immediately?
‘…But.’
Judging by the name HwaseongIsGreat, did they live in Hwaseong City?
I felt a kind of kinship with them, so I accepted the message request.
[Me (GeniusSwordMaiden): What can I do for you?]
[HwaseongIsGreat: I’m contacting you about the weapon you listed in the exchange, Sword Maiden.]
“Sword Maiden?”
They’d suddenly brought up Sword Maiden, so I wondered if they were from the Swordsmanship Gallery too, but…
‘…My name is Sword Maiden now, isn’t it?’
I quickly realized that and focused on the message again.
I couldn’t tarnish Sword Maiden’s name. I decided to imitate her way of speaking as closely as possible.
[Me (GeniusSwordMaiden): Sure, go ahead!]
[HwaseongIsGreat: Um… I only have 4 million gold right now. Would you be willing to trade it along with another item for an immediate deal?]
“This bastard?”
Did they think they could get an A-Rank weapon by offering a mere 4 million gold plus some junk?
I wanted to kick them out right away, but… I was borrowing the name of ‘the Swordsmanship Gallery’s most exalted and beloved regular, Sword Maiden.’
Even if the other person was a villain, I should still be polite.
[Me (GeniusSwordMaiden): What item did you want to trade?]
[HwaseongIsGreat: …A mithril sword.]
[Me (GeniusSwordMaiden): Are you insane?]
“Gasp!”
I was so surprised that I blurted out something rude.
No, more importantly, a mithril sword?
‘That’s more expensive than an A-Rank weapon. They’re offering me that?’
Modern society still has a warm heart…!
Just as my love for humanity was about to start overflowing…
[HwaseongIsGreat: I’m sorry. That was an unreasonable request, wasn’t it?]
[HwaseongIsGreat: Asking you to trade an A-Rank weapon for a decorative sword that won’t even sell was shameless of me.]
[Me (GeniusSwordMaiden): Huh?]
[HwaseongIsGreat: Sorry for taking up your time. I’ll be going now.]
They seemed to have misunderstood something and thought I’d rejected them.
[Me (GeniusSwordMaiden): No, no, hey;;]
[HwaseongIsGreat: Yes?]
[Me (GeniusSwordMaiden): I’m good with a quick deal. I’ll send the trade request now.]
I hurriedly sent them a message, but there was no reply for several dozen seconds. Maybe they’d already left.
“How could this happen…”
I was still lamenting my desperate situation when…
[HwaseongIsGreat: You really… want to trade…?]
A reply full of disbelief arrived.
***
The desk in the office was piled high with all sorts of documents.
The red-haired woman sitting there yawned tiredly.
“Haaah…!”
Kwon Dohwa, an S-Rank Hunter.
As the guild master of Hwasan, Hwaseong City’s local guild, she was checking the exchange as usual.
‘Is there anything good…’
She’d take even a B-Rank weapon, as long as it was a decent listing.
‘We’re desperately short on equipment.’
Recently, Hwaseong had been overflowing with high-level monsters that had crossed over from Suwon.
They’d had five A-Rank weapons destroyed in just one month.
‘The budget’s never going to be enough…’
As she listlessly browsed the exchange…
[Blazing Flame Sword (A)—listed 20 seconds ago]
-Auction starting bid: 4,000,000 gold.
She’d stumbled across an incredible listing.
It had decent specs even for an A-Rank weapon, and a unique option specialized in fire damage.
‘This is perfect for me.’
Every attack she made was fire-attribute, despite being a swordswoman, so this weapon was absolutely perfect for her.
She had to buy it, no matter what.
‘…But I’m out of gold.’
She only had 4 million gold she could use personally right now.
Just enough to meet the auction’s starting bid.
‘That won’t be nearly enough.’
Even if she tried to use the guild’s budget, the auction would surely be over by the time she finished the paperwork.
And ignoring the procedures would count as embezzlement.
“Ugh…! I really want to buy this…!”
As her head started to throb, she noticed the mithril sword shoved into the corner of her office.
“…”
A mithril sword she’d commissioned from a blacksmith friend as a joke a long time ago.
Back then, she’d been working alone and had money to spare, so she’d bought it without thinking.
Now, the 1 billion won she’d spent on it felt like a painfully large hole in her finances.
‘Then… could I somehow trade this for it?’
By any reasonable standard, it was impossible.
People said mithril swords were worth a billion won, but in reality there was practically no one who bought or sold them.
No blacksmith would even accept an order to make one. They were basically expensive junk.
‘They’ll obviously refuse, but…’
She sent a message, desperate enough to grasp at straws.
And then…
[GeniusSwordMaiden: What item did you want to trade?]
[Me (HwaseongIsGreat): …A mithril sword.]
[GeniusSwordMaiden: Are you insane?]
As expected, the offer was rejected.
‘Is she asking if I’m insane?’
From the other person’s perspective, it was a fair question. The offer itself was absurd.
She was about to apologize and close the system when…
[GeniusSwordMaiden: I’m good with a quick deal. I’ll send the trade request now.]
“H-huh…?”
Her mind went blank at the completely unexpected reply.
[Me (HwaseongIsGreat): You really… want to trade…?]
And then an actual private trade request came through.
[The item offered by the other party: Blazing Flame Sword (A)]
[Do you really wish to accept the trade?]
Even looking at the system, she couldn’t understand what was happening.
‘Could this be a scam…?’
No matter how many times she checked, it was definitely the item listed in the auction house.
-Gulp.
She swallowed and cautiously pressed the trade button.
[Trade complete!]
[Blazing Flame Sword (A)]
A longsword shaped like a blazing flame appeared in her hand, and…
“…Huh?”
For a while, Kwon Dohwa stood frozen, unable to move.