Chapter 138

“Is that… Bung-bung?”

“…”

Bung-bung. Choi Ji-won’s sword. The very weapon that forced me into countless regressions during the tutorial.

I had already been aware of its presence. After all, Bung-bung was Choi Ji-won’s companion, and it wasn’t the first time she mentioned that ‘Bung-bung grumbles when it looks at me.’

“Why are you here…?”

But the timing of Bung-bung’s appearance was undeniably strange. Ever since Choi Ji-won regained her memories and we started dating, the sword hadn’t shown itself even once.

So why now? Why at such a convenient, no—suspicious—timing?

“Don’t tell me…”

It was only natural for my imagination to spiral in a negative direction.

Could it be that Choi Ji-won’s consciousness was somehow bound by a restriction? Was that why Bung-bung’s subconscious had surfaced?

In fiction, when the protagonist loses consciousness, isn’t it common for something ominous sealed within to emerge? Though Bung-bung wasn’t exactly ominous, the situation felt eerily similar.

“…I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that.”

But Bung-bung flatly denied my assumptions.

“Look at Ji-won.”

It—or should I say she? No, she seemed more appropriate. Anyway, she patted her own shoulder, asking for me to take a closer look at her.

“Her…?”

I did as told and examined her, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was the same slender and attractive figure of Choi Ji-won I always saw—perfectly proportioned, with a lithe waist, legs that went on forever, and a ponytail that swayed like silk. Even the small teardrop-shaped mole beneath her eye added a finishing touch…

“…Pervert.”

Realizing my gaze had wandered, Bung-bung flushed red. Her fingers twitched as if itching to slap me, but she held back, likely aware it would trigger a regression.

“Not her body, you idiot! Look at the lightning! Stop ogling!”

“Oh…”

It was only then that my gaze shifted to the faint blue current crackling around Choi Ji-won’s body.

“…I still don’t get it. What am I supposed to see?”

“Dumbass! Can’t you tell how stable the current is?”

“…Oh, you’re right.”

As Bung-bung pointed out, the lightning coursing over her body was remarkably steady—unusually so for someone activating Heart of the Thunderstorm for the first time. While it was a power meant to be controlled with ease after mastering it, the initial activation typically caused chaos.

“You might not realize, but activating this trait sends mana rampaging through the entire body. The current runs along the skin, muscles twitch uncontrollably, and the whole body starts trembling.”

“…Now that you mention it, that does seem odd.”

Choi Ji-won knew how to handle mana. I had taught her, and she practiced diligently. She had a natural talent for mana control that matched her skills with the sword. But being this composed? That was something else entirely.

The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Hah, I can’t believe I have to spell it out for you.”

Bung-bung smirked, an expression both smug and mischievous—completely different from Choi Ji-won’s warm smiles.

“Right now, Ji-won is focused entirely on suppressing the rampaging mana. I don’t know much about mana myself.”

“…Then what are you doing?”

“Me? I’m controlling the body and enduring the pain. I’m a sword; I’m used to stuff like that.”

I see. Choi Ji-won’s consciousness was currently consumed with stabilizing her mana, leaving Bung-bung to take charge of her physical body.

A personality for mana control and another for physical control. It was a division of roles perfectly suited for wielding a high-risk skill like Heart of the Thunder.

“…Isn’t this a cheat?”

I’d seen archmages in web novels split their consciousness to cast dozens—no, hundreds—of spells simultaneously. But seeing a swordsman do it? That felt like breaking the rules. No, it was outright cheating.

I finally understood why Choi Ji-won’s trait was rated SSS. I had always thought it was just an enhanced body with sharper senses, better durability, and improved physical abilities. But to have this kind of application?

“Ji-won and I are geniuses. Pulling this off is child’s play, don’t you think?”

“…”

Bung-bung’s smug snort as she watched me in awe was irritating, to say the least.

Calm down. She’s just a three-month-old sword. It’s natural for kids to tease adults, and as someone with a mature personality, I should tolerate it.

“See? Ji-won’s getting the hang of it now.”

Zzzzt! Crackle!

Whether I fumed or not, Bung-bung began playing with the lightning, controlling it in midair. While fine manipulation seemed beyond her grasp, she could direct it to a decent degree.

“…”

Watching her, a thought sparked in my mind.

“Bung-bung.”

“Yeah?”

“Can you deliberately miss with that lightning? And what’s the maximum power you can handle?”

My original plan had been simple: burn down part of the forest, leaving enough wreckage to make it look like a fierce battle had taken place.

But if Choi Ji-won and Bung-bung could pull off something this spectacular…

“How about teaming up for a little show?”

It seemed a grand finale to boost Choi Ji-won’s reputation was well within reach.​

***

“…”

“…”

Near the Fortress Entrance:

Countless dwarves and players were nervously pacing.

“How long has it been since the first lightning strike?”

“About ten minutes…”

“Hmm…”

Choi Ji-won’s duel with the madman... Truth be told, they’d love to watch it. But with an audience, Ji-won wouldn’t be able to fight comfortably, so here everyone was, pacing back and forth.

-Rumble! KRA-KA-BOOM!

Thunder roared from a distance. The sudden storm on a clear day had already scared off the animals, and the booming thunder made people flinch every time it echoed.

The flashing light and resounding thunder were overwhelming even from afar.

“Are they still fighting?”

“Can you see anything?”

“No, it’s too far.”

“Who do you think will win?”

“Watch your mouth, don’t jinx it!”

The players exchanged idle chatter as they anxiously awaited the outcome of Ji-won’s battle.

“…?”

“What?”

“Doesn’t it sound like it’s getting louder?”

The more perceptive players began to prick up their ears. The thunderclaps were indeed growing louder. Was the fight intensifying?

“They’re… coming.”

No, the battle was moving toward them. Realizing this, the players tensed their bodies, while the dwarves hid behind their pre-built wooden barricades.

“…”

For a moment, an eerie silence hung in the air. Tension filled the gap, every sound amplified—someone even audibly gulped.

Then—

“W-what the hell is that?!”

Emerging from the distant forest was none other than the madman.

He walked leisurely through the woods, his casual steps at odds with the deafening roars of thunder. His body was unscathed, his breathing steady.

And almost simultaneously, from the opposite side, Choi Ji-won appeared. Lightning crackled across her entire body, and her eyes glowed a piercing blue.

“Gasp!”

Ji-won swung her sword through the air, lightning trailing behind it like a comet. The powerful slash streaked toward the madman with a fierce momentum.

“…?!”

“It didn’t even hit!”

But despite its devastating force, the attack struck far away from the madman, as if she had never intended to hit him.

“Kehehe…”

The madman sneered, standing still as if mocking her. Ji-won unleashed several more strikes, but none of them landed.

“…What’s going on? Can she not control it?”

“If any of those hit, it’d be devastating, but… this is pointless.”

“No… from what I see, she’s intentionally missing.”

However, a burly Russian player dismissed the skepticism of others.

“Choi Ji-won wouldn’t repeatedly miss like that. If her control was off, she’d have teamed up with us instead. She wouldn’t have engaged him alone unless she was confident in her abilities.”

“Then what’s going on here?”

“If I had to guess… the madman’s ability must be specialized in evasion.”

The player spoke with the voice of experience—he had been humiliated by the madman before. None of his attacks had landed, and he’d been completely outmaneuvered.

“Look at her attacks constantly missing. That guy probably has some ability to warp space or otherwise interfere with incoming strikes.”

It wasn’t that Ji-won’s techniques were being read and countered—it was more likely the madman possessed a unique ability. His theory, though partially self-serving, seemed logical to everyone.

“Ooh…”

“That makes sense…”

The other players nodded in agreement. As they reached a consensus, Ji-won moved into action.

“Whew…”

Lightning surged from her body as Ji-won raised her sword high above her head, gripping it with both hands. The concentrated energy climbed the blade and reached into the sky.

Lightning is at its most dangerous when it strikes down from the heavens. The moment the energy at her sword’s tip connected with the sky—

-KRA-KA-BOOOOOM!!!

The sound was deafening, instantaneous. There wasn’t even a split second to register the flash before an earsplitting roar drowned everything out. The world turned blue.

Ears rang with static. Vision was obliterated by the light. The acrid smell of burnt ozone filled the air.

No one could keep their eyes open. No one was unshaken. It wasn’t an attack—it was divine punishment.

“…Holy shit.”

“…What the fuck.”

As sight and hearing returned, the spectators were left paralyzed. What they had witnessed wasn’t a mere battle technique. This was a force of nature.

“T-there!”

A trembling dwarf pointed toward the forest.

-Step. Step.

Choi Ji-won staggered forward, her body battered and broken.

“Are you… of a divine lineage?”

“You’ve done well.”

Some dwarves rushed toward her with water and towels, but the players remained rooted in place, overwhelmed by what they had just witnessed.

Before the battle, there had been many questions.

How strong is Choi Ji-won?

Can she defeat the madman?

What kind of power does the Heart of the Thunder possess?

Now, there were no questions left.

The answer was clear.

– – – End of Chapter – – -

 

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