Chapter 28: The Boss is Too Weak (8)

I had thought it would be hilarious if, while learning the swordsmanship here, my grip was bruised and I regressed. But that never happened.

Choi Ji-Won let me watch as I stood, holding the sword.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

Slowly and precisely, Choi Ji-Won swung the sword.

After repeating a move several times, she looked at me and asked, “Did you remember?”

Each time, I nodded slightly in response.

When I nodded, she immediately demonstrated the next move.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

This was the first time I was learning by observing Choi Ji-Won’s swordsmanship, not by showing my own and getting feedback.

“This stance is useful when you lose balance.”

Choi Ji-Won’s sword technique wasn’t flashy.

It was rather more about how to channel strength into the sword more effectively,  how to maintain a stable stance, and how to effectively respond to the opponent’s movements.

I’m no expert in swordsmanship, but I strongly felt that she was ‘true to the basics’.

It felt more like observing ‘The Fundamentals of Swordsmanship [Basics]’ than the legendary moves of the Volcano Sect.

Actually, I realized expecting flashiness in modern swordsmanship might be unrealistic. However, I was not disappointed at all. Instead, I was amazed that Choi Ji-Won knew how to wield a real sword so efficiently.

Just like that, about an hour had passed since Choi Ji-Won began swinging her sword.

“Whew…”

When Choi Ji-Won stopped to catch her breath, I decided to share the good news with her.

“I’ve acquired a trait.”

“…Really? What rank?”

“…F.”

I’ve finally achieved a swordsmanship trait.

All the hardships I faced learning swordsmanship, and I’ve only now reached rank F.

If it were the trait I got from Choi Ji-won’s emotions, I was sure it would have at least an ‘A’ rank.

But, isn’t it normal to get traits this way?

Instead, the one who gets them from emotions is the abnormal one.

“I think I’ve taught you all I know about the sword. From now on, as you keep regressing, you’ll gradually get used to it. Or perhaps acquire a new, impressive sword technique.”

Choi Ji-Won spoke, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead with her arm.

Though her sword movements were slow, she appeared to have concentrated intensely to maintain a perfect stance.

“But why teach me swordsmanship suddenly?”

“…Because I want to help.”

“But even so—”

I stopped mid-sentence and closed my mouth.

Suddenly, Choi Ji-Won slowly began to bow facing me.

Soon, she was bending at a perfect 90 degrees.

“...Why are you doing that?”

“I’m sorry.”

“...”

“Due to my lack of mental and spiritual discipline... I made it hard for you. I apologize.”

I immediately grasped what she was talking about.

In the story of my past that I had shared, the cause of my regression was linked to Choi Ji-Won dozens of times. She must have also noticed that.

“First... straighten your back. Let’s sit and talk. It’s not something that happened in this round.”

In fact, from Choi Ji-Won’s perspective, she hadn’t done anything wrong. She was apologizing purely based on my words.

And receiving such a formal apology made me feel rather uncomfortable.

“...Okay.”

Choi Ji-Won obediently straightened up and sat in front of me.

“Sigh...”

My feelings were so complicated that it was incredibly hard to put them into words.

I like Choi Ji-Won.

I appreciate her kind heart that seeks to protect the weak, her sense of justice, and her formidable power.

But at the same time, I freaking hate Choi Ji-Won... She’s insane.

She slashed someone with a sword just for asking about college.

She knocked someone out just for being a little suspicious about them.

And when she misunderstood me as a pervert, she kicked me without waiting for a single moment.

“Why are you like this? Why do you always resort to violence?”

She’s barbaric, to a degree that it’s hard to believe she lived in the modern era until now.

But it’s not really a matter of era.

Even in the barbaric Stone Age, if she had behaved like that, there would be cave paintings saying, “Choi Ji-Won is insane.”

“Well... Ahem...”

For once, Choi Ji-Won’s face turned red.

After much thought, she unfastened the scabbard from her waist and placed it on the ground.

“That was its fault.”

“...What?”

No, no matter how you look at it, that doesn’t make sense. Are you blaming the sword?

I’ve seen many blame their parents or the world, but it’s my first time seeing someone blame their own sword.

Yet, dismissing it as a joke didn’t feel right... Choi Ji-Won’s expression was gravely serious.

She tenderly caressed the sword lying on the ground.

“Among the traits I possess... there’s one called ‘Divine Sword Union’. If you look at the status window, it’s like this.”

Using the tip of her finger, she wrote characters on the dirt floor.

-Divine Sword Union [SSS]

-The state where a person becomes a sword, and a sword becomes a person. To humans, it grants the sharpness and strength of a sword, and to the sword, it grants the wisdom of a human.

“...Even after reading it, I’m clueless. This description is too ambiguous.”

“It’s a trait where Boong Boong and I grow closer in essence. Oh, by the way, ‘Boong Boong’ is the name of this sword.”

“...”

Boong Boong. Such a ridiculously cute name for a sword.

More importantly, I couldn’t quite grasp the concept of a person and sword becoming one.

“Do you have a more detailed explanation?”

“In simpler terms... my body became as strong as a sword. My muscles grew, my senses sharpened... Basically, my overall physical capabilities improved.”

“...Ah, I see.”

“Also, the reason I always swing the sword in the vacant lot is to adapt to my improved physical abilities. Unlike what you thought, I’m not doing it to find some hidden piece.”

I see.

I had assumed she was chasing some ‘Hidden Achievement: Swing the Sword 10,000 times in the Tutorial’ or something like that.

However, there seemed to be a legitimate reason after all.

“But... how does that relate to you hitting me?”

Her explanation was still lacking.

What does the need to adapt to enhanced physical capabilities have to do with her losing control and beating me up every time?

Choi Ji-Won, with her face still flushed, vehemently shook her head.

“...It wasn’t just me who needed to adapt.”

“...What?”

“Boong Boong... thanks to the trait, developed a consciousness. It shares memories and thoughts with me. If it wanted, it could even move my body... We are one.”

“...”

Divine Sword Union… A realm where a human and a sword become one.

So, Choi Ji-Won and Boong Boong have truly become one?

It seems as if two personalities are coexisting and cooperating within a single body.

Choi Ji-Won, as if embarrassed, fervently scratched the back of her head.

“Boong Boong’s thoughts are still very childish... It’s extremely inept at controlling emotions. When it feels anger, it lashes out with fists first. And when it’s suspicious, it tries to suppress the opponent first.”

“Uh... I see...”

“Usually, I prevent Boong Boong’s actions with my will... But when I’m angry or suspicious, it’s hard to stop the punches. Actually, before I teamed up with you, I knocked out two people...”

“...”

I gawked, at a loss for words.

It was a shocking revelation. The one that had been smacking me around was actually the sword named ‘Boong Boong.’

Its age? 7 days. Not 7 years old but 7 days old.

Come to think of it, Choi Ji-Won always mumbled to herself.

Thinking that I also had a habit of mumbling like a web novel protagonist, I never paid it much attention. But it seemed she was actually conversing with her sword.

“...But you said you can read each other’s thoughts. Why would you need to speak out loud?”

“… It helps to sort out my thoughts verbally… “

“Aha.”

Whatever the case, it turned out that the true identity of Choi Ji-won, an insane person who had the policy to use violence first, was a young sword that had just gained an ego.

Meaning, Choi Ji-Won was more of an observer or a passive accomplice.

Of course, it didn’t mean I suddenly found Choi Ji-Won likable.

After all, she also went along with Boong Boong’s emotions, lashing out.

Didn’t she say she could have restrained it if she had different thoughts?

In the end... it seems Choi Ji-Won is indeed hot-tempered. A fact no one could deny.

The only difference being that Choi Ji-Won has the restraint to hold back her punches, while Boong Boong doesn’t.

“I deserve an apology.”

I stared at Choi Ji-Won, arms crossed, with an imposing presence.

“Yes, I will...”

“No. I need to receive an apology from the main culprit. Tell Boong Boong to come out.”

I’ve already received an apology from Choi Ji-Won. This is a matter to discuss with the main culprit.

“...Just a moment.”

Closing her eyes, Choi Ji-Won delved into a heated debate with Boong Boong.

How much time had passed?

Choi Ji-Won, who had been furrowing her brow, suddenly became completely expressionless.

While Choi Ji-Won typically wore a neutral face, this was... something else.

Somehow, looking at her face made me deeply unsettled.

“...You want an apology?”

Normally, a human’s voice would contain a range of tones and pitches, but now, Choi Ji-Won’s voice was devoid of any of that.

“...Are you Boong Boong?”

“Yes.”

Choi Ji-Won, or rather Boong Boong, spoke with a complete lack of emotion.

It seems Boong Boong isn’t accustomed to expressing itself like a human.

It seems to be alien to those things. It’s...

“Kim Jun-Ho. I’m sorry.”

Boong Boong uttered an apology, emotionless.

“But, it’s not my fault. I never intended to kill anyone. I only meant to restrain. If anything, the problem is with your own trait.”

“...”

I asked for an apology, and Boong Boong gave an excuse. But it indeed had a point.

“Hey! Are you going to act like this?”

Now, Choi Ji-Won’s personality came out, showing annoyance at Boong Boong’s excuse.

“Haah... I got angry, I’ll apologize again...”

“No, it’s fine. You have a point.”

Again, remember, this being is only 7 days old.

Expecting a mature apology is perhaps asking too much. It’s already enough that it said it’s sorry.

And it’s also true that the issue is with my own trait, so I wasn’t even that angry.

Besides, what are you going to do to a sword just because you’re annoyed?

Even if I did something, there was a high probability a fist would whoosh toward me in retaliation.

Anyway, I already got the apology I wanted...

“...So, what are you going to do now?”

I posed a fundamental question to Choi Ji-Won.

We chatted rather pleasantly, but the situation hadn’t changed much.

There was no hope left here. Everyone was just waiting for the impending doom.

It’s strange that Choi Ji-Won remained so composed in this situation.

“...Kim Jun-Ho... Before you regress, shouldn’t you take something with you?”

Choi Ji-Won called my name as if savoring it.

“You said that when someone feels intense emotions, you can obtain it as a trait, right?”

“...Yes.”

“Did you get any traits from me?”

“No. I’ve never been able to.”

Even now, facing imminent death, Choi Ji-Won remained calm.

It would be immensely difficult to obtain any trait from her.

“Hmm...”

Choi Ji-Won slowly closed her eyes, lost in thought.

Her eyelashes cast long shadows over her closed eyes.

“You know, I’ve been thinking... it seems we don’t really know much about each other. Isn’t it difficult to feel intense emotions towards someone you barely know?”

Suddenly, Choi Ji-Won stated the obvious.

“...Well, yeah.”

We only met in the tower after all. What was there to know or feel?

“But we can start getting to know each other now, right?”

Choi Ji-Won smiled lightly once again. Her modest smile was rather pleasing to see.

“So... starting now.”

On this doomed island,

“I’ll tell you about my life. You tell me about yours.”

Choi Ji-Won began her tale.

– – – End of Chapter – – 

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