Chapter 8

The Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully - Chapter 8 (8/390)

The Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully Chapter 8

Forest of Hell

Meteo Industries, underground training room.

The training room, made from special alloys found only in the Abyss, boasts a robustness that remains unshaken by most impacts.

Yuseongwoo sat cross-legged alone in the room, his eyes closed.

A large, fierce energy was swirling violently throughout his body.

The energy swirling within him was like a storm.

However, Yuseongwoo had the energy completely under his control, and he soon calmed it down.

The energy that had been raging a moment ago became still like a calm surface.

Only then did Yuseongwoo open his eyes, exhale a long, red breath, and mutter to himself.

"Not bad..."

The human body is remarkable.

Despite the severe strain he put on his body during the battle with the Demon God, he had almost fully recovered.

Part of this was due to Yuseongwoo's exceptional recovery ability...

But he had no intention of fighting the Demon God again.

Unless the Demon God appeared on Earth, then it would be a different story.

"Now you can come in."

As Yuseongwoo spoke, the closed door opened, and Yujisoo, dressed in equipment, entered.

She had been suddenly summoned by Yuseongwoo under the pretext of training.

"What were you doing?"

"Training to control energy. It's a practice to handle the 'mana' that Awakened and Mages talk about more precisely."

"Oh, the Circles of Awakened."

"Circles?"

"Yes. It's been 10 years since the Awakened appeared."

Awakened.

Those who meet the minimum conditions to step into the Abyss.

They gain power in two categories when they awaken.

The Martial category, which enhances their bodies to achieve outstanding physical abilities, and the Mage category, which emits mana externally to handle 'magic' akin to superpowers.

The Awakened did not stop at mere awakening; they devised plans to enhance their powers.

Among them, one of the fantasy novel authors, after awakening, established the concept of 'Circles' often used in fantasy novels.

The improved 'Circle Theory,' developed by talented individuals, became an essential element for Awakened, gradually increasing the amount of mana they could handle through consistent training.

As a result, even if they initially awakened at a D-rank, they could rise a level or two through consistent training.

Yujisoo was not initially an S-rank.

Her first awakening was at an A-rank, and she was re-evaluated as an S-rank after training.

"Well, different countries call them different things. In our country, the Mage category is called Circles, and the Martial category is called Martial Arts."

"Hmm. So, are there things like sword techniques or systematic magic?"

"Yes, they do exist. Why would South Korea be known for private education otherwise? In the Martial category, the National Sword Association is the best, and in the Mage category, the Five-Color Shaman Association is very popular."

"What about you?"

"I... I handle both the Martial and Mage categories. I'm a rare breed. For the Mage category, I only learned a bit from the Magic Tower."

"Magic Tower?"

"A British magic education institution. There are many types of magic, so you have to find the one that suits you. In my case, the elemental magic taught at the Magic Tower suited me."

"I see. Then, if I reinforce your Martial side, it should be fine."

Yuseongwoo got up from his seat and extended his hand to draw his sword.

The sword, etched into his soul, appeared with a blood-red blade.

"...I've been curious for a while, where does your sword come from? There's a magic called subspace in the Mage category, but it doesn't seem to be that."

"This sword? It's not an ordinary sword; it's a part of my soul."

"...The story suddenly got complicated, so let's stop here. So, you're going to reinforce my Martial side?"

"Right."

Yuseongwoo spun his sword once.

Then, a wind swirled around him, and the floor of the training room split into eight pieces.

Although the alloy had a self-repair function and the cracks disappeared quickly, Yujisoo was surprised.

She hadn't even seen Yuseongwoo swing his sword.

The floor of the training room wasn't a material that could be easily split.

"...Alright. I really want to learn."

Yujisoo was certain this was a good opportunity.

She was a Diver who could handle both the Martial and Mage categories, but she was evaluated as not being as good as S-rank Divers who specialized in one.

It was a natural assessment.

Many people cannot achieve greatness even in one area.

Handling two is an overly ambitious goal.

However, Yujisoo had to prove it.

She had built and advanced the company Meteo Industries with only her skills, despite her young age and body.

"You use a dagger."

Yuseongwoo examined Yujisoo's equipment.

Like before in the Abyss, she wore a white robe like a cloak, and inside, a tight-fitting suit.

A staff and a dagger were attached to her waist.

She was a Mageknight, using the staff to cast spells and the dagger for martial combat.

"Let's see your skills. Go all out. You can use magic too; if you make me move even a step, you win."

Yuseongwoo said this and lowered the tip of his sword.

Yujisoo nodded and gathered her energy.

Mana, inner strength, karma, etc.

The intangible energy, known by various names, swirled around her, completing the preparation to cast a spell.

When her mana was sufficiently heated, she drew the staff from her waist and swung it.

"Unleash! [Fireball]!"

With the incantation, numerous fireballs rained down from her.

The countless fireballs obscured the view and heated the air.

Not just a few, but dozens of powerful fireballs charged at Yuseongwoo.

He didn't adjust the power.

He knew Yuseongwoo's strength and had been told to go all out.

After casting the spell at full power, she quickly grabbed the dagger from her waist.

"Hmm."

A spell powerful enough to wipe out low-level monsters.

Yuseongwoo looked at the numerous flames approaching him and swung his sword horizontally.

It was a slow, seemingly unskilled sword strike.

However, the outcome was a scene that made Yujisoo doubt her eyes.

Whoosh-

Like extinguishing a small candle with a puff.

The numerous fireballs vanished instantly.

Yujisoo, who had been running with her body enhanced by mana, did not stop even when the fireballs disappeared.

She charged at high speed and swung her dagger at Yuseongwoo.

With a swish, the dagger cut through the air.

Aiming for his neck, but Yuseongwoo's blood-red sword was already between the dagger and his neck.

With a sharp metallic clang, sparks flew.

Yujisoo was pushed back by the resistance.

She quickly regained her stance and charged again, swinging her dagger at high speed.

From top to bottom, from bottom to top, the dagger aimed at vital points.

But none of them hit.

Yuseongwoo's sword was in every path of the dagger, as if he could see the future.

After a while, as Yujisoo grew tired, Yuseongwoo said:

"I know what your biggest problem is."

"Ha, ha... ha..."

"There are too many things to improve."

"Ha... ha..."

"The balance between magic and martial arts is off. You need to use both simultaneously, not just cast a spell and then switch to martial arts."

"..."

Simultaneously?

Yujisoo, catching her breath, looked at him as if he was talking nonsense.

"And you need to change your weapon."

"Change my weapon?"

"Yes. A dagger isn't right for you. At least a short sword would be better. It would be ideal if your sword could also serve as a staff."

Yuseongwoo planted his sword in the ground and continued.

"And first, you need to build your body. You need to start by building muscle."

* * *

Weeeeeeeeeeeng-!

Today, the peaceful city of Sehyeon was noisy with the Abyss appearance alarm.

It had been two weeks since Yuseongwoo returned to his family.

Yuseongwoo, who had been part of Meteo Industries, was now unemployed again.

There wasn't much for him to do.

The company had been running well even when he was away.

His return didn't make things busier.

However, one new schedule was added.

The underground training room of Meteo Industries, the personal training room of the CEO.

"Living in a peaceful world is good..."

"...Damn."

"Did you just swear? No, I must have heard wrong. My good little brother wouldn't swear."

"Damn youuuuuu-!!"

Yuseongwoo was sitting on Yujisoo, who was doing push-ups.

She spat out a thick curse and struggled to lift her body.

Yuseongwoo weighed 120 kg.

For an S-rank Diver like her, it wasn't that heavy.

Even without enhancing her body with mana, she could easily lift that weight.

However, Yujisoo, carrying him on her back, didn't think he weighed 120 kg.

Agg.

Moreover, Yuseongwoo was sitting on her, eating chicken.

Chicken, which had over a hundred variations after ten years.

The 'Honey Black Pepper Basil Pesto Soy Sauce Puff Chicken' from the famous brand, Sword King Chicken.

A chicken that was sweet, savory, and had an indescribable flavor, dancing harmoniously with tender meat.

While Yujisoo was training her body, Yuseongwoo was eating such chicken on her back, a truly annoying act.

"Hmm, are you getting used to it? Should I increase the weight?"

"No, no, no, no, no, absolutely, absolutely not!"

"From the way you talk, it seems you still have some strength left."

As Yuseongwoo said this and tore off a chicken leg, the weight suddenly increased.

The already heavy weight suddenly became even heavier.

Yujisoo gritted her teeth and struggled to bear the increased weight.

"Ughhhhh..."

"Very good. Can you hear the muscles screaming? That means they are growing."

At this moment, Yujisoo truly wanted to kill her brother.

She acknowledged Yuseongwoo's intentions.

He didn't want his sister to get hurt.

But those intentions were too heavy.

She couldn't even imagine how many kilograms she was carrying on her back.

After doing a few more push-ups, Yujisoo dragged herself on the floor.

"Ughhhhh..."

Finally, Yuseongwoo got off her back, licked the seasoning off his hands, and said:

"That's enough for today. Rest."

"I, I'm really going to die like this."

"You won't die. I've tried it myself; humans don't die that easily."

"Shit..."

Yujisoo cursed again. Yuseongwoo had also cursed several times during his training, so he decided to let it slide.

Yeah, if she didn't curse, she wouldn't have anywhere to vent this pain.

As Yujisoo writhed on the ground, Yuseongwoo looked up.

"...It's a bit noisy upstairs. Something must be happening."

As he said this, the door to the training room opened, and Seo Yeonjeong entered.

Yujisoo, who had only lifted her head slightly to look at her, heard Seo Yeonjeong say in a flustered voice:

"Summoned, CEO. A Level 1 Abyss appearance alert has been issued, and all B-rank and above Divers in Sehyeon City have been summoned."