Chapter 15

 
[ SupremeSangcheol: Let me know what you get as a reward, okay? I’m dying of curiosity. ]

[ Yuhyeon: I’ll tell you as soon as I get it. What are you going to do in the meantime? ]

[ SupremeSangcheol: Unlike someone, I don’t have any Hidden Pieces to find, so I guess I’ll just focus on hunting. Off I go. ]

[ Yuhyeon: Okay~ ]

Yuhyeon chuckled as he sent the whisper to Sangcheol.

‘Guess he’s really worked up about this.’

Sangcheol was usually the type to stay level-headed, no matter the situation. The fact that he was making such a fuss only reinforced how incredible the legendary reward must be.

That meant the value of a Stage 4 reward—especially a Hidden Piece—was beyond imagination.

Yuhyeon gazed at the empty training ground.

‘It’ll probably be a while before the instructor shows up.’

It was currently 3 AM in Wonderland time. Just like the real world, this place had set working hours, and once those hours were over, NPCs went home to rest.

‘…Am I the only one who ever shows up here to train this early?’

He still had plenty of time before the ensemble practice, and he needed to collect his reward from the instructor anyway.

‘Might as well get some sword training in while I wait.’

Grabbing a wooden sword, Yuhyeon stepped up to the vacant training dummy.

Taking a firm stance, he focused his strength and delivered a sharp, precise strike.

Thwack!

A perfect hit. And almost immediately, a familiar notification appeared in front of him.

[ Your Sword Mastery has increased to Rank D. ]

[ Sword Mastery (Rank D): Attacks with a one-handed sword deal 130% damage. Attack speed increases by 6%. ]

‘Rank up!’

That sound never failed to send a thrill through his chest.

It was the moment when all his hard work paid off.

After savoring the feeling for a moment, Yuhyeon picked up his wooden sword again and resumed training.

‘I swung about 800 times yesterday, so today I’ll just do 200 more.’

He had no intention of stopping his sword training until he reached a thousand swings.

There was still plenty of time before morning, and raising his proficiency in the process would be a bonus.

Whoosh!

The wooden sword sliced through the air, filling the training ground with the rhythmic sound of each swing.

Before he knew it, the crisp, weighty sound of his sword was starting to resemble that of Instructor Olsen’s.

‘Nine hundred ninety-seven… Nine hundred ninety-eight!’

He had been swinging with such focus that he was already nearing the thousandth strike.

At the same time, his arms and legs trembled, his muscles screaming in pain.

‘Just two more!’

Gritting his teeth, Yuhyeon pushed through the burning in his body and kept swinging.

‘Nine hundred ninety-nine!’

Just one more.

‘One thou—!’

Biting down on his lip, he swung his wooden sword for the final, thousandth time.

Ding!

A notification popped up before his eyes.

[ You have successfully completed 1,000 perfect swings with a wooden sword. ]

[ Achievement Unlocked! ]

[ Title Acquired: “Strong Foundations.” ]

Description: Repetitive training is tedious and exhausting. However, effort never betrays. The practice you are putting in now will become the greatest weapon that saves you in a time of crisis.

[ As an achievement reward, Strength increases by 3. ]

[ As an achievement reward, Agility increases by 3. ]

[ As an achievement reward, Stamina increases by 3… ]

Every stat except Divine Power and Charm had increased by three.

It was practically the equivalent of leveling up three times in one go.

“You’re out here already?” a familiar voice cut through the air.

Turning his head, Yuhyeon saw Instructor Olsen standing there.

“Instructor! I had some time before our session, so I was training my swordsmanship.”

“You’re always here, except when you’re playing music. Any other person would’ve gone hunting long ago. Do you enjoy training that much?”

Olsen observed Yuhyeon with a scrutinizing gaze.

“I haven’t had the chance to hunt yet, but I do enjoy training. More than anything, I still have a long way to go before I can fully master the four sword techniques you taught me.”

“You say things that would make most people shudder so casually.”

For the first time since meeting Yuhyeon, Olsen chuckled.

In just a few hours, the young man had shown remarkable progress.

‘He’s grown even more since yesterday.’

His arms and thighs have developed noticeably firmer muscles, and his physique appears more solid overall.

“How many swings did you do just now?”

“A thousand.”

“Oh? Already a thousand.”

As far as Olsen knew, Yuhyeon was the first person in this village to complete a thousand swings with a wooden sword.

The more he saw, the more impressed he became with this outsider.

“I promised you a reward after the special training, didn’t I?”

Olsen had prepared something that could only be given to someone with persistence and dedication.

Something even more valuable than talent itself.

“Take this. It’s my personal swordsmanship manual, something I’ve been refining since my days as a knight.”

What Yuhyeon received was a single book.

[ You have acquired Olsen’s Secret Swordsmanship Manual (Legendary)... ]

[ Usage Condition: Must be acknowledged by Olsen. ]

Legendary.

Just reading the grade alone was enough to feel its immense value.

“May I read it now?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have given it to you otherwise. Go ahead.”

The moment Yuhyeon flipped open the book, a vision unfolded before his eyes.

It contained the entirety of Olsen’s life.

A young boy swinging a wooden sword until his hands bled.

A knight-in-training, ceaselessly practicing his one-handed sword technique, rain or shine.

‘Instructor… you devoted everything to the sword, too.’

His life overlapped with Yuhyeon’s own.

Just as Yuhyeon had once tirelessly swung his bow to produce the perfect sound, Olsen had done the same with his sword.

And with that understanding, the techniques Yuhyeon already knew became even clearer in his mind.

[ You have fully comprehended the Downward Slash. ]

[ You have fully comprehended the Upward Slash. ]

[ You have fully comprehended the Diagonal Downward Slash… ]

[ You have fully comprehended the Diagonal Upward Slash… ]

[ You have fully comprehended the Horizontal Slash… ]

[ Basic slashing techniques have reached 100% mastery. ]

“You might already know, but Hwarang received a sword as the Stage 4 reward.”

“Yes, I heard the rumors.”

Yuhyeon had already looked into what the Stage 4 reward was when he had the chance.

To his surprise, the instructor who had given Hwarang his legendary sword was none other than Olsen.

Hwarang had wielded that sword to demonstrate absurd combat prowess early on, propelling himself to rapid growth.

Once this fact became widely known, players swarmed to Olsen, hoping to obtain the same sword—only for most to leave in frustration after failing.

‘And when he eventually sold it after leveling up, he got 2,000 gold for it, right?’

That single weapon had been worth a staggering 20 million won in real-world currency.

“But I had no intention of giving you a sword,” Olsen said abruptly. “There was only one, to begin with.”

It was a shocking statement.

However, Yuhyeon remained calm.

He knew Olsen wasn’t the type to just dismiss him with nothing in return.

“But don’t be disappointed. While a sword might be more useful in the short term, I wanted to give you something even more valuable.”

“…Something more valuable?”

Olsen looked Yuhyeon straight in the eyes—

And suddenly, he unleashed his Aura.

It was an overwhelming presence—far beyond what anyone would expect from a mere beginner instructor.

Even the wind seemed to swirl under the force of it.

“I shall pass down everything… the essence of my martial arts to you.”

“Everything you have, Instructor…?”

“Yes, the swordsmanship I entrusted to you.”

Yuhyeon’s eyes widened.

The swordsmanship he had received from Olsen was, in essence, a culmination of the man’s entire life and mastery.

It was more than just a skill—it was something truly special.

“You remind me of a young knight I once knew, a man who had nothing but relentless effort to rely on,” Olsen spoke as he reminisced about the past.

“It was sheer perseverance, diligence, and an unwavering grasp of the fundamentals that led him down the path of knighthood.”

Born in a remote village, that young knight had no remarkable teacher, nor did he possess any extraordinary talent that allowed him to swing a sword from a young age.

“And yet, that ordinary man became a knight of honor through nothing but relentless effort.”

For someone like Olsen, survival had always hinged on one thing—swinging his sword more than anyone else, cutting down more enemies than anyone else.

“And unlike a certain someone, I doubt you’ll go off and sell the sword I gave you.”

“Ah…!”

He had never spoken of it before, but in truth, he had known all along.

A knight’s sword was bestowed only once in a lifetime. There was only one such blade in the world—how could its rightful owner not know its whereabouts?

And yet, Olsen did not hold it against him. He believed that the money from selling that sword would help the dojo grow even further.

Placing a firm hand on Yuhyeon’s shoulder, Olsen spoke: “You possess not only effort, but also a special talent I never had. If it’s you, I believe you can refine my swordsmanship and reach places I could never attain.”

There was a certainty in his eyes.

A belief that Yuhyeon would cherish and refine this swordsmanship, training endlessly to reach heights Olsen himself had never been able to.

“Keep honing your skills. If you do, you will achieve what you seek.”

[ You have met the requirements to acquire Olsen’s Secret Swordsmanship (Legendary). ]

[ Would you like to acquire Olsen’s Secret Swordsmanship (Legendary)? ]

Yuhyeon gazed at Olsen with serious eyes.

From the moment he had arrived at the training grounds, Olsen had been the only one who recognized his efforts without fail.

That alone was something to be grateful for. But now, he was offering to pass down his life’s martial arts?

An immeasurable wave of gratitude welled up within him.

“I will treasure it.”

Ding!

The moment he pressed the button to acquire the skill, a brief flash of light enveloped his body.

[ You have acquired Olsen’s Secret Swordsmanship (Legendary). ]

[ When executing a perfect strike, there is a 50% chance of unleashing a powerful slash. ]

[ Powerful Slash: Deals 150% additional damage on normal attacks. This effect stacks with critical hits. Additionally, attack range increases by 30%. ]

[ Achievement Unlocked! ]

[ As a reward for acquiring a Legendary skill for the first time, all stats—except Divine Power and Charm—have increased by 5. ]

“This technique doesn’t unleash some flashy sword aura. However, if you perfect your stance, you will receive its full benefits. This is why I emphasized the fundamentals.”

Olsen’s swordsmanship had no effect unless the wielder maintained perfect form.

But conversely, it meant that as long as one adhered to the basics, its power would always be realized.

For Yuhyeon, who had dedicated himself to rigorous training, this was the most fitting reward.

“There’s nothing more I can teach you now. You’ve worked hard all this time.”

Ding!

[ You have completed all tutorial quests. ]

[ Title acquired: First Steps as an Adventurer ]

Description: You are now fully prepared to embark on your journey as an adventurer. As a token of encouragement, you have been granted a small reward. Now, go forth and carve your path!

[ Achievement reward: 1 Gold obtained. ]

[ Acquired: 30 Lesser Health Potions. ]

[ Acquired: Lesser Iron Sword. ]

‘An adventurer, huh… So I’ve finally reached the point where I’m ready to set out like everyone else.’

For the first time in a while, Yuhyeon opened his status window to check his stats.

[ Name: Yuhyeon ]
[ Level: 1 ]
[ Class: None ]
[ Strength: 16 (+11) | Agility: 14 (+9) | Intelligence: 13 (+8) | Stamina: 16 (+11) | Mana: 13 (+8) | Divine Power: 0 | Charm: 10 (+10) ]

The combination of the “Thousand Cuts” title bonus and the Legendary skill reward had increased all his stats by a total of 8 points.

‘Strength and stamina have already reached 16.’

Considering the average stat for a Level 1 player was around 5, even his lowest stat—intelligence—was at 13, while his highest—strength—had soared to 16.

Even to Yuhyeon, who was only just beginning to understand the game, these stats were astonishing.

What would happen if he stepped into a hunting ground with these numbers?

Among other Level 1 players, he might very well be the strongest.

As if reading his thoughts, Olsen spoke with a knowing smile: “Among your fellow wanderers of the same level, I doubt anyone can match you. In fact… at this point, you might already be among the strongest in this village.”

“…That’s too generous of you.”

“Is that so? I don’t think so myself.”

Seeing Olsen’s amused smile, Yuhyeon had no choice but to acknowledge his words.

Looking at his stats alone, it was almost as if he had leveled up by at least ten levels. Maybe the instructor was right.

“By the way, I heard my father has something to tell you. Why don’t you take a break from training and head to the cathedral?”

“Sir Charles?”

Olsen nodded with a meaningful expression.

Yuhyeon met Charles every day for ensemble practice.

And now, Charles had something to tell him in private?

‘What could it be?’

With curiosity in his eyes, Yuhyeon turned his gaze toward the cathedral.

*  *  *

On his way to the cathedral, Yuhyeon sent a message to Sangcheol.

[ Yuhyeon: I got a legendary skill as a reward. ]

[ SupremeSangcheol: Congrats! You finally got one. What’s the effect? ]

[ Yuhyeon: If I land a perfect strike, there’s a 50% chance of triggering a powerful slash, adding 150% extra damage. It also stacks with critical hits. ]

[ SupremeSangcheol: Whoa, that’s insane… If it stacks with crits, that means the total damage triples when they both activate, right? That’s broken. ]

Yuhyeon chuckled at Sangcheol’s excited response.

[ SupremeSangcheol: But for a legendary skill, it feels kinda weak. No other effects? ]

[ Yuhyeon: Attack range increases by 30%. ]

[ SupremeSangcheol: THAT’S the real deal! Why didn’t you lead with that?! ]

Yuhyeon tilted his head.

[ Yuhyeon: Is increasing attack range that big of a deal? ]

[ SupremeSangcheol: Of course! A dagger will have the reach of a one-handed sword, and a one-handed sword will feel like a greatsword! That’s absolutely busted! Attack range alone can determine matchups and completely change the flow of battle. ]

Sangcheol’s messages kept coming in rapid succession.

[ SupremeSangcheol: I’ve never seen a swordsmanship skill that increases attack range before! You might be the first person to ever get something like this. ]

Only then did Yuhyeon start to grasp just how broken the skill was.

‘He’s right. Every weapon has different reach, speed, and damage, but my skill increases the range by 30% no matter what I use.’

If he wielded a greatsword, he could surpass polearm users and attack from an unprecedented distance.

Of course, there was still that 50% activation rate, but even so…

[ SupremeSangcheol: People always say rank trumps everything, and I guess they were right. 1.5x extra damage and 30% increased range? Meanwhile, I don’t even have a rare skill. Life is cruel… ]

[ SupremeSangcheol: I’m jealous, but man… this really hits hard. When will I ever get a legendary skill…? Anyway, I’m heading back to hunting. Later. ]

Feeling a bit guilty, Yuhyeon sent him a sincere message.

[ Yuhyeon: Just keep grinding, Hyung. You’ll get one eventually! Fighting~ ]

But there was no reply.

It seemed Sangcheol was too focused on hunting to respond.

While messaging Sangcheol, Yuhyeon had already arrived at the cathedral.

As soon as he opened the door, Charles, who had been waiting inside, rushed toward him.

“Oh! Mr. Yuhyeon, you’re here!”

Seeing Yuhyeon’s slightly more muscular frame from his improved stats, Charles looked surprised.

“You seem even more robust than yesterday! I guess my son’s special training paid off.”

“The instructor taught me well. Thanks to him, I learned a lot. I really appreciate it.”

“Mr. Yuhyeon’s happiness is my happiness! If you’ve learned a lot, then I’m the one who should be grateful.”

Watching Charles, Yuhyeon couldn’t help but see traces of Sangcheol in him.

With a faint smile, he spoke: “I heard from the instructor that you had something to tell me. Is it related to the ritual?”

“Ah, I nearly forgot. Yes, I have something important to share.”

Charles’ expression turned serious.

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet. The elder of this village.”

“The elder?”

The way Charles spoke with such reverence made it clear that this elder held a significant position.

But why would someone so important want to meet him?

“He wanted to personally express his gratitude for your participation in the ritual.”

“Ah…”

Now Yuhyeon understood.

‘The ritual is a major event in this village.’

It wasn’t strange for an elder to personally thank a musician participating in such an important ceremony.

“He rarely leaves his quarters due to his health, so you’ll be the first outsider to ever meet him.”

“I’ll be the first?”

“Yes. If you’re willing, I can take you to see him right away. What do you think?”

Over the past two days, Yuhyeon had come to understand just how valuable the word “first” was in Wonderland.

When he turned Gueye’s favorability from the lowest to the highest, when he created a buff without using a skill—the rewards had been extraordinary.

Even among rewards, those for first-time achievements were always far greater.

That meant this meeting with the elder could lead to something truly special.

‘I thought this would just be a simple greeting…’

With a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, Yuhyeon replied, “I’d love to meet him right away. Where should I go?”
 

To be continued

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