Thunder Sword Raven
Countless bolts of lightning rained down upon the rubber tree leaf.
To any onlooker, it was a nerve-wracking situation, but a flower of a smile bloomed on Jinhyeok's face.
A single sword of emerald-green light, plunged into the very source of the lightning.
Judging by Seira's reaction upon facing it, it was certain.
The Thunder Sword Raven.
He gently raised his hand and pushed Seira's back.
She was the only one qualified to wield that sword.
"Master."
Seira, who had caught his intention, wore a faint smile.
Seira stepped out from the leaf and walked toward where Raven was.
"Be careful, sir! You'll get struck by lightning!"
As the source was right nearby, the lightning on the hillside was tremendous.
It felt like it struck at least hundreds of times every ten seconds.
It was to the point you could call it a downpour of lightning without exaggeration.
But contrary to Kancho's worry, the lightning did not strike Seira.
At first, he thought it was just luck for a moment, but that wasn't it.
Every single bolt of lightning was avoiding her.
"Heh."
Dark let out a hollow laugh.
Lightning of this magnitude was a natural disaster.
For such a natural disaster to rage while avoiding just one person…
It was a sight even he, who had lived a thousand years, had never seen before.
"Kancho, be careful not to stick out. We'll get struck without fail."
Jinhyeok pulled Kancho closer, worried about singeing his fur again.
His eyes followed Seira as she approached Raven.
Raven was the same as Muramasa.
To be precise, Raven's owner, Sain Ardan, was the same as Muramasa's owner, Carmen Bried.
Their conviction was firm.
If they had to entrust their precious sword to just one person, it would unquestionably be their captain and the leader of the Black Knights: Seira Kinkayton.
Step.
Seira, who had approached right in front, stared at Raven.
"It's been a long time, Sain."
As she offered a light greeting, the lightning that had filled the plains vanished completely.
It was as if Sain was speaking through Raven.
It's an honor to meet you again. I missed you.
A smile formed at the corner of Seira's mouth.
"Me too."
As she gave a simple reply, the dim light of dawn seeped into the sky, which had been full of nothing but lightning.
A moment later, a single ray of sunlight stretching from the sky illuminated Seira and Raven.
"Hup!"
Jinhyeok, who was watching the scene, covered his mouth.
A moment later, with a moved expression, he gave a round of applause.
It was a scene worthy of a slap in a masterpiece film.
Clap clap clap clap clap!!
Kancho and Momo, not really understanding what was going on, followed Jinhyeok's lead and showered applause.
Dark and Elia shrugged their shoulders with heartwarming expressions.
After gazing for a while, Seira reached her hand out toward Raven.
Ding!
[The Thunder Sword Raven's first acknowledged owner, Sain Ardan. Sain, who wished for Seira to become the sword's next owner, entrusted the sword to this hillside. Hoping that one day she would come find Raven.]
[Raven accepts the Black Knights' leader, Seira Kinkayton, as its new sword master!]
[The Thunder Sword Raven is registered as Seira Kinkayton's treasured armament!]
[Raven's grade is being determined!]
[Thunder Sword Raven]
Level Limit: 201.Grade: Legendary.Type: Two-handed Greatsword.Attack Power: 2,000.Unique Activation Skill: Downpour of Lightning.
The hilt fragment in Jinhyeok's inventory flew toward Raven.
As even the small fragment returned to its rightful place, Raven was reborn as a complete sword once more.
As if blessing this, sunlight poured down from the clear sky.
[You have cleared the 8th floor of the Mythical Tower!]
[Exiting the 8th floor of the Mythical Tower!]
No sooner had they left the tower and returned to the lodging than…
[Entering the 6th floor of the Mythical Tower. No ticket is consumed.]
They entered the Hall of Swords.
Just like last time, when Seira held Raven, the statue reacted.
[The statue of the Black Knight Sain Ardan activates!]
An emerald-green energy seeped out from the statue.
It was a different posture from Carmen's statue, which had been kneeling on one knee.
Sain sat cross-legged, chin propped on his hand, looking at Seira.
A bright smile was drawn on his face.
The appearance of one overjoyed to reunite with an old friend and comrade.
[The clear conditions for the Legendary Quest 'Traces of the Black Knights' have been updated!]
Remaining conditions until clear: Activation of the remaining one statue.
Jinhyeok ran a hand through his hair.
Just one step remained now.
The sunlight seeping through the window tickled his eyes.
Chirp chirp chirp chirp.
To his ears, the night insects' cries were followed by the chirping of a sparrow family.
Truly a nature-friendly shrine.
"Chief."
"Hmm?"
"Shall I pop the sparrows, sir?"
"Talking about scary things first thing in the morning."
He folded Kancho's ears with both hands.
This should ensure the sparrow family's safety.
The sound of several people's footsteps approaching from outside.
Kancho, who had opened his eyes wide, sniffed the air.
"Something delicious is coming, sir!"
Seemed it was breakfast time.
He had made a special request last night.
To bring a whole lot, a whole lot, a whole lot of breakfast.
As his friends released their manifestations, he got dressed.
And the moment a knock was heard, he opened the door.
"Good morning."
Over a dozen shrine maidens bowed their heads.
After returning the greeting and shifting his gaze, he saw the food lined up in the hallway.
He was convinced.
The Matsuna family was generous.
"Originally, it's a course meal, so we bring each dish at the appropriate time, but would it be alright to serve everything at once?"
"Please do."
After bowing once more, the shrine maidens began setting up tables inside the room.
Three or four tables were joined together, and soon they were filled with a variety of dishes.
The shrine maiden who finished setting up alternated her gaze between the table and Jinhyeok.
"I eat a fair bit."
"Eating well to endure harsh training is more important than anything. Please enjoy your meal."
"Thank you!"
As soon as the shrine maidens retreated, he closed the door.
And he looked at the splendid feast with a moved expression.
This was kaiseki, said to be enjoyed only at high-class inns.
He had wanted to try it at least once for a long time.
"It's fish, sir!"
"Momoo fish too!"
As if they had been waiting, his friends began to manifest one by one.
Kancho and Momo were the first to rush to the table.
The seniors Dark and Elia, and then Seira, followed.
"Woohoo! There's really so much delicious food!"
Elia, picking up a large piece of sea urchin roe sushi first.
After chewing a few times, happiness settled on Elia's face.
'It must be incredibly delicious.'
Swallowing his saliva, Jinhyeok also quickly joined the meal line.
Jinhyeok grabbed a hairy crab leg, conveniently prepared for eating, and took a big bite.
"Mmm...!"
Elia hadn't made that expression for nothing.
Who knew crab meat could be this sweet.
It was only possible by steaming a good crab just right.
The finely sliced raw squid was also top-notch.
Not a hint of toughness, simply chewy and springy.
It was certain.
A first-class chef was in the Matsuna family's kitchen.
Chomp chomp chomp chomp!!
A battle-like meal ensued.
"This sushi is incredible. It's on a different level from the delivery sushi."
Dark made a shocked expression.
This was a problem.
His standards for taste had just risen a notch.
'It's not like we can all go to an omakase place together.'
He looked at Momo, who was inhaling food combatively.
Round Momo, who could handle any dish well.
It seemed he'd have to have Momo learn Japanese cuisine.
With Momo's capable hands, she could probably become as good as a Japanese chef in no time.
Chomp chomp chomp chomp!!
The meal continued like that for quite a while.
The food, which seemed like it would never disappear, was rapidly being deleted.
"The last one is Momo's!"
Momo, stretching out her hand decisively, brought the one remaining piece of sushi to her mouth.
Seeing her chew with a happy face, he thought coming to the exchange meeting was a good idea.
"Phew. I'm full. So full."
Jinhyeok leaned his body against the wall.
Keeping pace with the big eaters always made him eat more than usual.
"Feeling drowsy."
Dark lay down on the bed, and Kancho, as if worried his spot would be taken, hopped over to lie down beside him.
Momo, as if too lazy to even go to the bed, rolled around right on the floor.
Her bulging belly was proof she had eaten very heartily.
"That was a delicious breakfast. Though it would have been perfect if there was chojang (vinegar-red pepper paste dip)."
Jinhyeok, who happened to be thinking the same thing, met Seira's eyes.
He didn't mind being called a raw fish novice.
Raw fish is all about the chojang.
By the way, the shrine maidens would probably be very surprised when they returned.
To have polished off that much food.
What a tremendous glutton they must think I am.
'It's fine.'
Jinhyeok looked at his sprawled-out friends and nodded.
Even if they saw him as a gluttonous pig, it was okay if his friends were happy.
Stretching out, Jinhyeok also plopped down flat.
His father had repeatedly said lying down right after eating makes you a cow, but there was no helping it.
The satisfying fullness and the creeping drowsiness.
It was a temptation too sweet to refuse.
Deep inside the shrine.
Kyuto, sitting in his room, looked at the now-empty wall.
It felt slightly strange, as something that had been there for hundreds of years was now gone.
"It's only natural to feel empty. It had been hanging there unchanged for so long."
Gaigen, who entered the room, let out a hearty laugh.
"Do you regret giving away the family treasure?"
Jinhyeok, who had used even the item obtained as a special reward to heal Hiyori, had not demanded any compensation.
If they had decided to be shameless, they wouldn't have necessarily needed to give up Muramasa.
"How could that be? I gave it to the benefactor who saved my daughter."
Kyuto slowly shook his head.
It wasn't just because she was his daughter.
Hiyori was a martial prodigy, born with the essence of martial arts itself.
To the Matsuna family, such a Hiyori was a treasure that could not be exchanged for anything.
"And Matsuna never forgets a debt. It was the natural thing to do."
"Right. Separately, I am convinced. That friend will handle Muramasa better than anyone."
"I agree."
Gaigen took a seat next to Kyuto.
He seemed to be thinking about something, then burst out laughing.
"Even thinking about it again, he's truly a bold and clever kid. Don't you think?"
"Yes. To the point I doubt if he's really that age."
Even if Jinhyeok had asked for the sword as payment for the treatment, Matsuna would have given him Muramasa.
Because a promise couldn't be broken.
But if that had happened, Matsuna would not have considered it a favor.
They would have seen it as a simple give-and-take, and would not have viewed Jinhyeok, who treated Hiyori's life as a trade item, as favorably as they do now.
But Jinhyeok didn't do that, and thus ended up placing the entire Matsuna family—Kyuto, Gaigen, Sachika, and beyond—in his debt.
"A kid who can see the forest, not just the trees… This really makes me envy Korea for the first time in a long while."
Jinhyeok, who didn't succumb to greed and followed the justice he believed in.
What he gained as a result was not merely a single sword, but the martial arts noble house, Matsuna, itself.
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T/N:
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