The First Sword
Hiyori alternated her gaze between Jin-hyeok and the vial of potion.
A small question mark seemed to float over her face.
This is really all it takes?
"Even if it looks like a simple potion, there are ridiculous things mixed in there. Just drink it straight."
"Just drinking it is enough? I don't need any other treatment?"
Before coming here, Hiyori had prepared herself.
Like Guan Yu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, who played Go while having poison scraped from his bones, she was ready to endure any pain.
But all she had to do was drink a potion.
She couldn't help feeling a little dumbfounded.
"It's easy, but not easy. Just try it first."
"I thought you'd be slicing open my flesh and rebuilding my bones. This is nothing."
As expected of the Tiger of Kansai.
It seemed he had prepared something even more spectacular.
With a confident look, Hiyori took the bottle and downed the potion in one go.
"Ah—drinking it all at once might be too much."
He reached out, but the vial was already empty.
He was a step too late.
"Ugh."
Jin-hyeok grimaced and staggered back.
He knew from just one sip earlier.
Exactly how horrible the taste and texture of that potion were.
"A…?"
Sure enough.
Before long, Hiyori's face twisted grotesquely.
You could crumple paper with all your might and it still wouldn't look that wrinkled.
"Ghk—!"
Nausea surged up uncontrollably.
Afraid she might vomit, Jin-hyeok rushed in and clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Don't throw up. If you do, you'll have to pick it up and eat it again."
For a moment, Hiyori wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her.
With that innocent face and calm tone, he said something utterly horrifying as if it were nothing.
Hiyori placed her hands over his.
Having to eat what she threw up again—
That was absolutely out of the question.
Thump!
Her heartbeat quickened, heat flooding through her body.
Her strength gave out and she collapsed.
Honestly, it was frightening.
Just how strong did this potion have to be for her body to give out so helplessly?
"I'll move you to the bed."
Without taking his hand off her mouth, Jin-hyeok dragged Hiyori along.
Even in this state, her expression was changing rapidly in real time.
That was how many different kinds of horrific sensations the potion inflicted.
I—I'm going to die.
Born with extraordinary physical prowess, Hiyori had been strong even before Awakenings existed.
Because of that, she had never once truly felt fear or a sense of danger.
But now, the word death hovered clearly in her mind.
Maybe it was because of the burning heat.
Her senses began to blur together, her vision clouding.
Just as everything was about to go completely dark—
Smack!
A sharp pain on her forehead forced the light back into her eyes.
As Hiyori was about to pass out, Jin-hyeok abruptly smacked her on the forehead.
At least he hadn't slapped her across the face.
"Don't lose consciousness."
She stared at Jin-hyeok as he spoke flatly.
Someday, if she got the chance, she wanted to tell him—
In moments like this, he should at least shout or sound more urgent.
Sssss.
A cool sensation spread across her forehead.
The cold was so intense it felt like the heat in her entire body was being drained all at once.
A fragment of the Thousand-Year Glacier.
The piece of ice the party usually used as a freezer.
He had just summoned Momo and received it from her.
One hand holding the glacier shard, the other still covering Hiyori's mouth, Jin-hyeok turned his head and gave a wink.
Momo dematerialized after giving a plump thumbs-up with a gallant face.
How long did the chaos in the middle of the night continue?
Tap, tap.
Hiyori lightly tapped Jin-hyeok's arm.
Eyes bulging, he checked her face.
Clear pupils, fever gone, no dry heaving.
It seemed the backlash from the potion was finally over.
When he removed his hand and stepped back, Hiyori let out a rough breath.
"Wow."
She muttered in amazement and shook her head.
"I really thought I was going to die."
A hundred percent sincere.
No amount of money in the world could make her drink that potion again.
She clenched and unclenched her fists a few times, then slowly sat up.
Am I better?
She couldn't tell yet.
Her senses were still off, and her body didn't quite feel like her own.
She tilted her head with effort and examined her upper body.
"…!"
Her eyes widened.
The curse marks that had slowly eaten away at her body for so long—
They were completely gone, as if they'd never existed.
She clenched her fist again.
"Ha."
The sensation was both familiar and unfamiliar.
No—more than anything, she had missed it terribly.
The way power flowed through her clearly, untainted by the curse.
"The markings look gone now. How does your body feel?"
"Perfect."
After answering, Hiyori climbed out of bed and walked toward the mirror.
Even after experiencing everything firsthand, she still couldn't believe it.
Was she really all better?
She stood there for a long while, then turned back toward Jin-hyeok.
And just as she was about to say thank you—
"Oh."
She spotted his hand, drenched with saliva.
Whose saliva it was didn't need to be said.
Too embarrassed to tell him to wipe it, she grabbed him and dragged him into the bathroom.
Turning on the sink, she shoved his hand under the water.
She also pumped out liquid soap several times without forgetting.
"Here, a towel."
"Thanks."
Forced to wash his hand, Jin-hyeok took the towel she offered.
The thickness, the softness, the absorbency—
He could tell instantly.
It was a high-end towel.
After hanging it up carefully, Jin-hyeok looked at Hiyori.
Hiyori, likewise, stared straight back at him.
Jin-hyeok's eyes widened.
He felt it.
The awkwardness that was about to crash down on them any second.
"I'll go—"
Before the silence could settle in, he turned the doorknob to leave—
Bang!
Hiyori reached out and slammed the door shut.
Gulp.
Overwhelmed by that sheer force, he swallowed dryly.
Taking a long breath, Hiyori finally spoke.
"…Thank you. For saving my life."
She bent forward.
Then she lowered herself almost into a full prostration.
"For the rest of my life, I'll serve you as my benefactor. No matter what situation I'm in, if you're in danger, I will come to your aid. Even if it costs me my life, I won't hesitate. I swear it here and now."
After being momentarily overwhelmed by her intensity, Jin-hyeok smiled.
A vow in a bathroom.
It was absurd and awkward beyond belief, but he felt certain again.
Giving her that potion had been the right choice.
After Hiyori left.
"Nnnghhh."
Lying on the bed, Jin-hyeok stretched.
Then he closed his eyes.
I'm exhausted.
He pressed his palms into his eyes.
If things had ended with that bathroom vow, he might not have been this tired.
But he'd had to work up a sweat stopping Hiyori from storming out to the courtyard and smashing everything apart to retrieve the Yodo Muramasa.
Having been freed from the curse of Thaganos, her body recovered—
And she could barely control the overflowing energy.
No matter what, she looked like she needed something to smash immediately.
I protected Matsuna Shrine.
A sense of pride swelled up again.
Today, at the very least, he'd protected enough to rival any so-called hero of justice.
Now maybe I can finally sleep…?
Just as he was about to close his eyes, he sensed presences approaching from afar.
Not one, but several.
Me?
He stared at the door, and then—
Instead of a knock—
Bang!
The door burst open.
Hiyori stood there, grinning with a face full of energy.
He frowned in confusion.
Hadn't she just left?
Behind her appeared Gaigen and Gyuto.
Gaigen laughed heartily, and Gyuto shook his head at his uncontrollable daughter.
Unable to remain sprawled out, Jin-hyeok hurriedly sat up straight.
"Yoo Jin-hyeok! Let's go!"
Huh?
As he stood there blankly at Hiyori's sudden declaration, Gyuto stepped forward with an awkward smile.
"I'll offer proper thanks later. I'm sorry for this on such short notice, but would you come with us for a moment?"
His tone had softened to an almost ridiculous degree as he reached out his hand.
Taking it, Jin-hyeok was pulled to his feet and led somewhere.
Hiyori hummed a tune cheerfully, and Gaigen simply laughed as if he was enjoying the whole situation.
Creeeeak.
With the sound of old wood, a door opened.
It was a familiar place from earlier that day.
Sliding doors were flung wide open by Gyuto.
"Follow me."
Leaving Gaigen and Hiyori behind, he walked ahead.
After a moment, Gyuto pointed to the middle of the room.
"Please wait here."
When Jin-hyeok nodded, Gyuto went inside and lifted the Yodo Muramasa from its stand.
At the sight of it, Jin-hyeok's heart began pounding.
He glanced sideways.
Hiyori was grinning proudly.
She had definitely intimidated Gyuto and Gaigen.
Bring the Muramasa to my benefactor, right now.
Gyuto approached with dignified steps, carrying the Yodo Muramasa.
Taking the hint, Jin-hyeok quietly dropped to one knee.
Stopping right in front of him, Gyuto held the sword out.
"This is the Muramasa, the treasured blade of the Matsuna clan. I hope you'll accept it without feeling burdened."
"Thank you very much!"
Jin-hyeok immediately extended both hands.
Feeling burdened?
Not a chance.
He'd wanted it desperately—he just couldn't take it before.
The Yodo Muramasa was placed in his outstretched hands.
Ding!
[You have acquired the blade once wielded by Kamen Breed of the Black Knights!]
[It has gone by many names over the ages, but is now known as the Yodo Muramasa!]
[You have obtained one of the three swords required to complete the Legendary Quest 'Traces of the Black Knights'!]
[Conditions fulfilled! You may now enter Myth Tower, Floor 8.]
Just like when he found the hilt of Raven's sword, holograms scattered into the air.
Like ink diluted in water, faint images of memories formed.
Muramasa had been forged far earlier than the world believed.
Its first master was Kamen Breed of the Black Knights.
Before his eyes played the countless battlefields Kamen had crossed with Muramasa.
It was impossible to count how many wars he had fought.
After the Black Knights disbanded, Kamen retreated into the mountains.
Though he no longer went to war, he continued to swing Muramasa.
How many times had he done that alone?
Eventually, a new person appeared by Kamen's side.
Judging by the small frame, it seemed he had taken in a disciple.
Standing side by side, the two swung their swords endlessly.
How much time passed?
The small child grew into an adult, his body now tall and strong.
In contrast, the aging Kamen had grown small and frail.
And perhaps because he knew his end was near—
Kamen handed Muramasa to his disciple.
The partner of his entire life.
A sword more precious than his own life—
Yet Kamen did not hesitate.
Because he did not want Muramasa to be forgotten here, alongside him.
Rustle.
As the scene of Muramasa being passed on played, the hologram faded.
Most likely, Muramasa had been passed down to the present in much the same way.
A smile formed on Jin-hyeok's lips.
Kamen had wished with all his heart that his sword would never be forgotten.
Perhaps because of that wish—
Muramasa had endured across centuries to reach this moment.
Ding!
[Conditions fulfilled! You may now enter Myth Tower, Floor 8.]
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T/N:
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