Morning arrived quietly.
Sunlight crept through the dusty windows of the antique shop once again, stretching across wooden shelves and strange artifacts.
The frog statue, Sir Frogbert, remained exactly as ugly as ever.
And on the wall…
A mirror observed everything.
Inside that mirror, Lee Eunwoo was thinking very hard.
"Blind swordsman…"
He stared at the system panel floating in his mind.
The words Human Manifestation – Locked were still there.
Along with the horrifying condition.
Vision will be sealed.
Eunwoo sighed.
"I finally get my body back and I still can't see."
He imagined walking into a wall.
Or falling down stairs.
Or accidentally challenging the wrong monster.
"…Actually that might happen a lot."
But the more he thought about the ability system, the more interesting it became.
"If I'm blind…"
"But I can use copied abilities…"
That meant something very important.
Eunwoo looked at his current ability list again.
• Shadow Dagger Technique
• Heavy Cleave
• Swift Blade Style
• Combat Instinct
"Four abilities already."
Not bad for a mirror that had only existed for two days.
But Eunwoo knew something important.
"These are beginner skills."
If he wanted to survive later…
He needed stronger ones.
Way stronger.
"Come on world…"
"Send me a mage or something."
As if fate heard him—
The door opened.
Ding.
Eunwoo focused instantly.
"Oh?"
A familiar figure stepped into the shop.
Long black ponytail.
Sharp eyes.
Calm posture.
It was Arin Valcrest.
Eunwoo almost groaned.
"My disciple is back."
Arin walked directly toward the mirror without hesitation.
Her movements were confident.
But there was also excitement in her eyes.
She stopped a few steps away.
Then bowed deeply.
"Master."
Eunwoo internally screamed again.
"PLEASE STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
Arin raised her head.
"I returned as promised."
She rested her hand on the hilt of her sword.
"I practiced all night."
Eunwoo blinked.
"…All night?"
That sounded exhausting.
Arin stepped backward until she had enough space.
Her expression turned serious.
"Please judge my progress."
Eunwoo sighed.
"Alright system."
"Let's do this again."
Arin inhaled slowly.
Her stance lowered.
The air around her tightened slightly.
Then—
She moved.
Her sword flashed through the air.
"Swift Blade!"
A sharp strike cut forward.
Eunwoo's system immediately activated.
[Skill detected: Swift Blade Style.]
[Reflection activated.]
The mirror shimmered.
Arin's sword technique entered the reflection.
Then returned.
Faster.
Cleaner.
Perfect.
WHOOSH.
A powerful gust swept through the shop.
Papers flew off the counter.
Dust exploded from the shelves.
Arin's eyes widened.
She jumped backward.
"…Again."
Her breathing grew faster.
"My technique…"
"…was corrected."
Eunwoo tilted mentally.
"Corrected?"
From his perspective he just reflected the same move.
But Arin clearly saw something different.
She stared at the mirror with shining eyes.
"The timing…"
"The angle…"
"The weight of the strike…"
Her grip tightened on the sword.
"I was wrong before."
Eunwoo froze.
"…Before?"
Arin slowly bowed again.
"Master."
Her voice was filled with determination.
"You are not simply reflecting attacks."
Eunwoo mentally whispered—
"Yes I am.
That's literally what I do."
But Arin continued.
"You are showing the perfect version of them."
Eunwoo blinked.
"…Wait."
"Is the system improving the skills?"
The system remained silent.
Which Eunwoo interpreted as probably yes.
Arin straightened.
"Please."
She raised her sword again.
"Allow me to train further."
Then something surprising happened.
She began practicing.
Right there.
In front of the mirror.
Slash.
Step.
Turn.
Strike.
Again and again.
Every time she used Swift Blade, the mirror reflected it.
Every time the reflected version looked sharper.
More refined.
Arin watched carefully each time.
Then adjusted her stance.
Then tried again.
Eunwoo slowly realized something.
"…She's using me as a training tool."
For the next hour, Arin practiced nonstop.
Slash.
Reflect.
Adjust.
Repeat.
The antique shop slowly turned into a sword training hall.
Even Harun the shop owner came out of the back room at one point.
He stared at the swordswoman swinging her blade repeatedly at the mirror.
"…What are you doing?" he asked.
Arin answered respectfully without stopping.
"Training."
Harun scratched his head.
"With a mirror?"
"Yes."
The old man sighed.
"…Adventurers are weird."
Then he went back inside.
Eunwoo almost laughed.
"This shop owner is the only sane person here."
Finally, after dozens of attempts, Arin lowered her sword.
Sweat ran down her face.
Her breathing was heavy.
But her eyes were shining.
"…I understand now."
Eunwoo wondered what she understood.
Arin stepped closer to the mirror.
Then she bowed deeply again.
"Thank you, Master."
Eunwoo sighed.
"You're welcome, I guess."
Arin placed her sword back in its sheath.
"Thanks to your guidance…"
She clenched her fist.
"My Swift Blade Style has advanced."
The system suddenly chimed.
[Skill Evolution Detected.]
Eunwoo blinked.
"…Huh?"
A new notification appeared.
[Swift Blade Style has evolved.]
New Skill Acquired: Swift Blade Style – Refined
Eunwoo stared in shock.
"WAIT."
"My skill evolved because SHE trained?!"
The system confirmed.
[Reflection improves abilities over time.]
Eunwoo's excitement exploded.
"Oh that's broken."
"So if strong people train in front of me…"
"My abilities keep improving!"
He imagined dozens of warriors practicing in front of him.
His skill list growing bigger and stronger.
"This mirror business might actually be OP."
Arin finished adjusting her sword belt.
Before leaving, she looked at the mirror one more time.
Her voice was filled with respect.
"I will return again."
Eunwoo sighed.
"I figured."
Arin bowed one final time.
"To learn more from The Reflected One."
Then she left the shop.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Eunwoo looked at his system panel again.
Stored Abilities:
• Shadow Dagger Technique
• Heavy Cleave
• Swift Blade Style – Refined
• Combat Instinct
He smiled mentally.
"Alright."
"Disciple training is officially allowed."
Then he glanced at Sir Frogbert.
"You hear that?"
The frog statue still said nothing.
Eunwoo nodded anyway.
"Good talk."