Chapter 34 : Swordsmanship Training #1 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

――――――――――――――――― 「Main Quest: The Omen」 「Quest Completed」 「Destroy Assault Type F-Rank Gate」 「Reward: 2,500 Coins」 ――――――――――――――――― "Yahoo!" The quest is complete! "Two thousand five hundred coins, what a treat!" Even though I didn't destroy the gate myself, I guess it still counts as a clear. It must be because I went there and dealt with the monsters firsthand. All that effort was worth it. I gained quite a lot this time. Not only the coins but the title of clearing my first main quest. And now I've reached the stage of a sword energy merchant. "Hehehe." It's a concept closer to being able to use a skill I already had, but who would complain about being able to use something akin to sword energy after being born a man? No one, that's who. I'll polish this skill properly and aim to become a powerful superhuman like Sihoo. Now that I can perform high jumps using magic, if I increase my magic capacity and somehow hone my combat sense, I could be jumping around while battling too. By catching monsters, diligently earning coins, and raising my stats, I could become stronger. "That's right." I can't keep this good news to myself and Sihoo only. I immediately took out my phone and called Leona. I have an obligation to report my achievements to Archangel Leona. After all, wasn't it because of the meal ticket she gave me that I could reach this state? If she hadn't given me that meal ticket... "...I wouldn't be alive right now." Someone unaware of the dreamland that is the buffet could never survive until the weekend. I've realized what it is humans must live for. What humans need is 6 feet of land, or simply put, a buffet seat. Anyway. ――Beep beep. The call went through. -Hello? What is it? Is this Kim Geun Cheol? Why are you calling me at night? Leona answered the phone. "Well, Leona, you see, I have something really important to tell you. Do you have some time now?" -For a phone call, I certainly do. Besides, Kim Geun Cheol, have you eaten yet? Have I eaten, she asks? -Don't tell me you had nothing else besides meal tickets and are starving like children in a third-world country for dinner? I watched the news the other day, and they said homeless people rush to restaurants at closing time for discarded food... "Hey! I'm not homeless! I do get a meal subsidy!" -What?! Suddenly, Leona was startled. -What? What? Why? -Subsidy?! What do you mean, subsidy...! Oh no! I can't bear it anymore! Give me your address right now! I'll send you some late-night snacks! Eat that and stay strong! I could start to hear her sniffles from the other side of the line! "Hey! What kind of nonsense are you saying! Just how pitiful do you think I am? I'm not that unfortunate, you know?!" -Trying so hard to be strong makes it even sadder...! Kim Geun Cheol, hurry and give me your address! I'll send you food right there! Excuse me, attendant! Please send a meal capable of keeping a hungry child well-fed until Christmas to this address I give you! What on earth is happening...! I just wanted to boast about my swordsmanship skills! -Hold on! An emergency team will be sent to you, so make sure you don't starve to death and wait quietly! If you make any movements, you'll burn through your limited calories...! Sob! "Leona. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." Isn't she enjoying this...? -Anyway, what did you call for? "Are you mad at me for calling?" -Just tell me your business. I'm ready to fall asleep, but the snacks will be delivered, so make sure you eat them all and send me a photo. Why! If it keeps going like this, there will be no end. Let's get to the point. "Actually, I just wanted to brag a bit." -Brag? "Yeah. I've reached the stage of a sword energy merchant." -Sword, what? "I said I can use sword energy now." -What did you say? Kim Geun Cheol can use sword energy? Now, now. If you're lying, I'll bombard you with meal tickets. Don't you dare lie to me! I can't believe the mention of meal tickets is so terrifying. "I'm not lying; this is real! I'll show you at school on Monday!" -I'll be looking forward to it. Is that all you wanted to say? "Yeah. Just wanted to brag." -If that's the case... I finished the call with Leona and hung up. She's truly a scary woman. To wield someone so skillfully like this, truly, this is the upbringing of a noble lady. ――Swoosh. I sat in front of the computer and started searching for news. "Hmm." The event from today is already on the news. But it's not that big of a deal. Nationwide, there were plenty of gates today alone. "Missing person." What caught my attention was a missing person. A nameless blonde-haired, red-eyed girl. If she had an accident, there would've been an article. "Nothing." This brings relief. Just as I was thinking of going to bed early. ――Ding dong. The doorbell rang. "Yes, I'm coming." I opened the door. "Enjoy your meal." The delivery person handed me the food and left. Wait a minute, did Leona actually send me late-night snacks? But I didn't even give her my address? "What in the world! Spicy pork feet and bossam! Just looking at it, this must be worth fifty thousand won!" This is insane! For her to order spicy pork feet for me right after I mention being hungry! And I didn't even say I was starving in the first place! "Sniff..." For some reason, tears welled up. If I had a mom. It would surely feel like this. "I do have a mom...!" It feels so unfair, I could die! A Mother's Heart, I Understand! I do! I know it all without Archangel Leona having to spell it out! * * * In the end, I scraped every last bit clean and took a picture to send to Leona. She seemed quite satisfied with that. Anyway. It's Monday. "Hehehe." The familiar school commute. Walking with Sihoo, a smile naturally formed on my face. "Geun Cheol, you're that happy?" "Of course." The thought of showing off my sword energy to the others filled me with immense joy. My age? I'm a high schooler who completed his military service. It's the perfect age to enjoy boasting to friends. "Sihoo, just wait and see. You might just faint from amazement at my sword energy." "Hahaha, that would be a sight to see." As we chatted, we entered the classroom and spotted Leona. It seems she got here before us today. But why on earth is this woman glowing...! "Geez! Cut it out with the blinding glow first thing in the morning!" "Stop the theatrics, Kim Geun Cheol. And by the way, what’s with the picture of you bowing to an empty plate? Are you being bullied? You make me look like the bad guy!" "It was my way of expressing gratitude. I ate very well." "Uh...? Geun Cheol? What are you talking about?" Sihoo looked puzzled. He missed out when he didn't answer his door even when I knocked to share the spicy pork feet last time. Thinking he was asleep, I ended up eating it all alone. "I'll explain later. Just know how much of an angel Leona is; her name must be in the Bible, I'm telling you." "Bible, my foot!" "Huh? Seriously, it’s in there?" "Stop using outdated expressions like 'bible'." "Outdated? Besides, Leona, do you know why Christianity and Islam split? It's because of interpretations of your name." "Enough nonsense! Just show your sword energy!" Alright then. ――Fwoosh! In an instant, I drew my beloved sword and assumed a stance. I had familiarized myself with the sensation to some extent. After all, I spent all of Sunday holed up in my room practicing my magic handling. And then. "Sword Enchant!" As I shouted the skill name, infusing my energy into it. ――Sizzle! The same blue sword energy from before enveloped my blade! "No way, Geun Cheol?! It's real?!" "My goodness! Kim Geun Cheol, you're more capable than I thought! I assumed you were all poverty and screaming!" "Who's all poverty and screaming?! Anyway, you've witnessed it, right? My 'strength'." ――Swish. I immediately extinguished the sword energy. "I don't know the exact duration, but it's impressive that you're able to manifest it. It requires a level of training." With a hand near her mouth, Leona spoke, seemingly in awe. It truly is astonishing. "Hehehe, training? For me, that's unnecessary... because I have 'talent'." "Hmph. That talent, huh? Knowing you, you'll milk this for all it's worth today." "How did you know?" "Because you're predictable like Buddha's palm." "Haha! You can't beat Buddha's palm!" Anyway, it feels great to be bragging! "Hahahahaha!" As I laughed heartily. "..." Leona stared at me with a peculiar expression. "What? Why?" "The reason why you can only try... S-sniff! Oh no! It's nothing!" What on earth is she talking about? "In any case, you should all feel my overwhelming..." "Ha!" "What? Oh, it's you, Ryu Cheon Hwi!" Suddenly, Ryu Cheon Hwi was crossing his arms, smirking disdainfully. "To see someone getting so amused over such a pitiful sword energy is laughable, so much so that it almost makes me sigh in disbelief." "What did you say? Are you belittling my effort now?" "Truly, degrading something akin to circus entertainment and dubbing it sword energy is no crime." "Oh... this guy?" Should I poke a bit more? "So, are you saying you can handle real sword energy?" At those words. "Hmph." Ryu Cheon Hwi smirked. "Let me show you." "Ooh." ――Fwoosh! In an instant, Ryu Cheon Hwi's sword blazed with blue energy. And it wasn't just any energy—it was on a whole other level compared to mine. The energy, initially bursting forth, suddenly seemed to compress, coating the blade. This guy is the real deal! He's truly at the rank of a Sword Energy Master! "This is what sword energy truly is. To call your feeble magical smoke sword energy is like a circus trick for entertainment." A scathing critique! "Wow. So there was a reason for his cocky behavior?" "Hmph." Look at the corners of this guy's mouth curling up. "Honestly, with that level of sword energy, I stand no chance." "To have finally realized that, it seems even your discernment is at circus level. It was an amusing performance. Consider the ticket already paid with those meal coupons." With that, Ryu Cheon Hwi took his seat. That guy's manner of speech, really. "Sihoo, that guy cracks me up, I swear." "Heh, heh... yeah, it seems so. But Geun Cheol, what was it with you and Leona?" "Well, you see." ――Creak. At that moment, Instructor Lee Sora entered. We'll continue this conversation another time. "Good morning. Let's give a round of applause to Kim Geun Cheol for being able to use sword energy." "No way, you saw?!" When did she see it?! ――Clap clap clap clap! ――Clap clap clap clap! ――Clap clap clap clap! With applause resonating, I sat down. * * * The first period was Instructor Lee Sora’s class on magic manipulation, and the second period is Instructor Maikes' theory class. "There is an S-rank monster known as the Void Princess." Standing at the lectern, Instructor Maikes typed on his laptop, projecting the image on the large screen. "Does any student know about this?" ――Shuffle. ――Shuffle. ――Shuffle. Everyone raised their hands. What in the world is that? "Haha. Everyone seems to know. As expected of a monster that's popular enough to have its own fan club." A monster is popular? Enough to have a fan club? The Void Princess—could she be beautiful or something? "Let's proceed with the class while looking at the materials." ――Fwoosh. The screen turned on. "Oh." And I was impressed. An alluring, sexy woman with long golden hair appeared on the screen. Her body boasted overwhelming curves. Dressed in something akin to a gothic-style dress, this woman had a crazed look as she unleashed magic with blazing crimson eyes. "What is this, Instructor? Is that a monster? Isn't this cosplay?" "Hmm? Cadet, are you unfamiliar with the Void Princess?" "No, that's not a monster; that's just a pretty lady. Isn't she a model?" "That's exactly it!!!" Instructor Maikes exclaimed loudly. "The unique characteristic of the S-rank monster Void Princess! Monsters from other dimensions, which are intelligent species, all have alien-like appearances! However, the Void Princess is the only one that possesses a human-like form!" "Ah... is that so?" Why is he so high-spirited? Could he be a fan of that monster? Still, it's fascinating that such a monster exists. "Hmm." I glanced again at the image of the Void Princess on the screen... and naturally, my eyes were drawn to the chest area. Wow, but seriously, how is it even possible for a chest to be that large? "I think I like it." "Geun Cheol?" I'm going to become a fan of the Void Princess.