Chapter 414: Master (3)

Kai postponed his meeting with King Beoruk by a few days. He had become extremely tired after the duel with Bach and also needed time to process what he had gained.

“They’re already going crazy.”

The

MID Online

community was already in an uproar. The moment Kai raised Swordsmanship of the Dawn to Master rank, a world message had appeared.

[The continent’s first Skill Master has been born.]

[The one who achieved this sacred feat is Kai.]

Along with that, Kai received congratulatory messages from almost every acquaintance, even those he hadn’t expected.

“

Whew

.”

Kai sent back thanks one by one and then closed his eyes and took a breath. He had high expectations for the special title and the Master exclusive skill he gained when Swordsmanship of the Dawn reached Master rank.

The skill Formless Sword is important, but the special title, that’s the key.

A Skill Master, and not just any, but the very first Skill Master. This would likely remain the hardest title to obtain until the game’s service ended..

Swallowing once, Kai said with a trembling voice, “Title book.”

The title book appeared before him, already filled with dozens of pages. Kai grabbed the shimmering page and bit his lip as he opened the book.

[

First Skill Master

]

Rank: Special

Description: A title given to the first player to master a skill.

Effect: Reduces energy consumption of all skills by 15%. Increases power of all skills by 15%. Increases Proficiency gain rate of all skills by 30%. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped).

Kai unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fists. An indescribable feeling filled his entire body. He wanted to jump up and scream right that instant.

Hold it in. There’s still one more left.

He had only opened one of the two rewards so far. Even though the special title was already a jackpot, Kai composed himself. He felt like if he got too excited now, he might jinx the next reward.

“Just one more time, please...” Kai mumbled with a trembling heart. “Skill window.”

An organized interface appeared in front of him. Dozens of skills he possessed came into view at once, and at the very top, one skill sparkled with a NEW label.

It’s blank?

Originally, a skill icon displayed at least a rough image representing the skill’s traits. However, the icon for Formless Sword contained nothing but a blank space.

[

Formless Sword, Passive

]

Grade: Legendary

A sword free from the limits of conventional swordsmanship.

When attacking with Formless Sword, it deals 300% of attack power as damage.

“This is it.”

The very technique he had used when sparring with Bach.

Kai pressed his lips together and slowly stood up from his seat.

He took a short breath in and shouted with joy toward the ceiling, “Let’s gooooooo!”

No matter how hard he tried to stay still, the corners of his mouth twitched with excitement.

This is seriously insane.

Even Bach, one of the strongest among NPCs, hadn’t been able to react to the sword technique, and it made sense. Formless Sword was not an attack that could be seen.

Formless... meaning it has no shape.

No scent, no presence. The one being attacked would have no idea that an attack was even coming.

Was this how to use it?

Kai raised a finger and slashed through the air. Then the vase on the table collapsed.

“Perfect.”

Formless Sword was the world’s most flawless dagger that could strike at an opening.

As Kai smiled broadly, his phone rang. “Hello?”

A cute voice came through the crystal ball-shaped phone.

—My dear one!

It was Helik.

“Yes, Helik. What is it?”

—I called to congratulate you on your awakening.

“

Haha

, thank you.”

—Have you found your own path?

“Yes, I have. Without a doubt.”

There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in Kai’s voice. To doubt a path he chose himself would be an insult to his own being.

—Then I shall ask you, my fourth apostle. What is the name of the path you have chosen?

Helik asked with a voice full of divinity befitting the goddess of the sun.

“Freedom.”

—Freedom...

She repeated the word several times.

—You walk a profound path.

“I have no regrets.”

—As you should. Personally, I think it’s a path that suits you very well.

“Really?

—Yes. Do you remember the first time we met?

“If you mean the first time we met...”

He pictured the tearful child crouched behind a statue pretending to be a middle-aged man.

Kai laughed at the memory and nodded, “Of course. How could I forget that moment?”

—Honestly, I didn’t say it back then but I was completely bewildered.

“

Uh

... Helik, sometimes you can tell how someone feels even if they don’t say a word.”

—

Oh,

how did you know?

How else, you were sobbing like a baby then.

—Really, I thought to myself, what kind of person does this? I clearly told you not to come near the statue, but you just ignored my words and walked straight in.

“I do feel sorry about that,” Kai reflected on how he had once been blinded by a special title.

—Well, I forgive you. Thanks to that, the two of us met. I had never seen someone so free and reckless before, so it was honestly kind of fascinating... Hey! I’m still talkingggg!

Rashya’s voice came through like static from their side, asking to be given the phone too. After a moment, her voice came through clearly.

—Hello? Is this Kai? It’s Rashya.

“Hello, Rashya.”

—I heard from Helik that you broke through a wall and reached a new realm. Congratulations!

“

Haha

, it seems like today’s just full of congratulations.”

—You deserve them. And I heard something about you walking the path of freedom...?

“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”

—

Oh,

no no, not at all. It’s just, the change our church seeks isn’t so different from freedom after all...

—That’s a violation of the rules!

Arguing voices came through the phone for a moment before the call was suddenly cut off.

“What is going on?” Kai stared blankly at the phone when another notification rang in his ear. “

Hmm?

”

But it wasn’t a notification for a new message or dm.

Wait, that’s the intercom alert for my home.

Tilting his head, Kai logged out and climbed out of the capsule.

Ha-Rin?

The 30-megapixel intercom screen clearly showed Yoo Ha-Rin’s lovely face.

Jung-Woo hurriedly hit the call button and said, “Ha-Rin, what brings you here...?”

—I saw the world message. I just felt like a simple message wouldn’t be enough to congratulate you.

Looking shy, Yoo Ha-Rin politely lifted the eco bag she was holding.

—I brought some food I made myself... Have you eaten yet?

“No, not yet.”

—

Ah,

good good. Food doesn’t taste as good once it gets cold.

“I’ll come down. Please wait just a moment.”

—Sure. Take your time.

“I’ll be right there.”

Jung-Woo hurriedly put on a cardigan and stepped into the elevator heading downstairs. As he approached the entrance on the first floor, the automatic glass doors slid open.

“Hurry, come in. It’s still a bit chilly out.”

“It’s not that bad,” Yoo Ha-Rin shook her head and stood beside Jung-Woo, gazing up at him.

Feeling shy under the affection in her gaze, Jung-Woo asked, “Is there something on my face?”

“

Mm

... just a second.”

After a brief moment of thought, Yoo Ha-Rin suddenly pulled out her smartphone from her pocket. She quickly searched something on her phone and then slipped it back into her pocket.

With a confident expression, she said, “

Yeah,

there is something. Handsomeness.”

She definitely just looked that up, but Jung-Woo didn’t call her out, as Yoo Ha-Rin, proud as if she had just used some incredible dating skill, looked too adorable.

“Isn’t that heavy? Give it to me.”

“No, I’m strong.”

“Please, let me carry it.”

“I’m really strong though...”

Jung-Woo lifted the eco bag that Yoo Ha-Rin had been carrying and went up to his place with her.

“I couldn’t make that much since I was in a rush,” Yoo Ha-Rin murmured softly as she took out food containers from the eco bag.

“No, this is more than enough.”

Jung-Woo stared with his mouth hanging open at the variety of dishes she was setting out. The containers were filled with appetizing foods that stirred his hunger. There were gimbap and stir-fried sausages (the staples of packed lunches), along with rolled omelets, braised lotus roots, and even dessert. The decoration was so beautifully done that it almost felt wrong to eat.

“There’s soup too,” Yoo Ha-Rin said as she twisted the lid off a thermos.

Inside the thermos was a clear and hot egg soup.

“This is a feast. But can the two of us really finish all of this?”

“If there’s leftovers, just have it again tomorrow.”

Jung-Woo pulled out a chair for Yoo Ha-Rin, who was smiling, and began to eat together.

“This is really good.”

For Jung-Woo, who mostly ordered takeout, it had been a long time since he had a proper home-cooked meal.

***

After getting a taxi for Yoo Ha-Rin and sending her off, Jung-Woo soaked himself in a hot bath. He couldn’t go to a bathhouse since it was already quite late at night and was enjoying the best he could at home.

“

Ahhh,

this is nice.”

He let out a deep sigh of comfort and let his body relax as he felt the fatigue melting away. But unlike his relaxed body, his mind kept racing without pause.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

I’ve established my conviction, so now I just need to learn how to create the holy relic.

He planned to ask Helik about that part. Patrick had said that once an apostle created their relic, their combat power would jump again.

And I’ll start gathering information about the gods starting tomorrow.

Of course, besides what he would find himself, he also planned to commission the information guild.

“I wonder how much money I’ll need to give.”

Honestly speaking, Jung-Woo was long past the point of worrying about money. Even setting aside the 400 billion worth of gold he had stashed in his mansion, he still had a lot.

Come to think of it, I’ve become quite a big shot myself.

The videos he had posted during his Unknown era were still pulling in high views and generating income. On top of that, donations kept coming in steadily, and there were the taxes collected from his territories.

Money was being earned even while he was soaking in a bath. His monthly income was in the tens of billions. Naturally, the biggest portion of that came from territory taxes. Even though he had drastically lowered the tax rates, the sheer number of territories he owned brought in astronomical sums.

“

Heh

.”

A laugh escaped him. It felt like just yesterday that he had taken a leave of absence and lived at home like a bum, surviving on allowance. In fact, his daily routine hadn’t changed much from then to now. He still lived eating, sleeping, and gaming. However, the money he earned was now thousands or even tens of thousands of times more, so of course he found himself laughing in joy.

I don’t care how much money I spend as long as I can just find even the smallest clue to defeating Muldine.

There could be no mistakes in the fight against Muldine. One single mistake could cost him Helik.

Jung-Woo closed his sharply gleaming eyes and savored the brief moment of rest as much as he could.