I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game-Chapter 274: Asa (1)

The Sword Sovereign shamelessly declared herself as Jin Yoo-ha’s master. If that old monster had any sense of shame, it would probably take the form of a grotesque, hairy creature.

"No matter if you are my master’s master," Jin Yoo-ha said, "I cannot agree to become your disciple without my master’s consent."

Fortunately, Jin Yoo-ha drew a clear line, resisting the sweet words of that cunning old fox.

‘Thank goodness...’ Baek Seol-hee breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze sharp as she glared at the Sword Sovereign.

The woman had thrown away her honor, pride, and convictions in an attempt to lure away Jin Yoo-ha. Baek Seol-hee had no intention of forgiving her.

‘The moment I leave this place will be your last, Sword Sovereign.’

"Well, since I’ve already agreed to evaluate your sword, let's proceed. Show me everything you’ve learned from my ‘disciple’," the Sword Sovereign said, oblivious to Baek Seol-hee’s seething resentment.

Yet, despite her arrogance, the request to see Jin Yoo-ha’s swordsmanship was welcome.

‘Be prepared to be astonished, Sword Sovereign.’

Jin Yoo-ha was already at a level where he could stand on his own. He no longer needed anyone’s guidance. Once she saw his skills, she would abandon any foolish notions of taking him as her disciple.

Jin Yoo-ha drew his sword, his eyes calm and focused.

‘Perfect.’

His stance was flawless, and Baek Seol-hee felt a deep sense of satisfaction as she observed her disciple.

Then, slowly, Jin Yoo-ha lifted his sword above his head.

With a sharp whistle, the blue sword slashed downward, cutting through the air in a straight line.

In that moment—

Crash!

Just as Baek Seol-hee had anticipated, the Sword Sovereign was so shocked that she stumbled backward. However, she didn’t witness that scene.

“!”

Her gaze was captured by the countless sword strikes etched into the air.

Baek Seol-hee’s eyes widened.

‘Already...?’

Jin Yoo-ha had reached the stage of actualizing possibilities—a step beyond mere decision, where sheer will could shape reality.

While she should have been thrilled by her disciple’s rapid growth, Baek Seol-hee’s expression hardened.

‘This is too fast.’

Yes, this was far too fast. It shouldn’t be like this.

She stared blankly into the void, then turned her head.

There, the Sword Sovereign was gripping Jin Yoo-ha’s shoulders with a serious expression.

"You... must inherit my sword."

Baek Seol-hee hadn’t heard what the Sword Sovereign had said earlier, too distracted by Jin Yoo-ha’s demonstration.

Despite witnessing that display, the Sword Sovereign still seemed intent on making Jin Yoo-ha her disciple.

Though the threat of losing her disciple loomed once more, this time Baek Seol-hee couldn’t bring herself to speak.

The sword Jin Yoo-ha had just shown...

It was a direct path to the sword she herself had failed to complete.

‘Why...’

Baek Seol-hee bit her lip and gazed at her bewildered disciple.

The commotion from earlier had passed, and night had fallen in the Sword Sovereign’s forest.

Lying alone in a guest room, I felt my mind growing restless and decided to step outside.

"Gukbap and Ppoppi haven’t returned yet..."

I thought I might feel better if my party members were around, but Alice hadn’t come back either.

Still, I wasn’t particularly worried. If something were wrong, the Sword Sovereign would have gone out to look for them. Since she hadn’t, their training likely wasn’t something that could be finished in a day or two.

The reason I felt so unsettled was because of what the Sword Sovereign had said to me earlier.

‘She asked if my master had failed... and then said my master could never complete the sword...’

After watching the sword I had learned from my master, the Sword Sovereign spoke as if she had suddenly become a different person.

I wanted to deny it immediately, but I couldn’t. My master had already declared herself a failure.

Swish—whoosh—

I drew my sword again and swung it, but no sword energy emerged as it had earlier in the day.

What had happened was a natural progression, the next stage of swordsmanship.

But was there really something wrong with this sword?

Swish, swish, swish—whoosh!

As I swung the sword, I had never once doubted my master.

‘...This isn’t a failure.’

There must be a solution. My master had said she believed in me.

"I really want to talk to Master..."

But she wasn’t here.

Suddenly, I took out my phone and stared at it.

Tap-tap. I searched for my master’s number and typed a message.

[Master, I miss you.]

Then—

Buzz—

The reply came almost instantly.

"Huh?"

[Baek Seol-hee: I’m sorry.]

I hadn’t expected such a quick response, and though I was slightly taken aback, my mood lifted. Maybe she had been waiting for my message.

[What are you sorry for? Ah, is it because you left so suddenly without saying anything? It’s okay. It couldn’t be helped. You were busy, so don’t waste time worrying about me—]

‘Hmm, am I being too wordy?’

I decided to send a simple “It’s okay” instead and started erasing the text.

Buzz—

Another vibration.

[Baek Seol-hee: I never regret spending time with you, my disciple. Don’t think like that.]

After reading her reply, I tilted my head to the side.

‘Did I just send that message?’

No, I hadn’t pressed the send button yet. But it was as if she had already answered the message I was about to send.

‘What is this...? It’s almost as if she’s watching me type...’

I looked around, but there were only the sounds of insects in the night. No one was around.

After a moment of puzzling, I chuckled.

I felt like I knew what was happening.

It was as if Master could predict what I would say next. So she had already prepared her responses!

‘Hmm, should I test this?’

With a playful feeling of engaging in some mind-reading game with my master, I sent another message.

[Master, what did you have for lunch today?]

I predicted her reply.

‘A calorie bar. There’s no better food for nutrients.’

Buzz—

[Baek Seol-hee: I had a calorie bar. There’s no better food for nutrients.]

As expected.

Her reply was exactly what I had anticipated, down to the last word. Feeling a sense of connection, I grinned, but then my expression turned serious.

‘She needs to stop eating those calorie bars.’

My master had a habit of simplifying her meals. No matter how much I nagged her to change this habit, she never did.

[Master, I told you, even if you can’t taste it, you still need to eat properly.]

‘She’ll probably say... “I’ll try.”’

[Baek Seol-hee: I’ll try.]

Again, she gave the same reply. But it was likely she wouldn’t actually change anything.

Tsk.

[Master, when your sense of taste returns in a month, is there anything you want to eat? Something you’ve been curious about or wanted to try?]

‘Hmm, she might say... “I’m fine with anything. I’ve already experienced enough.”’

[Baek Seol-hee: I’m fine with anything. I’ve already experienced enough.]

She never fails to surprise me.

This was actually pretty fun. It meant that I had grown that much closer to my master.

Then, I suddenly wondered how she would react if I told her about what had happened today.

[Oh, by the way, Master, do you know what happened today? I met your master, the Sword Sovereign. She offered to take me as her disciple.]

I only sent that much, then hit the send button.

I guessed the reply would take a while this time.

After all, the Sword Sovereign was her master, and I hadn’t mentioned how I responded.

‘She’ll probably ask... “Disciple, what did you say?” trying to hide her jealousy.’

But to my surprise, my master replied immediately, and her message was completely unexpected.

[Baek Seol-hee: ...Perhaps that isn’t such a bad idea.]

[What...? What do you mean—]

I was about to send a startled reply when—

"Hmm... You couldn’t resist coming out already?"

Suddenly, the Sword Sovereign stood before me, her ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) expression relaxed.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, it’s been a day. Let’s start your training right away."

"...What?"

Thunk.

The Sword Sovereign tapped my head with her pipe, and I toppled backward without resistance.

"Wha—?"

And before I knew it, a pit had appeared behind me.

As I felt myself briefly suspended in midair—

Thud.

I landed on my rear.

I looked up in confusion.

"This is your first trial, called ‘Starvation’."

The Sword Sovereign peered down at me through the hole.

"Let’s see how well you endure extreme hunger."

As soon as she finished speaking—

Rumble—

The ground shook, and the pit closed.

"What the..."

I was left alone, trapped in a pit with nothing but darkness.

...

And nearby, a little distance away from Jin Yoo-ha,

Baek Seol-hee quietly observed him from within the same pit.