I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game-Chapter 277: Teacher Qualifications (1)

"What is this?"

I absentmindedly felt the object in my hand. The torn, tough wrapper, the rectangular shape—these were familiar to me.

"...Why is this...?"

My mind was sluggish, not quite functioning properly, but I could at least recognize that what I held was a calorie bar. The very same snack my master always used as a meal substitute. It was a marvel of food engineering, designed to sustain someone for days with just one bar.

Rustle, rustle.

I quickly unwrapped it and brought it to my mouth.

Chew, chew.

I forced my stiff tongue and jaw to move, struggling to chew it. The texture was horrid, dry enough to soak up all the moisture in my mouth, making it difficult to swallow. The musty cheese flavor that lingered on my tongue was far from pleasant.

But right now, at this moment, nothing in the world could compare to it. It felt like fireworks were going off in my brain, a sensation of pure bliss.

Cough!

A sudden cough almost made me spit out the precious contents, but I quickly covered my mouth to prevent that disaster. Every piece was my lifeline.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

I opened my mouth wide, catching the droplets falling from the ceiling, and swallowed.

Gulp.

With the thirst and hunger somewhat alleviated, I felt my muddled thoughts gradually clearing.

"Sigh..."

Lying there with my eyes closed, I let out a long sigh of relief. I had truly believed I was going to die here.

"Did the Sword Sovereign... give me this?"

I muttered to myself as I fiddled with the wrapper of the calorie bar. Even though I would never admit it, I was about to think that maybe the Sword Sovereign did have some sense of decency, when I noticed something odd.

Slippery...

I felt a sticky sensation on the wrapper.

‘...Is this blood?’

Sniff, sniff.

I brought the wrapper to my nose and sniffed it. My sense of smell, heightened by prolonged hunger, picked up a familiar scent in the blood.

The metallic scent of iron, with a faint, familiar undertone.

"Master...? Did Master give this to me?"

And then, the text messages I exchanged with my master before entering this place flashed through my mind.

The responses that seemed to anticipate what I would say before I even sent them. The strange reply when I mentioned that the Sword Sovereign wanted to take me as her disciple.

And the calorie bar—another thing we had discussed.

‘Has Master been watching over me? Or... is she here?’

My mind raced with possibilities.

Did Master throw this to save me? But then, why hadn’t she appeared herself?

Even now, I wasn’t sure what was going on. But judging by the blood on the wrapper, Master wasn’t in good shape.

‘Could it be... that she’s trapped here with me?’

I couldn’t be certain, but the thought suddenly crossed my mind.

‘If that’s the case, then she hasn’t eaten either, has she?’

Worry began to creep in. Master was always strong, but she was still human. And in this place, where physical abilities and mana were completely suppressed...

I began to search the ground around me, feeling for anything that might indicate Master’s presence.

The cold, damp floor chilled my fingers as I felt around. Eventually, I found a spot that felt different from the rest.

It didn’t feel like the wall, but something solid and unyielding, something that seemed to stand between me and the space beyond.

I instinctively knew—Master was on the other side.

"Master! Master, can you hear me!?"

Bang, bang, bang.

I pounded on the hard surface, shouting.

"Master! Are you okay!?"

Bang, bang, bang.

"If you’re okay, please knock on the wall!"

Bang, bang, bang.

But only my voice echoed back in the pit. There was no response.

Staggering, I slowly got to my feet. My muscles were stiff, and my joints creaked from the disuse.

Shing—

I drew my sword, Wolyeong, from my waist. It was a sword I wielded daily, but now it felt unbearably heavy. My arms trembled under its weight.

Even so, I gritted my teeth and lifted the sword with both hands.

I still didn’t understand.

What was the Sword Sovereign trying to teach me with this ridiculous training?

Trapped in darkness, enduring excruciating hunger and loneliness—what was the point of all this?

And so—

"I’ll have to show her..."

I muttered in a voice that was barely more than a whisper.

Because if I didn’t, I would never be able to forgive the Sword Sovereign.

Wolyeong Swordsmanship.

A sharp blue light flashed in my eyes.

‘...!’

I saw a different landscape before me.

Endlessly moving and shifting threads of possibility.

What had been hundreds of threads had multiplied, branching out to fill the entire view. It looked as ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) if everything in the world was connected by these threads.

Moreover, there was a noticeable difference now.

The threads of possibility were now colored.

In the blocked-off area, numerous black threads extended, filled with death, pain, and despair.

And amidst them, one white thread shone brightly.

Stagger.

I staggered, my movements clumsy, but I used all my strength to swing my sword toward that white thread.

The blade slipped into a tiny crack and struck.

In that moment—

Clang—!

Something shattered with a loud noise.

The pitch-black surroundings came into focus.

And there, I saw Master, collapsed and covered in blood.

"Master!!!"

I lunged toward her.

Above, the Sword Sovereign, who had just opened the ceiling, looked down at us in shock.

"Ugh..."

Baek Seol-hee’s eyebrows twitched as she slowly regained consciousness.

For some reason, she felt incredibly relaxed.

The soft sensation of a pillow pressed against her cheek.

It had been so long since she felt this comfortable—ever since she began her work with the Demon Extermination Squad, she had been in a constant state of tension, never allowing herself even a moment’s relaxation.

Though it felt odd to be holding something firm in her arms...

‘What...?’

Then, a vivid memory flashed through her mind.

The image of her disciple, his face pale and gaunt, the light in his eyes dimming as he lay dying. And her own helplessness.

—Master, please save me...

Snap!

Baek Seol-hee’s eyes flew open.

"...!"

She blinked, her eyes wide.

Her disciple was right there, so close that she could feel his breath on her face.

Shh, shh.

Jin Yoo-ha’s peaceful, sleeping face.

His calm breathing made it seem as if all the events leading up to this were just a bad dream.

‘Is this a dream...?’

It didn’t feel real. She couldn’t tell if this was reality or another nightmare.

Baek Seol-hee reached out with a trembling hand toward Jin Yoo-ha’s face.

Even as her fingertips brushed against his cheek, she couldn’t be sure if this was real.

Poke.

Her fingers lightly pressed against his cheek.

‘His face is so gaunt.’

His cheeks were hollow, and his complexion was pale. His long lashes only added to his fragile appearance.

It seemed like all the pain and suffering he had endured were etched into his face.

But.

Even so.

Despite everything.

He was alive.

He was breathing.

That fact alone was enough to fill Baek Seol-hee’s heart with overwhelming emotion.

She gently caressed his face, her hand trembling slightly.

Warmth spread through her hand as she felt his warmth. Baek Seol-hee couldn’t contain the surge of emotions welling up inside her.

Tears began to stream down her face.

She hadn’t realized she could cry like this.

"Thank you... Thank you... Thank you..."

She didn’t know who she was thanking, but Baek Seol-hee kept whispering her gratitude.

At that moment—

"Ugh..."

Jin Yoo-ha’s eyes opened halfway, his expression still hazy from sleep.

He looked at her, and a lazy smile spread across his face.

"Ah, Master..."

His voice, still heavy with sleep, was low and raspy, filled with warmth and relief.

"Master, why are you crying? Don’t cry..."

Cling.

His arms wrapped tightly around Baek Seol-hee’s back, holding her close as if he never wanted to let go.

"Thank you... Thank you, Master..."

Mumbling those words, Jin Yoo-ha drifted back into sleep.

His breathing became steady once more.

Baek Seol-hee, nestled in his embrace, froze for a moment before slowly reaching out to gently stroke his back.

That’s when she felt a gaze on her.

She shifted her eyes.

"..."

In the doorway, leaning against the frame and puffing on a cigarette, stood the Sword Sovereign.

"...Little monster, how are you feeling?"

Baek Seol-hee’s face flushed as red as a tomato.