I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game-Chapter 290: Testing (3)

‘Why are they so happy, even though I didn’t actually get stronger...?’

The party members’ reactions were far more intense than I expected.

They said things like, “Now I can finally sleep with peace of mind,” or “Do you know how anxious we were every time you went into a gate?” and “It’s about time you came to your senses.”

I stood there with a bewildered expression, and Lee Yu-ri, nicknamed ‘Gukbap,’ spoke up.

“We train so we won’t have to send you into dangerous situations alone.”

“...Huh?”

“Exactly, Jin Yoo-ha,” Shin Se-hee added in a slightly scolding tone. “Whenever something unpredictable and dangerous happens, you’re always the first to throw yourself into it.”

I guess they had a point.

Because I had played the game and knew the most about strategies and enemy weaknesses, and as the sub-DPS, I could make quick, flexible decisions in combat. But in doing so, I hadn’t realized how much worry I had caused my team.

‘Still... it’s heartwarming to see how much they care about me.’

To my surprise, they had all grown stronger than I expected.

In a world without gacha mechanics, where you had to rely solely on your own strength to push forward, I’d been feeling a lot of pressure.

But now, after seeing my team’s progress...

‘They’ve become much stronger.’

From what I’d seen today, even though we weren’t as overpowered as those who’d spent hundreds of dollars on microtransactions, outfitted with fully upgraded SSS-grade weapons from the beginning, we were far better off than those who had just gotten by with daily login bonuses and low-level enhancements.

‘With our current abilities, if we reach the final chapter...’

Considering how we’d already taken down the Magesu early on and how much the party had grown...

‘I think we can clear it...?’

It was a surprisingly hopeful outlook.

However, I didn’t let myself get complacent.

Because if the question is whether we can do it without losing anyone, the answer was still uncertain.

In a world where retries aren’t an option, growing even stronger was absolutely essential!

Still, the fact that we had hope for the future was a victory in itself.

‘We need to continue strengthening our forces.’

One possible solution to that was the girl standing a little apart from the group, observing us with a cold, detached expression.

Alice.

I wrapped up the conversation with the others and turned my attention to her.

“So, would you mind showing us your abilities now?”

As everyone’s eyes turned toward her, Alice’s expression stiffened.

I recalled what the Swordmaster had told me about her.

“My granddaughter may not show it, but she’s actually very shy... She may seem cold because ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) she’s been cut off from society, but inside, she’s quite soft.”

A classic case of someone tough on the outside, soft on the inside. A popular character trope in many games.

But what had surprised me wasn’t just that.

“She’s supposed to use a spear... But because she followed me so much, she stubbornly insists on using a sword. That’s the problem.”

“She needs someone to help her awaken her true potential. Could I ask you to do that?”

Srrrng—

At my request to show her skills, Alice unsheathed the sword hanging at her waist.

True to the Swordmaster’s legacy, her stance was disciplined and refined.

“Summon the enemies.”

Shin Se-hee manipulated the training system to summon foes.

Several of the massive golems that Lee Yu-ri had fought earlier appeared in the training ground. If Alice wanted to join Utopia, she would need to handle at least this much on her own.

Alice briefly glanced at the golems, then nodded and charged forward.

Her body twisted as she swung her sword, mana trailing along its edge.

Shrrrk—

The golem’s body sliced apart as if it were made of soft tofu.

She quickly dispatched one golem by severing its core, then used its collapsing form as a springboard to launch herself toward the next one.

“Wow... That’s... impressive.”

“Hmm, her skills aren’t bad at all.”

“Another incredible addition to our team...”

The party members, who had initially been skeptical and ready to find faults, couldn’t help but acknowledge Alice’s performance.

I, too, watched closely as she fought.

She was fast, and she was strong.

Even considering the rapid growth we’d experienced in the last year, Alice’s current display of power was exceptional.

It made sense.

After all, she’d trained in the Swordmaster’s forest, where her physical abilities and mana had been restricted by 90%.

Growing up in a place where she had to train with weights attached to her body since childhood, it was no wonder her strength felt boundless now.

As if to prove that, a faint smile appeared on her normally stoic face as she effortlessly cut down the golems.

‘She’s not fully controlling her strength or mana yet... but that will come with time.’

Though she still needed to work on fine-tuning her power and movements, Alice was more than capable of contributing to Utopia’s overall strength.

However...

‘...Something feels off.’

I couldn’t help but purse my lips as I watched her.

Her sword technique, at first glance, looked solid.

She struck and sliced with precision.

Her movements were well-honed, a testament to the training she’d received from the Swordmaster.

But there was something about the way she wielded the sword that felt... off.

It was as if, despite her impressive physical abilities and mana, the sword wasn’t a natural fit for her.

To be honest, I never thought I’d be in a position to critique someone’s swordsmanship, considering I started as a low-tier character. But...

I could see it.

I could sense it.

Alice’s talent lay elsewhere.

Thud, thud, thud.

Alice took deep breaths after finishing off the last golem.

Her heart raced in excitement, and she struggled to suppress the smile threatening to spread across her face.

How could she not?

Her swordsmanship today had been flawless.

Her body moved exactly as she willed it, and the sensation of power surging through her strikes was undeniable. She realized how much she had been held back in her old training environment with her grandmother. Now, she felt like she could do anything.

She had been worried about making a mistake in front of Jin Yoo-ha, but even by her own standards, her swordsmanship today was perfect. She had finally succeeded in replicating her grandmother’s sword style, something she had always failed to do before.

‘I knew it. When my grandmother said I had no talent, she was wrong.’

Look at the others.

Even the members of Utopia, who had initially looked at her with skepticism, now gazed at her with wide eyes.

Suppressing the shiver of excitement running up her spine, Alice maintained a calm expression.

“That’s my level.”

“Hmm, well, I see why you were brought into the main party... Fine, I’ll give my approval.”

The first to express approval, surprisingly, was Shin Se-hee. The others looked at her with wide eyes, but she just clicked her tongue and continued.

“Why are you all staring? I decided to accept anyone who met the required standard. Alice here surpassed it, so I don’t see a reason not to accept her.”

“Shin Se-hee, you—”

“Oh, don’t worry about that other matter. I’m not going to compromise on that.”

The party exchanged glances while Jin Yoo-ha looked confused.

“Uh? What are you talking about? What other matter?”

“Well, Jin Yoo-ha, you brought Alice here to boost our party’s combat power, right?”

“Of course. Why else would I bring her?”

“...Just as I thought.”

With that, the other party members began raising their hands in agreement.

“I approve...”

“Me too.”

“Yeah, I’m in favor.”

And so, Alice was unanimously accepted into Utopia’s party.

She knew exactly what Shin Se-hee meant. The party had accepted her as a teammate, but not as a potential love interest.

‘Not that it matters. All I care about is learning the sword.’

But the most important thing to her right now was what Jin Yoo-ha thought of her skills.

Sure, she wasn’t as skilled as her grandmother, but her grandmother had acknowledged her potential. Now, she had just demonstrated her talent in front of the person whose opinion mattered most.

Jin Yoo-ha stared at her with his dark, unreadable eyes.

“Alice, can I speak freely now?”

She nodded.

“Welcome to the Utopia party.”

However, Jin Yoo-ha scratched the back of his head and made a face.

Then, he said the words she had never wanted to hear.

“But, Alice... Do you really need to use that sword?”

His words hit her like a punch to the gut.

“I don’t know how to say this, but... it doesn’t seem like the sword is the right fit for you.”

And with that, Alice’s heart sank with a heavy thud.