“What’s the problem?”
“There’s no problem at all, hyung.”
“No, there’s a huge problem right now. What the hell have I even pulled so far?”
I spoke, half-laughing in disbelief, and pointed at the disaster that was our living room.
“How could it end up like this? Come to think of it, didn’t you say that wand you gave me last time also came from a kit? What exactly are you?”
“You can’t just ask that out of nowhere, hyung. That’s a bit unfair.”
“Do you have some kind of skill that guarantees you always get something good?”
“Hyung, you’re getting way too worked up.”
Fuming, I stomped on the empty boxes scattered on the floor. Baek Tae-beom, unbothered, picked up the miscellaneous junk lying around.
[CH. Private / Free Wind: This is kind of unsettling ㅇㅅㅇ;;]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: If Ga-hyeon just sticks close to that Contractor, I doubt he’ll ever go hungry ^^;;]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Are you kidding me?]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Kidding ×2 ^^]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Filtered. (Reason: Excessive profanity)]
After throwing a fit, I somehow managed to think positively about this ridiculous situation. On second thought, wasn’t this sword a hundred times better than the one Baek Tae-beom had been using? I’d been meaning to nag him into upgrading anyway, and now this <Cardinal’s Pristine and Elegant Sword> had dropped right into our laps. He might as well start using it.
“Tae-beom.”
But the moment I called out to Baek Tae-beom, who was still tidying up the wreckage in the living room, the response that came was flat-out rejection.
“No.”
“Huh? What?”
“I’m not changing swords.”
I could only stare at him, dumbfounded, still holding the sword in my hand. He wasn’t changing swords?
The sword Baek Tae-beom was using now was basically a rusty scrap I’d given him two years ago, D+-grade at best. It was weird enough that someone who wore top-tier armor would still be using that junk, but to pass up the chance for an upgrade?
“Why?”
Completely baffled, I asked. Baek Tae-beom, clutching things like <Stress Relief Candy> and <Cheer Captain’s Fan>, gave a gentle smile as he replied.
“I can’t replace something that you gave me.”
“……”
I was at a loss for words. Even Apollo was stunned.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Isn’t this borderline pathological?]
At this point, I had no more retorts. Instead, I decided to try reasoning with him.
“But it came out of a box I gave you.”
“I opened it with my own hands. Would it have been the same if you opened it, hyung?”
He’s attacking me with facts now? I don’t even know whose kid he is, but damn, he’s clever.
“But the sword you’re carrying is practically falling apart.”
“I’m good at fighting, so it’s fine. Why don’t you use it, hyung?”
Me? Carry this sword around? I imagined myself flailing with it, surrounded by monsters, tripping all over myself, and quietly shook my head.
“That’s… a bit much. The sword’s too long for me.”
“Then just sell it.”
“No way. It’s too valuable for that. Do you think S-rank items just pop out of the ground?”
But Baek Tae-beom, having finished cleaning the room, simply shrugged like it was no big deal.
“No.”
“Then why are you being so stubborn?”
“Because it’s not something you gave me.”
“And why the hell does that matter so much?!”
“Because even when I’m fighting, I always want to think about you, hyung.”
“……”
Apollo delivered the final blow.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You lost.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Wait—hold on.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Why don’t you just… accept it and live your life? Maybe start dating while you’re at it….]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Why are you like this too?!]
I tried to compose myself and met Baek Tae-beom’s gaze.
Goddamn, he’s handsome. Why is he this good-looking? It made me feel like surrendering, like I wanted to just accept my loss gracefully…
That’s when a brilliant idea hit me.
“Then… what if we just added a new ability to your sword?”
“Huh?”
“If we combine this sword with the one you’re using now? You’d still say no?”
My voice must’ve sounded pretty desperate, because Baek Tae-beom hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“In that case… alright. But is that even possible?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
I hadn’t planned on asking for something like this, but now that things had come to this, I had no choice.
Ahn Ki-yoon looked completely bewildered as the two of us barged into the dorm. It looked like he’d been working on a college assignment—papers covered in sketches were scattered across the floor, and his laptop was filled with open windows. I shamelessly set down the box of vitamin drinks I’d brought and asked,
“Where’s your grandma?”
“Sh-she’s in the back room… W-wait, why are you here?!”
“It’s not like we’re complete strangers who’d never drop by.”
“Y-yeah, but still… we’re not close enough to just, like, show up unannounced!”
As Ahn Ki-yoon shouted in a fluster, Baek Tae-beom tilted his head slightly and asked,
“So is that a problem?”
“…N-no, it’s not.”
Watching Ahn Ki-yoon shrink under Baek Tae-beom’s words, I opened his status window.
‘Status.’
[Displaying target information.]
[Awakened: Ahn Ki-yoon]
[Title: Awakened
Rank: B
Status: Unable to verify
Contracted Constellation: None
Owned Coins: Unable to verify
Skills: [This Is Perfect As Is], [Combination]
This Awakened has no contracted Constellation.]
Ahn Ki-yoon only had two skills. No combat skills at all. No contracted Constellation, either. And yet, his rank measured as B. The only explanation was that his potential was terrifying.
Meanwhile, someone else out there had a pathetic F-rank Constellation.
Letting that bitterness pass for a moment, I cut straight to the point.
“I want to commission something from you.”
“F-from me?”
“Yeah. Right now.”
“R-right now?!”
I cleared off the table, took a seat, and immediately placed two swords in front of me.
[Cardinal’s Pristine and Elegant Sword – S]
[A dignified sword once wielded by a Cardinal wearing a pure white mitre. Massively increases destructive power. Grants a new skill upon use. (Cannot be used more than once)]
[Sword for the Meek – D+]
[A chipped blade that still resembles a proper sword. Grants a new skill upon use. (Cannot be used more than once)
The aura of Crimson Mist lingers on the blade, enabling stronger attacks.]
Anyone could see that the performance of the two swords was worlds apart. Ahn Ki-yoon’s eyes widened—more precisely, they locked on the S-rank sword.
“W-where did you get something like this?!”
“Came out of a kit.”
“A… kit?”
Ahn Ki-yoon made a puzzled face. I slammed the table.
“Combine these two.”
“What?”
“Specifically, enhance this old one by fusing it with the S-rank sword.”
Ahn Ki-yoon looked horrified. Naturally.
“Why would you even do that?! It—it’ll not only lower the performance, but also the rank could drop!”
And how the hell did you even know I had a skill like that?! Hey, don’t just sit there—answer me!… While Ahn Ki-yoon babbled nervously, I fell into brief contemplation.
Was this really the right call? Wouldn’t it be better to just talk Tae-beom into using the S-rank sword? If we used Ki-yoon’s skill to merge the two swords without any Mana Stones or preparation, we’d be lucky if the result landed at A-rank. More likely, it would plummet to B.
I snuck a glance at Baek Tae-beom. He was looking at Ahn Ki-yoon with eyes full of expectation.
‘…He didn’t even look at that S-rank sword when it first came out.’
I couldn’t understand why he was so obsessed with that junk sword I gave him, something called <Sword for the Meek>. Still, I couldn’t help but feel something tender stir inside me. It hit me—Baek Tae-beom really must like me a lot to go this far.
“Are… are you listening to me?”
“Yeah. Just combine them.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m serious.”
Mumbling to himself, Ahn Ki-yoon reluctantly picked up the <Cardinal’s Pristine and Elegant Sword>. Then, without warning, he jammed it into a blank sheet of paper beside him.
There was a brief moment of awe as the sword was instantly etched onto the page like a drawing. Then, Ahn Ki-yoon laid the paper atop the <Sword for the Meek>, wincing.
“I—I don’t know, okay? I’m just doing what you said… don’t blame me later.”
At the same time, light began to pour from Ahn Ki-yoon’s hand. The paper started to melt, fusing into the <Sword for the Meek>.
And then, something unexpected happened.
The light began to shine—blindingly, overwhelmingly so. Ahn Ki-yoon looked alarmed, as if thinking, ‘Wait, this isn’t right,’ but didn’t stop.
“W-what the—?”
The dazzling brilliance made me instinctively shut my eyes. Over my eyelids, I felt a large, calloused hand shield me—Baek Tae-beom’s warm hand gently covering my eyes before slowly pulling away. As the glow finally faded, I opened my eyes…
And stared, jaw slack, at the massive sword now in Ahn Ki-yoon’s hands.
It looked like something out of legend or myth—a blade of golden and white hues, perfectly balanced and regal. The hilt still held three embedded red gems. Ahn Ki-yoon stood dumbfounded, looking from me to the sword, completely dazed.
[Carpores – S+]
[A dignified sword wielded by One Who Weaves Truths. Cuts through endless, inexhaustible principles and claims them as one’s own.
Obtained by combining an S-rank item with <Sword for the Meek>.
Grants a new skill upon use. (Cannot be used more than once)
The aura of Crimson Mist lingers on the blade, enabling stronger attacks.]
What the hell did we just make?
