Chapter 75
Piyong stood frozen, staring at Suhyeok as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"N-No way...."
"How can that be possible?"
An Ego Sword's form and even its abilities changed depending on its relationship with its owner and the sword's own will.
That was why so little reliable information existed about them.
Even so, Piyong could say one thing with certainty.
That Ego Sword was abnormal.
The grown-up Seong-a currently clinging tightly to Suhyeok looked far too different from anything that could normally be called a sword.
Gulp.
"...Dolkin."
"How much younger was she when you saw her before?"
"Hmm. Back then, she looked about five or six."
Dolkin stroked his chin.
"I didn't expect her to grow this much either."
"She's changed so much I barely recognize her."
Dolkin studied Seong-a closely.
The energy unconsciously leaking from her body carried an enormous amount of mana, enough to remind him of a dragon.
"...Hah."
"I don't even know how I'm supposed to describe that."
"It's not like she's some polymorphed dragon."
He stared in disbelief.
"How does a damn sword possess that much mana?"
"Seriously, everything about you is ridiculous."
While the two admired her from a distance, Seong-a beamed and hugged Suhyeok even tighter.
"Dad! Didn't you miss me?"
"I thought I'd die because I missed you!"
"Hm? Didn't you?"
"Hehe."
"...I understand that you're happy to see me, but people are watching, so you should probably let go of-"
Squeeze.
"Nooo."
"I'm staying like this."
"You never hugged me while I was asleep."
I'm jealous, fuuuck....
Hug me too. Me too. Me too. Me too.
But damn, she's seriously gorgeous ;;
(holding a bouquet while wearing a suit) Father-in-law, I look forward to your approval. Haha.
This guy finally showed up again. Can't he disappear for good? ;;
The bastard comes back every time we're about to forget him ㄷㄷ
Only her body had grown.
The way she threw tantrums was exactly the same.
If anything, it had become worse.
[A Constellation wishing for family happiness smiles warmly.]
[Several Constellations feel a sense of happiness.]
[You have received 20,000 Coins in sponsorship.]
[You have received 30,000 Coins in sponsorship.]
.
.
.
Come to think of it....
Suhyeok checked the condition of his body.
An enormous amount of energy had accumulated deep within his dantian.
Seong-a wasn't the only thing that had changed.
[A special energy has accumulated inside your body.]
[Trait ‘Body Reforging (S)’ converts ‘Stellar Energy’ into ‘Internal Energy (180 years)’.]
A full three cycles' worth of Internal Energy.
Just like Body Reforging itself, this was another tremendous fortuitous encounter he had never obtained before his regression.
It would've been ideal if he could immediately make all three cycles of Internal Energy his own.
But that was impossible right now.
I need an expert capable of guiding the circulation of true qi.
Until then, I won't be able to use this Internal Energy properly.
Does that mean I'll have to reach the 50th floor after all?
At that moment, Leon, who had disappeared at some point, awkwardly revealed himself.
[ H-Hmph! Why did you take so long to wake up, nya? If you sleep that much, you'll just get fat, nya! ]
Seong-a silently stared at Leon as he grumbled.
[ W-Why do you keep staring at- ]
"Kitty!!"
"Hyagyak?!"
Seong-a grabbed Leon and hugged him too.
The already cramped embrace became even tighter.
She didn't care.
Smiling brightly, she rubbed her cheek against Leon's.
"I missed you, Kitty!"
"Didn't you miss me?"
"W-Why would you ask something so embarrassing, nya?! Of course I was completely fine, nya!"
"Hah! Why would I miss you, nya?"
"And my name isn't Kitty. It's Leon, nya!"
"You really didn't miss me?"
"Hm?"
Seong-a looked at him with a wounded expression.
Leon swallowed hard.
Then he deliberately looked away and muttered quietly.
"...I-I missed you a little, nya."
Once things had finally settled down, Dolkin looked at Suhyeok in disbelief.
"So you've really been traveling around with that Administrator all this time?"
"I've lived a long damn life, and you're the first Player I've ever seen travel with an Administrator."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Hah. Now you're even making jokes?"
Dolkin shook his head.
"Whatever. More importantly, why is she still like that?"
He pointed toward Seong-a.
"Does she have no intention of turning back into a sword?"
"I'm not ‘she.’ I'm Seong-a, Grandpa!"
Seong-a bent her knees slightly and leaned down with a bright smile.
Dolkin looked away with his arms crossed.
"W-Who the hell are you calling Grandpa?!"
"You and your owner are both way too friendly!"
"Hah, seriously!"
He kept grumbling, but the corners of his mouth were threatening to rise.
Apparently, being called Grandpa didn't bother him nearly as much as he pretended.
"Oh, right!"
Seong-a suddenly brightened.
"I have something to show you!"
She moved to the open area.
[ Ego Sword ‘Seong-a’ uses Trait ‘Weapon Master (S)’. ]
[Both arms transform into ‘Exclusive Weapons’.]
Her arms transformed into black swords.
Dark energy wrapped around the blades and pressed heavily against the entire room.
Even Suhyeok nearly took a step back on instinct.
...Just from that pressure alone...
Taesu and Yumi? No.
She's beyond that.
Comparable to Hyuna... maybe even stronger.
And the faint spirit energy that had once surrounded her had become much denser.
It now surpassed the level of an upper spirit.
That was undoubtedly because of the Engraving of the Spirit King.
Suhyeok turned his head.
Dolkin and Piyong looked just as shaken.
They stared at her for a long time, like painters who had suddenly been struck by inspiration.
"Hehe."
Seong-a hurried back over with light steps.
"How was it?"
She didn't have a tail, yet somehow she looked exactly like a puppy wagging one.
She stared at Suhyeok expectantly.
Left with little choice, he patted her head.
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
"By the way..."
Suhyeok asked,
"Can you turn back into a sword?"
"Yep!"
Shing.
She transformed back into a sword and settled into his hand.
The sensation was unmistakably different from before.
It felt as though even the slightest swing could cut through anything.
The problem is that it's become just as difficult to control.
The sharpened blade felt much heavier.
If he let his guard down, it almost felt as though the sword itself might consume him.
That was probably because Rank now dwelled within it.
Seong-a returned to human form.
Suhyeok flexed his tingling hand and muttered,
"You've gotten much heavier."
Seong-a froze.
"W-What?!"
Her face flushed.
"That's rude to say to a girl...! I'm not heavy!"
Despite protesting, she seemed worried that she really had gained weight.
She started walking while slightly lifting herself onto her toes.
Before long, it was time to leave.
At the workshop entrance, Dolkin cleared his throat.
"Ahem. You seem physically fine, so that's good."
"What are you planning to do now?"
"For some reason, I heard a portal leading toward the 40th floor is going to open."
His eyes narrowed.
"Don't tell me that's related to you too."
"Maybe."
Suhyeok nodded.
"So it's earlier than expected, but once the portal opens, I'll probably head straight toward the 40th floor."
"Why the rush?"
Dolkin frowned.
"You could wait for the other Players and climb with them."
He wasn't wrong.
Before long, the people currently on the 20th floor would start reaching this point.
In his current state, there might not even be a problem with climbing together.
The real issue was what would happen after they reached the 40th floor.
"You know what's on the 40th floor too, Dolkin."
"...True."
Dolkin's expression turned serious.
