Episode 71: The Protection of the Sword God
“#@$$!#%!@#@#☐☐&*(”
I have severe tinnitus. It’s a dull pain that feels like my eardrums are being pounded.
-…what?
The voice lingered in my throat and echoed inside me. Feeling familiar, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around.
Gooooooo.
The scenery is pure white. Everywhere you look, it’s covered in white, as if you’re being sucked in.
A world of blank paper with no trace of contamination was before my eyes. But the confusion ended in an instant. Because I knew where this place was.
-dream.
Yes, I had this dream before. Although it was a dream that disappeared in an instant like a mirage as soon as I woke up, it remains vivid in my mind because it is the same dream. A similar feeling of floating and weakness engulfs my whole body.
However, the location was different.
-I think it used to be space.
Unlike before, where nebulae, clusters, and suns were dotted like dots, this is a world without a single speck of impurity.
There was no distinction between up, down, left, and right. Moreover, it seemed as if all functions except for dull hearing had stopped, as if any stimulation that should have been felt had been blocked.
Honestly, I can’t tell if my eyes are open or closed right now.
Even during this time, I continued to hear tinnitus that felt like it was scratching my eardrums.
-This is a really bad dream.
Perhaps this dream will be erased from my brain when I wake up. Still, I tried to remain as calm as possible.
This dream must be a clue from someone trying to convey a message to me. I feel the will of an indescribable being, not an idea.
The target is probably.
-‘GM’
As I said that to myself, the tinnitus that had been bothering my ears suddenly stopped.
Then, as if ink had been poured on a piece of paper, black dots and lines began to appear, creating a new landscape in the world of nothingness.
A black outline appears on a blank sheet of paper, and the once mad world of nothingness begins to gradually take shape.
As I was staring blankly, not knowing whether I was standing or sitting, a sound of silence reached my ears. What is this sound that I can hear even though there is no sound?
But my gaze was already following the source of the sound. Soon, when I turned my head back, a human figure appeared on my retina.
-… What is that?
There was a thing standing there, like a white shadow, without facial features. A being with a plain face and outlined only by black lines. At first glance, it looked like a painting, but it felt like a solid lump. It was a truly strange appearance.
Even if I narrow my eyes and focus on its shape, I can only see it vaguely. After staring at it for a while, it opens its mouth.
“Long time no see.”
Even though there was no mouth, I could see the lips moving.
A mysterious voice that sounds like a delicate woman, but also like a strong man.
As I was dumbfounded by the supernatural phenomenon, it smiled and showed its teeth.
“Oh, is this your first time here? I’m confused.”
⎯ … You, no way⎯.
Before the words could be finished, it shrugged and turned away.
“Sorry, I’m not a GM.”
⎯ … … .
It felt like my entire mind had been read. It smiled, the corners of its lips slightly raised, and then opened its mouth.
“But if you look at it another way, it might not be that different. Isn’t it? Strictly speaking, it’s the opposite. Well, anyway, I could be that guy, and that guy could be me. Kanggeomma, think as you see fit.”
What did he say? I didn’t quite understand what he meant, so I looked back at what the guy in front of me had said.
He speaks as if he were some kind of philosopher, so I can’t understand his words at all.
But each word had an overwhelming feeling that was incomparable to anything else. The incomprehensible sensation made me feel sick. I tried to swallow my swear words and asked it.
⎯ … What are you?
As he said that, he started to burst out laughing. He shook his shoulders and tears welled up in his eyes, wondering what was so funny.
‘What’s so funny?’
Then, I forcibly perceived in my head that ‘he looks like he has no facial features.’ My brow furrowed as if my image was being manipulated.
⎯ … How long are you going to keep laughing?
“Sorry, sorry, I just remembered the old days. I apologize if I offended you. Well, it’s only natural that you would be curious about me, Geomma. But⎯.”
It suddenly raised its chin. Wherever its gaze was directed, a large clock drawn in lines was floating.
Tick, tick.
A clock with only the minute and second hands moving, without an hour hand. I looked at it for a moment, then turned its head towards me.
“It would take too long to explain who I am. Since we don’t have much time left, I’ll give you a brief explanation.”
It straightened its expression. It added its words as if mumbling as its face, which was as plain as a boiled egg, trembled.
“I am called by many names by people. To some, I am a disaster, or to others, nature, the universe, and God.”
⎯ … God?
It nodded.
“Yeah, but not just any god, to be exact.”
Its two eyes opened slowly, physically rather than cognitively.
A convulsion comes from the extremities as the pupils spin around and around.
My body froze, a mixture of instinctive rejection and fear.
“God of Swords.”
-… … ?!
“It may not be the God you think it is, but just call me God for convenience. If you want, call me whatever you want. After all, it’s just ‘me’ in the end.”
When I was very surprised, God smiled brightly. It was a huge difference from the image of God I had thought of until then.
“Well, I’ll stop here for now. I’d like to explain more, but it looks like we don’t have much time.”
-Why did you only show up now?
“I was released from custody a while ago. Don’t you remember?”
Let’s think about it for a moment. A phrase that suddenly comes to mind.
⌜The protection of the Sword God is lifted.⌟
It was the voice that lingered in my ears when Agor tried to disrupt my mental image with mental magic. The god laughed briefly at my reaction.
“You’re right. But it’s not completely released, so it appears in front of you in an imperfect state. It’s a miracle that I can convey the message like this. Anyway.”
Dang, dang, dang.
The elegant clock chime rang three times.
Jejejeok⎯
A small crack starts from under your feet and spreads like a spider web across the landscape. This dream, no, the world, begins to collapse.
I took a big step towards it in a hurry. My footwork was light and quick. But as if I was standing still, the distance between us did not narrow at all.
At my sight, it smiled softly and stepped back. Then, without even looking at me, it waved its hand and spoke.
“Oh, and cutting and slicing is fine, but don’t do it too blindly.”
The distance widened further and the figure of the god disappeared from sight. I stretched out my hand as best I could. My breathing was rapid. My outstretched fingers trembled slightly.
Jejejeok⎯
Meanwhile, cracks were rapidly destroying the white background. I let out a sigh of desperation.
⎯ Damn, I have so many questions!
“By the way, the power you wield is… … . Even if I tell you now, you probably wouldn’t understand.”
The god spoke without looking back. His voice echoed in his skull. There was a smirk, a hint of laughter.
“Anyway, don’t make any mistakes this time.”
At the same time, the world of blank paper splits apart.
Kwakwang!
Pitch darkness, devoid of any light, engulfed my entire body.
“I believe you, Kanggeomma.”
* * *
A status window that opens automatically when you wake up.
Paat⎯
== ==
[NEW! The fairy tale rate has been readjusted from (17.9% ▶ 21.3%).]
== ==
I blinked and watched, and suddenly my eyeballs started to sting.
“eww…….”
Rubbing my sore, stinging eyes as if they had been exposed to incandescent light, I calm down a little.
I jumped out of bed and wrote down what I had just dreamed in my notebook.
Square, square.
The sound of a pencil moving busily and then stopping.
I wanted to recall it in detail, but it slipped away like sand that I was clutching at.
The more I try to hold on to the fragments of my vague memories, the more they scatter and fly away.
⌜God of Swords⌟
⌜GM⌟
In the end, there were only two words written in the notebook. As I stared blankly down at them, tapping the notebook with the tip of my pencil, any remaining fragments of memory completely flew away.
“Hmm.”
I frowned once and looked to the side. I could see the hazy sky beyond the window frame. The sky was filled with murky gray clouds.
“Is it already the rainy season?”
A breeze blew through the open window. The damp smell that came in with it lingered in my nostrils.
Bam.
After shaking my head, I closed my notebook.
‘It’s important to collect clues like this, one by one.’
The sudden surge in the fairy tale rate is annoying.
‘At least so far, I haven’t seen any disadvantages from the increase in the fairy tale rate.’
I pushed the window halfway open and sat on the railing. A gust of wind that smelled of rain cooled my sweat. I have always liked cloudy weather more than clear and refreshing weather.
People here often compare life to heaven. Although it may seem earthy at first glance, this world is in fact a place overflowing with gods, blessings, and magic.
That is why they use the sky as a mirror to reflect themselves. When they raise their heads, it is only on clear days. They do not even look at it when there are dark clouds. However, the value of clarity is highlighted because there are days when it is not clear.
“…what you hope for and what’s real are different.”
I hummed bitterly and took off my clothes, hanging them on the back of the chair. My sweat-soaked top hung limply. It’s one thing to like cloudy days, and another to like the heat.
“I feel like my body has gotten better.”
I felt his abs with my fingers. The abdominal muscles were beautifully divided into eight sections.
I didn’t do any exercise during my hospital stay, but my body feels better now.
I looked at him with a strangely pleased smile on my face, then suppressed my laughter.
My room is on the second floor. I might be seen by someone with my upper body exposed and groping around. I’m already a frequent target of the cadets’ gossip, so I might be labeled a pervert.
“… Let’s not lose our cool.”
Rollin~
The phone vibrated with the ringtone that rang indifferently. I wondered who it was in the morning, then quickly lifted my butt off the windowsill. Since I had to wash up and get ready anyway, the timing was perfect.
“It must be a Ryozo or weapon.”
Yesterday, the club members offered to treat me to a meal. It was to celebrate my discharge and the creation of a travel club. Ryozo, Weapon, and Chloe all agreed to do it. They said that the new sushi restaurant in the academy is famous or something.
At first, I strongly refused. There was no particular reason, it was just that I was not used to getting things from others.
But since they had sparkling eyes and even shoved their cell phones in my hand, I reluctantly agreed. Besides, they were obviously from upper class society, so buying them a meal wouldn’t be a big deal.
“But I’m a bit picky about sushi.”
I let out a short laugh and checked my phone. Contrary to my expectations, the caller was not one of my club members.
[Media: Hey, Geommaya, did you sleep well? I just found out about something you asked me to do before. That’s why I’m contacting you.]
“What did you ask…?”
I tilted my head once, then clapped my hands.
“Oh, you asked me to find out about my family relationships and personal information.”
Since I was always concerned about what Ray Sean said before he died, I asked him personally when I stopped by the principal’s office.
I swiped the screen with my index finger. A few more messages flew in.
[Media: I was originally going to tell you verbally… … . But I’m a bit cautious. I’ve attached the file below. Check it out and contact me when you’re ready. Oh, and you said a new member joined?! Oh my, you’re amazing, our Geomma! Later, this older sister will secretly give you a separate reward⎯.]
I scrolled a little further.
[Media: Cadet Ganggeomma Information.xlsx]
A message in the form of an attachment. It was a secure message that could only be viewed. Feeling unnecessarily nervous, I wiped the sweat off my hands on the hem of my clothes and pressed down on it.
“… What the hell, dog.”
At the same time, swear words came out on their own.
