In this neighborhood, a scream means something’s gone down. Immediately, people started sprinting toward the source of the sound.
Here, whenever there’s an incident, folks have a tendency to dash over and gawk first. Maybe there’s just not enough to see around here.
—Pah!
Of course, I’m no exception.
With nothing to enjoy, who could resist such an event?
Blending in with the crowd means I can watch to my heart’s content.
But.
“Zziiiiiiik!”
When I got there, it wasn’t the grand incident I expected; it was just a Great Monster going berserk at a stall.
That crazy rat!
“Demon! A demon has appeared! Gyaaaak!”
In front of the wrecked stall, a lady was flustered.
“Oh no! A Great Monster has appeared!”
“It’s completely wrecked everything!”
“What’s wrong with it?!”
However, the onlookers were just amazed and having fun watching without any intention of stepping in. Yep, this is the Martial Arts World. People here generally don’t involve themselves in others’ problems unless absolutely necessary.
So, let’s see.
Is it just one Great Monster? It seems confused, not knowing where to escape with so many people suddenly around.
Shall I try to catch it?
“Hey!!!”
With a loud shout, I stepped forward and drew the Nine-Star Staff of Destruction.
—Goooaah.
As my fighting spirit surged, I felt like my energy, which I barely recognized, was spreading through my body like blood flow. Thoughts like this help make it second nature, after all.
“Zziik!”
The Great Monster fluffed its fur and showed signs of alertness upon seeing me.
Sorry, buddy!
Starting now, this old man is gonna test out some martial arts skills!
“Demon, how dare you ruin the precious stall of a civilian! I shall judge you!”
“Oh my! A Martial Artist!”
“A Martial Artist has stepped in!”
“Ugh, oh no! A Martial Artist has appeared!”
—Pah!
I hadn’t really learned footwork, but the Three Calamity Sword Technique includes basic footwork. As I unfolded my nameless footwork and charged forward in a stride—
“Zziiiiiik!”
The Great Monster seemed to challenge me with a high jump, and I precisely aimed for its head with a vertical slash of the Three Calamity Sword Technique.
“Lethal Strike!”
—Packs!
What an exhilarating impact!
“You’re no match for me!”
The Great Monster’s head went kablooey, and it crashed to the ground.
Definitely, there’s an effect from learning martial arts!
This feels much cleaner and easier than my previous brawl with demons. I can feel more strength in my legs, maybe my breathing is steadier, too?
I only trained basic low-level martial skills for two weeks, and I’m feeling like this? Not sure if it’s psychological, but it sure feels real.
At this rate, am I gonna hit peak mastery in no time?
“Ooooooh!”
“Nice job!”
As the spectators marveled at my martial arts, they expressed their thoughts and dispersed.
“Thank you!”
Even the lady whose stall was wrecked expressed her gratitude, but it wasn’t that important to me. I nodded and then lifted the Great Monster’s tail.
Looks like it really has kicked the bucket.
Its head’s busted, but the rest is intact. So, can I eat this? I’ve been brawling so much that the damage usually means the meat isn’t worth much.
But this should be good to eat.
“Let’s go!”
I’ll head to that place that cooks demon meat!
“Hehehe.”
Honestly, rat demon meat sounds disgusting, but I have to think of it as an experience. It’s a tempting offer to get a day’s worth of protein for free.
Besides, I just took that demon down with a clean strike and helped a civilian, so I’m in a pretty good mood.
With this feeling, I could eat demon meat any day.
“Owner! I’ve brought a fine Great Monster carcass! Please cook this for me!”
“Hmm? Ah, you caught it cleanly. But… you want to eat the meat?”
“Is it poisonous?”
“No… it’s just that Great Monster meat is tough and tasteless.”
“I don’t care. I’ll hand over all the byproducts, so please cook it for me.”
“Well, that’s doable.”
The owner immediately began preparing the carcass.
“Without the head, it should be usable.”
The sight wasn’t exactly mouth-watering, so I just sat down and waited for the dish to be made. I’m not expecting flavor; this is more about saving money and getting protein.
What a crazy world I’m in.
I’m about to eat rat meat just to get my protein. The thought of this being a world where people live is quickly fading away.
It’s just disheartening.
Is this really happening?
While I was sulking inwardly, the owner came back with a steaming bowl.
“Here, eat.”
“What’s the name of this dish?”
“Great Monster Soup, of course. Don’t expect much flavor. It’s the kind of food a beggar or a dog would eat.”
“Uh… got it.”
Wait, you bring me food and call it dog food?
Let’s see.
As expected, it looks like a complete disaster.
All I can think is how badly this has turned out.
“I have to eat this?”
“You ordered it, didn’t you?”
“I can’t believe it! No way!”
There’s no way I ordered this!
The meat looks dark and grimy. Still, there’s enough of it; I think I can get a day’s protein out of it… Well, what can a beggar like me complain about?
Let’s give it a try!
“Ugh!”
I immediately brought the bowl to my mouth and slurped up the broth and meat.
“Gag!”
But damn, how could my expectations be so off!
It tastes disgustingly terrible!
—Chew, chew.
The meat is so tough I’m practically in tears from the effort!
Someone save me!
“Ugh… this is horrid.”
“What did I tell you?”
“Still, I’ll eat it all. I need the meat to build muscle. I’ll be depending on you in the future, owner.”
“Heh…”
The owner shook his head as he walked away.
“Usually, this is meat used for dog food…”
“Whatever.”
Once it’s in my stomach, it’s all the same!
“Cough!”
Thus, I violently finished my Great Monster Soup.
The sole thought that the meat I just ate would turn into muscle fueled my actions. I’ve heard of tribes in South America calling rats “Yahem.” But those tribesmen call all meat they see “Yahem,” essentially meaning rats are a main food source.
Let’s live with that tribe’s mindset.
“Phew.”
After eating, I came out, and there’s still plenty of time to spare.
“What should I do now?”
Should I just go in and rest? Feels like such a waste of this holiday. While I was fiddling with the Nine-Star Staff, it hit me… oh!
Weapons!
It’s time for weapons!
“Strike Staff…!”
This crazy club!
I’m currently training in martial arts, so do I really need to be using this Strike Staff? Now that I’ve learned the Three Calamity Sword Technique and know how to swing a sword?
“Alright!”
The Strike Staff is out!
With some money to spare, I should go buy a real sword!
I’m finally at an era where I can swing a sword, after all!
“Wow.”
Now that I’m in the Martial Arts World, I’m only just now thinking of wielding a sword—seriously, what an idiot I am.
I need to act on this thought immediately.
I headed to the weapon shop.
“Smell that iron.”
As I entered the street with the blacksmith, the smell of iron hit me hard.
Is this the real smell of genuine hardware?
What a true manly aroma.
—Thump, thump.
Thinking of buying a sword gets my heart racing.
What is a sword?! It’s a weapon that indulges a man’s fantasies! A long blade and a well-shaped edge. There’s no man who hasn’t imagined slashing enemies with a magnificent sword. If a man hasn’t thought of it, he might as well lose a piece of himself. This is practically standard knowledge from elementary school education.
Right now, I’m going to acquire such a thing.
As a modern person, I’ve only ever handled kitchen knives and wooden swords—never a proper sword. Buying a sword feels like heading out to grab an expensive but must-have toy.
I stepped into a suitably large blacksmith.
—Clang!
—Clang!
“Hear that heat?”
I could hear the clinks and feel the warmth.
But what caught my eye was all the various weapons displayed inside!
“Oooh!”
A wonderful array of bladed weapons is on display. From swords and daggers to axes and spears, even moon blades and large swords with decorative rings! It was truly a sight to behold.
Men, regardless of age, have a tendency to obsess over weapons.
“Are you here to buy a weapon?”
As I was looking around, a salesperson approached me.
“I’m thinking of buying a sword. I’ll peruse before deciding.”
“Hmm…”
The employee scanned my outfit and nodded.
“I recommend the sword over there.”
“What kind of sword is it?”
“It’s a sword used comfortably by Martial Artists. Please feel free to try it.”
“Sure.”
Looking at it, it’s not particularly extravagant. It’s more like a practical, mass-produced item. It doesn’t seem overly expensive either.
They must have suggested a sword that matches my appearance.
Not bad.
“Then.”
Since everything looks the same, there’s not much point in choosing, really.
I simply grabbed a sword and gently pulled it out.
—Srrrung.
“Whoa.”
So this is a real sword.
It’s a decent length, and the blade seems well-honed.
Wait, it feels pretty heavy for its size?
“Whoa.”
The shape is plain. Unlike Western long swords in fantasy games, this is a genuine Eastern sword.
The guard section’s rectangular shape feels rather unique. I’m used to Western swords, but this is a real shift.
“Though the handle seems a bit short.”
But indeed, the handle is short. It’s just long enough to grip with one hand, which doesn’t match the dual-wield style of the Three Calamity Sword Technique.
The Three Calamity Sword Technique fundamentally requires dual wielding. Given that I now know martial arts, I should buy a sword that aligns with that.
“Oh, then over here.”
Picking up another sword, it feels just right.
“Perfect fit!”
The grip is nice, and even using both hands is no problem. The length should be sufficient. I can improve my sword recognition skills as I build up my martial arts experience.
“What’s the name of this sword? Does it have a name?”
“It’s called Han Sword, designed for the convenience of Martial Artists. It’s not too luxurious, but it should work fine for you.”
Han Sword, huh.
I like it.
“How much is it?”
“You seem to have a good eye, so I’ll sell it for a mere 330 mun.”
What kind of nonsense is that?!
“Are you kidding? Isn’t that a bit too expensive?”
I couldn’t help but be taken aback but tried to haggle without changing my expression.
Isn’t this every merchant’s rule?
In the Martial Arts World, they don’t care about image; the lower classes aim to get better deals.
“I know this kind of sword trades for about 250 mun. This is completely outrageous.”
“That’s impossible! That’s an absurd second-hand price! This is a brand-new item!”
“Hmm.”
“Fine, I’ll sell it to you for a special 300 mun.”
“That’s still too much. I’ll take it for 280 mun.”
“There’s no way I can do that.”
Can’t I get it cheaper? I feigned pretending to put it away, but the salesperson was adamant—no sword would go under 300 mun.
“Ugh… fine.”
Thirty mun off is decent enough.
—Swoosh.
I immediately handed over the precious money, grabbed the sword, and stepped outside… and figured out how to stick the scabbard to my belt.
“Ha ha!”
Just that alone made me feel ecstatic!
I’ve got a sword!
I’m wearing a sword on my waist!
I’m actually strutting around like a Martial Artist with a real sword…!
Even though it’s a trivial thing, I found immense joy in it at this moment. This is my first genuine sword. The Nine-Star Staff had been such a trash weapon; having this sword definitely brings me some peace of mind.
This sword will protect me.
“You’ll be my first blade.”
I felt an urge to stroke the sword as if it were some cherished pet. Like a madman, I kept fidgeting with the scabbard. Anyone watching would think I’m falling in love with my sword!
“Aah.”
Feeling very moved.
How long’s it been since I truly gripped a sword after coming to this Martial Arts World?
What a crazy reality.
Nevertheless, with this, I’m officially a Martial Artist! Learning martial arts and owning a sword means I’m part of the Martial Arts World. While perhaps not something to celebrate, it feels good to think of the new horizons ahead.
“The Nine-Star Staff…”
Since I’ve jammed my sword scabbard into my belt, it’s become a bit awkward to carry the Nine-Star Staff. What should I do? Sell it off?
No.
Even if it’s a bit uncomfortable, I should keep it as a secondary weapon. I’ve gotten quite used to it. Odds are, my staff skills are solid enough to hold their ground.
I could use it if I lose my sword.
Thus, I returned to the inn, my sword strapped to my waist.
As I walked, I glanced around and noticed there were indeed many Martial Artists around. There were so many people wielding swords. Here I am, having gone through so much just to finally get one sword, yet it seems so common. Unless there’s a giveaway event, the latecomers can never catch up to the veterans.
I made sure to avoid eye contact with any Martial Artists.
If I accidentally made eye contact, it could lead to trouble. Based on my experience, most Martial Artists are pretty much gangsters. There’s no benefit in engaging with those brutes.
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