Chapter 16: Holy Sword Click Clear (1)

“Before that, it’d be better to change your clothes.”

“Clothes?”

At Choi Junseok’s words, Lee Nayeon glanced down at her body, as if wondering what could possibly be wrong.

It wasn’t exactly problematic.

She was wearing a shabby cotton tunic and leather pants, like the default outfit of a level 1 commoner in a medieval online game. 

Surprisingly, it had a modern flair, but upon closer inspection, it looked worn.

Just then.

The beep of the door lock code being entered echoed, and Choi Junseok turned around tensely.

“Oh my! Junseok-ah, you should’ve said you were here!”

It was his mom. And tucked under her arm were his little sister’s clothes.

It was clear the two had already exchanged pleasantries.

“I brought some clothes that might fit. Want to try them on?”

“I’m honored. They definitely look comfortable to move in. May I really take them?”

It was a pair of leggings and a gray hoodie that his sister had worn a couple of times before abandoning.

“Of course! I bought them for working out, but I gave up on dieting ages ago! Go on, try them on.”

“Well then…”

“Wait! Change in the room!”

It was Choi Junseok who stopped her as she started to undress right there.

She tilted her head and asked back, “How about you step out, Junseok-nim?”

“…Ah. I didn’t think of that. Right, that’s an option.”

He grumbled timidly in protest.

But it didn’t faze her.

Unfazed, Nayeon turned her gaze away and examined the clothes, flipping them over as she asked, “Junhee-nim, which side is the front?”

“Oh, that side is the front.”

“I see. This pocket at the neckline is quite practical. It must be for holding the heads of enemies.”

“What?”

“No, no. It’s a hood. A hat.”

“Junseok-nim, how about you stop talking and give us some space?”

“Alright, alright, I’m going.”

Nayeon held the hoodie with a resolute expression.

“A hood, huh. A disguise garment.”

It seemed best to give her some space.

She was also turning the leggings over, trying to figure out which side was the front.

Choi Junseok stepped into a nearby empty room, thinking he might as well look up something about Nayeon’s personality, and opened the internet wiki.

He typed “Richard I” into the search bar.

The legendary knight known as the Lionheart.

As a renowned warlord of the Middle Ages, the related articles were unsurprisingly lengthy.

‘Lord of the Angevin Empire.’

‘King of England.’

‘Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, and Gascony. Count of Poitiers, Maine, and Nantes.’

‘Overlord of the Duchy of Brittany.’

‘Lord of Ireland and Cyprus.’

And above all,

‘An unprecedented disaster for the Muslims and the greatest strategist of medieval Europe.’

‘Descendant of the Devil.’

Some descriptions didn’t seem to align with Nayeon at all.

She had a cold and ruthless aura, but it didn’t feel that extreme.

Perhaps her character, or the personality of the Lionheart as depicted in stories, was being filtered because she was a summoned being.

As Choi Junseok scrolled through the records, he paused at a particular section.

It was about the personal life, offering a glimpse into the character’s personality.

One detail unintentionally caught his eye.

[Sexuality]

The content under that heading was shocking from the first line.

‘From his youth, he was unmatched in his reputation as a libertine.’

Choi Junseok’s eyes hurriedly darted to another section.

But nothing else registered.

“No way. It’s just a motif, right? Yeah, exactly.”

Ahem.

Clearing his throat and wetting his dry lips,

He aimlessly scrolled through his phone.

“This cohabitation… it’ll be fine, right?”

Of course, he was talking to himself.

Nayeon seemed eager to faithfully enjoy the experience of living in this world.

In fact, for safety reasons, it was something to be grateful for.

Honestly, what 20-something guy in his prime would refuse to live with someone like her?

No.

Even if it were a woman, wouldn’t they be thrilled by her appearance?

With looks like hers, people of all ages and genders would line up.

Just then, Nayeon knocked on Choi Junseok’s door.

“I have completed preparations for departure.”

 ***

“It’s been a while since I’ve been outside.”

A refreshing breeze blew, making Nayeon’s hair flutter.

She seemed to breathe easier, a slight smile visible on her lips.

“I feel kind of bad. You haven’t been outside even once.”

“I understand. Your days have been hectic and busy.”

He had only focused on climbing the Magic Tower, never really paying attention to her outings or daily life.

While he might feel comfortable staying indoors, that might not be the case for Nayeon.

If she inherited the memories or temperament of the Lionheart, she was someone who had spent her life on battlefields and marching camps.

Telling someone like that to stay cooped up at home would likely make them ill.

Not to mention the chilling advice from that terrifying Team Leader Kang.

How could he dare to just order her around after hearing that?

Choi Junseok belatedly realized that she was a relationship to be treated with utmost sincerity, like a core business partner.

“Is there a place you’ve wanted to visit?”

Nayeon closed her eyes, seemingly organizing her thoughts, but soon shook her head.

“There are many places I’d like to see, but anywhere is fine.”

“Then… let’s head to an empty lot to test some weapons.”

“Understood.”

On the way to an isolated park near the city,

Nayeon asked about everything like a curious child.

Her eyes widened in surprise at his answers, and sometimes her mouth even hung open.

“That, I know about. I saw it on TV,” Nayeon said, pointing at an ice cream a child was holding as they passed by.

“You’re practically drooling. Want one?”

“…I’m fine.”

But she clearly wasn’t fine.

Choi Junseok took her to a convenience store and told her to pick something.

Nayeon bit her tongue, then her lip, and began to deliberate seriously.

It was as if it were the decision of a lifetime.

“That boy just took that green ice cream.”

Merongna.

The quintessential ice cream, synonymous with the word itself.

“I’ll take this one.”

Gulp. Swallowing hard, Nayeon followed Choi Junseok’s lead, unwrapping the ice cream and taking a bite.

Whoosh!

Nayeon unintentionally released a burst of energy.

“…”

“How is it?”

Nayeon blinked at the ice cream, then took another bite.

Biting down hard and savoring it, her face lit up with the pure happiness of a child.

“It’s… an incredible… incredible taste.”

“I’ll stock some at home. You can have them whenever you want.”

Nayeon’s eyes widened.

At the same time, her ears seemed to turn slightly red.

“Choi Junseok-ssi, you’re a good person.”

Somehow, her reaction seemed stronger than it would be for the longsword he was about to give her.

“Ice cream supplier… no, Choi Junseok-ssi, I will protect you with all my sincerity.”

“…Well, thanks for that.”

Of course, Nayeon had protected him before.

But it always felt somewhat obligatory, like she had no choice.

‘It’s like her mechanism is programmed to prioritize my safety.’

But seeing it directly felt a little different.

He recalled what he had seen while climbing the 3rd and 4th floors.

Nayeon, tearing a lizardman in half, staring at him eerily with an expressionless face.

The blue blood of the lizardman raining down drip-drip over her head.

Her eyes, peering through that blue rain.

Expressionless, yet somehow looking at him with disdain.

That gaze felt like a serious warning.

As if she were saying, ‘You’re my master, and you can’t even handle something this pathetic?’

Facing that blatant stare…

It made him feel utterly insignificant.

‘Guess gifts really are the answer.’

According to the time-honored tradition of dating sims, the fastest way to build affinity is through gifts.

So, giving her this sword might change things.

It’s a Unique-grade item, after all.

Arriving at the isolated lot, Choi Junseok summoned a sword in front of Nayeon.

Item Name: Kim Chunsik’s Longsword (Unique) 

Category: Equipment – Weapon  

Description: A sword imbued with the sweat and soul of Kim Chunsik, the 34th descendant of the renowned Kim family of swordmasters. Activates a special effect when slicing kimbap.  

Equipable Level: Lv. 15

Since summoned beings level up with their master, Nayeon’s level would also be 5.

But a level 10 difference shouldn’t be an issue for her physical abilities, right?

After all, wasn’t she the Lionheart who endured malaria and plague-ridden lands during the Crusades?

A level 10 gap could surely be overcome with sheer grit.

‘She even managed to slightly lift a holy sword with a level requirement of 999.’

There’s no such thing as a warrior who refuses to grow stronger.

Nayeon would probably grab the sword eagerly and start slicing through monsters.

Meanwhile, he could safely chip away with lasers or throwing skills to gain experience.

Thud!

The sword was lightly embedded in the ground upon summoning.

It was still sheathed.

Nayeon’s gaze, unlike the excitement she showed for the ice cream, was serious in a different way.

Her eyes now held the cold thrill of an expert.

“It’s a fine sword.”

Nayeon closed her eyes, as if communing with the sword, then drew it.

Holding only the hilt with one hand, she pulled it out, leaving the scabbard embedded in the ground.

Shing—!

With her back turned, Nayeon lightly swung the sword horizontally.

The leaves on a nearby tree trembled and shook.

“Seems useful, right? It’s a gift. What do you think?”

“Is today my birthday?”

“No, it’s just… I haven’t been able to take care of you properly. I wanted to give you something better, but this seemed the best for now.”

“A sword like this is more than enough. Thank you.”

She sheathed the sword and gave Choi Junseok a bright smile, extending her hand.

“Sincerely.”

Her warm smile and kindness left Choi Junseok momentarily dazed before he shook her hand.

“I’m counting on you.”

At that moment, a text arrived on Choi Junseok’s phone.

It was Team Leader Kang.

The timing was so precise, it almost felt like he was watching them.

Clear five floors with the best record, and the Tower will grant a special reward random box.

It felt like pressure to climb the Magic Tower.

Not that it was hard to understand.

The Player Management Office had invested a significant amount in him.

‘Fine. Let’s climb the Tower.’

But this message wasn’t just about that.

The Player Management Office had detected repeated, regular vibrations of unknown origin in the southern part of Kaesong, North Korea.

It was highly likely a precursor to a Magic Tower emerging.

***

Around the same time.

The government’s Player Management Office received a piece of intelligence.

“There are reports of repeated earthquakes and aftershocks of unknown origin in southern Kaesong.”

“…Earthquakes of unknown origin?”

“It could be an earthquake, but in cases like this, it’s usually one thing.”

“You mean a Magic Tower is about to rise? It’s about time one appeared in North Korea. They haven’t had a single one so far.”

It was a shocking prediction that a Magic Tower would rise in North Korea.

“Summon the rankers. We absolutely cannot let North Korea take the hidden reward on the 1st floor.”