I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game

I fumbled with the object that had suddenly appeared in my hand—the tough packaging, the rectangular shape, a familiar form.

“······Why… Why is this here…?”

My mind was hazy, but I could tell that what I was holding was a calorie bar, the snack Master always used as a meal replacement.

Rumble, rumble.

I immediately unwrapped the packaging and brought it to my mouth.

Chew, chew.

I chewed the tough, dry food with my stiff tongue and jaw, forcing it down with great effort.

It was a food designed solely to provide calories, so the dry texture that absorbed all the moisture in my mouth and the pungent cheese flavor on my tongue were far from delicious.

But in this moment, it felt like no delicacy in the world could compare.

It was a euphoric sensation, like fireworks going off in my head.

“Cough!”

I almost coughed it all up, but I quickly covered my mouth to prevent a disaster.

This one piece was my lifeline.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

I opened my mouth wide toward the ceiling, catching the falling water droplets to quench my thirst.

Gulp.

As my hunger and thirst subsided, my hazy mind gradually cleared.

“Haa…”

I had been lying there with my eyes closed for so long, thinking I would die here.

“Is this… from Sword Emperor?”

I fiddled with the calorie bar wrapper, muttering to myself.

I couldn’t bring myself to say thank you, but I thought that Sword Emperor must have a conscience after all.

But something felt odd.

Slippery—

There was a sticky sensation on the wrapper, as if something had smeared it.

‘······Is this blood?’

Sniff, sniff, sniff.

I brought the wrapper to my nose and sniffed.

My nose, sensitive from prolonged hunger, could detect the familiar scent beneath the bitter iron smell.

“Master… Is this from you?”

And then, the messages I had exchanged with Master before entering this place flashed through my mind.

The replies that came even before I sent my messages, as if she had anticipated them.

And the strange response when I mentioned that Sword Emperor wanted to take me as her disciple.

The calorie bar.

We had been discussing this together.

‘Are you watching over me? Or are you here, Master?’

All sorts of assumptions ran through my mind.

Did Master throw this to save me?

Then why didn’t she appear herself?

Honestly, I still don’t know what happened, but the blood on the calorie bar wrapper suggested that Master wasn’t in a good state either.

‘Could it be that she’s trapped here with me?’

I couldn’t be sure, but suddenly, I had a thought.

‘Then Master wouldn’t have eaten, either.’

Worry crept into my heart.

Master was always strong, but she was still human, and in this place, her physical strength and mana were completely gone.

I began to search for Master, running my hands over the cold, damp floor.

I kept searching, feeling the walls and floor, until I found something unusual—a hard, alien sensation, as if something was blocking the space between me and this place.

I could sense it instinctively.

Master was here.

“Master, Master! Can you hear me!?”

Thud. Thud. Thud.

I pounded on the sturdy wall, calling out.

“Master! Are you alright!?”

Thud. Thud. Thud.

“If you’re okay, knock on the wall!”

Thud. Thud. Thud.

But only my voice echoed back from the pit, with no response.

Stagger, stagger.

I slowly stood up, my muscles sore and joints creaking from lack of use.

Ssss—

I drew Moonlight from my waist.

The sword I had held every day felt unbearably heavy, and my arms trembled under its weight.

Yet I gritted my teeth and lifted the sword with both hands.

Still, I didn’t understand.

What was Sword Emperor trying to teach me with this bizarre training?

Being trapped in darkness, enduring excruciating hunger and loneliness—what was the point of all this?

So—

“You have to show me…”

I spoke with a chilling tone, my eyes narrowed.

Otherwise,

I would never forgive Sword Emperor.

Moon Shadow Sword Technique.

My eyes gleamed with a cold light.

‘······!’

The scenery before me changed, revealing countless possibilities in motion.

The hundreds of lines had multiplied, filling the entire space before me, as if everything in the world was connected by threads.

Moreover, what was noticeably different from before was—

The lines were now colored.

Dark-colored lines stretched out from the blocked space, reflecting death, pain, and despair.

And among them,

A single white line shone brightly.

Stagger.

Stagger.

With all my might, I swung my sword at that white line, the only path that didn’t lead to darkness.

Crack!

As my sword pierced the narrow gap,

Crash!

The pitch-black scenery around me shattered, revealing a bloodied Master lying on the ground.

“Master!!!”

I lunged toward Master, and—

Above, Sword Emperor, who had opened the ceiling, looked down at us with a startled expression.

.

.

.

“Hmm…”

Baek Seol-hee’s eyebrows twitched.

For some reason, she felt drowsy.

The softness of the pillow against her cheek was unfamiliar.

Ever since she had joined the Demon Slayer Squad, she had lived on edge, never allowing herself a moment of relaxation.

It felt odd to be holding something so stiff, but…

‘What…?’

A scene flashed through Baek Seol-hee’s mind.

Her disciple’s eyes, dimming with life, his gaunt face—

-Master, save me…

Flash!

Baek Seol-hee opened her eyes.

“······?”

And she widened her eyes in surprise.

After all, her disciple was sleeping right in front of her, his breath brushing her cheek.

The peaceful expression on his face, as he breathed calmly, made it feel like all the hardships they had endured were just a bad dream.

‘Is this a dream…?’

It didn’t feel real. She couldn’t tell if this was reality or another nightmare.

Baek Seol-hee reached out a trembling hand toward her disciple’s face.

Her fingertips touched his cheek, and she still couldn’t believe this was real.

Poke.

Her fingertips followed the curve of his cheek.

‘His face is so thin.’

His cheeks were sunken, and his complexion was pale, emphasizing his long, drooping eyelashes.

The hardships and trials he had endured seemed to be etched on his face.

But.

Still.

He was alive.

He was breathing.

That fact alone filled Baek Seol-hee with overwhelming emotion.

She gently caressed her disciple’s face, feeling his warmth.

Tears streamed down her face, and she wondered if she had ever cried like this before.

“Sniff… Thank you… Thank you… Thank you…”

She didn’t know who she was thanking, but Baek Seol-hee continued to express her gratitude.

Then—

“Hmm…”

Jin Yuha half-opened his eyes, still not fully awake, his expression hazy.

He looked at her sleepily, then smiled softly.

“Ah, it’s Master.”

His voice was low and hoarse, filled with relief and warmth.

“Master, why are you crying? Don’t cry…”

Squeeze.

His arm wrapped tightly around Baek Seol-hee’s back, as if he never wanted to let her go.

“Thank you… Thank you, Master…”

Her disciple mumbled, then fell back into a deep sleep.

His breathing evened out again, and Baek Seol-hee, still held in his embrace, froze for a moment before slowly stroking his back.

Then, she felt a gaze.

She turned her head and—

“······.”

Sword Emperor, leaning against the door frame, smoking a cigarette, met her gaze.

“······How’s the little monster doing?”

Baek Seol-hee’s face turned tomato-red.