NOVEL NEXT chapter 2
2
[Eternity: Sword Chronicle] awards points every time you clear a story.
Points are used to strengthen characters, acquire skills, and level up.
[Available points: 1000 SP]
When starting out, it’s standard to invest all points in skill enhancement with the 1000 SP given.
But since I have no skills, it’s impossible for me to invest in skill enhancement.
I tried body enhancement just in case.
[Body enhancement using SP is not applicable in Reality Mode.]
“Unnecessarily realistic.”
Of course, I had no intention of wasting SP on physical enhancements, so I wasn’t disappointed.
I closed the notification window and looked at the main screen.
[Story Quest: Enroll in Eternity!]
[Reward: 500 SP, Projection of the Above.]
I stared intently at the message. Even on my way to the practical exam, I read it dozens of times.
Just in case it wasn’t a delusion caused by my mental disorder.
In reality, only 500SP was listed in the reward list, and there was no mention of ‘Projectionist of the Extraordinary,’ right? Realistically, the chances of that were much higher.
However, no matter how many times I blinked and reread it, the phrase ‘Projectionist of the Extraordinary’ did not disappear.
“…Crazy. Is this for real?”
If my guess was correct, this was a [Gift].
A unique ability obtained when reaching a certain level as a transcendent being.
[Gifts] vary from auxiliary abilities like absorption, amplification, mana dictatorship, gravity control, to elemental powers, but they all share the common trait of being misleading.
Moreover, the Gift mentioned in the reward items was named ‘Projectionist of the Extraordinary.’ This indicated a high likelihood of being related to reality manipulation.
And Gifts related to reality manipulation were exceedingly rare in Eternity.
The idea of manipulating reality was absurdly deceptive.
Yet, that deception was right here.
‘Projectionist of the Extraordinary.’
Literally, it meant ‘what is imagined becomes reality.’
Of course, with such [constraints], it would be challenging, but even considering that, it was still deceptive.
In other words, to survive, I must obtain this Gift.
After closing the status screen, I looked around.
I was currently in the Eternity Academy’s 2nd-floor practical exam room.
Everyone was busy stretching, with the exam about to start in 5 minutes.
Geniuses who had surpassed the global competition rate and reached the entrance exam of Eternity… that was the setting.
In reality, they were like blank spaces that were mentioned nowhere and didn’t even appear.
Anyway, among them, becoming an extra at Eternity was only for a couple of people.
But how did I, who had no mana and hadn’t even chosen a skill, end up in that small group?
Even Grandpa Developer wouldn’t be able to do that.
‘The hurdle to become an extra is damn high, seriously.’
Logically, it was safe to assume there was no way for me to enter Eternity. But I had no intention of just accepting that quietly.
‘If it’s not there, then create it.’
That’s how I play the game.
In times like this…
“386th life candidate, Lee Haesol. Will you challenge the selection of the Projectionist?”
“Yes, I will accept the challenge.”
It was a robbery of fate.
***
Some of Eternity’s artifacts inexplicably choose their owners.
Even if a remarkable human tries to use it, if the artifact refuses, it remains unusable.
Even if used, it’s just useless scrap metal because it can’t draw out its true power.
These ego artifacts with such discernment are collectively called ‘Artifacts.’
Dirty and deadly, one might wonder who would use them, but the scarcity makes them valuable.
Their performance is so excellent that they are considered treasures of a nation, sometimes even possessing Gifts.
The representative-grade sword, Excalibur, from the legend of King Arthur.
The sword that is said to be the master of those who pull it out from the ground, a legend’s sword. In reality, among swords, there are quite a few of these ‘pull-out’ types.
The culture of ‘sword selection’ also emerged in that way.
No matter how many swords you have, if there’s no one who can wield them, they’re just decorations.
In Eternity, such decorations are abundant. That’s why every year, they gather prospective warriors and start with the selection process before the practical exam.
You might wonder what happens if a strict person gets in, but they all signed a cooperation agreement with Eternity before entering.
Anyway.
“Number 386. Feel free to choose again if you’re not satisfied.”
“No, this is it.”
When I chose the rusty sword hanging on the wall, the examiner clicked his tongue.
“Forget the idea that a sword with low grade makes the selection easy.”
The examinees seemed to have the same thought as they chuckled behind me.
I must have looked like a fool rushing to enhance my abilities before the exam, but all I ended up choosing was this piece of scrap metal.
‘Anyway, these idiots think all rusty things are useless.’
I probably wouldn’t have these thoughts if I read my status messages.
[Hidden Quest: Discovered the Forgotten Legend.]
[Rewards: 5000SP Points.]
[The Grand Sword, chosen by the King. Gram.]
‘This is it.’
Numerous notification windows popped up as I held the sword. Heh heh. Laughter escaped me.
“What’s wrong? Feeling bad?”
“Are they crazy?”
People around me muttered, but I didn’t care. I was feeling too good for that.
The King’s chosen sword, Gram.
It looked like worn-out scrap on the outside, actually treated as scrap metal, stuck in a corner of the practical exam room, gathering dust.
But its true identity is the heirloom of the hero from Norse mythology, Sigurd.
A sword carrying the tale of slaying a dragon.
It came along with several other swords donated to Eternity, a convenient setting.
Normally, the protagonist, the next generation sword master, Cheon Woo-jin, would discover and use it······
‘Well, whatever.’
Cheon Woo-jin is a con artist who can easily take a grand sword from the sword collection without anyone noticing.
He doesn’t even use it properly in the first place.
It’s not because of Gram’s performance. It’s because Gram’s gift, [Division], doesn’t quite suit Cheon Woo-jin, who only uses one sword.
I’d rather use it than let it gather dust.
Anyway, despite Gram being in a sorry state, it is still a grand sword.
Perhaps that’s why its discerning eye in choosing an owner was so serious. As expected, it didn’t even react to someone like me with no magic power.
Well, it was as expected.
[Attempting to establish forced resonance with the sword. 500SP will be consumed.]
[Remaining points: 5500SP.]
The sensation of floating like on an amusement ride came over me, and the background changed.
A vast white space with nothing in it stretched endlessly.
Across from me stood a knight who seemed to have stepped out of a medieval movie.
Clad in a full plate armor with a dusty brown cloak and a broken sword, a platinum-haired beauty.
With only one person likely to come out from here, it wasn’t hard to guess their identity.
Gram, the sword of kings.
＜How did you get in here?＞
Gram glared at me coldly as if on guard. Judging by the drawn sword, they seemed quite surprised.
＜I did not invite you. Especially not a powerless mageless fool like you…＞
Oh well, where would a powerless fool like me live if not here.
“Since you seem suspicious, how about you put that sword down and let’s talk, Gram.”
Raising both hands to show I had no intention to fight only seemed to make Gram more wary. Their gaze was sharp enough to prick the skin.
＜How do you know my name?＞
Ah, was it because of that?
I scratched my cheek awkwardly and sheepishly closed my mouth.
How do I explain that I know you from before I got kicked out of the game.
It’s a relief not to be treated like a lunatic.
“Well, we can figure that out in due time, but for now, how about helping me a bit.”
＜Leave. I have no obligation to help you.＞
Gram seemed to have no intention of conversing and firmly shut their mouth altogether.
Even if I were a knight, if some mageless nobody dared to claim ownership over me, I’d give them a piece of my mind.
And Gram, as evident from their appearance, was indeed a ‘knight.’
But alas, other than Siegfried, the knight trapped in his mind, no one acknowledged the foolish sword.
If only Siegfried’s son, Sigurd, had inherited Gram, but the true owner of Gram was solely Siegfried.
‘This is not like waiting for a dead husband…’
Cheon Woo-jin’s talent for roasting a medieval lady like this, front and back closed off, was simply unbelievable.
Anyway, one way or another, I had to obtain Gram.
I couldn’t just leave empty-handed after spending 500SP for a conversation.
Even if I can’t eat this.
“While Ragnarok is approaching, are you going to keep standing there like that?”
“…”
As the words ended, Gram’s eyes widened frighteningly. They read that I had no deceit in me. Being the sword of kings, Gram had the ability to read the intentions of the empathetic.
Harmageddon, Ragnarok, Kali Yuga, Apocalypse…
Different names in each mythology, different processes, but ultimately they all meant the same thing.
Doom.
“Ragnarok has already passed.”
Gram said firmly, as if to stop the nonsensical talk.
I lowered my head in a pitiful manner.
“Even Zigmond, your master, was wary of Ragnarok… Gram, it seems you will continue to waste time here.”
Zigmond’s true identity is the thunder god Thor. And I know as well that Thor and the other gods of Valhalla have been guarding against and preparing for Ragnarok.
Did it strike a chord? Gram’s eyes shook.
I pushed myself harder than usual.
“Phew, what was Siegmund’s last wish?”
“What?! How did you know that…!”
Gram looked surprised.
I was even more astonished.
‘Wait, was that for real?’
I just blurted it out, hoping for a confirmation or denial…
＜Ah, so you are the prophet Siegmund occasionally spoke of?＞
“Me?”
Where did this come from all of a sudden?
＜I have heard Siegmund mention it. That a prophet would come to reveal Ragnarok, possessing the wisdom to foresee the future and prepare for Ragnarok.＞
“…”
I only said a word, but Gram’s imagination went wild.
＜In that case, it makes sense that you know Siegmund’s last wish.＞
I felt a bit eerie as if there was a serious misunderstanding.
“Alright. Prophet. I will assist you until the end of Ragnarok.”
“…So easily?”
“You spoke the truth. What else is needed?”
“Well, that’s true…”
The impending doom was a fact, and while I wasn’t a prophet, I was somewhat similar.
Knowing the future, whether me or a prophet, came down to the same thing.
It felt too easy, making me slightly disappointed. Was this just a walk in the park?
Anyway, I chuckled at the good news.
“Awesome.”
Receiving a grand line that could only be used in the late game for a mere 500 SP? It was like buying a nuclear weapon for 500 bucks.
＜However, if you commit heinous acts contrary to the code of chivalry, I will withdraw my cooperation.＞
“Ah, of course.”
Heinous acts? That’s not my style.
With so many ways to gain benefits without causing trouble, why bother? It would only tire me out unnecessarily.
[You have earned Gram’s approval, choosing the King’s Sword.]
[As a reward, you are granted 1000 SP.]
[Remaining Points: 6500 SP]
…Reality mode. This might not be too bad after all.