Sweeping the Academy with a Wooden Sword

The problem I currently have is clear.
I can only utilize the mana or inner energy in my dantian when holding a wooden sword or a branch.

Other swordsmen clearly use swords as their main weapon, but they handle basic hand-to-hand combat and external techniques by utilizing mana.

So I faced Mistilteinn.
To find a way to overcome my limitations.

“If I wear a wooden accessory, will I be able to use divine techniques?”

I can’t hold a branch in one hand while doing martial arts.

A wooden bracelet or prayer beads would probably be suitable.

Mistilteinn was sitting demurely beside me.

“It’s possible with the Reverse Heaven Divine Technique. However, you can only utilize it inside your body, so the release of qi that Dan Cheonwoo used to talk about is not possible.”

Being able to handle internal qi was enough.
Although prolonged confrontations would be impossible, it was sufficient as a power for self-defense in emergencies.

The disadvantage of not being able to use protective qi could probably be covered by a battle suit that can be worn immediately in emergencies.

Mistilteinn said that if I obtain a branch of the World Tree, I might be able to break free from the quantity limit of wooden swords.

But for now, there is no way to obtain a World Tree branch.

Making preparations that I can accomplish right now was the best course of action.

I thought of two people who would know well about accessories and items related to hunters.

Choi Cheolhyeon, the national treasure-level master craftsman who was my father’s teacher, and Sword Empress Yoo Seol-ah.

Master Choi Cheolhyeon’s field was only weapons, but he was in the smelting field anyway.

It’s natural that someone who knows one field well is at the top of that field, so Yoo Seol-ah should know well too.

I had to choose the fastest method to obtain it right away.

-What business does Student Lee Dojin have at this late hour?

Getting a finished product would be the fastest.

“Is there a place where hunters buy accessories?”

-Hmm, if you mean places that sell accessories containing artifacts, there are quite a few.

“There would be things like prayer beads too, right?”

-Oh, was Lee Dojin a Buddhist disciple?

“It’s for a gift.”

-Prayer beads… yes, there are. Many high-ranking hunters are Buddhist disciples after all. There’s even a temple that calls itself Shaolin. Those people would use high-grade wooden prayer beads that aren’t affected by qi. They sometimes use high-grade wooden staffs as weapons too.

Well, there’s no law saying only I can use high-grade wood as a weapon.

I remembered seeing it too. Martial arts manuals of places called Shaolin and Gaibang were discovered, and they joined forces to create a sect called ‘Shaolin Temple’.

-One of the places I frequently use is also known to be a trading partner of Shaolin Temple. Should I introduce you?

“Yes, that would be appreciated.”

I wonder where else it might be hidden. It might be a place that doesn’t look like a smithy at all, like the building where Master Choi Cheolhyeon was.

-The Hunter Shop Street in Myeongdong. There’s a shop called there.

Myeongdong…?

It’s in a more modern place than I expected.

-Just mention my name. Bring a few things you want to buy. I’ll tell them that.

“That’s fine.”

-If they used high-grade wood, even a bracelet would cost at least 500. Do you have money?

It’s not that I don’t have money.
My late father left me about 600 million won, excluding the house.

Originally, I was supposed to use that money for tuition too. But thanks to becoming the freshman representative, I received full tuition support.

But seeing the size of money rolling in this field, it’s clear that 600 million won can’t do much.

I’ll have to obtain a hunter license during summer vacation or something.

“I have enough to buy what I need this time.”

-It’s just a gift from me. I’m not expecting anything in return for the future.

As if I’d believe that, you old man.

-Well, there is one thing I want.

“What is it?”

-Go with Hwayeon. Like a date? If left alone, this child will swing her sword all day tomorrow, a golden weekend, trying to catch up to Student Lee Dojin, so please go out and get some fresh air together.

A date?
I have no intention of doing such nonsense right now.
Come to think of it, Baek Hwayeon’s condition hasn’t looked very good recently.

“Alright. I’ll go with her.”

-Hwayeon will be very happy.

I heard the Sword Empress’s characteristic laughter.
Clearly I’ve only benefited, but why do I feel like I’ve lost?

The next day, a woman with light pink hair was standing next to me.

I stared at Baek Hwayeon, who was clinging tightly to my side.

“Have you been here before?”

Myeongdong Hunter Street.
This street, which originally sold luxury goods,
was still selling luxury goods even in the hunter world.

However, luxury goods that were even slightly related to hunters.

Baek Hwayeon’s blue eyes sparkled.

“I’ve been here! Master often brought me along.”

“Do you know a place called Helix?”

“Of course, I know it. Master already told me. She said to guide you well.”

Baek Hwayeon casually held my right hand.
And interlocked our fingers.

The Sword Empress said she’s the only friend of the same age I’ve seen often enough to call a friend, but she’s so natural it makes me wonder if that’s really true.

Baek Hwayeon smiled brightly.

“It feels good to get some fresh air after a long time.”

“Yeah.”

Baek Hwayeon opened her mouth again as if remembering something. Her lips protruded slightly as if dissatisfied with something.

“Have you decided on a club? A senior has been trying to recruit me into a club for a week now.”

Senior Yeon Simun came to mind.
I should visit once after the mock dungeon special exam is over.

But I had no intention of definitely belonging anywhere.

“No, I don’t have any thoughts about clubs, what’s going on?”

Baek Hwayeon continued speaking.

“They said if I’m seriously going to fail all the theory exams, they’ll make sure I at least reach the average if I join the club. They’re thinking of me as a complete failure, right?”

…Whoever it is, they must be a senior who really thinks about you objectively?

I couldn’t even count how many times I’ve seen the top of Baek Hwayeon’s head during the two weeks of theory classes.

If you’re not the type to diligently review, it seems like that senior’s prediction might come true.

Of course, saying this would hurt her feelings, so I spoke indirectly.

“It doesn’t sound bad. We have to study anyway.”

“Huh, really? Then do you want to study together? They said even if only I register as a member, I can bring a friend along when studying!”

What?
It’s a senior who was really trying to save a student from expulsion with pure intentions.

“Alright, call me when you’re studying.”

“Okay!”

Baek Hwayeon nodded her head vigorously.

“Ah! Here it is!”

A moment later, Baek Hwayeon stopped walking while holding my hand tightly.

I looked up.
A quite substantial hunter shop caught my eye.

A sophisticated sign with the text was hanging.

Ding-

As we opened the door and entered, a burly man blocked my way.

“Please state the item you wish to purchase or the purpose of your visit now.”

I roughly understand what this is about.
A place where numerous hunters come and go. There must be hunters who visit with malicious intent.

The lower-ranked with nothing to lose might be even more likely to do so.

It seemed they placed an awakened one as a gatekeeper to fundamentally block any harm to employees or the store.

As I was about to say something, Baek Hwayeon grabbed my shoulder. And she stepped forward.

“Mister! It’s me!”

Baek Hwayeon with light pink hair waved her hand with a bright smile at the man.

Surprisingly, the expression of the man who had been glaring at me as if he would kill me softened.

From a fierce bulldog to the face of a mild-mannered neighborhood uncle.

“Hwayeon! It’s been a while! Ah, then this person must be the guest the Sword Empress mentioned?”

The man bowed deeply towards me.

“I apologize for my rudeness, sir.”

“No, it’s fine.”

After nodding slightly, I moved my steps inside.
Baek Hwayeon seemed about to chat a little with the man.

As I entered inside, long glass display cases caught my eye.

A woman wearing horn-rimmed glasses was standing behind the display counter.

“I came on the Sword Empress’s recommendation.”

The woman with dark circles under her eyes nodded.

“Nice to meet you, Student Lee Dojin. I’m Lee Soo-young, the owner of Helix.”

It seems she even knew my name in advance.
Lee Soo-young looked me up and down.

“The Sword Empress said to buy you some clothes if your casual wear was strange, but a white shirt and black pants suit you well.”

“…Thank you.”

Lee Soo-young chuckled.

“Didn’t Hwayeon ask anything about the clothes she’s wearing? Like ‘Do I look pretty today?'”

I glanced back slightly to confirm that Baek Hwayeon hadn’t come inside yet.

The clothes Baek Hwayeon wore today were a red dress. Close to wine color, looking sophisticated.

Harmonizing with her light pink hair, it looked pretty at least to my eyes.

“She didn’t ask anything like that.”

“Tell her she looks pretty even if she doesn’t ask. Well, it’s not too late even when you part.”

“…I understand.”

I didn’t come here for relationship coaching, you know.

“Do you have things like prayer beads or bracelets made of high-grade wood?”

“Yes, come this way.”

Lee Soo-young handed me a prayer bead bracelet.
Like the moonlight wood sword that became my beloved sword, it didn’t look much different from other prayer beads on the surface.

I fiddled with the prayer bead bracelet and asked.

‘How is it?’

To Mistilteinn.

[It is indeed high-grade wood.]

Well, that’s confirmed.

“Do you know what kind of high-grade wood it’s made of?”

“Well. The craftsman I trade with calls this Yeorae wood, but I guess that’s not the true name of this wood. It’s hard to know the true names of high-grade wood after all.”

Indeed. If it’s ‘Yeorae wood’, there’s a high chance it’s not the real name but the craftsman just gave his own identity to his work.

I put the prayer bead bracelet on my left wrist.
Even without holding a wooden sword in my hand, even without holding a branch in my hand, the inner energy in my dantian began to flow.

‘Now I won’t need to hold a branch even when doing mental techniques.’

A smile escaped my lips.

“Oh, Dojin. I didn’t know you were interested in accessories like this!”

Baek Hwayeon’s eyes sparkled as she fiddled with a prayer bead bracelet identical to the one I was wearing.

Lee Soo-young suddenly cut in.

“Hwayeon, I’ll give you one too. The Sword Empress will pay for everything anyway. It’s a couple… no, since you’re friends, it’s a friendship bracelet. How about it?”

Baek Hwayeon smiled brightly.

“S-Should I?”

“…Then please give me Hwayeon’s and one more. I have someone to give one to.”

That’s a lie. One is my emergency spare. I’ll put it in my spatial pocket.

The corners of Baek Hwayeon’s mouth, which had risen brightly, seemed to stiffen slightly.

She couldn’t have reacted to me saying I had someone to give it to, right?

“It’s just for someone I respect.”

“Oh, I see.”

Reassured by my words, her bright smile returned.

I was about to look around for anything else worth stocking up on when suddenly there was a commotion outside.

Boom! Bang!

Kyaaah!
Aaaah!

Explosions rang out from all directions, and screams from many people hit my ears.
Monsters, or villains?
I drew the wooden sword from the scabbard on my back.