Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 11: Performance Pressure (1)
▣ Broken Iron Sword
A sword made of soft, brittle iron forged at low temperatures.
Originally more suitable for farming tools than weapons, this simple iron sword has a broken blade, making it worthless as a weapon.
Welfare Points: 200
"Hyung! What are we supposed to do with this?"
"Hmm... Were you thinking of buying several and throwing them?"
Jieun pondered for a moment before asking.
She drew the short sword at her waist and started to weigh it in her hand.
It looked like she was ready to practice throwing it, so I quickly replied.
"No, it's too heavy to throw. And the broken blade isn’t very sharp."
"Then why are we... buying this?"
It was a crude sword.
The blade was cracked and broken, and the handle looked roughly carved out of animal bone.
Even to an amateur's eye, it looked shoddy.
But...
"We’ll just use the handle."
"What?"
The handle—the part at the base of the blade, designed to be held.
Even if you got a blade from the Razorbeak Bird’s carcass, you couldn’t hold and use the sharp edge as it was.
Originally, I was planning to tie the blade to a curtain rod or mop handle.
That would be the best option if a functional handle could be salvaged.
"You mean... Hyung, is that why you asked me earlier—?"
"Shh."
Realizing my intention, Jaehyuk clapped his hands in recognition, but I motioned for him to be quiet.
I was already drawing too much attention after taking down the Razorbeak Bird alone.
More than I had during the first mission.
"What did that guy buy, I wonder?"
"He must’ve earned a ton of welfare points, taking it down solo."
"Maybe he’s skilled at fighting? Watching him swing that sword earlier—wow, that wasn’t ordinary skill."
"When he plunged the sword in, and the damn bird's blood sprayed out like whoosh! Damn, that was awesome."
I could feel the awe—and a bit of fear—on their faces.
If I started crafting a weapon now, it would just spark more misunderstanding.
I don’t need that kind of attention.
"I’ve stashed the Razorbeak Bird over there in the back."
Jaehyuk lowered his voice and pointed to a display case near the entrance.
"Good job."
"Shall I go grab it?"
"Not here... Let’s move somewhere quieter first."
"Got it, Hyung."
Somewhere with the necessary tools nearby but far enough from prying eyes.
Maybe the office?
"Um... there’s a place I’d like to go."
Then Jieun raised her hand timidly and spoke cautiously.
"Where is that?"
"The convenience store on B1."
I had no idea.
Jieun had been running around all this time in high heels.
"Ahhh…"
"Noona, are you sure just putting on a bandage will fix this?"
"It’s fine! It stings a bit... ah! Just a little."
Her heels were rubbed raw, skin nearly peeling off.
"You could’ve said something if you were in pain."
Feeling sorry for her, I added a comment, and Jieun smiled in return.
"Didn’t you say you were fine too, Eunho?"
"When did I—?"
"On the stairs. While coming down."
She was talking about when we first descended from the rooftop.
Dragging my stiff legs down those stairs had left me drenched in sweat.
Now, with this body, it probably wouldn’t be as hard.
— Ding!
"Oh, the microwave is done."
I pulled out three convenience store lunchboxes.
It was the same food as yesterday, yet strangely unfamiliar.
Maybe it was the faint metallic tang of blood that lingered, no matter how much I tried to wash it away.
"Good thing the electricity’s still on."
"Right? Even the phones work occasionally."
Jieun murmured as she fiddled with her smartphone.
Phones, huh?
Come to think of it, these two probably have families.
I thought about asking but swallowed my words when I saw the worry etched on their faces.
If they wanted to open up, they’d tell me themselves.
After nibbling her fingernails for the first time in a while, Jieun shook her head and spoke up.
"How long do you think we’ll be stuck here?"
"Who knows, Noona. Feels like we’re trapped behind some invisible glass wall."
Based on what we saw coming down, we couldn’t leave MS Tower.
Doors and windows opened just fine, but an invisible wall seemed to block us.
Just like during the Razorbeak Bird mission when we couldn’t leave the exhibit hall.
It’s either one of two things.
The mission in this building isn’t over yet.
Or the mission in another area we’re supposed to meet hasn’t finished yet.
But if I had to guess...
[Attention, survivors in MS Tower.]
"A broadcast!"
[The next mission for Project Selection will begin tomorrow at 9 a.m.]
[Please prepare accordingly.]
"The next mission is tomorrow."
"How unusual. They’re giving us so much downtime."
It was now 6 p.m.
Fifteen hours until the next mission.
The other two seemed to think we had plenty of time, but...
"Have you finished eating?"
"Yes, we’re done."
The night was short, and there was work to do.
"If you’re rested, let’s get started."
"Wait, we’ve only rested for five minutes..."
"Five minutes is plenty."
— Flash!
I reopened the shop and carefully browsed through the items again.
I simulated my plan over and over in my head to make sure there wouldn’t be any mistakes.
[Would you like to purchase one ‘Broken Iron Sword’?]
"Yes."
With a cheerful ding, the semi-transparent shape of the item gradually solidified.
A handle long enough to hold with both hands and a short, broken blade about the size of a palm.
[Purchase complete. The item can be stored in your inventory at any time.]
"Will it work?"
"Yes. This sword's handle... I mean, the grip, was made to hold a blade."
I ran my fingers over the smooth grip and felt a faint seam.
To fit a new blade in, I’d have to remove the old one first.
"Jaehyuk, can you pull this out?"
When I handed him a pair of work gloves I found in the convenience store corner, Jaehyuk nodded energetically.
"Yes! I'll give it a try!"
"Sorry for asking you again."
"Don't be sorry! I need to do something useful, at least."
What followed was a long series of grunts: "Ugh! Nghhh!"
For someone who had answered so confidently, it seemed quite challenging.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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He even poured the remaining mission rewards into increasing his strength.
I was about to ask if he needed help when—
Clang!
The snapped blade piece fell out of the handle and clattered onto the ground.
"Alright, next is..."
"Ah! Hyung!"
"Hm? What’s wrong?"
Just as I bent down to pick up the broken blade piece, Jaehyuk urgently called out to stop me.
"This, uh, this... the tip won’t fit into the handle!"
The hole in the handle, where the broken blade had been, was only about the size of two finger joints.
Trying to insert the blade tip as it was would obviously be impossible.
"I’ll carve the blade down, like a candle wick."
"Wait, what? How?"
Jaehyuk’s eyes widened, and Jieun tilted her head in confusion while looking around the convenience store.
"Do we have any tools for sharpening blades?"
Tools?
Well, technically, yes.
"Mission rewards."
[Select your mission reward.]
"Enhancing the Petrification Skill to Level 5 with 3 skill points."
The problem was that the tool in question was… my fingers.
[Enhancing the Petrification skill (Lv. 2) to (Lv. 5).]
[Choose additional activation range: Right-hand middle finger, ring finger, pinky, left-hand thumb, index finger…]
"Right-hand middle finger, ring finger, pinky."
I enhanced all the fingers on my right hand.
That should be sufficient.
[Skill enhancement complete.]
"Uh, Eunho, you're not seriously planning to do this barehanded, are you?"
"I am, actually."
"Is that even possible?"
"These fingers can punch through walls. Carving a blade tip should be doable."
Strictly speaking, they weren’t even bare hands anymore—more like stone.
"It’ll take some time, though. In the meantime, you two should go out and collect supplies."
The basement level where we were had not only the convenience store but also several other shops.
Most of them were restaurants, but with some searching, we could find useful items.
"Are we looking for food?"
"Food and water are the most important, but let’s start with finding a bag—something as big as possible."
"Oh, I think I saw a backpack on the way here!"
"I’ll grab some emergency medicine. There’s a pharmacy just around the corner."
If this were a game, this building would probably be the starting zone for beginners.
The basement was full of convenience stores and restaurants, and the cafeteria on the roof had various bakeries.
But the missions wouldn’t stay confined to this building forever.
We had to prepare.
"Eunho, are you sure you’ll be okay alone?"
"I’ll be fine. I’ve got skills."
"Still, if anything happens, yell for help."
After Jieun’s concerned words, I immediately activated the skill.
"Petrification."
[Skill activated.]
The sensation of stiffness spread from my fingertips, like sinking them into drying cement.
It was difficult to move my joints flexibly, but on the flip side—
Scrape.
When I grabbed the blade tip and rubbed it, fine powder fell away with a sound like sharpening a pencil.
'Abandoned Mountain Diamond.'
I didn’t know where the Abandoned Mountain was or what kind of diamond it had, but one thing was clear: this wasn’t some ordinary roadside rock.
'Next, let’s use the acceleration skill...'
The plan was to carve the blade using Petrification and increase efficiency by extending a second into ten seconds with the acceleration skill.
"Acceleration."
Scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape.
"We’re off! Take breaks if you need to!"
"Hyung! Here’s a drink to keep you going!"
Scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape.
"Eunho! We’re back!"
"Wait, Hyung, are you still—?"
Scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape.
Honestly…
Huff…
I didn’t think it’d be this exhausting.
"Eunho, you’re sweating…"
"Uh, Hyung! Should I get you an ice cream or something?!"
My arms—especially my shoulders—burned as if they were on fire.
And if I eased up, the blade wouldn’t carve properly.
"Eunho, you look like you’re really struggling…"
"I’ll help! Let me put on gloves and give it a try!"
"No… it’s fine…"
As I repeatedly alternated between Petrification and Acceleration after every cooldown, grinding away at the blade, a system notification popped up.
[Congratulations!]
[You’ve achieved the unique milestone, Sharpening a Weapon with Bare Hands!]
[Title Human Whetstone has been awarded.]
Huh?
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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