Hyun-soo paused momentarily in front of the long rows of wooden swords, his sharp gaze fixated on the objects that seemed unassuming yet carried an air of mystery. Hesitant, he reached out and picked one of the swords lying neatly among hundreds of others.
As his fingers brushed against the wood, his brow furrowed.
"Hmm...?" he murmured, curiosity lighting up his features.
Something was different. The sensation of holding this sword stirred memories of a difficult time in his life, days spent alongside his father crafting countless wooden swords just to survive. His father was a carpenter, and together they had worked tirelessly in their small workshop, creating tools to sell for their daily sustenance. Their life had been hard, but it was there that Hyun-soo developed a keen understanding of wood's texture and quality.
"Wait a second..." he thought, his focus sharpening.
He surveyed the rows of wooden swords once more, his mind racing. Why were there so many of them here? Nearly five hundred in total—a quantity far too large for mere practice tools. Choosing a wooden sword was supposed to be straightforward, wasn't it? Yet here, something felt undeniably off.
Hyun-soo began inspecting the swords more closely. At first glance, they all looked identical—dull brown with the same design. But as he held each one, the differences became apparent.
Some swords were smooth and polished, while others felt rough, their surfaces splintered and peeling. His fingers instinctively recognized the distinct textures. He realized that the materials used weren't uniform.
"They're different," he concluded with certainty.
Most of the swords were crafted from magnolia wood, a strong and reliable choice for training weapons. But others were made from jujube, oak, and even zelkova. Hyun-soo continued his meticulous examination, his hands moving from one sword to the next.
"Come on, just pick one and start practicing," the instructor called out, irritation creeping into his voice.
Hyun-soo glanced at him briefly and offered a faint smile. "Choosing the best seems like a good idea."
The instructor scoffed and turned his attention to another player. Undeterred, Hyun-soo resumed his careful scrutiny. Then, something caught his attention.
"This is it!" he whispered, his tone brimming with conviction.
The sword he chose looked the least impressive. Its wood was rough, aged, and bore the marks of repeated use. Yet Hyun-soo knew better.
'This is ebony,' he thought with a deep sense of satisfaction.
Ebony. Among all types of wood, ebony was the strongest and had properties uniquely suited for weapons. No wonder this wooden sword felt different from the others.
"I'll take this one," he said firmly, gripping the sword with purpose.
At that moment, a soft chime echoed in the air.
---
Ding!
[Congratulations! You Got A Hidden Piece]
[You have gained 3 Dexterity Points.]
---
"Huh?" Hyun-soo blinked, confused. Hidden Piece? That was a rare secret element in the game, a reward usually obtained through immense luck or highly specific actions. But why had he received it?
"All I did was pick a sword," he thought. Then, understanding dawned.
"I didn't just choose randomly, I felt and analyzed each sword."
The notification had mentioned the word "differentiation," meaning the requirement wasn't random selection. Players had to physically discern the differences in material—a near-impossible task for most.
Before he could ponder further, something extraordinary happened.
Swoosh!
The wooden sword in his hand began to emit a soft glow. Its dull brown surface transformed into a deep, glossy black, exuding an aura that was both unique and enigmatic.
"Look at that player's sword!" someone in the crowd exclaimed, drawing attention.
"What's happening?" another asked.
"That's a Hidden Piece! The ebony sword everyone talks about on the forums. But… He doesn't know?"
"Even if you know, identifying it isn't something an average person could do."
The murmurs grew louder, and several players looked on in awe. But as the instructor approached, the crowd quickly dispersed, leaving Hyun-soo alone with his now-glowing wooden sword.
Hyun-soo stared at the weapon in his hand, his eyes gleaming with amazement. This wasn't just a practice tool anymore. It was a symbol—a testament to his efforts and skill, to his ability to uncover something hidden and rare.
He tightened his grip on the sword with a small, triumphant smile.
"Alright," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.
"Let's see how far this sword can take me."
The once lively and noisy crowd dispersed like leaves caught in a sudden gust of wind as the instructor approached. His presence—straight-backed, eyes sharp—exuded an undeniable aura of authority. Hyun-soo remained where he stood, gripping the wooden sword in his hands.
"Congratulations," the instructor said, his voice low but commanding.
"You've got yourself a fine wooden sword. Before you start hammering away at that training dummy, let me explain something about stats."
Hyun-soo gave a small nod, his gaze shifting from the sword to the instructor, who now looked at him intently.
"There are five basic stats you need to know," the instructor continued, his tone like a mentor introducing a novice to a new world.
"Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, and Wisdom."
He paused, ensuring Hyun-soo was paying attention.
"Special stats and other features like the status window or mission window will become clear as you progress. Don't worry about them for now."
Hyun-soo hesitated, then asked cautiously, "Status window?" The words escaped his lips before he even realized he'd spoken.
In an instant, a soft blue light shimmered before him, forming a translucent screen that hovered mid-air. The screen displayed detailed information about him in crisp, neat text.
[Status Window]
---
Hyun-soo
- Level: 1
- Job: Unemployed
- Strength: 5
- Agility: 5
- Endurance: 5
- Wisdom: 5
- Intelligence: 5
- Dexterity: 3
---
Hyun-soo read the data carefully, his brow furrowing slightly.
"What's the purpose of Dexterity?" he asked, pointing at the modest number that stood out amidst the others.
"Dexterity," the instructor replied, his voice steady,
"is useful for non-combat roles like crafting, production, cooking, and so on. It makes those tasks easier and their outcomes better. However, it does have a minor impact on your attack strength."
"Oh…" Hyun-soo murmured, nodding slightly. This stat intrigued him, especially since he had some experience with crafting in the real world.
The instructor gestured toward the wooden sword in Hyun-soo's grip. "Now, inspect that ebony wooden sword of yours."
Hyun-soo glanced at the weapon and spoke clearly, "Weapon window."
---
[Ebony Wooden Sword]
- Grade: Common
- Durability: 500/500
- Attack Power: 11
Special Ability:
- Strength +1
Description:
This ebony wooden sword boasts an attack power 4 points higher than standard wooden swords and grants a +1 bonus to Strength.
---
Tilting his head, Hyun-soo scrutinized the sword's stats with interest. It was better than he had expected, the extra attack power and strength bonus sparking a faint glimmer of optimism within him.
"Not a bad start," he muttered, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
The instructor observed his reaction with a slight nod, stepping back to give Hyun-soo space to face the training dummy before him.
The dummy stood firm, as if daring him to strike. Hyun-soo inhaled deeply, tightening his grip on the ebony sword's hilt.
"If I can destroy it in ten strikes…" he calculated quickly. "…that's fifty million won."
He swung the sword with all the strength he could muster.
The sharp sound of wood colliding with wood echoed in the air. After ten strikes, Hyun-soo paused to assess the results.
His expression soured almost instantly.
[Training Dummy Durability: 811/1,000]
[You failed to destroy the Training Dummy.]
[You may attempt again in 30 minutes.]
"What?" Hyun-soo muttered in disbelief, his eyes widening at the numbers glaring back at him. After ten solid hits, he hadn't even managed to reduce the dummy's durability by half.
He let the sword fall to his side, staring at the dummy with a mix of frustration and disbelief. How could a training dummy be this tough?
Yet, amidst his disappointment, something stirred within him—a flicker of determination. If ten strikes weren't enough, then he'd have to figure out another way. This world, he realized, was full of challenges. And he wasn't going to let a mere wooden dummy get the better of him.
"Alright," he murmured under his breath, tightening his grip on the ebony sword once more. "Let's try again later."