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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Let's Grab a Sword
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"Lastly, let's get ourselves a sword."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is jotting this down in the setting notes.] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Lee Hwan's Equipment (Ch. 3): 1. Basic longsword
2. GR Magnum revolver pistol
3. 6 Demon Bullets (Magnum)
4. 1 Demon Heart grenade
5. 6 standard grenades
6. Multi-purpose reinforced vest
7. Reinforced combat uniform
8. Reinforced combat boots ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Lee Hwan's Possessions (Ch. 3): 1. Martial artist ID.
2. Villa keycard.
3. Transit card.
4. Smartphone
*
Our author is meticulous.
When it comes to handling settings, this is something to truly admire and emulate.
I waited a moment, and Shin Eun-ah came back carrying a heavy case, which she handed over.
"Processed it as special expenses. The authorities might contact you about it, so keep that in mind."
Inside was a revolver engraved with GR markings, along with Demon Bullets.
It looked damn good up close.
"Follow me. I'll guide you."
📜 NARRATIVE NOTE 📜 Shin Eun-ah responded in her usual businesslike manner for now. On the other hand, she couldn't shake the growing suspicion nagging at her. She'd subtly suggested a rifle instead of a pistol, but the man was stubbornly set on it. 'A pistol?' She eyed Lee Hwan fiddling with the Magnum revolver, her gaze laced with discomfort. 'It's GR line, sure, but only six shots. No real combat experience? This is a bad call. Just try dying on me.' ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author has begun (Final Paragraph #3) - The World's Strongest in a Selfish Worldview, Ch. 3]
Finally, the grand finale of the very early arc!
📜 NARRATIVE NOTE 📜 3. Up to that point, nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The interior was just an ordinary academy hallway, nothing special about it at all. Just devoid of students. But then it happened—the moment Lee Hwan and Shin Eun-ah crossed the threshold. Ah!
In an instant, everything shifted.
The hallway appeared warped, eerie with patches of destruction, steeped in a sinister aura.
The space expanded abruptly, thick air rushing in.
Scratched-up concrete walls writhed with nameless Black Tendrils squirming in every crevice.
They lunged like they'd spotted prime prey.
Black Tendril (Demon) Predominantly theorized to be organic matter linked to one of the great demons, Esquadum. Low attack power and slow speed; treated like mosquitoes among the gifted. * Even regular porters can handle them.
While batting away the charging tendrils, Shin Eun-ah didn't spare me a glance, as if it were my job as a matter of course.
She was rechecking the map she'd brought.
When the Black Tendrils' assault halted, she handed over copies of the map.
To the naked eye, the visible area was a straight hallway lined with eight piano rooms on either side, plus the director's office and restroom—that was it.
But the multi-page map depicted a massive labyrinth.
Daerim Piano Academy Labyrinth Map (Item) A comprehensive map compiled from intel gathered over nearly two weeks of preliminary entries.
The paths of the six prelim teams were marked in different colors, last updated two days ago.
It summarized on-site conditions with various markers and detailed notes.
"At this fork, the Seven Ghosts Squad and Green Sword split up. Ghosts went left, Green Sword right. Stronger demons appear heading northwest.
Follow the cleared paths, and you'll link up with them. Good luck."
I'd wondered if she'd stick around, but she peeled off at the perfect moment.
Destined to become my loyal subordinate later, sure—but this was still the ultra-early arc.
Too soon for episodes of her being awestruck by my Lee Hwan prowess.
I pressed on, following the map in earnest.
Flame Heaven Qi was naturally blending into my First Class's inner power.
Even so, the disorientation and dizziness creeping in proved just how vicious this place was.
The same scenes kept repeating.
Every turn at a fork brought the exact same vista I'd just passed.
One hallway, eight piano rooms, director's office, restroom—a bundle of ten rooms.
Counting became pointless.
The real-world layout had been infinitely copied to form this Backside World labyrinth.
My biological clock told me about 30 minutes had passed since entering.
After boosting my perception with the Heavenly Demon Meridian Pointing Twelve Great Arts' Rabbit technique, another 10 minutes ticked by.
Then I reached the fork where the Seven Ghosts Squad and Green Sword had split.
From there, I tracked the Ghosts' combat traces.
Bodies started piling up. Most had massive wounds on their backs—slashed down one by one while fleeing something.
First corpses I'd seen, but contrary to my prior worries, I only felt a twinge of pity.
Thanks to the backstory my author and I crafted for Lee Hwan.
A past spent on battlefields, amid countless lives lost.
I scanned the dead.
Searching for usable gear, an instinctive move born from lifetimes of experience.
Their armament was standard. One had Goblin-made gear, at least.
A GR rifle, six standard mags, three Demon Heart grenades.
Gotta loot everything I can.
Both Seven Ghosts and Green Sword would end up as corpses here, and the final boss was mine alone—as per the plan.
Where?
In my blueprint.
Wrap Chapter 3 with impact, author!
Trust and follow my lead!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is conceptualizing (Daerim Piano Academy's Final Boss).]
I kept pace.
Had to give our regressor protagonist a reason to hit this spot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
When writer's block hits.
One trick is to build an intriguing stage first, then craft the story to fit.
The stage was set by the author, so I figured I'd showcase the worldview and 'Protagonist's Achievement ③' to readers. But I hadn't nailed down what exactly he'd gain.
Now the pieces are clicking.
Let's see.
Back then, Lee Hwan wasn't gifted.
Yet he knew this place inside out because the Daerim Academy Backside World was infamous at the time.
Like how veteran raids like Seven Ghosts Squad and Green Sword got completely wiped out, no survivors.
Follow-up raids delayed, the Backside World exploded, and its final boss demon manifested in reality.
The demon toyed with everyone, racking up casualties before slipping into the world.
Thus, its name spread.
That name was...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is adding (Demon * Savage Baron).] Savage Baron (Demon) One of Grand Duke Demon Esquadum's seven knights.
Savage?
Anyway, the demon noble calling itself Savage Baron.
Having grown stronger while rampaging through the world, it was slain years later by an elite squad.
Here's where it gets key.
Leveling up!
The spoils from Demon Savage Baron were rumored to tie into the legendary Heavenly Demon Lord.
Sparking wars among the gifted over that treasure.
It changed hands repeatedly until, by chance, it landed with me, Lee Hwan.
Thus, I inherited the Heavenly Demon Lord's legacy.
That's why I'm here now in this dungeon—to preemptively take down Savage Baron and reclaim the Heavenly Demon Lord's heritage!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is adding (Lee Hwan's Past * Heavenly Demon Lord Inheritance).] ⚔ AUTHOR STATUS ⚔ [The author is extremely pleased.] "This is why you front-load the lore—it all gets used! The spoils from Savage Baron let you summon a Backside World. And that ties into the Heavenly Demon Lord's legacy! Heh heh! Fun. So fun!" Heavenly Demon Lord Inheritance (Lee Hwan's Past) Lee Hwan somehow made his name in the Martial Alliance Federation. As a third-rate martial artist, he lived as a mercenary on the battlefields. When the spoils from Demon Savage Baron were revealed as the long-lost legend of the Central Plains' martial world—the Heavenly Demon Lord's legacy—not just martial artists but magic-wielding other races went mad for it. Fights grew fiercer. One day, Lee Hwan joined the fray as usual. That battle featured his employer, the Frost Blade King, in person. The then-owner, Grand Mage Megrez, also led his forces to end the endless war. The showdown. Days bled into nights under a blood-soaked sky, both sides marching toward annihilation. Churned earth, mountains of corpses. Amid it, Lee Hwan came to. Right before him, a black orb soaked in blood. Lee Hwan knew it instantly. This was the spoil from Demon Savage Baron that had rocked the world for years. It had to be the Heavenly Demon Lord's legacy.
It started as a dim, distant haze, then flashed like lightning through my mind.
Bringing that scene into sharp focus.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author has reinforced (Worldview * Backside World).] Reinforcement Details: 3. Summon Type: Backside Worlds created via Summoning Essence. Use Backside World Summoning Essence anywhere to build one. * Modeled after the space where the Summoning Essence is placed.
Krrgh...!
Lee Hwan's past of obtaining the legendary 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art,' now collabing with Backside World lore and treasure tales.
Delicious.
Perfect. With the author's buy-in, what I, Lee Hwan, must claim here is crystal clear.
Just take down Demon Savage Baron.