*
[Save file loaded.]
[Welcome, temporary user Kim Si-woo-nim.]
"Shit... my neck?"
With the memory of my neck being cut off, a strange status window appeared before my eyes.
[Name: Kim Si-woo, Forever Alone Virgin, Lowest-ranked student at the Stalker Academy]
[Died on May 23, 20XX, at 16:20 due to Gate mixing phenomenon]
[That is your destiny.]
"But how am I alive?"
[You are undergoing a tutorial.]
'What the hell am I supposed to do?'
===============
Tutorial: Survive and Escape
You are destined to die here.
Change your destiny and prove your worth.
- Reward: Destiny Points and feature unlock
===============
'Escape from here? How?'
[I cannot provide direct assistance during the tutorial.]
"Destiny Points? What do I use them for?"
[Destiny Points can be acquired by twisting or changing your predetermined destiny.]
[You can do a lot. You can acquire various abilities, modify reality, or trade for items.]
"Abilities? Items?"
Is there no way to get them right now?
[I cannot tell you.]
"Hey, you loser, what are you muttering about alone in the corner?"
"Sorry, Min-ji-yang, I'll be quiet."
As if the earlier situation was a dream, the usual Kang Min-ji was greeting me.
I've been by Kang Min-ji's side as her partner for a long time, but in reality, Min-ji-yang doesn't say a word to any other guy besides me.
Even though she's a bit rough around the edges, she doesn't treat me too harshly.
'I'm going to die?'
[You already died.]
'That wasn't a dream just now?'
[...That's right.]
'Am I even Awakened?'
Do I have to fight that monster again?
Maybe it's because I remember my neck being cut off earlier, but I felt a tingling sensation on my nape.
'If it's a tutorial, can I keep repeating this?'
[Yes. You can keep repeating it, and if you give up, we will end it there.]
'...'
To survive here, I needed to smash that skull I met earlier.
With this bug-like body that can't even use Mana properly, I have to defeat the Skeleton Knight, who is called a low-level Hunter slayer.
'Can I win?'
When I turned my head, Min-ji-yang came into view. Remembering how she tried to protect me even in that extreme situation, I felt a sense of guilt wash over me.
I was too weak and couldn't be of any help.
'Shit... I can do it.'
The reason I was able to endure until now, even while being ignored by everyone else, was because of my strong mentality.
If I have the opportunity to try again even if I keep dying, I won't give up here and will keep challenging.
"Hoo... what's worse than dying, shit?"
"Hey! What are you muttering about alone?"
"I'll protect you this time."
"What... what are you saying, you loser..."
*
[Loaded temporary save point.]
2nd attempt
I just died without being able to do anything. I didn't die fighting the Skeleton Knight, I just got hit by a normal skeleton and died.
Maybe it's because I remember how Min-ji-yang tried to protect me no matter what, but I feel a great sense of guilt.
"Hoo..."
I picked up the sword that was in the corner. It still felt very awkward.
I had used a sword while training, but the real thing was different.
If I made even a small mistake, it would be a fatal wound, and if I made just one mistake, there would be no more chances.
Second death, I wonder if there is anyone who has experienced death twice?
My hands were already shaking because of fear and trauma, but because of Min-ji-yang, who I could see when I turned my head, I felt so pathetic.
Unlike Min-ji-yang, who tries to protect me even in extreme situations, am I giving up after only failing twice?
'No way. If that were the case, I would have given up a long time ago.'
Even when everyone else ignored me and told me to give up, I have endured until now.
'I've only died twice. I can do it.'
I grabbed the sword again. I am weaker than him.
If I compare my physical abilities to his, it would be like the difference between a child and an adult. But I have the ability to try countless times.
'Save point...'
If I fail this time, I can try again on the third attempt.
"Shit, I can do it."
Skeletons came into view beyond the shield that seemed like it would break at any moment. They were called low-level monsters, but they were difficult to deal with because of their numbers.
"I can do it!!"
"Be quiet! You idiot!"
"Okay... Sorry, Min-ji-yang."
*
[Loaded temporary save point.]
3rd attempt.
I admit it. My swordsmanship was nuclear waste level useless.
I thought I had been training hard, but I really couldn't do anything and was helplessly defeated.
"Shit..."
I only failed three times. Failing about three times is nothing, but it's a different story if it's death.
I keep remembering the last moments before I died. My arms flying away, my legs being cut off, and that pain keeps coming back to me.
What torments me more than that is that I have no choice but to keep watching Min-ji-yang die while protecting me.
Every time I see Min-ji-yang leaning against the wall with a depressed expression, I feel something I can't explain in words.
I want to protect Min-ji-yang no matter what.
I want to save Min-ji-yang here and send her outside.
It might be possible for a knight in another cool story, but I was a bug who couldn't even Awaken.
"Yeah... if I give up after dying three times in a game, I'm a hopeless moron without any perseverance."
I grab the sword that was lying in the corner and swing it in the air.
The movements are still awkward. In comparison, the Skeleton Knight's swordsmanship was close to perfect.
"Perfect...?"
*
[Loaded temporary save point.]
10th attempt.
I was swinging my sword with my eyes closed.
Compared to before, I was able to swing it with a more stable posture. The sword moved quickly, making a sound of cutting through the wind.
I recalled the Skeleton Knight's wrist movements again. I constantly recall how he held the sword and how he swung it.
'It's still not enough.'
It was far from enough to beat him with this, but this time I was able to smash the skulls of ordinary Skeleton Knights.
My physical abilities did not increase no matter how many times I repeated it.
Then the only way for me to get stronger was to hone my skills.
In that sense, the Skeleton Knight was the worst enemy and the best teacher.
When I swung the sword the way he did, my swordsmanship became sharper and more powerful.
When I opened my eyes, Min-ji-yang was staring at me blankly.
"..."
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing..."
Min-ji-yang, who initially showed a cynical reaction when she saw me swinging the sword, gradually began to change.
It seems that even Min-ji-yang can see that my swordsmanship is gradually improving.
"Min-ji-yang."
"Why are you calling me... you loser."
"Let's get out of here alive."
"...What are you talking about, you idiot..."
*
[Loaded temporary save point.]
50th attempt.
The magic stone that was creating the barrier went out, and the skeletons finally started coming in.
"Hey, hide well behind me."
Min-ji-yang muttered while wearing combat gloves.
"I can fight too."
"You think Hunting is a joke? If you haven't Awakened, stay behind!"
Small skeletons began to surge like waves towards the giant Skeleton Knight, who was emitting a strange light.
"I did Awaken."
"You Awakened? Uh... when did you do it?"
"Just now."
The skeletons began to approach Min-ji-yang and me, making a rattling sound.
I ran out first and struck the head of a skeleton soldier rushing at us with my sword.
Although weak, the skeleton's head was smashed as it was by an attack that gathered a small amount of Mana into one point.
"My Mana is a bit lacking! So, I'm asking you to take care of the small fries!"
"Hey! You loser! No, Kim Si-woo!! What are you doing so dangerously!!"
I ran towards the Skeleton Knight, who was glaring at me with an arrogant expression from behind.
I did Awaken while obtaining the Machina System, but my current physical abilities, Mana, stamina, and strength were all useless.
To survive here, I have to use my limited power efficiently.
"You goddamn bastard!!!"
I ran towards the Skeleton Knight, who was hiding behind the skeleton soldiers. I accurately smashed the head of a skeleton rushing from the right.
Next, I have to bend my body to avoid the skeleton's attack rushing from the left.
I avoid the skeleton soldier passing by narrowly and run forward without a break.
Next, I have to roll forward because an attack is coming from behind. If I squeeze my body into the gap on the lower left here, I can somehow reach the Skeleton Knight.
I could hear Min-ji-yang's fighting sounds from behind, but I had no time to pay attention.
The Skeleton Knight seemed interested in my appearance, which had reached in front of him, and ordered the skeletons to retreat.
And so began the one-on-one fight with him, and he swung his sword with an arrogant expression.
The moment I blocked his sword, I felt a heavy blow running through my wrists and both arms, and I could feel the difference in strength.
'Next is a stab from the left!'
The moment I turned my body to the right, his sword narrowly passed by.
The skeleton didn't stop there and continued to stab with his sword.
I avoided it somehow with the movements I had learned from dying dozens of times.
Small scratches appeared in the middle because I moved too late or too fast, but it wasn't enough to die yet.
To defeat him, I have to smash the core in his heart.
To smash the core located in the heart, I have to remove the old and worn armor.
Even though it looks like that, the durability was quite good.
I somehow parried the sword he was swinging and aimed for the core behind the armor, but my shitty body didn't allow it.
"Shit..."
The movement of the sword slowed down due to the gradually decreasing stamina.
"Ah..."
"Hey!!! Kim Si-woo!!!!!!"
"I... failed again."