Chapter 117 – An Uncomfortable Relationship (2)

Abel remembered a fragment of her childhood. The time when her parents were still alive. The smell of aged cheese made the memory feel even more vivid.

“Heey! I know how to cut too! I’ll cut my own piece.”

At Abel’s insistence, her father smiled gently. With a warm smile, he said,

“Hahaha, our Abel is all grown up. But not yet, not yet. In our family, in Nibelung, we don’t use knives until we’re seven.”

“Huh? But Grandpa said that you grabbed a knife on your first birthday!”

“Your father…”

“He also said this: ‘Your father has the talent to leave a mark in Nibelung’s history, Abel.’”

Abel’s parents laughed softly at her imitation of her mother’s voice. A proud smile formed on Abel’s lips.

Her father was a giant. He displayed his talent with a sword before he even learned to walk. His skill was so impressive that it carved a page in Nibelung’s lineage. However, he was never an arrogant person. His humility was innate.

“Hmm… it seems Grandpa misremembered. Ah, anyway, Abel, can you put the knife down and hand me your plate? Dad will cut it into smaller pieces for you.”

“But I’m big already! You always treat me like a little kid!”

Abel pouted as she pushed the plate toward him. That kind smile was a trap.

Her father smiled gently and cut the meat into pieces small enough for a child to eat easily.

After a while of Abel’s complaints, her mother whispered softly,

“You know, Abel? Trusting someone with your food is a way of expressing that you trust and appreciate them. Dad does it because he wants to receive your love.”

“Huh? Why?”

“The most important thing in life is food. That’s why you can only entrust it to someone you fully trust.”

“Ah…!”

The innocent Abel understood instantly.

“When you become a lady, you’ll know what it truly means. So today, give Dad a little victory.”

Her mother winked and placed a finger on her lips. Abel nodded with a smile, mirroring the same gesture.

“Asking someone for something like this is…”

What her mother wanted to express was her concern that her daughter might get hurt. Now, at 17 years old, Abel understood this.

But now, the parents who had given her those warm words were no longer by her side.

***

“…?”

Abel’s eyes shimmered with tears.

I had only asked her to cut the meat, but her reaction was so intense.

‘…Was it that shocking?’

I had done it to avoid triggering the manifestation, but Abel was on the verge of crying. I had no idea what had caused such a reaction.

It was a bit embarrassing.

Just as I was about to take the plate back—

Thud.

Abel grabbed my wrist, then hers. Wiping her eyes with her hands, she said,

“Sorry. Some memories just came back.”

“…”

“I’ll cut the meat for you. Give me a second.”

Abel began cutting the food very carefully. Seeing her sudden change in behavior, I gave her a puzzled look.

Even when I reached out to tell her it was okay, Abel pushed my hand away with the fork. She looked ready to cut all the way through the plate.

“Here, eat. I cut it into bite-sized pieces.”

“…”

I alternated glances between the perfectly cut food and Abel’s face. When our eyes met, she quickly looked away and kept eating.

She chewed in silence. I could still see the faint redness on the tip of her nose and in her eyes.

In the midst of an uncomfortable silence, the meal was nearing its end. I wanted to take this opportunity to ask her to join the group for the dungeons… but with this atmosphere, I couldn’t even get the words out.

It was almost unbelievable how difficult it was to speak.

“…Why don’t you ask me?”

Abel was the first to break the silence. Her gaze remained fixed on her plate as she moved only her fork and knife. Her voice still carried traces of emotion.

“You must be curious. Why did I cry?”

To be honest, yes, I was curious. Abel had suddenly started crying. At first, I was surprised, but then I figured it out. It was clear that it wasn’t just a trivial outburst. That’s why I decided not to ask.

The emotions reflected in her eyes were nostalgia and loss.

I had spent twenty years eating with a knife, and along with that, my ability to read the atmosphere had developed as well.

Just by looking into her eyes, I could imagine what she was feeling.

I cut a piece of meat without showing any expression. I saw Abel’s eyebrows lift slightly at my indifference.

“Kang Geom-Ma, do you really not care what others think? Even if your way of thinking is different from an ordinary person like me, it’s impossible for you not to care.”

It wasn’t so much a scolding as it was a serious accusation.

Abel’s eyes reddened even more. With a trembling voice, she continued,

“You get along well with everyone… so why are you like this when you’re with me? And since we’re on the topic, when we first met, you hid the fact that you were the top student, didn’t you? You let me keep complaining right in front of you.”

“…”

“Back then, I thought you had your reasons for not saying anything. But the more I get to know you, the more I realize I was wrong. At that moment, you were just messing with me, weren’t you?”

“…”

“Everyone thinks you’re a genius? Not at all. You know what? People like me, those of us who aren’t special, need to rely on each other and empathize with one another.”

I put a piece of cut meat into my mouth. I chewed in silence.

Abel, after having let everything out, sighed several times. Then, seemingly calmer, she covered her face with both hands.

Silence again. I chewed my meat and rinsed my mouth with water before speaking in a cold tone.

“Stop pouting.”

“…What?”

Abel’s eyes widened in surprise. The only emotion left on her face was confusion.

Abel was now being completely swept away by her emotions. Of course, I could have just chosen to stay quiet and listen.

I could have ignored everything she was saying and simply comforted her.

However, that wasn’t the right approach for Abel. Although some might say it was none of my business, it wasn’t something I could just ignore.

‘But…’

I set my fork down on the table. Crossing my arms, I added,

“Abel, I don’t care what you tell me, but what you just said comes entirely from your own insecurities.”

“…!”

Abel’s shoulders trembled slightly. I had struck her where it hurt most on purpose. I didn’t stop and kept driving the words in.

“And you keep saying I’m different, but your words are completely dismissive. Do you know what I’ve done and how I’ve lived?”

“…That’s…”

Abel moved her lips, but I cut off her attempt to defend herself immediately.

“And Abel, right now, you’re undermining yourself. You’re putting a ‘talent’ label on me, but in reality, you’re just diminishing yourself.”

“…”

People around me call me a genius in swordsmanship.

In my previous life, I reached the top of the industry in just five years, so it was something expected of me.

But they don’t know the story behind it. They don’t see the effort, only the goal.

I remember how my hands became covered in calluses, how blood stuck to my knife. I practiced constantly, mentally going over the cuts while staring at the fish bones I had filleted.

The desire to reach the top. That was the drive that led me to become the greatest swordsman in the country.

And even now, it remains the same.

The Blessing of the Sword God. When activated, it’s a powerful force with few equals.

A blessing that allows me to defeat any opponent who can’t surpass me.

But behind it, there are enormous risks that consume both body and mind.

If I exceed the time limit of the Blessing of the Sword God, I’ll end up in the hospital.

If the fusion rate increases, my humanity will fade away.
What others call talent, for me, is a power that demands a price.

It’s a force that requires sacrifices—both physical and mental.

That’s why I’ve trained my body and strengthened my natural power.

Even my obsession with acquiring magic stones has a single purpose.

‘To survive.’

At first, I wasn’t even aware of it. But over time, my naive mindset changed.

I quit the game before reaching the middle of the story, so I only know what happens up to that point. My future is uncertain.

And conflicts have made things even more complicated. Everything is uncertain.

It’s possible that everything happening is because, in some way, Kang Geom-Ma and I are connected.

Nonetheless, I can’t deny my own existence.

I must keep preparing, avoiding unforeseen events, and being ready for whatever the future holds.

That’s why Abel’s words about me being a “genius” are so harmful.
Abel may come from a prestigious family, but I am not a special student, you know? While it might be an offhand remark for her, to me, it’s just a lie.

So, I responded coldly.

“I’m sorry…”

It seemed effective, as Abel apologized in a low voice.

I let out a deep sigh. I felt like I had just scolded her.

“It’s fine. Let’s eat.”

“…Yeah.”

A small sigh escaped from Abel. Something in the atmosphere softened, and a faint smile appeared on her face. That was when Abel looked at me, surprised.

In “Miracle Blessing M,” Abel was known as the Empress of Ice.

Was it because of that disconnect? Somehow, this very human side of her seemed quite charming to me.

But beyond that, the direction this conversation had taken was absurd.

A simple request to prevent the manifestation of the Blessing of the Sword God had led us here. Honestly, I also felt a bit embarrassed.

‘Now that I’m in this body, has my mind turned into that of a teenager too…?’

Clink, clink. Only the sound of dishes and utensils clashing filled the silence.

The dinner was already uncomfortable enough, but now, that discomfort had intensified.

The awkward silence only made the spicy, strong flavors of the food even more necessary. I even started imagining the cup ramen waiting in my suitcase.

My mind drifted to strange thoughts, but I quickly regained focus.

What was happening at the table had derailed the original purpose of the conversation.

I hadn’t even asked Abel if she wanted to join the party, and now it seemed like our relationship was just getting worse.

Then suddenly, Abel murmured as if speaking to herself.

“…My parents disappeared in a dungeon. Today marks the tenth anniversary of their disappearance.”

A heavy story, dropped without warning, slightly caught me off guard, but I stayed silent and listened.

“I… have been waiting for this semester. The minimum condition to enter a dungeon is to be a student at the academy, right?”

Abel took a sip of water and cleared her throat before continuing.

“…That’s why this semester means a lot to me. Though, it also puts a lot of pressure on me.”

“It sounds like the dungeon is quite dangerous.”

Hearing my question, Abel shook her head.

“The dungeon itself isn’t high difficulty. To be honest, I still don’t understand how my parents disappeared. It’s a low-level dungeon.”

“……”

Listening to her story, I felt a strange sense of empathy.

In my case, my parents had also disappeared suddenly, so there was something in common between us.

Besides, I felt that I had been too harsh with Abel earlier.

So, with that thought, I decided to break the silence with words.

“Let’s go together.”

“…!?”

“I actually needed to visit a dungeon during my vacation too. It’s good that you brought it up.”

Abel’s eyes widened in shock.

Her golden irises shimmered, and her eyes filled with tears.

“But… this has nothing to do with you. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone.”

“Anyway, I’m staying at your house during the vacation, so I already owe you something. Consider this a way to return the favor.”

Though those words came out of my mouth, my thoughts were much more calculated.

“Inherent spirit nature forces me to be completely rational.”

‘Helping Abel will be an overwhelming advantage.’

That cold thought surfaced. At the same time, I began to feel a deep disappointment in myself. I disliked that feeling.

The place where my emotions once existed now felt empty.

Only a cold, machine-like sensation remained inside me.

Even though Abel’s sincerity had touched me, that emotion was superficial.

‘If the assimilation rate increases, my humanity will decrease.’

What will I become when that happens? A chill ran down my spine.

I shook my head to clear those thoughts and asked about the dungeon’s location.

“Where are we going?”

Abel slowly lifted her gaze and looked at me. Just before, she had seemed on the verge of tears.

“The Dungeon of the Undead.”

“……!”

Those words nearly made me choke.