At a glance, it looked like a collection of equipment, costumes, and stage props used in various movies.
But this wasn't a prop room. It was the reward chamber inside a hidden dungeon.
There was no way these were just display pieces.
"Huh? Look at this sword!"
[ITEM]
[Mikazuki Munechika - Replica]
A-grade sword.
A sword forged by the Heian-era master Sanjo Munechika.
One of the Five Swords Under Heaven of the Muromachi era.
Its defining feature is the crescent moon engraved on the blade.
Its beauty is considered the finest among the Five Swords Under Heaven.
Replica.
"That's a good sword."
"This one's mine."
"Swords don't suit me. I wasn't planning to take it anyway."
For some reason, weapons that required disciplined swings, like swords, just didn't fit me.
It was probably because they possessed a nature completely opposite to mine.
A sword—especially a Japanese blade like the one in front of us—depended heavily on technique.
Unlike how TV or novels portrayed them, you couldn't just cut through everything simply because you wanted to.
If you swung it carelessly, the problem wouldn't be a chipped edge; the blade itself would bend.
That was true for an ordinary person. So what would happen if I, whose raw strength exceeded even Yoo Joonghyuk's, swung it?
I'd be lucky if it only bent instead of snapping outright.
Even if it were a powerful item, in the hands of someone like me, who was far removed from the art of swordsmanship, it would be nothing more than a pretty ornament.
No more, no less.
"Wow... this is insane. The edge is perfect, and it's so light!"
"You finally got a proper sword, Heewon."
Come to think of it, had she been quietly jealous of Jihye's sword?
"It's such a shame we can only take two things each from this treasure vault."
"Heewon, pick out an item Yoo Sangah can use. I'll find something for Lee Hyunsung."
"...What about me?"
"Figure yours out yourself."
How cold.
Couldn't she be just a little gentler with me?
After everything I've done for her.
[What kind of place is this?]
[I've told you about this so many times you should be sick of hearing it. Do you still not remember?]
[I only know the rough storyline. I haven't memorized every single scenario like you have.]
[You probably guessed as much, but while they aren't true 'Relic' grade, this is a place where A-grade items with the unique traits of replicas are gathered.]
[Thanks. I'll look for one weapon and a supporting item.]
Let's see. A weapon that would suit me...
What's she doing over there?
Lee Jihye was straining with all her might, trying to pull something out.
What was she so desperate to draw...?
[ITEM]
[Mjolnir - Replica]
A-grade blunt weapon.
A replica of the hammer used by the thunder god Thor.
Though a fake, it contains the power of thunder.
Only one with the proper qualifications may lift it.
No matter how hard Lee Jihye strained, the hammer absolutely wouldn't budge.
She already used a sword; what on earth did she need a hammer for?
"Isn't that something only special people can use?"
"Damn it, I'm special too!"
"You are special. But you use a sword, not a hammer, right? Just be satisfied with your nice sword."
"Would you two just shut up already!"
What was wrong with teasing her when she couldn't use it anyway?
Grab.
"Hey, squirt! That's my—!"
"What do you mean 'yours' or 'mine'? You couldn't even pull it out. Whoever pulls it out owns it!"
Swoosh!
""?!!""
The Mjolnir, which hadn't moved an inch even when Lee Jihye's face turned red from effort, came free without resistance the moment Gilyoung grabbed it.
"Noona, hyung, can I have this?"
"Sure. It suits you."
"Exactly. Looks like our Gilyoung is more 'special' than some random high school girl."
"... ..."
Lee Jihye stared at us, speechless.
I wished I could tease her even more. What a waste.
Right, this was a gamble.
If it went wrong, I'd become the laughingstock... but if I succeeded, I'd get to mock her.
Success meant I was special; failure meant I was just an ordinary nobody.
"Gilyoung."
"Yes, hyung."
"Can I try holding it just once?"
"Of course."
Gilyoung handed me Mjolnir.
The moment of truth...!
Grab.
Whoosh!
Mjolnir... I could lift it!!!
"Uahahahaha!!! I can lift it!!!"
It felt just as light as when Gilyoung held it.
Now, it's SHOW TIME!!!
"Looks like there were two 'special people' here, excluding the 'second-year high school girl,' huh~"
"Uuuuuugh!"
This time, Lee Jihye's face turned red with pure rage.
"M-Maybe it only works because the brat held it first?!"
"Then why don't you try it? Gilyoung, that's okay, right?"
"Yes, I'm fine with it."
"Our Gilyoung is so sweet."
When Dokja was this age... she was similar.
Yeah, she was. Though she was much quieter than Gilyoung.
"Here, take it."
Thump.
Mjolnir landed in Lee Jihye's hand.
And unlike when Gilyoung and I held it, the moment she gripped it, Mjolnir plummeted straight to the ground.
"Ugh!"
A passing grade for me, and a failing notice for Jihye!
[A Constellation reveals their modifier.]
[The Constellation 'Thunder of Thursday' shows interest in the two Incarnations qualified to wield Mjolnir.]
"Oh, the original owner has arrived."
[The Constellation 'Thunder of Thursday' laughs heartily at your bold attitude.]
[100 Coins have been sponsored.]
"Good to see your boisterous personality is still the same as in the original myths."
[The Constellation 'Thunder of Thursday' asks if you know their Fable.]
"Where should I start? The time you fished up Jormungandr? Or when you took the siblings Thialfi and Roskva as your servants?"
[The Constellation 'Thunder of Thursday' is delighted that you know their Fable so well—!]
"Or should I mention the time you dressed as a woman and—!!"
[The Constellation 'Thunder of Thursday' hurriedly covers your mouth.]
[A Constellation reveals their modifier.]
[A Constellation who enjoys changing genders mocks the Constellation 'Thunder of Thursday'.]
[The Constellation 'Thunder of Thursday' is enraged!]
That bickering.
That had to be Loki.
In the original myths, Loki's pranks eventually crossed the line when he killed Baldr, leading to his eternal torture.
Whether it was because they were Constellations now or some other reason, they seemed to have remained on bickering terms.
"Oppa."
"Huh? What??"
"We don't have time. Instead of fooling around, hurry up and pick your weapon!!!"
Smack!
A back-smash!!!
.
.
.
After being chased off, I looked over the displayed props... but none of the weapons really appealed to me.
Of course, there were a few that were 'slightly' tempting.
A constantly burning chained blade, bestowed by a god but used as a tool to slay them.
A sword forged from the refined energy of hell, used by a great slaughterer to destroy the underworld.
Another weapon used by that same demon-slayer: a wrist blade mounted on a gauntlet.
A relic that had been a great help in hunting a black dragon.
Even a pair of axes engraved with the constellation of the Big Dipper.
I looked at countless weapons, but every one of them felt lacking.
The weapons were excellent, but they didn't feel right for me.
"Haa..."
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' comforts you, saying you'll be able to find a weapon you like.]
"Don't comfort me... it just makes me feel more pathetic."
The end of the corridor was almost in sight, yet I still hadn't found a weapon that spoke to me.
Should I just compromise?
"..."
Something at the far end was pulling at me.
It sounded like a line from a chuunibyou novel, but I could truly feel it.
What was waiting at the end?
What was there that was triggering my senses?
"...An axe?"
At the end of the corridor was a simple, massive axe.
Unlike Mjolnir, it wasn't in a display case; it was just embedded straight into the floor.
Its size reached up to my eye level, perhaps?
I couldn't tell its exact dimensions.
[ITEM]
[Broken Axe]
Huh?
Why wasn't it marked as a 'Replica'?
Was it not a copy?
And the name was simply 'Axe.'
It had the modifier 'Broken,' but that wasn't part of the name itself.
A-grade axe.
A mass producer hid it away from the theater owner.
It was made for 'the one single person more special than anyone else,' someone who wouldn't be satisfied even with the weapons of the gods.
Its blade was intentionally damaged, so it cannot display its original destructive power.
Only the mass producer can repair this axe.
"The one single person more special than anyone else..."
So this weapon also chose its user, just like Mjolnir.
As a bonus, the description sounded as if it had been waiting specifically for me.
The phrase 'someone who wouldn't be satisfied even with the weapons of the gods' seemed to refer to me, the one who had passed by all those other replicas.
Grip.
I grabbed the handle, which fit perfectly in my hand.
Heavy.
It felt as if the axe had called me over, only to say, "Actually, I must've been mistaken," the moment I arrived.
"What, are you telling me to just use Mjolnir since I've held it before?"
The axe still didn't budge.
"Does it make any sense to tell me to steal a kid's weapon instead?"
The axe still didn't budge.
"Even your description was obviously talking about me."
The axe still didn't budge.
"What do you want?"
The axe still didn't budge.
"Move already!!!"
The axe still didn't budge.
The axe still didn't budge.
The axe still didn't budge.
.
.
.
The axe still didn't budge.
"How the hell am I supposed to lift this thing...?"
What was this thing, judging me even more harshly than Mjolnir did?
What exactly did it want?
Did it want me to explain why I needed it?
Or did it want me to prove I was worthy?
"Fine. All or nothing."
Grip.
"Move...!"
Whether it worked or not, I'd rip it out by force!
If that didn't work, I'd smash the floor and take it with me!!
If even that failed, whether I starved to death or died of thirst here... I still wouldn't lose to a piece of metal!!!
"I am that 'one single person more special than anyone else'!"
Krrrack.
I saw cracks spreading where the axe was embedded.
"I need you if I'm going to smash apart everything blocking my path—no, our path!!"
Craaack!
The floor split wider.
"So... before I rip you out with the whole floor attached, you'd better come out quietly!!"
Rumbleee!!
The surrounding area shook.
"Until you come out, I won't leave here even if I die...!!!"
"So if you're a weapon, act like one. Submit and acknowledge me."
"A piece of trash like you is nothing but a tool meant to obey my orders."
Swoosh.
The axe came free.
"Now that's more like it. I'm going to work you hard from now on... so don't break before I meet your creator, got it?"
Even though it was broken, the axe shone with a clear light, as if it were replying to me.
'Don't you die first and start bawling.'
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