Gozine

**********
[Basic Information]
Name: Ru
Gender: Male
Age: 31
Race: Human
Primary Element: Void

Achievement: [Snow Demon of the North]

[Traits]
Positive: [Sword Emperor] / [Genius in Swordsmanship and Combat] / [Exceptional Instincts] / [Prodigy of Learning] / [Mental Stability]
Neutral: [Indifference] / [Emotionless]
Negative: –

[Stats]
Physical strength: 27
Mana: 25
Luck: 2
Willpower: 25

Charm: 24

[Skills]
Passive Skills: [Emotionless] / [Cold-Blooded] / [Demonification] …
Active Skills: [Spatial Sword] / [Void Sword] / [Combat-Type Multiple Personalities]…

Note: The demon here is different than the demon Nox usually refers (악마/Akuma), it’s (귀/Oni), which can translate to demon, spirit, or ghost

**********

An absurd status window pops up to greet me.

Ru.
An irregular in the Inner Lunatic world, where bloodline matters above all else.
A commoner who rose to become the knight captain of the northern snowfields, that was him.

Rumors say he learned the [Spatial Sword] from his master, the continent’s Sword Demon, Glint von Zehard, and completed the unfinished swordsmanship.

Anyway, right now, that’s not what’s important to me.

‘If I can just make Ru an ally, it’s a foregone conclusion that we’ll have an overwhelming advantage in the final battle against the demons. I need to make a good impression here.’

I have to pull him to my side

My goal was clear.

Just as I was watching Ru intently, feeling motivated for the first time in a while.

Swish.

“Huh?”

A sound of confusion escapes my lips as I lose sight of Ru in an instant.

What was that?
I definitely heard something like the sound of a blade cutting through the air.
Then, with a thud, the magical beasts begin collapsing.

But, why?
I couldn’t see anything.

“Just what is that man…?”

Eleanor mutters, but I forget to answer, too focused on trying to follow his movements.

His gaze.
His stance.
His swordsmanship.

Every single aspect was beyond anything I’d ever seen before.

It was the first time I’d felt this way since Theo.

“Ru…..”

I murmured softly. He moved as lightly as a feather.
Long, disheveled hair. Pitch-black pupils, faintly obscuring whatever thoughts or judgments lay behind them.

I couldn’t understand it.
No matter how much of a perfected monster Ru was, how could I not even track his movements with my eyes?

‘I’ve faced Theo von Reinhaver and other knights’ swords before. No matter how I think about it, this is strange.’

Since I’d never experienced anything like this, I couldn’t help but be shocked.
Just what kind of sword was his [Spatial Sword]? What exactly was it cutting? A growing itch of excitement ran through my entire body.

“…Is it over?”

Before I knew it, Ru had finished off all the enemies and muttered to himself.
A soldier on guard duty rushed over in a panic and bowed deeply.

“Captain Ru! Thank you! The frequency of magical beast appearances has been increasing lately….”

“So it seems.”

Ru replied indifferently, shaking the blood off his sword.
Thump. My heart pounded wildly. That sword from earlier.
Ru’s swordsmanship, which seemed to cut through empty air, flickered in my mind, impossible to grasp.

Without thinking, I stepped forward, forgetting all courtesy, clenched my fists, and asked.

“…What was that? That sword.”

“Young master?!”

Zitri panicked and grabbed my sleeve, but I didn’t have time to care.
Realizing I needed to explain, I added.

“I couldn’t see it. Not a single strike. Can you tell me why?”

“…..”

Ru glanced at me briefly but remained expressionless.

Still, this was a conversation between knights.
He seemed to understand what I was asking.

“How can you wield a sword like that?”

The answer came immediately.

“…I think it’s not a talent worth envying.”

“I just want to know.”

“It’s the sword my master wielded.”

Ru muttered calmly. Even though I already knew about the [Spatial Sword], his answer wasn’t enough to satisfy me.

“Sir Glint von Zehard…”

The moment I spoke his master’s name, a faint change flickered across Ru’s expression for the first time.

“You know my master?”

“A little.”

“…Come inside first. I’ll tell you about the sword.”

Got him.
I cheered internally, clenching my fists.
Zitri and Eleanor exchanged glances and shook their heads, as if resigned to the fact that they couldn’t stop me. Thanks to my frequent recklessness, the two seemed to have grown quite close.
Not a bad thing. Getting along is always good.

“Open the gate and prepare the ship.”

Ru gave the order, and the soldiers responded in unison.

“Yes, Captain!”

Drrkk….

The sound of the drawbridge reopening filled my ears.
Now, another sub-episode was about to begin.
With that thought, I boarded the massive ship approaching us alongside my companions.

**********

‘…So, it was a lie that he couldn’t read my sword even for a moment.’

Lost in thought, Ru recalled Nox’s greedy gaze from earlier.

As if determined to make all swordsmanship his own, Nox had scrutinized his sword multiple times.
Had there been even a hint of hostility in that gaze, Ru would have cut him down immediately.

But he didn’t.

Because what filled Nox’s eyes was pure aspiration.
It reminded Ru of his old friend, Fer, and his master, Glint.

For the first time in a while, Ru found himself reminiscing about the past.

Ru.
When the commoner-born Winter Bridge Knight Captain first arrived in the northern snowfields.
The villagers and knights were convinced the emperor had abandoned this land.
Though barren, many still lived here, just not as densely populated as the capital. There were also people here who had, in their own way, established a base for their life.

Yet, only one person was assigned as the new knight captain of Winter Bridge and its related region.

And the fact that it was a commoner, not a noble, made no sense.

To the villagers, it was blatant discrimination.

The villagers thought like that. At least, until they saw Ru’s skills.

— What the hell?! I’ve never seen anyone wield a sword like that!
— How is this even human…?!
— So it’s true he was Sir. Glint’s disciple? But even so…
— Why would someone like him come to the north?

After a monster wave passed.
The villagers and knights began questioning why Ru had been sent to this frozen wasteland.

Had he been demoted?
Fallen out of the emperor’s favor? Those were their main thoughts.

The reason was simple.

Ru was no small talent meant to be confined to a place like this.

Awe.
Those who saw Ru’s sword couldn’t follow his movements even for a second.
The [Spatial Sword], a long-range swordsmanship that slashes through empty air before the blade’s trajectory and energy manifest before the enemy, was the main reason, but to the ignorant villagers, that didn’t matter.
The same went for the knights in this backwater.

Talented individuals occasionally appeared, but they always left for the capital.
The old saying that knights must carry pride had become obsolete, and mages were treated not as eccentric, but money-obsessed lunatics.

So why would someone as strong as Ru come to the north?
They couldn’t understand.

But Ru remained the same as when he was first dispatched here twelve years ago.

At twenty years old.
At an age when most knights were just starting and shedding their beginner status, he became the knight captain of this harsh land and silently proved his worth ever since.

He grew stronger, never neglecting his training.
Though not sociable, he never refused requests from villagers or knights, unlike nobles who boasted of their achievements.

This was what mattered.
Ru was more than qualified to become a legend in the north.

Surpassing his master Glint was an old story. Though he could have taken one of the three Sword Emperors’ seats faster than Luna, he refused and remained as the [Snow Demon of the North].

Entirely Ru’s own choice, to uphold his master’s dying wish.

— Live to help others.

The last words spoken to Ru, who had lived almost devoid of emotion.
To honor his master’s words, he helped people.
Not out of any particular goodwill.

But…
Twelve years were enough to wear anyone down.
His interest had waned.

New monsters, new enemies, always brought fresh tension, but none could match his absurd talent. No one could stand against Ru, they couldn’t follow even a single move with their eyes

But what about this boy?

As they boarded the ship, Ru glanced at Nox.

Ripples formed in his dark pupils, a flicker of interest rising.

‘Nox von Reinhaver.’

The boy who introduced himself earlier was called the genius of the Reinhaver family.

A new star.
But Ru hadn’t been interested.

No matter how talented, no matter how widespread the rumors.
In the end, he had never faced an opponent he couldn’t defeat.

But this boy was different.
He had no doubt that Nox would show him something far more interesting in the near future.

Whether that would be for better or worse, he didn’t know…

But when the time came, the two would cross swords with their lives on the line. Ru hoped that day would come soon.

A ray of hope in this tedious routine. Nox’s talent was more than suitable for it.

**********

The Inner Lunatic world had many places considered mysterious, but among them, the drawbridge of Winter Bridge was unique.
Beneath the bridge on either side flowed a transparent river.
Above that, shrouded in a white mist, for a very shocking reason.

“Be careful not to touch the river below. The moment you do, your entire body will freeze.”

I warned Zitri and Eleanor. The cute Ellie and Carl also boarded the ship instead of crossing the river. The ship was quite large—a luxury here.
But there was a reason for it.

“The north really is terrifying… A river that can freeze a person in an instant.”

Thanks to prior research, Zitri already knew about this place.
She must have studied the river well.
I nodded slowly in response.

“The north has many dangerous zones. This one is particularly unique.”

“Have you been here before?”

Eleanor asked curiously, resting her chin on her hand.
I answered immediately.

“Haven’t you come here with me before? Though we almost died, there were many things we gained.”

“If we’re talking about gains… Hmm, something like my heart?”

“No. I meant dragon-derived materials.”

Anyway, given even the slightest opening, she’d jump in like this.
Eleanor butted in, but I ignored her appropriately.

Zitri narrowed her eyes slightly at me.

“…Young master, you mentioned planning to conquer a labyrinth here?”

“Yeah. Of course, I’ll need permission first.”

“A labyrinth…?”

Suddenly, a man’s voice cut into the conversation.

Ru. The knight captain looked at me and asked.

“Are you talking about Aksaras Labyrinth?”

“…How did you know?”

Does he have mind-reading or something?

From what I know.
No, his status window from earlier didn’t show such a trait.

“Anyone who seeks strength would challenge that labyrinth.”

Ru replied flatly, then added.

“But as you are now, you can’t clear it.”

“…Yes?”

This was unexpected.

Aksaras Labyrinth.
I planned to raid it while gathering food for Ellie. I’d conquered it multiple times before and was confident I could find my way even if the paths changed hundreds of times.

Of course, it was dangerous, but…

At my current strength, it shouldn’t be impossible.

‘Could someone as strong as Ru really not gauge my strength? …Well, no one knows about [Genius’s Time], so it’s possible…’

“Even if you use hidden power, it’s absolutely impossible.”

Clunk.

If a sound were to come from the heart, it would probably sound like this.
It’s highly likely that Ru is an even more dangerous person than I thought.

A warning bell rang in my heart.

Feeling the need to repeat it, I will chant the spell once.

I am pathetic… (Note: X밥이다 -> This means to belittle, I don’t know what the exact word for it)