The receptionist patiently guided Nora through shelf after shelf.
Sword manuals filled the room.
Some radiated crimson essence.
Others released cold mist.
A few even seemed alive, vibrating faintly as though eager to be chosen.
Each represented years—sometimes centuries—of accumulated combat experience.
The receptionist removed another manual from the shelf.
"This one is called Flaming Crescent."
He opened it.
"It channels fire essence through the edge of the blade. Every strike leaves behind a trail of burning flames capable of igniting anything it touches."
Nora politely shook her head.
"I'm sorry."
"It isn't what I'm looking for."
The receptionist smiled professionally before returning the manual.
Then he picked another.
"Ocean Spiral."
"This technique focuses on continuous flowing attacks. Every slash becomes smoother than the last until your opponent is overwhelmed."
Nora watched the demonstration.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Deadly.
Yet...
She still shook her head.
"No."
Another manual.
"Mountain Splitter."
"A straightforward style focused entirely on overwhelming strength."
Again...
"No."
Another.
"Phantom Blade."
"It creates afterimages that confuse the enemy."
Again...
"No."
The receptionist remained surprisingly patient.
Manual after manual appeared before Nora.
Some specialized in speed.
Others relied on elemental affinity.
Some required extremely flexible sword grips.
Others demanded impossible footwork.
Nearly an hour passed.
Yet Nora rejected every single one.
Eventually...
Even the receptionist began wondering whether the young woman truly wanted to buy anything.
Finally...
He sighed.
"There is..."
"...one more."
His voice sounded noticeably less enthusiastic.
He walked toward the very bottom shelf.
Unlike the polished displays above, this corner looked almost forgotten.
Dust covered several books.
One thin manual rested alone.
Its cover was plain black.
No decorative runes.
No impressive artwork.
No powerful aura.
The receptionist picked it up.
"This technique is called..."
"Super Slash."
Nora blinked.
"The name is... simple."
The receptionist laughed awkwardly.
"Yes."
"It isn't exactly famous."
He opened the manual.
"This sword technique focuses entirely on a single strike."
"It gathers every ounce of your physical strength."
"Every drop of your essence."
"And every bit of your killing intent."
"Everything is compressed into one attack."
Nora listened carefully.
The receptionist continued.
"The most unusual aspect..."
"...is that the surrounding space itself becomes compressed."
"The target experiences an invisible suppression."
"Their movements slow."
"Their instincts become delayed."
"They feel as though the world itself has become heavier."
Nora's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So they can't dodge?"
"Exactly."
The receptionist nodded.
"But..."
He smiled bitterly.
"There is a price."
"The final strike consumes nearly all of the user's remaining essence."
"If the attack fails..."
"...the swordsman becomes almost defenseless."
Nora looked down at the manual.
A dangerous technique.
High risk.
High reward.
Still...
She wasn't fully convinced.
"Can I watch the demonstration recording?"
The receptionist immediately nodded.
"Of course."
He led Nora toward a projection device positioned in another room.
With a gentle tap...
The recording began.
A battlefield appeared.
A lone swordsman stood opposite a massive creature nearly three times his height.
Its body resembled black crystal.
Every movement caused the earth beneath it to crack.
The difference in strength between the two opponents was obvious.
The creature roared.
The swordsman remained completely still.
He slowly raised his blade.
Nothing happened.
No explosion.
No glowing aura.
No dramatic surge of essence.
Even the surrounding air looked perfectly ordinary.
Then—
He stepped forward.
One slash.
That was all.
The sword moved so simply that it almost looked disappointing.
The blade didn't create flames.
It didn't release lightning.
There wasn't even a visible sword wave.
The creature remained standing.
Completely unharmed.
For one second...
Nothing happened.
Then—
Crack.
A tiny fracture appeared across the creature's chest.
Another.
Then another.
Within moments...
Thousands of microscopic cracks spread throughout its entire body.
Like shattered glass.
Like broken mirrors.
The enormous monster simply...
Collapsed.
Its flesh fragmented into countless tiny pieces before scattering across the battlefield.
Silence.
The recording ended.
Nora remained completely motionless.
Her mouth had unknowingly fallen open.
"..."
"..."
She replayed the final strike inside her mind.
No wasted movement.
No unnecessary display.
Just...
One perfect cut.
Slowly...
A smile appeared on Nora's face.
She finally understood.
The strike hadn't relied on explosive force.
It had relied on absolute precision.
Every fragment of power had entered the enemy instead of exploding outward.
No energy wasted.
No unnecessary movement.
Everything...
Focused into one point.
Nora quietly closed the recording.
"I'll take it."
The receptionist blinked.
"...Really?"
"Yes."
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"Ma'am..."
"That happens to be the lowest-ranked sword technique we sell."
He smiled nervously.
"If you'd like..."
"I could recommend something stronger."
Nora calmly looked into his eyes.
"I said..."
"I'll take it."
The receptionist still looked hesitant.
"It has one of the lowest purchase rates in the academy."
"Most students think it's impractical."
Nora activated her Third Eye.
Instantly...
Countless faint threads of destiny appeared before her vision.
Among them...
The receptionist's thread shone weakly.
He was merely another Initiate.
His future branched into countless ordinary possibilities.
Nora quietly deactivated her ability.
Then she turned around.
"In that case..."
"I'll simply purchase a sword art somewhere else."
She took two steps toward the exit.
The receptionist immediately panicked.
"Wait!"
"Please!"
"You don't have to leave!"
He hurried after her.
"I was only trying to help."
Nora stopped.
She turned around calmly.
The receptionist sighed helplessly.
"You may purchase it."
A faint smile appeared on Nora's face.
She had expected exactly this outcome.
Over the years...
She had discovered one universal weakness shared by nearly every merchant.
Customers leaving.
It didn't work every time.
But...
Roughly eighty percent of the time...
People preferred lowering their objections instead of losing a sale entirely.
Apparently...
Academy receptionists weren't much different.
After completing the purchase, Nora carefully placed the manual inside her storage pouch.
She genuinely felt happy.
Not because the technique was famous.
Not because it was expensive.
But because...
For the first time...
She had found a sword style that felt as though it had been waiting for her.
Leaving the academy, she stepped into the afternoon sunlight.
Her phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
Missed Call
Awakened Rose
Nora blinked.
"...Oh."
She had completely forgotten.
Rose had asked her yesterday to meet at a café.
Between searching for sword techniques and training...
It had slipped her mind.
She quickly changed direction.
Before heading to the café, she decided to stop by Sophia's house.
After all...
The café wasn't particularly close.
A few minutes later...
She entered without knocking.
Sophia was exactly where Nora expected.
Lying lazily across the couch.
One leg hanging over the armrest.
A book covered her face.
"Nora?"
Sophia lifted the book slightly.
"What brings you here?"
Nora held up the sword manual.
"I bought something."
Sophia glanced at it.
"Nice."
"Now why are you really here?"
Nora folded her arms.
"I need someone to escort me to a café."
Sophia stared.
"...You came all the way to my house..."
"...just to ask me to walk with you?"
Nora nodded honestly.
"Yes."
Sophia slowly sat upright.
"You do realize..."
"...you could simply tell Awakened Rose you'll meet another day?"
Before she finished speaking...
Nora had already turned around and walked out.
Sophia sighed.
"...She didn't even wait for my answer."
A faint smile still appeared on her face.
"She's hopeless."
Meanwhile...
Nora calmly boarded a public transport heading toward the city center.
Outside the window...
Planet NTOEL bustled with life.
She quietly wondered...
Why exactly had Rose insisted on meeting her there?
She was about to find out.
The café...
Would change more than just where she lived.