The reason a scabbard exists is so the owner of the sword doesn’t get hurt by the sword he holds.

The second reason is to keep the edge of the “sword” from being damaged.

But in Ares, demand for scabbards was extremely rare.

Because even skilled blacksmiths didn’t feel the need to craft scabbards.

Blacksmiths were better off spending that time making a weapon or a piece of armor to sell.

Another reason was that “users” often thought scabbards were a nuisance.

If you assume you’re holding a sword—if this were reality—just walking around openly displaying a sword would be a heavy burden.

Unless you were a master of swordsmanship, it couldn’t be helped.

In reality, there were plenty of records of warriors who didn’t wear scabbards and ended up badly injured—hands getting cut and so on.

But users inside a game were different.

Even if they sliced a finger once, they didn’t care much.

And a lot of modern people perceived scabbards as bothersome.

Half right, half wrong.

The “right” half was that for users, swinging and cutting was far more useful than drawing from a scabbard and cutting.

The “wrong” half—

—was the case of the user named Master Lee Hwan.

Master Lee Hwan’s class was Drawmaster.

A draw-cut was a technique where you rapidly draw the sword from the scabbard and cut the enemy.

Those who trained it for a long time drew and cut at speeds like light.

It also exerted power that was effective for ambush and a single decisive strike.

And the most decisive reason scabbards were uncommon—

In this game called Ares, not once had a truly excellent scabbard ever appeared, and it was hard to find even a good scabbard crafting method at all.

The best part was that the maker of the sword and the maker of the scabbard would both be him.

Lucky Lump was in a good mood.

Our Lucky Lump only eats one dog chew a day, riiight~?

Hyunsoo and Kabel strictly(?) gave only one chew a day.

A dog chew that was chewy and soothed the itchiness in your mouth!

Every day, Lucky Lump felt like it wasn’t enough—and Hyunsoo had said to him:

If our Lucky Lump delivers well, big bro will give you thiiis~!

What Hyunsoo held in his hand and shook—

Bonmel’s special snack, made by the best handmade treat maker!

Delicious beef was stuck to the outside of the dog chew.

Just looking at it made Lucky Lump open his mouth and drool.

WOOOF...

And Lucky Lump got happy!

When Hyunsoo set him down near the Elaim territory, Lucky Lump’s butt started bobbing without him even realizing it.

And his steps bounced—hopping along like a rabbit.

But as Lucky Lump went in, he felt a heavy presence.

WOOF...?

And then he found the man—the one he had to deliver to.

Lucky Lump could recognize him.

It was the man who had visited Atlas not long ago.

Lucky Lump was a special being who could sense many things.

From him, Lucky Lump had felt “belief” and “respect” toward Hyunsoo.

But now, that man was drowning in despair.

Lucky Lump plopped down right in front of him.

“WOOF!”

And he stuck out his tongue and beamed.

Because Lucky Lump knew.

That the man stained with despair would now step onto a new path—because of his owner, Hyunsoo.

“WOOF WOOF!”

And more than that—

That he would protect Hyunsoo.

Meanwhile, Musashi, Kouga, and the ones they’d brought with them were thrown into confusion by Lucky Lump’s sudden appearance.

Normally, with his trash personality, Musashi would have kicked Lucky Lump.

But he couldn’t.

One of the things recently posted on the community—

A ranking of monsters you must never touch in Ares.

SSS-rank included archdemons and dragons.

And another being placed among them—

Lucky Lump.

W-why is this dog bastard here...?

[Kouga: Don’t lay even a fingertip on that puppy.]

[Musashi: If you touch even one hair on Lucky Lump’s head, I’ll kill you.]

After the Great Atlas War, once baby puppy Lucky Lump had shown his impact—

Some user had tried to kidnap Lucky Lump.

What happened to that user?

After getting logged out once by Kabel, he was chased down and killed exactly fifty-four times.

A ranker fell in an instant all the way down to level 100.

He sobbed and read a tearful written apology out loud.

After that, Kabel logged him out exactly forty-one more times, burying him under level 50.

[Beren: Even so, it’s just one dog...?]

[Kouga: Lucky Lump’s fan club has about twice as many people as Hyun’s fan club.]

[Beren: Ghk...!]

During the Great Atlas War,

The one who gained the greatest wealth and popularity wasn’t Hyunsoo, and it wasn’t Kabel.

It was Lucky Lump.

There were more people than you’d think who weren’t interested in rankers, or great weapons, or anything cool like that.

In fact, even people who played a game for a long time were full of folks who didn’t even know the names of famous rankers.

But cute things were different.

You can’t resist cute.

—Is that the famous native Korean puppy breed?

—Hee, so cute! Bokteong-kun, you’re pretty!

—I want to smell him. I want to smell Lucky Lump’s sweet puppy scent...

—Ah... I just imagined sleeping while hugging Lucky Lump...

After the Great Atlas War, overseas and domestic adoption rates of Korea’s native Jindo dog increased by as much as 1,200%.

[Musashi: Hyun... that bastard won’t even show his own face...!]

Musashi and Kouga were secretly hoping for one thing.

That Hyunsoo would barge in to save Hwarang.

Because then they’d have justification.

But Lucky Lump’s helmet said he was delivering.

In other words, it looked like nothing more than handing an artifact Hyunsoo had made to Master Lee Hwan.

A blacksmith delivering what was commissioned.

That wasn’t enough justification for the world to attack Atlas.

Musashi and Kouga focused on what exactly was being delivered.

*****

What is this?

The most flustered person was Master Lee Hwan.

Lucky Lump, who had been sitting in front of him, suddenly sprang up, then turned his back and sat again.

“WOOF!”

On his back was a “pet-only bag.”

A pet-only bag was like the little bags dogs often wore.

In Lucky Lump’s case, he was wearing a bee pet bag.

The difference from reality was that a pet bag could hold quite a variety of things.

I already received the commissioned item...?

ZZZIP—

When he opened the zipper, the first thing he saw was a note.

[Benefits for long-term Twin Dragon Swords rental customers!]

[Newly released artifact. Scabbard promotion in progress!]

[Free trial for today only!]

[Try it first, then decide!]

“...?”

Master Lee Hwan understood.

This was an artifact that couldn’t be sold like the Twin Dragon Swords.

In other words, it was an artifact that could only be rented.

But now he had Phantom Blade of Flash, so there was no need to rent anything anymore.

Then why does it have to be a rental?

The Twin Dragon Swords had been something he had to rent for a reason, so he’d rented them even while getting gouged.

And in ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Master Lee Hwan’s case, he couldn’t equip Transcendent-class items in the first place.

When he reached into the pet bag, something blunt settled into his hand.

YAAANK—!

When he pulled it out hard, something somewhat rough in appearance revealed itself.

The black scabbard fit perfectly with Phantom Blade of Flash’s black hilt.

Are you trying to suck my spine dry?

While he was thinking that, Master Lee Hwan’s gaze landed on one spot on the scabbard.

“......”

There, it was written.

[Lee Hwan]

He could feel it.

From the beginning, it had been crafted for him.

And then—what was written on the last line.

[5% discount event in progress upon “proper correction”!]

Pfft...

Even in a moment like this, Master Lee Hwan ended up laughing.

Having this scabbard wouldn’t change his penalty.

And yet, he could feel Hyunsoo’s heart intact inside it.

Hyunsoo must have been suffering because he felt he hadn’t satisfied him, and had crafted this as an extra.

I wish I could meet him with a smile...

While checking the scabbard, Master Lee Hwan wondered if Hyunsoo would be having a hard time—because just one scabbard wouldn’t change anything...

...Huh?

Master Lee Hwan froze.

Not because the scabbard’s grade was legendary.

This scabbard had been crafted solely to match everything about Phantom Blade of Flash.

And through it, every aspect of Phantom Blade of Flash gained an effect that made it even better.

He could tell the moment he looked.

Phantom Blade of Flash and the scabbard have to become one to display their true power.

At that moment—

“KRAHAHAHAHK!”

Musashi and the enemies facing Master Lee Hwan burst into mad laughter.

“What the hell, it’s a scabbard!? Does Hyun not know why users don’t use scabbards in Ares!?”

The reason Musashi was laughing especially hard—

“We already found the information on Drawmaster.”

Musashi and Kouga had completed perfect research.

“You can’t equip Transcendent-grade artifacts in the first place, right?”

The ugly truth Hwarang and Master Lee Hwan had kept hidden was exposed to the whole world.

A truth that must never be revealed.

Because the people of the world would mock him for it.

But Master Lee Hwan was smiling.

“Good.” 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

He pushed the phantom blade into the scabbard.

SHRRRING—

A clear, pure sound rang across the world.

[At last, you become ‘one’.]

[The scabbard and the Phantom Blade of Flash are a set artifact.]

[Set artifact effect applies. All attributes additionally increase by 25%.]

[The scabbard exists solely for the Phantom Blade of Flash.]

[The Phantom Blade of Flash exists solely for the scabbard.]

[The scabbard perfectly compensates for the Phantom Blade of Flash’s deficiencies!]

In that instant, Kouga moved.

“Let’s settle the match from back then!”

Kouga wanted to show the whole world.

During the continental war, he had been utterly crushed because of the Twin Dragon Swords Master Lee Hwan had equipped.

[Light Speed]

[Movement speed instantly increases by 180%.]

Kouga surged forward like light, grinning.

Right now, Master Lee Hwan was just standing there blankly, not even reacting.

His sword would take Master Lee Hwan’s neck—

And then.

Master Lee Hwan’s hand moved.

“A draw-cut is a technique to ambush the enemy.”

CH-CHK—

A skill Drawmaster Master Lee Hwan possessed by default.

Draw fast, and cut the enemy.

[Draw-Cut]

[In a fleeting moment, you draw your sword and strike the enemy’s vital point. Attack Power increases by 170%.]

[If the vital-point attack succeeds, you deal 220% Attack Power.]

If that was the original draw-cut...

DING!

[Affected by the scabbard.]

[Critical hit chance increases by 150%.]

[If the vital-point attack succeeds, it is upgraded to 430% Attack Power.]

[A critical hit has occurred!]

“...Huh?”

Clutching his neck, Kouga turned to ash and scattered from a single strike.

To be precise, Kouga’s neck was severed—and he couldn’t even react.

And Kouga was a powerhouse ranked around the world top 20.

W-what... what did I just see?

Musashi panicked.

In his life, he’d only seen this kind of overwhelming power in one case.

Back during the continental war, from Kang Hyunsoo—who had swung the “Transcendent sword,” the Twin Dragon Swords.

That can’t be...

Impossible.

Drawmaster couldn’t equip Transcendent artifacts in the first place.

And there hadn’t even been a world message saying Hyunsoo had crafted a Transcendent artifact.

At that moment, multiple ninjas rushed Master Lee Hwan.

Ninjas moving from all directions.

And Master Lee Hwan—Drawmaster—who knew that “draw-cut” was originally drawing from a scabbard, and had trained it countless times—lowered his knee.

That instant—

CH-KRAK—!

I can’t see—

—it...!?

[Continuous Draw]

[Affected by the scabbard.]

[The Phantom Blade of Flash drawn from the scabbard gains an unconditional additional 120% Attack Power.]

[Due to the scabbard’s influence, the previous six continuous draw-cuts are upgraded to a total of twelve!]

KRAK KRAK KRAK KRAK KRAK KRAK KRAK—!

The ninjas in midair couldn’t even approach—forced logged out.

With his hand gripping the sword hilt still inside the scabbard, Master Lee Hwan lowered his knee and charged violently.

SHRAAAANG—

KRAAASH—!

KRAK KRAK KRAK KRAK KRAK KRAK KRAK—!

The moment light flashed, ninjas and cavalry scattered into ash.

Over three hundred people were surrounding Master Lee Hwan alone and pouring in attacks.

No—this is beyond Hyunsoo in the continental war...!

Musashi realized the core.

In the end, Hyunsoo was a blacksmith, and Master Lee Hwan was someone who’d climbed through “skill.”

When someone who climbed through skill obtained a Transcendent-class artifact, there was no opponent.

“Kill hiiiiim!”

Veins bulged on Musashi’s neck.

We invaded, and we’re losing?

Even more absurd was the reaction of the Hwarang guild.

“...Shouldn’t we be helping our guild master?”

Benjers said,

“...What exactly are we supposed to help with?”

“......”

“......”

It was true.

Musashi moved urgently.

The sword got better, but defense didn’t.

That instant, the surrounded Master Lee Hwan took a draw-cut stance.

Now.

“When you take a draw-cut stance, you create an opening! Don’t tell me you don’t even know that!?”

At the moment he became defenseless, Musashi closed in.

But—

“I know.”

“...?”

[Invincible Draw]

[Due to the scabbard’s influence, invincibility against enemies within a 5m radius is upgraded to 12m!]

[Due to the scabbard’s influence, it imposes intense pressure on those within 12m.]

[They are stunned until the draw-cut is executed!]

[They cannot resist.]

Musashi panicked.

A massive pressure crushed him.

It was power emanating from the scabbard that had become one with the sword.

[Due to the scabbard’s influence, Physical Attack Power...]

[Due to the scabbard’s influence, Magical Attack Power...]

[Due to the scabbard’s influence, ignoring 50% of Defense...]

[Due to the scabbard’s influence, the limit is upgraded from 20 targets to unlimited!]

“Flash Draw.”

SHHHRK—!

A flash effect swallowed everyone there.

In the instant it lit, Musashi watched fifty percent of his forces scatter into ash.

Musashi struggled to regain his senses, but he couldn’t even react to the flashing light.

SHRK SHRK SHHHRK—!

[You have been forcibly logged out.]

What the...

Musashi’s pupils swelled wide, and Master Lee Hwan’s lips moved.

“Hyunsoo...”

Musashi, without realizing it, focused.

“He’s a god!!!!!”

And Musashi knew it.

Even now, at the very least, millions of viewers were watching this broadcast.

Meanwhile—

[Master Lee Hwan’s faith reaches MAX.]

[Faith in you greatly increases from people all over the world.]

“...?”

It was a notification that reached Hyunsoo—who had been sitting still.

Today, too, the believer Master Lee Hwan was working hard.