While still trying to understand the meaning of his new clothes and the system's message, the scenery around Twig changed once again — the pitch darkness faded, revealing the familiar sight of his friends sitting in the cave before him.
Aron and Jenny both looked stunned.
"What are those clothes, Twig?" Jenny asked.
"What kind of magic was that? What did you do?" said Aron, scanning him from head to toe.
Twig, still trying to recover from the sudden change of scenery, blinked in confusion.
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?"
"What do YOU mean 'what are we talking about'? Your clothes!" Jenny exclaimed. "They just changed out of nowhere! What was that? Some kind of magic?"
"You're talking about these clothes? That's it?" Twig asked. "I thought you were talking about the fact that I disappeared. How long was I gone?"
Aron frowned.
"Disappeared? What are you talking about? You were right here the whole time. Only your clothes changed — just like that."
"So I didn't actually leave?" Twig asked, incredulous.
"What do you mean 'leave'? Are you going crazy or something?" Aron replied.
Twig sighed, rubbing his face.
"No, you don't understand... Ah, never mind. These clothes... well, it's because now I'm a swordsman."
Jenny raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, 'a swordsman'?"
"Oh, come on, you don't know what a swordsman is?" Twig said.
"Of course I know what a swordsman is," Jenny replied, crossing her arms. "I'm trying to understand what you mean by 'now I'm a swordsman.' We've been fighting with swords all this time!"
"No, that's not it," Twig explained, shaking his head. "I'm not a swordsman just because I use a sword. It's... my new profession. My class."
Aron tilted his head, frowning.
"Profession? Dude, what are you even talking about?"
"It's kind of complicated," Twig admitted. "But basically, before this, I was just an novice — learning how to handle weapons. Now, I've chosen the path of the swordsman. It's my class, my way forward. And probably you two will end up following the same path soon enough."
Jenny looked curious.
"Me too? Why would I have to be a swordsman?"
"It's not that you have to, Jenny," Twig said. "It's just that when you reach the maximum level of strength a novice can achieve — since you two are still novices — you'll change class and become swordsmen too. Then you'll keep getting stronger as you defeat enemies."
Jenny still looked confused and exchanged a glance with Aron. He shrugged.
"Whatever, man. Forget it. When we get there, we'll understand. You always try to explain things, but we only get it once it happens."
He stood up, stretching his arms.
"Let's go. I'm hungry. I've had enough for today."
At the mention of food, Jenny immediately nodded.
"Yeah, I'm starving too. Let's go."
As they made their way back toward the dungeon entrance, a question hung in everyone's mind — how would they explain Twig's new outfit to Saul?
Jenny was the first to speak.
"Twig, are you really going to walk around dressed like that when we get back to the inn?"
He sighed.
"No, Jenny, of course not. But… nobody has a spare outfit, right?"
Aron and Jenny exchanged glances.
Aron shook his head. "No way, man. I only have these clothes."
Twig frowned, thinking to himself.
"Great… what am I supposed to do now?"
"System, any ideas?" he asked mentally.
[Ding!]
"Host, you may acquire [Adventurer Suit] from Kafra. Some basic materials and equipment are available for your level. However, note that both your current swordsman attire and the adventurer's outfit will draw attention."
"Yeah, I figured," Twig muttered. "Still, the adventurer's gear is a lot less conspicuous than this swordsman armor."
When they reached the entrance, they found the Kafra waiting. Twig started the exchange, selling off useless items, earning some zeny, and purchasing a set of adventurer's clothes.
Once they teleported out, he excused himself, stepped behind a nearby tree, and began changing. With some effort, he managed to remove the full swordsman outfit and put on the simpler adventurer's garb. He stored the old armor and weapons in his inventory so that no one would see them.
When he rejoined his friends, both were still staring at him.
"And what's with that outfit now?" Aron asked. "Our father's definitely gonna ask where you got it. Just don't say you stole it — he won't like that."
"I think I've got an idea," Twig said thoughtfully. "Let's say I found these clothes in the forest, near some bushes, and you two were with me. Then we made a bet, and I lost — so I had to wear them as punishment. If your father asks anything, I'll say he can have them if he wants, and I'll just find other clothes later. How about that?"
Jenny scratched her head, thoughtful.
Aron sighed. "Well... we don't have much of a choice, do we? Guess we'll have to fool Dad again."
As they walked back to the inn, Twig pulled a few apples from his inventory so his friends could eat along the way.
When they arrived, it didn't take long for Saul to question them. Already prepared with a better story, they explained that they had found the clothes lying in a bush and played a quick game of lots to decide who would keep them — Twig won.
Saul looked at them with suspicion.
"You're lying to me, aren't you?"
"No, sir, we're not!" Aron said quickly. "We really found them!"
"You sure you didn't steal them off someone's clothesline?" Saul asked, frowning.
Twig thought to himself, "A clothesline? Out here? There's nothing but trees and road!"
"No, sir, not stolen," he said aloud, trying to stay calm.
Saul crossed his arms.
"Listen, kids, I don't want trouble in my inn. If you took that from someone, it could turn into a real problem."
"No, Father, we swear!" Jenny and Aron said in unison. "We swear by the Seven! It wasn't stolen, no one's coming after us for this!"
Twig quickly added, "If you want, I can leave the outfit for you, sir. It's really good — looks new, even expensive."
Saul frowned, then shook his head.
"I don't want your clothes, boy. Keep them. You said you won them, right? Then good for you. Let's hope they don't bring you bad luck."
He turned around and walked away, leaving the three kids standing in silence.
Twig exhaled in relief.
"Whew… I thought he was going to take it from me. Good. I can keep wearing this one for now."
Knowing their chores, the trio finished their tasks before bed. The sun had already set, and there were no guests that night.
Later, while Aron and Jenny were already asleep, Twig stayed up a little longer. Sitting on the bed, he whispered:
"System, Swordsman Skills... show me the Skills!"
[Ding!]
"Host, simply request the Skills and think about the Swordsman class."
Twig took a deep breath, closing his eyes.
"Alright then... let's do this. Swordsman Skills!"
[Ding!]
"Displaying class abilities: Swordsman."
Before his eyes, a translucent blue window appeared, glowing faintly.
⚔️ [Swordman Skills]
🗡️ [Sword Mastery Skill]
Effect: Increases overall proficiency and damage when wielding swords.
Level 1: Sword skill equivalent to a novice squire.
Level 2: Sword skill equivalent to a not-so-novice squire.
Level 3: Sword skill equivalent to a well-rounded novice squire.
Level 4: Sword skill equivalent to a veteran novice squire.
Level 5: Sword skill equivalent to a beginner Knight.
Level 6: Sword skill equivalent to a well-rounded Knight.
Level 7: Sword skill equivalent to a veteran Knight.
Level 8: Sword skill equivalent to a True Grand Knight.
Level 9: Sword skill equivalent to a Sword Master.
Level 10: Sword skill equivalent to a Sword Grandmaster.
💪 [Increased Recuperative Power]
Effect: Permanently enhances the user's natural physical recovery rate.
Level 1: +10% to physical recovery rate.
Level 2: +20% to physical recovery rate.
Level 3: +40% to physical recovery rate.
Level 4: +60% to physical recovery rate.
Level 5: +100% to physical recovery rate.
Level 6: +125% to physical recovery rate.
Level 7: +150% to physical recovery rate.
Level 8: +175% to physical recovery rate.
Level 9: +200% to physical recovery rate.
Level 10: +250% to physical recovery rate.
⚔️ [Bash Skill]
SP Cost: 10
Effect: Empowers the next sword strike with explosive physical strength.
Level 1: Next attack deals 1.3× normal power.
Level 2: Next attack deals 1.6× normal power.
Level 3: Next attack deals 1.9× normal power.
Level 4: Next attack deals 2.2× normal power.
Level 5: Next attack deals 2.5× normal power.
Level 6: Next attack deals 2.8× normal power.
Level 7: Next attack deals 3.1× normal power.
Level 8: Next attack deals 3.4× normal power.
Level 9: Next attack deals 3.7× normal power.
Level 10: Next attack deals 4.0× normal power.
📣 [Provoke Shout Skill]
SP Cost: 8
Effect: Emits a powerful shout infused with energy, inflicting Taunt on targets. Increases their attack power but lowers their defense.
Level 1: Targets 1 enemy — Attack +5%, Defense -10%.
Level 2: Targets 2 enemies — Attack +5%, Defense -10%.
Level 3: Targets 2 enemies — Attack +15%, Defense -20%.
Level 4: Targets 3 enemies — Attack +15%, Defense -20%.
Level 5: Targets 3 enemies — Attack +25%, Defense -30%.
Level 6: Targets 4 enemies — Attack +25%, Defense -30%.
Level 7: Targets 4 enemies — Attack +35%, Defense -40%.
Level 8: Targets 5 enemies — Attack +35%, Defense -40%.
Level 9: Targets 5 enemies — Attack +45%, Defense -50%.
Level 10: Affects all nearby enemies — Attack +50%, Defense -60%.
🧱 [Endure Skill]
SP Cost: 30
Effect: Temporarily suppresses pain and fatigue, boosting defense and granting immunity to knockbacks and stuns.
Level 1: Defense +10% for 5 seconds.
Level 2: Defense +20% for 10 seconds.
Level 3: Defense +40% for 15 seconds.
Level 4: Defense +60% for 20 seconds.
Level 5: Defense +80% for 25 seconds.
Level 6: Defense +100% for 30 seconds.
Level 7: Defense +125% for 35 seconds.
Level 8: Defense +150% for 40 seconds.
Level 9: Defense +175% for 45 seconds.
Level 10: Defense +200% for 60 seconds.
🔥 [Magnum Break Skill]
Cost: 30 SP + HP consumption
Effect: Creates a fiery explosion around the user, pushing back and burning enemies. Infuses the weapon with the Flaming Blade effect, granting temporary fire damage to attacks.
Level 1: HP consumption 20%.
Level 2: HP consumption 18%.
Level 3: HP consumption 15%.
Level 4: HP consumption 12%.
Level 5: HP consumption 10%.
Level 6: HP consumption 8%.
Level 7: HP consumption 6%.
Level 8: HP consumption 5%.
Level 9: HP consumption 2%.
Level 10: HP consumption 0%.
"Wow, System… these skills are different from how I remember them in the game. Some are similar, but most have changed. Like this one — Sword Mastery — it didn't work like this before. In the game, it only increased fixed damage. How does it work here?"
"Host, your abilities have been adapted to the world of Game of Thrones."
"In the original game, that skill increased your sword damage. However, in this world, a sword cannot deal 'extra damage' beyond its physical limit. Once you behead someone, the damage is absolute. In the game, attacks were repetitive, with little technique involved — simply strike after strike. Here, these skills represent something deeper. The higher your mastery, the more your technique evolves — attack, defense, parry, stance, even precision. At maximum level, you would become a true master — someone who wields the sword instinctively and flawlessly, perhaps the greatest swordsman alive."
"Wow, System… that's really powerful. But this one's a passive skill, right? So Aaron and Jenny can get it too?"
"Correct, Host. Since it's passive, both of your friends can learn and eventually master it as well. However, remember: they can't assign skill points manually like you can. To improve, they must first level up their job and then learn — through observation and practice. Their points will grow naturally as they imitate your actions."
"So, their progress depends on their own fighting style and how much they train," Twig said, nodding slowly.
"I get it... for them it's not just about having the skill. It's about mastering it."