Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

"Give me a large portion of grilled meat, extra sauce!"

Klein slammed the table enthusiastically as he placed his order, while Ren quietly opted for a simpler meal.

When the food arrived, Klein wasted no time, immediately biting into the first piece of meat. "Ugh! Now this is life!"

Ren watched him, a small smile playing on his lips.

Amidst all the chaos, the battles, the schemes… simple moments like this brought a rare sense of peace.

"You did pretty well today, Ren," Klein said between bites, his eyes shining with sincerity.

Ren didn't respond right away. He knew he was still far weaker than the others.

But at least today, he had fought on his own, earned his own living without relying on anyone else.

"Thanks," he murmured.

Klein looked at him, then grinned. "What are you thanking me for? You did it yourself. I just helped a little."

Ren remained silent. But in his heart, he had already made a decision.

One day, he would return a katana to Klein… a sword truly worthy of him.

A silent promise, etched deep into his mind.

The next day.

It was another long day ahead, but for Ren, for the first time, he felt something close to hope as he gazed at the steel sword resting near his bed.

'So… it wasn't a dream.'

Sitting up, he grasped the sword's hilt.

As the morning sun bathed the town, melting away the lingering cold mist from the rooftops and cobbled streets…

A new bustling day began.

Ren stepped out of the inn, his new sword hanging at his waist. Today, he would officially test its capabilities.

When he arrived at the meeting point, Klein's group was already gathered. As usual, Dynamm was the first to notice the change.

"Wait a sec…" He blinked, staring at the steel sword on Ren's hip. "Tell me I'm seeing things. Yesterday, you were still using a spear, weren't you? Now you've switched to a sword?"

Ren hesitated slightly before giving a small nod. "Yeah."

Dale crossed his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the weapon. "That's not a cheap blade. Where'd you get it?"

Issin, standing nearby, wore his usual calm expression, but there was a glint of interest in his gaze. "Hmm… if you're switching weapons, that means you've got a plan, don't you?"

Ren didn't reply. His fingers instinctively brushed against the sword hilt as he was still getting used to its weight.

Klein stepped forward, arms crossed, grinning smugly. "Heh! Surprised, aren't you? Ren actually showed some sword skills yesterday."

Dynamm whistled. "Damn. Guess we need to test if that's really true."

Dale nodded. "Alright then. Another hunt today?"

"Of course!" Klein gave a thumbs-up, full of excitement. "Today, I'll see just how strong Ren really is!"

The wind swept across the golden fields, creating soft, flowing waves like an endless sea of silk.

But to Klein's group...or any other player party, this was no picturesque landscape. It was a battlefield riddled with danger.

Dire Wolves and giant snakes lurked in the tall grass, ready to pounce at any moment.

But this time, Ren wasn't standing awkwardly at the back with a spear.

"GRRRR."

As a Dire Wolf lunged forward, instead of retreating like before, Ren swiftly sidestepped, dodging its attack with ease.

The sword in his hand left its sheath with a crisp, decisive sound.

A flash of cold steel.

Slice!

The blade cut through the Dire Wolf's thick fur, leaving a deep wound along its body.

The wolf howled in pain, stepping back, its golden eyes flashing with caution.

But Ren didn't give it a chance to counterattack.

He stepped forward, his sword tracing a smooth arc through the air before striking precisely at the weak point between its neck and shoulder.

A critical hit!

The Dire Wolf's HP dropped to zero in just two strikes.

The group behind him stood frozen as the beast's body flickered red before shattering into fragments of data.

Dynamm's jaw dropped. "Hold on… what the hell just happened?"

Dale narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "It's not the sword… it's how he's using it."

Issin nodded in agreement. "From his movements to his strikes… everything is different."

Klein burst into laughter, clapping Ren hard on the shoulder. "Told you! This kid's got real talent with a sword!"

Ren could feel their astonished gazes on him, but he didn't deny it.

Today, for the first time, he felt like he truly belonged with this weapon.

A new hunt had begun.

Ren tightened his grip around the sword hilt, the sensation growing more familiar with every passing second.

After that first slash, his body moved instinctively, without the overthinking that plagued him when wielding a spear.

A giant snake slithered forward, its golden eyes gleaming through the thick grass. It lunged at terrifying speed, its sharp fangs ready to sink into Ren's flesh.

Whoosh!

Ren stepped back, his sword spinning in a precise motion, executing a perfect slash.

The snake's head was severed in a single stroke.

He stood still for a moment, his breathing steady, his sharp eyes locked onto the dissolving data fragments.

Ding!

A notification appeared before him:

Weapon Mastery: Sword Art

Beginner (18/100)

Just after a few battles, his weapon proficiency had skyrocketed.

There was no denying it anymore, he was meant to use a sword.

"Shit…" Dynamm swallowed hard, staring at Ren as if he had transformed into a completely different person. "Is this kid really a newbie?"

Dale was deep in thought, his gaze analyzing every one of Ren's movements. "It's not just that he knows how to use a sword. His combat instincts are incredibly sharp."

Issin nodded, his usually impassive voice carrying a rare hint of emotion. "This isn't something you can learn overnight."

Klein laughed heartily, giving Ren another solid pat on the back. "So? How's it feel using a sword?"

Ren remained quiet for a moment before giving a small nod.

"Yeah… it's completely different from a spear."

He didn't say much, but there was a newfound confidence in his stance.

Klein looked at Ren's faint smile before shifting his gaze to the sword in the boy's hand. He said nothing, but deep inside, he felt satisfied. 

After a long day of battle, the group returned to town as the sky darkened. 

Ren walked along the dirt path leading into the Starting Town, having reached level 4 today. 

His exp bar was nearly half full. Ren tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword. 

'I'm not a burden to anyone anymore.' 

Thanks to Ren's exceptional performance today, the hunt had gone incredibly smoothly. The group exceeded their quota, and all other members had reached level 6. 

Besides that… Ren also noticed that his coin pouch felt a little heavier after stopping by the market, completing a few quests, and selling off the snake scales and wolf fangs he had collected. 

615 cor… That was the amount of money he had right now. 

Enough to pay Klein back for the armor. 

But he planned to save up a little longer… 

As he passed by the blacksmith's shop, Ren walked straight in, partly to check on his new sword, and partly… to check the price of the katanas in the store. 

Inside, the scent of hot metal and the smoky heat from the forge still lingered in the thick air of a long day's work. 

Weapons were displayed on the shelves, reflecting the dim light of the oil lamps, gleaming yet exuding the coldness of steel untouched by blood. 

Ren stood by the counter, his gaze unconsciously drawn to a row of neatly hung katanas. 

The curved blades shimmered under the light, exuding a ruthless yet captivating beauty. 

Ren tightened his grip on the sword at his hip. 

Fragments of yesterday's memories pieced together in his mind, Klein's expression as he handed him the sword, the way he always avoided the topic when someone asked about his savings, the brief pause before he laughed and teased him about his new weapon. 

Ren didn't ask, but he was already almost certain of the answer. 

'This sword… wasn't meant for me.' 

No one said it, but the truth was painfully obvious. 

Ren lowered his head in silence, his fingers unconsciously tracing the spine of the blade. A feeling both warm and heavy settled in his chest. 

One day, when he had enough money… he would repay Klein with a katana worthy of him. 

Ren glanced at the price board, but the moment he saw the number engraved beneath each katana, his entire body froze. 

5,000 cor. 

For a second, he could almost hear his brain shutting down. 

'Did I read that wrong…?' 

Ren blinked and looked again. But the number remained, clear and merciless. 

His throat went dry. 

Since entering this world, the largest sum of money he had ever held was barely a few hundred cor. 

Even after constantly hunting monsters, most of the earnings were split among the group or rather, following the old rule: whoever picked it up, kept it. 

But even then, the loot they managed to sell wasn't worth much. 

5,000 cor… It was an unimaginable amount for him right now. 

Ren sighed and scratched his head. He knew these swords were worth every coin, from their craftsmanship and sharpness to their durability. 

But that only made the distance between him and his goal seem even greater. 

Stepping out of the blacksmith's shop, Ren still felt a little dizzy. He looked up at the vast blue sky overhead, unable to stop himself from wondering: 

'How the hell am I supposed to earn that much…?' 

The wind blew past, carrying the early morning chill. 

Ren clenched his fists in silence. 

Even so, some part of him refused to give up. 

'It's fine… No matter how long it takes, I'll earn it.' 

He looked ahead, determination flickering in his eyes. 

Today, that amount might still be an impossible dream. 

But one day, he would place a truly worthy katana into Klein's hands.