I Became a Raid Boss

Is it because I’ve lived in this world for over ten years, or maybe it’s just because I’ve rolled around so much?

Now, the memories of my past life have become quite blurry.

Well, it’s not like I tried hard to remember them, nor did I write them down to make sure I wouldn’t forget, so it’s not surprising that I’ve forgotten.

In the time I spent trying to remember something like that, I should have learned a means to survive.

Maybe because of that, the memories I have left from my previous life are a mixed bag.

I can’t remember what I thought was important, but I do recall things that I thought were utterly useless.

Like this, for example.

In my previous life, I didn’t particularly like hiking.

Yet for some unknown reason, there were times when I went climbing, and when I finally reached the summit, I would often see a vendor selling cold water or ice cream.

Maybe because I had to carry a heavy cooler up to the peak, the prices were so high that I didn’t buy much, but I still remember the ice cream I bought on a splurge being incredibly delicious.

And suddenly mentioning this now is because seeing Joanie, who comes laden with food, reminded me of those times.

‘No, it’s closer to takeout, isn’t it?’

To think that not only did a delivery service start, but they even deliver to this remote place.

Has Silia’s civilization developed without me even realizing it?

Pfft.

I was, as usual, looking at Joanie as she appeared today, offering food.

Just because I saved her from a measly Cockatrice, she comes hiking up this mountain every day?

With a different dish every day, no less?

‘What devotion…’

At first, it was absurd, but now I’m just letting it be.

After all, I don’t have to cook or clean, so there’s nothing bad about it.

It’s just a little burdensome having her watch me eat so intently.

It feels like she wants something from me, but it’s impossible to know what.

At first, I thought she might have been poisoned, but seeing that my mana doesn’t react, it’s clear she’s not poisoned. Besides, if I were the kind of person who could be taken down by poison, I wouldn’t still be breathing right now…

‘It still tastes good today.’

So, without a second thought, I enjoyed the food Joanie brought.

It wasn’t as fancy as what noble feasts serve, but it was still quite tasty, and at times, I found myself looking forward to it.

After finishing my meal and placing the dish down, Joanie mumbled something in Arkish again today.

“Am I really wrong?”

What’s she saying?

I left her muttering incomprehensible words and started oiling the cloth.

It was way too late to improve its condition, but it would hold up a little longer, at least.

It was my own way of showing respect to the blacksmith who had helped me.

Swish!

“…?”

As I got lost in my thoughts while polishing the sword, I noticed Joanie doing something strange.

Normally, it would be about time for her to leave, yet here she was, hanging around.

‘…What is she doing?’

Is it a dance to wish for abundance? Or is she imitating a dancing balloon figure?

Seeing her twirl the sword while dancing, maybe it holds some kind of shamanistic meaning.

One thing’s for sure: It’s definitely not swordsmanship.

While I pondered, her odd behavior continued.

Swish swish. The sound matches her moving body as she swung the sword, and finally, she came to a stop, standing proudly.

Then she wiped the sweat off her brow with a satisfied expression…

“Just a little break-”

“…That’s not how you do it.”

In the end, I couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

If she did this on purpose, that would be truly a remarkable talent.

Even from the first impression, her level of skill with the sword was incredible.

If she practiced for a month, she wouldn’t reach that level!

“Phew….”

I hadn’t planned to interfere with whatever she was doing.

But seeing such a sight right in front of me made it impossible to ignore.

‘Let’s just think of this as paying off my meal debt…’

After all, wiping my mouth clean after getting such free food is a little nagging on my conscience.

“Listen closely.”

My swordsmanship differs from the formal techniques that knights learn.

But that doesn’t mean there’s a reason I can’t teach her.

Regardless, I also learned with a formal style when I first picked up a sword, and by this level, the mistakes are apparent.

What I’m trying to teach now isn’t just swordsmanship, but something more fundamental.

“Don’t hold it with two hands; hold it with one.”

I removed her left hand that was grasping the sword tightly.

If she intended to apply force like that, there’d be no need to hold it with both hands in the first place. Why not just use a two-handed sword?

“Your grip is wrong, too.”

Some might say it’s merely a grip technique, but whether you’re learning a sword or anything else, the first thing you learn when handling a tool is how to grip it.

Learning how to hold it correctly allows for the most efficient use of the tool.

“Hold it like this.”

This is something that beginners often overlook; to apply strength correctly to the sword, it’s also essential to adjust the weight with your fingers.

I mimicked swinging the sword, shifting my fingers in the process.

I wondered if she would understand.

The odds of her not getting it are higher, but I didn’t need to worry about that.

“This is your stance.”

I lightly tapped her bent legs, causing Joanie to awkwardly spread her legs.

You need to have the correct stance if you want to transition smoothly between offense and defense.

Of course, the stance varies depending on who you’re fighting.

There’s swordsmanship that’s effective against humans and swordsmanship suitable for battling monsters. So, it’s only natural that the foundational stance in swordsmanship also differs.

Still, that position from before was just horrendous.

Since we couldn’t communicate, I corrected her stance by touching her, and it ended up being better than before.

“Lastly, slash.”

Honestly, there was one more thing I wanted to point out.

Her attitude toward handling the sword. I viewed this as the most significant issue.

I’m not saying to treat the sword like a lover or think of it as an alter ego. Sure, it wouldn’t hurt to handle it lovingly.

But if someone else wants to date or kiss the sword, that’s not my concern.

However, being afraid of getting cut by your own sword isn’t quite right, is it?

While it’s completely fine to intimidate the opponent, what will you do if you wield the sword and end up getting scared yourself?

Being cautious and being foolish are two different matters, and this clearly falls into the latter category.

What good would it do to teach her a hundred times if she couldn’t even swing it properly out of fear?

Unfortunately, unlike the things I fixed up until now, this one couldn’t be shown through action, so I decided to let it slide.

‘Even if I explained it verbally, it wouldn’t change immediately.’

Could someone who trembled after hearing just a few words suddenly fight valiantly?

After demonstrating a few motions with the sword, I stepped back a few paces.

“Now you try.”

I only shared the basics, but considering she was someone who lacked even the basics, this should be enough.

Joanie, who had been standing there blankly with her mouth agape, suddenly snapped back to her senses.

“Uh, so….”

As she fumbled to recall what I had taught, she took her stance.

Then, after taking a deep breath, she swung her arms wide.

Swish!

A sound quite different from when she was waving the sword while performing some kind of summoning ritual.

Though she still bore the marks of a complete beginner, this was still progress.

Finding it intriguing, she swung the sword a few more times.

“My swordsmanship skills suddenly jumped! Wow, it can increase like this…!”

This should cover the cost of my meal.

“Yawn….”

Having eaten and then moved my body, I felt a bit sleepy.

I stretched and rubbed my eyes.

Whether I stayed to practice more or went down the mountain, she could manage on her own.

Even if she did something silly, I could spot it, so maybe I should just let her be and catch a nap?

Hmm, it’s a bit of a dilemma…

*

Since learning to wield a sword from the gravekeeper, Joanie’s daily routine, which had been repetitive like a hamster wheel, changed slightly.

She’d wake up early in the morning, turn on a broadcast, and log into Silia.

Going to buy the food well-known for being delicious and heading to where the gravekeeper is was still part of her regular routine, but…

“Hello!”

“Hello, not ‘hi,’ but ‘annyeonghaseyo.’”

“Hello… huh? Yow?”

“Annyeonghaseyo.”

“Annyeonghaseyo!”

Different from before when she would come straight down from the mountain, now she stayed in the mountains to talk to the gravekeeper or practice her sword techniques.

Maybe there was a change in her feelings, as she often engaged in conversations with the gravekeeper.

Though he still seemed disinclined to share his name, he would sometimes point out the mistakes Joanie made like he did now, correcting her as he properly informed her.

“Annyeonghaseyo….”

Joanie repeated the words the gravekeeper had taught her quietly, shedding tears of joy inwardly.

The time and effort she had invested until now had not been in vain…!

She thought of the money spent on food as tuition, so it wasn’t too much wasted…

It wasn’t a waste… okay, maybe just a tiny bit of a waste.

‘…A little, just a little bit of a waste.’

Since it wasn’t just a few coins, it would be a lie to say it wasn’t a waste at all.

Still, seeing her swordsmanship skill quickly progress at a speed she had never seen before eased the burden on her heart.

Anyway, she believed she had accomplished her goal of becoming closer to the gravekeeper.

-Achieved… or?

-Hmm, it’s ambiguous…

“This counts as being close enough! Other people can’t even talk and get chased away, but I can hold a conversation, right?!”

Joanie’s camaraderie with the gravekeeper caught the eye of new players hiking up the mountain.

Players who came not to defeat the gravekeeper but to exchange a few words.

But their attempts repeatedly fell short.

[Why can’t I do it?]

I also studied Granic so I could talk to the gravekeeper, so why does she get to, but I can’t?

I can bring delicious food too!

I can learn the sword from the gravekeeper too! I can flirt with the gravekeeper and even pat her head and think she’s cute. Why, why can’t I?!

[Comments]

-Whoa, why did this guy turn black?

-(I’m scared, Kon)

-What kind of template is this again?

Even if they tried to approach like Joanie, offering food as an offering, for some reason, the gravekeeper wouldn’t even acknowledge them.

Even if they wanted to ask why, there was no way to inquire directly from him, leaving the eager victims congregating to Joanie’s broadcasts.

-Why only you? Why only you? Why only you? Why only you? Why only you?

-How did you start a conversation? I want to know how!

-I died without ever seeing it!

-Could you at least ask for me?

However, even Joanie didn’t know why the gravekeeper was the way he was or why he was so lenient with her.

When she’d asked directly, but no answer would come back, what could she do?

Today, Joanie again turned a blind eye to the flood of questions in the chat window and rummaged through her inventory.

“Today’s prepared food is….”

Drumroll!

Making sounds with her mouth, Joanie grinned.

A somewhat sinister-looking grin.

At last, a bowl containing something bright red popped into Joanie’s hand.

“Behold, Volcano Fried Rice!”

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