I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game

Flash!
Flash!!

Flashes exploded like lightning, bombarding us in a frenzy. As soon as people realized that Utopia had successfully conquered the Demon World Gate, they had rushed to the scene.

The poisonous miasma that had subtly lingered near the gate vanished the moment the queen was defeated, leaving the Hawaii Hunters Bureau incapable of holding back the crowd.

No, to be more precise, even the Hawaii branch of the Hunters Bureau was desperate to meet Utopia.

This Demon World Gate was unprecedented in both its danger level and structure.

A double gate, with two gates positioned inside.

Faced with what seemed to be a dilemma of choosing one path, the Demon Slayer Squad sent by the Mage Emperor intervened at a crucial moment.

And then, there was the Spider Queen, with her monstrous power and overwhelming presence.

While she seemed to be handled smoothly at first, she suddenly created four more versions of herself, a moment when all hope seemed lost. That’s when Jin Yuha put on the mask and turned the tide.

The viewers who had been watching Utopia’s broadcast all day went on an emotional rollercoaster.

When Jin Yuha’s sword finally severed the Spider Queen’s neck, people trembled with awe and wept tears of joy.

And now, this scene.

The shores were packed with an endless sea of people, eager to hear even a single word from Jin Yuha and Utopia.

“Jin Yuha! Your actions during the Spider Queen’s defeat were incredibly impressive! Please, share a message for viewers around the globe!”
“Was the collaboration with the Demon Slayer Squad pre-planned? How did they manage to join you at such a perfect time?”
“We saw your combat power skyrocket after putting on the mask. Can you please explain the mask’s origin?!”
“With this success, Utopia has undoubtedly become the world’s representative heroes! What are your thoughts as you approach the next Demon World Gate?”
“Experts are discussing the unprecedented nature of a double gate. Could you share your perspective on it?”
“Waaahhh! Utopia! Utopia! Wings of Utopia!!!”

Questions poured out as relentlessly as the camera flashes.

‘Wow. I thought I’d gotten used to situations like this, but this is… And what’s with Lee Min-young crying her eyes out and praising Utopia over there?’

The overwhelming chaos left me feeling dazed.

A quick glance revealed that my party members, my master, and even the senior members of the Demon Slayer Squad were all frozen stiff.

‘We need to get out of here…’

Just as I was about to excuse myself, claiming exhaustion, I heard it—soft, deliberate footsteps splashing through the water.

Turning my head, I saw a woman walking toward us.

Her long black hair cascaded smoothly down her back. She wore a pristine white blouse and a black pleated skirt, exuding an elegant yet composed aura. A brown belt cinched her waist, emphasizing her slender silhouette.

‘…Shin Se-hee?’

Her crimson-tinged eyes, likely a remnant of the insight she had recently used, contrasted with her calm expression.

There was something distinctly different about her—a mysterious presence that momentarily captivated me.

It wasn’t just me; the reporters’ flashes and questions came to an abrupt halt as well.

Shin Se-hee walked to my side and spoke in a serene voice.

“You’ve done well, Jin Yuha.”
“Uh, thanks. But Shin Se-hee, you seem…”

Before I could finish, she smiled playfully and placed a finger on my lips.

“Fufu, as much as I enjoy meeting with you, Jin Yuha, that can wait for later.”

She then turned to face the reporters.

“For now, could you leave this to me? Constantly refusing interviews isn’t ideal, especially not today. A moderate response would be wise.”
“Oh, uh, sure…”

I nodded, still bewildered.

‘What’s going on? She seems… different.’

Beside me, my master muttered, “Hmm, has her rank risen?”

“Her rank? Master, what do you mean?”

“She feels markedly stronger. Her physical and mana connection has deepened, and her presence is far more pronounced. Impressive.”

I turned to look at Shin Se-hee in disbelief.

“…Thank you for your passionate support for Utopia. Without your encouragement, we wouldn’t have…”

Shin Se-hee handled the relentless stream of questions with ease, her expression unchanging and her demeanor poised.

‘If her rank increased… could it be a sudden breakthrough? But Shin Se-hee didn’t even fight directly…’

Though she had participated as a strategist, this was her first direct involvement with a Demon World Gate.

Moreover, she hadn’t defeated any monsters or demons herself, so her experience gain should’ve been slow…

Could she have had some kind of realization?

My memories of the battle were blurry, probably from overextending my focus. Did something happen then?

Tilting my head in confusion, I decided to let it slide.

Good things are good things, after all.

.

.

.

After my master and the senior Slayer Squad members returned to their duties, we spent an entire day addressing media and press requests.

To be honest, most of the heavy lifting was done by Shin Se-hee while I recovered from muscle pain and fatigue.

“Since we’re here anyway, how about delaying our return to the academy for a bit? We could rest and relax for a while.”

Unlike Korea, which was still chilly, Hawaii’s warm weather made it a perfect place for a winter break.

My suggestion was met with cheers from the party members, who clearly needed a break after the stressful gate expedition.

But then, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

“So, who’s Jin Yuha going to hang out with first this time…”
“I have something to discuss with him privately.”
“Yoo-ri, you got to go first last time. Maybe it’s my turn now?”

‘Hmm, looks like everyone is trying to figure out who will spend time with me first. But this time, it’s already decided.’

“Sorry, but this time, I’d like to spend time with Shin Se-hee first.”

Normally, I wasn’t the type to make the first move in such situations.

But I was curious.

The party members looked visibly disappointed, their eyes filled with longing, but they soon nodded in understanding. They, too, realized that Shin Se-hee had changed since this gate.

“Hehe, for Jin Yu-ha to choose me first—this is unexpectedly delightful. Alright then, Jin Yu-ha. Let’s take a break together.”

Shin Se-hee smiled brightly and nodded.

.

.

.

The next day, on a cliff overlooking the sea, Shin Se-hee and I entered an upscale Hawaiian restaurant, “Ocean Prime.”

I had booked the entire restaurant in advance, but the owner, upon seeing us, exclaimed in disbelief. She said she never thought Jin Yuha would actually show up and promised to pour her soul into preparing the meal.

“Wow, the view here is stunning!”

Shin Se-hee marveled as she gazed out the window.

Through the glass, the setting sun painted the sea in hues of red.

“You were the one who booked this place, Shin Se-hee,” I said, chuckling at her reaction.

“Well, yes, but it’s my first time actually coming here. I always thought I’d visit someday, but I never imagined I’d come with Jin Yuha,” she replied, a hint of excitement in her voice.

Just then, a waiter with neatly combed blond hair approached.

“What kind of wine would you like?”

“Hmm, do you have a 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild?”

Shin Se-hee replied as if she were accustomed to such settings.

“An excellent choice. You have impeccable taste,” the waiter remarked.

“Hehe, I’ll leave it to you,” she replied.

Soon, appetizers and wine were brought out.

“Jin Yuha, how did you feel during the battle with the Spider Queen?”

Shin Se-hee asked while gently swirling her wine glass. The ruby-red liquid sparkled in the glass.

“Hmm? You saw everything, didn’t you? You were coordinating the whole time.”

“Yes, I saw it. But I want to know how you felt. What was going through your mind in those moments?”

“Well, I guess… I just thought I had to win. If I fell there, it would all be over. I was just desperate to survive, nothing more.”

Shin Se-hee’s voice took on a slightly hollow tone.

“Desperate to survive… I see. Even when the clones appeared?”

“Well, I used muah so intensely back then that my memory’s a bit hazy… I don’t really remember. By the way, did you see Lee Min-young’s broadcast? What was up with her?”

“Hehe, Lee Min-young’s popularity is off the charts right now. I needed someone to handle broadcasting since I was busy with coordination, so I brought her along. But now…”

Our conversation flowed naturally. As the sunset deepened, the candles in the restaurant grew brighter and more prominent.

‘Hmm, when should I ask about her rank-up?’

Just then, the food arrived—vividly red, steamed blue crab and a perfectly cooked steak, steaming on pristine white plates.

“What do you want to eat?”

“I’ll go with the steak. Why don’t you take the blue crab, Jin Yuha?”

“Sure, let’s eat and then swap dishes later.”

“Sounds good.”

I instinctively pulled the steak plate in front of me.

Shhkk—

I channeled a bit of energy into the knife and lightly touched the meat. The blade effortlessly sliced through the thick steak without scratching the plate. Precision was essential to avoid damaging the plate while cutting the meat.

“I have a question, Jin Yuha.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Shhk shhk.

I was focused on cutting Shin Se-hee’s steak as I answered.

“Is it customary in your world for men to cut women’s steaks for them?”

Her question made me jerk my head up in surprise.

There she was, her expression playful, her face slightly flushed, as she propped her chin on her hand.