Winter gave way to spring. Summer passed, then autumn returned. Before he knew it, seven years had passed since Shishu arrived in this world.
By the time he turned three, he could already grip a wooden sword and swing it with practiced intent.
Through five grueling years, he endured blistering summers, bone-chilling winters, relentless downpours, and even storms of hail.
No matter the adversity, not once did he pause his training.
And now, the moment was near.
"99998 out of 100000."
"99999 out of 100000."
"100000 out of 100000."
He counted the swings silently, and as the final strike landed, the system's voice echoed through his mind.
"Congratulations, host. Proficient-level Swordsmanship has advanced to Master-level Swordsmanship."
"Mission: One Hundred Thousand Sword Swings – complete."
"Task completion detected ahead of schedule. Additional rewards will now be granted."
"A reward pack, including bonus items, has been sent. Would you like to open it?"
Shishu took a deep breath, calming the storm of excitement rising within his chest.
"Open it."
"Opening reward pack... reward pack successfully opened."
The moment the package activated, a cascade of system notifications surged through his brain like a torrent.
"Based on the host's natural aptitude, Master-level Swordsmanship (zero out of one million) has been increased to three hundred thousand out of one million."
"Based on the host's physical condition, Beginner-level Martial Arts (one thousand three hundred twenty out of ten thousand) has been upgraded to Proficient-level Martial Arts (ten thousand out of one hundred thousand)."
"Based on the host's personal development, Basic Cooking (eight hundred ninety-two out of one thousand) has been upgraded to Proficient-level Cooking."
Just as Shishu thought the flood of rewards had ended, the system chimed again.
"Congratulations, host. You have acquired a new skill: Basic Forging (zero out of one thousand)."
"Congratulations, host. You have acquired a new skill: Proficient-level Medicine."
"Congratulations, host. You have acquired a new skill: Proficient-level Economics."
Proficient-level Cooking, Medicine, Economics: zero out of one hundred thousand.
From the system's internal guide, Shishu had already learned that each skill was divided into seven tiers: Basic, Beginner, Proficient, Master, Grandmaster, Transcendent, and Supreme.
Every rank required a specific number of points to level up.
Basic to Beginner required one thousand points. Beginner to Proficient demanded ten thousand.
Except for the final leap from Transcendent to Supreme, which remained shrouded in mystery, all other tiers could be reached through point accumulation.
For all skills beneath Master level, daily repetition and diligent practice could steadily improve them.
But after reaching the Master tier, further advancement required either system rewards or Shishu's own discoveries.
This first major reward—the so-called "first recharge gift"—had practically launched Shishu's progress into the stratosphere.
Not only was his swordsmanship enhanced to a considerable level within the Master realm, but his martial arts and cooking skills had jumped to Proficient level as well.
And the newly granted skills—Forging, Medicine, and Economics—were delightful surprises he hadn't anticipated.
"First-time bonus rewards really do hit differently. That was satisfying."
Just as he believed the windfall had ended, the system's voice returned once more.
"Congratulations, host. You have obtained the skill: Eternal Youth (available in Standard Voice or Deluxe Voice)."
For some reason, a chill crept down Shishu's spine as he heard the term "voice selection."
It felt as though the system had prepared a trap, one that it was now gleefully inviting him to step into.
Remembering his last experience, Shishu made a swift decision.
"Deluxe Voice, please."
"Loading Deluxe Voice... loading complete."
The next instant, a flurry of musical instruments began playing in his head, ranging from dramatic violins to what sounded suspiciously like a drumroll from a circus.
"Are you still troubled by the endless passage of time?"
"Do the signs of aging leave you feeling tired and powerless?"
"With our exclusive Eternal Youth package, your body will remain forever at its peak condition!"
"Unrelenting vigor, unmatched energy, and limitless stamina!"
"No need to pay 998, or even 688. All you need is..."
Before the system could finish its ridiculous pitch, Shishu promptly muted the voice.
The effect was straightforward. With this skill, he would never have to fear aging again.
Looking down at his youthful body, Shishu shrugged.
"Well... better to have it than not."
At the very least, he no longer had to worry about something as anticlimactic as dying of old age.
He flexed his muscles slightly, and a satisfying series of pops echoed through his limbs, like popcorn bursting in a pan.
His comprehension of swordsmanship deepened. His reaction speed had grown sharper and more immediate. Even though the limits of a child's body still held him back physically, Shishu was certain.
He was now stronger than he had ever been in his past life.
Just as he was about to find a quiet spot to test his newfound abilities, the sound of footsteps reached his ears from behind.
Turning around, he saw a familiar figure standing there, dressed in a traditional warrior's robe.
"Master."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Since the day Yoriichi brought him here, he had never taught Shishu any advanced techniques in swordplay or martial arts.
Instead, he provided him with only the most basic physical training.
Because of Yoriichi's preference for solitude, their home was located far from civilization.
Aside from occasional visits to deliver food or supplies, no one ever came here.
With Yoriichi often out hunting demons, the time they spent together was limited.
That was why, over the past seven years, Shishu had poured all his time into refining his swordsmanship, while other aspects of his training developed at a much slower pace.
And yet, Shishu never once blamed Yoriichi.
Raising him was already an immeasurable debt. That alone earned Yoriichi his eternal respect.
"You're different from before."
Yoriichi studied him carefully, then nodded slightly.
"Every time I return, you find a way to surprise me again."
Shishu smiled.
"Really? I've only stuck to what most would find impossible to endure."
Yoriichi gave another nod. He didn't speak further, but a flicker of quiet pride shone in his eyes.
Shishu had spoken fluently by age one, picked up the sword at three, and had trained ceaselessly for five years.
Even without special care or teachings, he had grown stronger on his own.
As his disciple, Shishu could have taken the easy route—relying on the prestige of his master to live a comfortable life.
But instead, he chose a hard path. A path of suffering. A path toward true strength.
He had talent. He had power. He was humble, disciplined, and wise.
Twelve simple words. Yet they captured everything Yoriichi saw in him.
"Keep training. I'll be resting for a while. If there's anything you don't understand, come to me."
Yoriichi had never been skilled at expressing emotion, but even his sparse words revealed a deep, unspoken affection.
Just as he turned to leave, Shishu suddenly called out.
"Please wait!"
Yoriichi's footsteps paused. He turned back, his eyes calm but curious.
He knew Shishu would never call him without a reason. If he spoke up now, it meant something serious.
Drawing a deep breath, Shishu looked straight into his master's eyes.
In that moment of locked gazes, Yoriichi noticed something new.
A spark that hadn't been there before.
A hunger. A longing to grow. To learn.
"Master, I want to learn the Breathing Techniques!"