Curiosity

"Does he know where to look for Pagma's Swordsmanship in advance?"

At Satisfy operations room, Yoon Nahee asked, her voice tinged with disbelief as she watched the live feed of Gilgamesh's journey. On the screen, the young man stood in the hidden cave behind Loran Waterfall, studying the murals of Pagma's sword dance with an intensity that suggested he knew exactly what he was looking for.

The operations room was abuzz with activity, the team members huddled around the monitors as they analyzed Gilgamesh's every move. The discovery of Pagma's Swordsmanship was no small feat—it was one of the most coveted class skills in Satisfy, and acquiring it required a series of linked quests, high affinity with specific NPCs, and a fair amount of luck. Yet here was Gilgamesh, seemingly stumbling upon it with ease.

"Maybe it's because of luck?" one of the operations members suggested, his tone hesitant. "I mean, he was in Bairan Village, and Kaesan Canyon is the closest significant location to it so he went there first. Maybe he just... got lucky?"

Yoon Nahee frowned, her arms crossed as she stared at the screen. "Luck? You think he just happened to find the hidden cave behind the waterfall, happened to know about the murals, and happened to acquire Pagma's Swordsmanship without any prior hints or quests?"

They are professional, they don't talk about luck. But they have to consider it because of Gilgamesh. Wherever he goes, he always stumbles upon treasure, or something that benefits his growth. 

The room fell silent for a moment. It was true—the hidden piece behind the waterfall was one of the ways to acquire Pagma's Swordsmanship, but it was supposed to be nearly impossible to find without the right clues. Players were meant to build relationships with specific NPCs, complete intricate quests, and piece together the lore of Pagma's legacy before even getting a hint about the murals. Yet Gilgamesh had bypassed all of that as if he had a roadmap to the skill.

"Maybe he's just... really good at piecing things together?" another team member offered, though even she sounded uncertain. "He's Pagma's Successor, after all. Maybe he's more attuned to Pagma's legacy than we anticipated."

Yoon Nahee sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. It was like he was always one step ahead and all of this is part of his plan. It's... uncanny."

The room erupted into murmurs as the team members began debating theories. Some argued that Gilgamesh was simply a prodigy, a player with an innate understanding of the game's mechanics and lore. Others speculated that he might have insider knowledge, though no one could figure out how he would have obtained it. And then there were those who insisted it was all just a series of coincidences—a perfect storm of luck and timing.

"Whatever it is," Yoon Nahee said, her voice cutting through the chatter, "we need to keep a close eye on him. If he's this good—or this lucky...."

As the team returned to their monitors, watching Gilgamesh with interest, the legend of Gilgamesh continued to grow—not just among the players, but within the operations team itself. They couldn't help but be astonished by his seemingly impossible feats, and the more they watched, the more they began to wonder: was Gilgamesh truly just lucky, or was there something more to his success?

***

"Kaelaaaaa!!"

The door to Gilgamesh's house smithy burst open with a loud bang, startling Kaela as she worked on a piece of metal. She looked up, her hammer poised mid-strike, to see Gilgamesh standing in the doorway, his chest puffed out and a triumphant grin plastered across his face.

"What?" she asked, setting her hammer down on the anvil. Her tone was calm, but her sharp eyes narrowed slightly, curious about what had him so excited.

"Guess who just came back and succeeded on the mission!" Gilgamesh declared, his nose high in the air and his arms folded across his chest.

Kaela stared at him for a moment, her mind racing through the possibilities. It didn't take long for her to connect the dots. Her eyes widened slightly, and she tilted her head. "Did you... learn Pagma's Swordsmanship?"

"Huhu, of course!" Gilgamesh replied, his grin widening as he unfolded his arms and placed his hands on his hips.

Kaela's usually stoic expression softened, and a rare spark of excitement lit up her eyes. "oh!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with genuine admiration. Part of her couldn't believe it—after all, it had only been a few days since they arrived in Bairan. She had expected it to take weeks, maybe even months, for Gilgamesh to achieve something so monumental. But another part of her wasn't surprised at all. 'As expected of him,' she thought, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Can you show me?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. She had heard legends of Pagma's Swordsmanship, but seeing it in person was an entirely different matter.

"Okay," Gilgamesh said, nodding enthusiastically. "It's a bit narrow in here, so let's go to the yard."

___

The two of them stepped outside into the spacious yard behind the house. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the grassy field. Gilgamesh walked to the center of the yard, his Black Greatsword resting on his shoulder. The weapon, dark and imposing, seemed to hum with latent energy, as if it, too, was eager to showcase its power.

Kaela stood a few paces away, her arms crossed as she watched intently. Her sharp eyes didn't miss a single detail, from the way Gilgamesh adjusted his grip on the sword to the subtle shift in his stance as he prepared to begin.

"Pagma's Swordsmanship, Wave!" He moved with a fluid grace that belied the weight of the greatsword. The blade cut through the air, scattering waves of blue light in every direction. The yard was bathed in a mesmerizing glow, the light dancing and flickering like water reflecting the sun. Kaela was impressed by the spectacular sight.

Before the light had even fully dissipated, Gilgamesh shifted his stance, his body flowing seamlessly into the next technique.

"Pagma's Swordsmanship, Link!"

The greatsword became a blur, striking the air with blinding speed. The nearby tree, sturdy and old, shuddered as invisible slashes tore through its bark. In less than a second, it had been cut thirty times, its trunk reduced to splinters. The sound of wood cracking echoed through the yard, followed by the soft thud of debris hitting the ground.

Kaela's eyes widened further. The precision, the speed, the raw power—it was overwhelming. She clutched her arms tighter, her mind racing as she tried to process what she had just witnessed.

Gilgamesh, slightly winded, reached into his inventory and pulled out a mana potion. He uncorked it with a practiced motion and drank it in one go, the cool liquid restoring his depleted energy. He took a moment to steady himself, then turned his attention to the large boulder that sat at the edge of the yard. It was a remnant from when they had first moved in, too heavy to move and too stubborn to break. Until now.

"Pagma's Swordsmanship, Kill!"

The greatsword came down with a force that seemed to shake the very ground. A shockwave erupted from the point of impact, the air itself rippling as the skill's power was unleashed. The boulder, solid and unyielding, exploded into fragments, the pieces scattering across the yard like shrapnel. Dust and debris filled the air, settling slowly as the echoes of the explosion faded.

For a moment, there was silence. Then Kaela clapped her hands together, her usual reserved demeanor shattered by sheer excitement. "Amazing! It's so beautiful and intense!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine admiration. She had always been fascinated by the craftsmanship of weapons and armor, but this—this was something else entirely. The way Gilgamesh moved, the way the sword seemed to become an extension of his body, the way the skills blended power and elegance—it was like watching a master painter create a masterpiece.

Gilgamesh lowered his sword, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thanks," he said, his voice tinged with pride.

Kaela nodded, her mind already racing with ideas. Without a word, she sat down on the grass and pulled out a notebook from god knows where. Her pencil moved swiftly across the page, sketching designs and jotting down notes. Inspired by what she had just seen, she began to conceptualize new items—weapons, armor, perhaps even tools—that could capture the essence of Pagma's Swordsmanship. The way the light had danced, the way the air had rippled, the way the power had been concentrated and unleashed—it all sparked her creativity.

Gilgamesh watched her for a moment, amused by her sudden burst of inspiration. He knew better than to interrupt her when she was in the zone. Instead, he sat down nearby, leaning against the fence as he caught his breath. The yard was a mess, but he didn't mind. It was a small price to pay for progress.

As Kaela continued to sketch, her mind wandered. What if she could create a weapon that mimicked the flow of Pagma's Swordsmanship? Or armor that enhanced the user's movements, allowing them to perform skills with even greater precision? The possibilities were endless.

Before they noticed it, the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the yard. Gilgamesh and Kaela sat in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. For Gilgamesh, it was a moment of satisfaction, knowing that his hard work was paying off. For Kaela, it was the beginning of a new creative journey, one that would push her skills to new heights.

And in that quiet yard, under the fading light of the day, the seeds of something extraordinary were planted.

***

While Gilgamesh spent his days in bliss, embarking on thrilling adventures and honing his newfound skills, Yura was far away, immersed in a grueling routine of training and battle. Her days were no longer filled with the casual confidence of someone who had once dominated the rankings. Instead, they were marked by a relentless drive to improve, to push herself beyond her limits. The memory of her defeat at Gilgamesh's hands burned brightly in her mind, a constant reminder of her shortcomings.

The dense forest was alive with the sounds of battle. Yura moved with precision, her magic flashing like dark streaks across the plain at her opponent—a towering Twin-headed Ogre.

[You have dealt 13,876 to the target.]

The creature's health bar plummeted, and with one final, decisive strike, it collapsed to the ground, its massive body shaking the earth as it fell.

[You have defeated Twin-headed Orge.]

[412,000 experience has been acquired.]

[Your level has risen.]

Yura stood over the fallen beast, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. Sweat dripped from her brow, and her hands trembled slightly from the exertion, but her eyes burned with determination. She opened her status window, scanning the numbers with a critical eye.

Since the day she was defeated by Gilgamesh, Yura had thrown herself into an unrelenting cycle of hunting and training. She had always been strong, always been at the top of the rankings, but that defeat had shattered her complacency. It had shown her just how narrow her focus had been. She had been so fixated on the names at the top of the unified rankings, so confident in her own abilities, that she had failed to see the bigger picture.

'Satisfy is vast,' she thought as she moved through the forest, her senses alert for the next threat. 'There are countless players out there, each with their own strengths and secrets. Gilgamesh proved that. He wasn't on the rankings, but he was strong—stronger than I expected. I won't make the same mistake again.'

"Just wait, Gilgamesh," she whispered, her beautiful voice barely audible. "Next time, I won't lose."

Their reunion will happen faster than expected.