The true nature of Sylvania's Failed Swordmaster only revealed itself the more you played it.
The game was filled with small details that carried hidden intent and meaning. Not to mention, the story contained countless hidden episodes where you could learn more about characters—even those who had already left the stage.
The developers had put immense effort into fleshing out the students, faculty, and even side characters, creating an incredibly immersive experience. It made players want to jump straight into the next episode the moment they finished a chapter.
Which was why it felt so unfair that I became a character whose role ended the moment the story began—only to later be reduced to a beggar.
But that wasn't my point.
My point was that, given how massive the story was, it was only natural that not all characters could receive the same level of importance.
Some were meant to stand at the center, while others existed quietly in the background.
Still… there was one case where that felt wrong.
'Inquirer Glast' was the boss of Act 2.'The Awakened Lucy Maeril' ruled Act 3.And Act 4's boss was 'Krepin Rothstaylor,' the head of the house.
Each of them had depth—clear motives, personal histories, and unique circumstances that put them in direct opposition to the protagonist, Taylor Mclore.
Defeating them gave players a strange sense of appreciation—for their ideals, their aesthetics, and the overwhelming power they wielded.
But that feeling didn't exist for the Act 1 boss.
Janica Faylover.
She was the only boss who lacked a clear identity.
She fell victim to the whispers of the high-ranking dark spirit Velosfer, releasing all the spirits she had contracted through the 'Berserk' effect. The Student Center atop Nail Hall was consumed by chaos, while Janica stood still, watching as darkness swallowed everything.
It was impactful, no doubt.
The contrast between that scene and her usual energetic self left a strong impression on players.
But that was all.
The Glaskan Subjugation Expedition marked the end of Act 1—the moment Taylor Mclore realized the essence of the sword and succeeded in cutting down a high-ranking spirit for the first time.
It was the true beginning of the game's grand narrative.
I even had to look up an online guide to clear that chapter. The difficulty spike was no joke. I vaguely remembered the guide writer's nickname—Peppero, maybe? It felt like a distant memory now.
Anyway, the real issue was this:
Janica's role was overshadowed by Taylor's growth. Her story was brushed aside, leaving most of her background unknown.
All we were told was that she succumbed to Velosfer's whispers and had her heart consumed by darkness.
It was vague. Too vague.
And I couldn't believe the game would waste a character like that.
They specifically chose her as the final boss of Act 1. There had to be a reason—some hidden meaning.
But even after finishing the game, nothing was revealed.
As a devoted fan, I analyzed that plot point countless times, searching for clues.
Maybe parts of her story were cut during development.Maybe something was removed during quality control.
In the end, it only left me unsatisfied.
Oh well.
There was nothing I could do about it now.
"Just as I thought… I need to build a cabin."
I muttered with determination.
My Vitality had increased. I could now gather materials faster using magic. Food was no longer an immediate concern.
Now, I needed to establish a proper long-term base.
I couldn't even pretend my current wooden shelter was durable. It barely held together and required constant maintenance.
Without proper walls or a roof, it had terrible insulation. Sure, it was still spring—but I had to survive three winters in this forest.
This shelter wouldn't last that long.
And more importantly—
Building a cabin would massively improve my production skills.
It was the perfect opportunity to raise my Daily Life Production Skills, especially now that their growth had slowed. My Handicraft proficiency had been stuck at level 10 for a while, and my Design proficiency was increasing at a painfully slow rate.
The goal was simple:
Take advantage of Ed Rothstaylor's natural talent in production.
Just like in real life—or any game—if you had a talent, you used it.
"Hm… now that I think about it, I heard he already defeated the mid-stage boss for Act 1."
So far, there didn't seem to be any major deviations from the original storyline.
Lucy Maeril had beaten Taylor Mclore pretty badly during the Joint Combat Practice in the Training Hall, but it didn't seem to have changed anything significant. He still defeated the mid-stage boss, 'Nosy Alvira' from the Alchemy Department.
Apparently, she passed out after taking a direct hit from him.
I also heard that Princess Pheonia had been frequently visiting the student council. There were even discussions among the faculty about her becoming the next student council president.
Then there was the episode where Lortelle Kecheln reconciled with Janica Faylover. Considering that happened a while ago, everything seemed to be progressing normally on that front as well.
There was no reason for me to worry.
Everything was unfolding according to the timeline I remembered.
And besides—
Why was I worrying about things I couldn't control?
What I needed to do was focus on myself—develop my skills and build a stable life.
"I need to keep myself busy…"
There was still some time before Act 1 ended.
I also had to deal with my tuition problem. Thankfully, my grades were decent, so I might get some unexpectedly good results.
With that in mind, I began cleaning the fish I had caught from my stream net.
It was a large rockfish—probably the biggest one I'd caught so far.
This would be my first time cooking something like this, so I thought carefully about how to prepare it.
In the end, the simplest option seemed best.
Salt and grill.
Yeah… that should taste great.
And using the herbs I had gathered—thanks to Belle Maya's advice from Ophilis Hall—I could make some fragrant herbal tea to drink while studying later.
Everything felt… peaceful.
Janica Faylover would take over the Student Center the evening after tomorrow.
The final phase of Act 1 had arrived a month earlier than expected.
It was a catastrophic and unexpected change.
Act 1-10: Final Chapter
Boss: Elementalist Janica (The Elemental Summoner)
This boss has a total of five phases. It takes quite a while, so make sure you check your consumables and equipment durability before starting the battle.
■ Phase 1: Gathering Your Subjugation Force Achievement Condition
Gather the following characters at the Student Square:
'The Princess of Benevolence Pheonia' 'The Spear from Nature Ziggs' 'The Golden Daughter Lortelle Kecheln' 'Companion Ayla' 'Nosy Alvira Aniston' 'Gloomy Klebias Nortondale' Additional Achievement 'Romantic Adele' 'Lazy Lucy Maeril' 'Senior Maid Belle Maya' Appearing Enemies Spirit's Stigma ×120 Protected Young Fluid Spirits ×60 Elemental Traces ×60 Low-ranking Fire Spirit Gouda ×1 Low-ranking Ice Spirit Elkyra ×1 Low-ranking Wind Spirit Norton ×1 Low-ranking Earth Spirit Pique ×1 Low-ranking Light Spirit Rakie ×1
※ Approaching the outskirts of the academic district sealed by magic will result in instant death. Do not go near the outskirts.
※ Recommended route:Olin Square → Obel Hall → Taneth Magic Supplies Storage → Western Archery Center → Training Hall → Student Square
※ You do not need to defeat every spirit. Prioritize Gouda (Fire) and Rakie (Light) to make movement easier.
※ Additional characters do not participate in combat but provide minor Likeability boosts. 'Romantic Adele' gives a useful buff.
※ For 100% completion:
Adele: behind Western Archery Center (playing the ukulele) Lucy: on the roof of Obel Hall Belle: near a statue in Olin Square
※ Improve Spirit Understanding and Resonance here if you plan to invest in related skills.
■ Phase 2: Operation – Reclaim the Student Center Objective
Locate Elementalist Janica
Appearing Enemies Spirit's Stigma ×30 Elemental Traces ×30 Mid-ranking Wind Spirit Pesci ×1 Mid-ranking Fire Spirit Olgoas ×1 Spiritual Beast Altair ×1
※ Janica is in Nail Hall, but do NOT enter it first.
Choosing that option (suggested by Lortelle Kecheln) results in a bad ending.
※ Mid-ranking spirits are immune to same-element attacks.
※ Enter:
Hayes Hall → Wind Spirit Pesci Glock Hall → Fire Spirit Olgoas
※ Use the Straight Slash trick on Altair near Nail Hall.
■ Phase 3: Battle at Training Hall Corridor Objective
Reach the Training Hall where Elementalist Janica is waiting
Appearing Enemy High-ranking Fire Spirit Takan ×1
※ Path changes depending on earlier decisions.
※ Strategy:
Attack Takan's tail using Elemental Slash After severing it, target the head
※ Avoid:
Ignite Tail Whip
(Both apply stacking burn and bleed effects.)
※ Falling pillars during cutscenes will instantly kill you.
■ Phase 4: Final Battle Objective
Stop the summoning of the high-ranking dark spirit Glaskan
Appearing Enemies High-ranking Dark Spirit Glaskan ×1 Elementalist Janica ×1
※ This is the true final phase.
※ Janica is protected by Dark Curtain, which reflects damage.
➡ Attack Velosfer first to disable the barrier temporarily.
※ Protect Princess Pheonia at all costs. Her death triggers a bad ending.
※ 'Romantic Adele' grants immunity to Velosfer's Blood Curse (partially).
■ Phase 5: Glaskan Subjugation Objective
Defeat Glaskan's Right Hand
Appearing Enemy Highest-ranking Dark Spirit Glaskan's Right Hand ×1
※ This phase is an event cutscene.
※ Reward:
Swordmaster's Skill unlocked → provides strong stat bonuses.
■ Other Notes
※ Defeat Janica before dawn, or:
➡ Bad Ending: Intact Glaskan is summoned
Many beginners quit here due to difficulty. Review everything carefully before attempting the stage.
Good luck.
* * *
I heard an owl's cry echo through the dark forest.
Cicadas buzzed in rhythm, accompanied by the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.
Even the forest had its own charm at night.
Looking up at the sky, filled with countless stars like grains of sand, a thought crossed my mind.
From the perspective of such a vast universe, my struggles must seem trivial.
A pointless thought.
But then something else struck me.
There was no guarantee that things would follow the original timeline.
That obvious realization made me smile.
I had already adapted to this life—but I couldn't afford to lose my sense of urgency.
I tossed the poker into the campfire.
It was time to end the day.
Stretching lightly, I lay down in my shelter.
Hopefully, tomorrow would be another peaceful day.