I did 75% of the game without a sword (First playthrough)

Just need to vent about this quickly sorry if the english is bad.

I started this game a week ago without knowing anything about it.

I went exploring and found a stick, then I completely missed the sword location for 15 hours.

I skipped the pig boss, ringed the bell.

I did the garden knight parry only.

I did all dungeons with my stick.

I did the Librarian using fireballs and recovering mana with his minions.

I did the Siege Engine by slowly chipping his health with my stick.

I did 40 TRIES ON THE BOSS SCAVENGER with parries and baiting her to self-damage.

I got sent to the night world by the Heir.

I did the cathedral challenge room to get the Hero's Laurels, with my stick. (20 tries)

I understood the holy cross.

I opened the west garden holy cross room to find my first sword.

I tought this game was meant to be crazy hard and that the sword I saw everywhere on my manual was to make fun of me. Maybe somebody came first and took my sword, I thought.

When I saw the intended sword on my way to get to the hero's grave, I felt like I betrayed myself. I did that to myself, the sword was just there, I just missed it on my multiple explorations of this zone.

That said, incredible game, managed to get most secrets by myself, did the golden path puzzle by myself (absolutely amazing btw), and I now have all achievements !

Funnily enough, even though I got way past the Gun location with my stick only, I did not find the gun on this playthrough and had to start a new save file for the achievement.