“Follow me out, I will make you pay for your crimes!”
At the moment of Lee So Geun’s rage-filled shout.
Ring.
You must take care of your own problems. There is only one way to avoid Mount Heng Sword Sect’s anger and protect the little honor you have left.
Type: Sudden Quest
Rank: First-Rate
Restrictions: Jin Taekyung
Mission: Win the 1:1 battle (Incomplete)
Reward: Title, [Winner]
Large Amount of Experience
50 Fame
Failure: Title, [Sex Maniac]
Injuries
Accept / Reject
“…”
No, from someone who hasn’t dated since high school, do I really have to hear the words sex maniac?
In a normal day, I would do a raid in half a day, go home to the goshiwon and knock out. But now I was expected to clean up shit that wasn’t even mine.
‘At least give me a good quest.’
How can Lee So Geun, who was at level 30, be considered my opponent.
‘This crazy, the level difference is twice as much…’
This was a fight that couldn’t happen.
I rejected the quest. No, I was about to reject it. But Lee So Geun was quicker than me.
“If you run away… the Jin Sect will have to pay a price.”
Ring.
… I knew this would happen. I wondered why they were giving me a choice.
As I sighed deeply, the conference room was slowly building up like a cauldron on fire.
“How rude!”
“There’s nothing a young man1 can’t say with the power of his family!”
“Even though the Third Master acted in a way even a dog wouldn’t do, how can you be such a disgrace to the family!”
“…”
Everything is good but who was that last person.
As the atmosphere was becoming more violent, Jin Huikyung intervened.
“Everyone calm down. Enough of this small talk. Let’s just think of this incident as a slip of the tongue and forget about it.”
As the Clan Leader, sitting at the head of the table, warned everyone, his force wasn’t a joke. I should say he seemed like the next Patriarch of a well-established family.
Maybe because Lee So Geun was pressed down by his force, he replied in a distinctively lower voice.
“I understand. But…”
“But?”
“It’s not a slip of the tongue. Do you think I came here with my own qualifications?”
At those words, people’s expressions and Jin Huikyung’s expressions became stiff.
Right. Lee So Geun was just a messenger (使者) sent from Mount Heng Sword Sect.
“My father, no as the leader he gave me permission to act with authority.”
“… So what is it that you want?”
“Like I have already said, I would like to fight one-on-one with the Third Master.”
No. That I don’t want.
Looking at the situation happening around me, it looked like Mount Heng Sword Sect was determined to start a fight.
Through this situation I could gain the most important things, and in the event of failure, it looks like I would get destroyed… to be blatantly attacked like this was chilling.
“I’m sure there’s another way. Just tell me what you want.”
“I would like you to remove your control over Taiyuan. If it’s this much, I will forget you blocked my sister’s path to marriage.”
The conference room scarily erupted with shouts as he finished speaking.
In sparse words, he was basically saying excluding your undergarments, I will take everything. It was obvious what the Clan Leader, Jin Huikyung, would choose.
“Impossible.”
“Then the one-on-one…”
“I will also reject that.”
It was the dongsaeng-lover Jin Huikyung. There was no way he would push me into such a dangerous situation.
At Jin Huikyung’s answer, Lee So Geun smiled triumphly.
“Then there’s only one way.”
War.
I wasn’t the only person who thought of that word. At the weight of the word ‘war’, the conference room was silent.
In the midst of that silence, I was looking in the air.
If the quest is rejected, [Mount Heng Sword Sect] will declare war on the [Jin Sect]. Also, [Jin Taekyung] will be pointed to as the enemy.
I read the system’s message and looked at the ground. I looked at the ceiling. And read the message again.
‘Fuck…’
There wasn’t a choice. There was only one way.
“I will do it.”
Everyone’s reaction was the same. Shaking eyes, open mouths. Lee So Geun, who suggested the match, Jin Huikyung who rejected the match. Everyone in the conference room thought they heard wrong.
“Wai-wait. Taekyung?”
Before Jin Huikyung could dissuade me, Lee So Geun spoke.
“Come out. Let’s fight.”
Lee So Geun’s lips lifted cruelly.
—
The winter air was cold. As I stared up at the cloudy sky, I took a deep breath.
“Huuu.”
The place I was face-to-face with Lee So Geun was the Jin Sect’s courtyard.2 Sitting far away were about fifty people watching us.
The people in Jin Sect were wondering if I ate something wrong, and if popcorn existed, the people from Mount Heng Sword Sect would be eating it.
Ah. And there was also a person who was sending me a message via a sound technique.
— Youngest. Take a deep breath. Huu. Hah. Huu. Hah…
What was he was saying. This yangban.
With a solemn face and like a dog who wanted to poop, he was moving his butt up and down. If he wasn’t pressing down on Hui Peng’s shoulders, it looked like he would break in.
— Don’t worry. If it seems too dangerous, your oldest hyung will. Like this. Huh? If he lays one hand one our youngest, I’ll-kwak! Shi! Huh? You know? Don’t get too excited, and slowly, calmly. You can do it. Jin Taekyung!
… I got it, so calm down.
In the conference room, his force seemed like it was overflowing but just as expected, Jin Huikyung didn’t let me down.
‘Still it’s better than not having anything.’
Before I got destroyed, at least I had someone to save me.
Including Jin Huikyung and Hui Peng, my life insurance equaled two. Great.
With a lighter heart, I looked at Lee So Geun and changed my mind.
‘What’s great. Fuck.’
I knew why the people from Mount Heng Sword Sect looked so confident.
Out of the blue, he took off his top, and upon seeing his muscles, I couldn’t help but gulp…
The blood-red level window, my hands and feet became numb.
A level difference of 16. It was overwhelming. Knowing that, like the system was letting me know, a window popped up.
‘Before someone can even save me, it looks like I’ll die at least 3 times.
As if Lee So Geun could sense my mood, he smiled cruelly at me.
“Do you understand your situation now? You can’t breath and your hands and feat are numb right?”
Now he was paying attention to me. But fighting was half spirit.
With a solemn expression, I answered.
“Nonsense.”
“Your voice is shaking. Of course you would feel fear. Good, if you answer my question sincerely, I will go easy on you.”
… Truthfully, I was almost shaken.
“Take away your nonsense.”
“Oh, is it because you’re the son of a noble?”
Lee So Geun laughed as if it was ridiculous.
“Let me ask you just one thing. With what confidence did you accept this fight? Your Mugong is insignificant and there are rumors of you being known as a coward. I would like to hear your reason.”
”My reason?”
No matter how much I thought, I could only think of one way. If war happened, I would become Mount Heng Sword Sect’s enemy.
Hunting? Leveling up? I couldn’t even dream of it. The moment I stepped outside of the Jin Sect’s borders, assassins would come after me.
‘If I have at least my life, I’ll have another opportunity.’
I had magic. Recovery magic that was called leveling up.
I felt calmer.
“I thought it’s doable if it’s against you.”
“Hah! You fool!”
I lightly provoked him but as expected, he wasn’t affected by it. Maybe it was the confidence in his own abilities, but he looked laid back.
“Is it my turn to ask a question?”
“I won’t guarantee that I’ll answer… as a willful person, I’ll at least listen.”
“This incident. You were the ones to fabricate the events right?”
At the unexpected question, Lee So Geun’s face became awkwardly stiff.
The expression on his face was answer enough for me.
‘I’m right.’
I was just guessing but I was right. No wonder I could smell something foul.
”Aigoo, you cheap bastards. You should have just declared war.”
“… I’ll rip your mouth off.”
Lee So Geun was holding up a greatsword and was muttering something spookily under his breath.
I also took out my [Sharp Spear] and straightened it.
‘Right, let’s do this.’
I knew Mugong now too. I also had experience from the past 7 years.
F rank hunter and Second-Rate Murim-in. Let me show him the skills of someone who has two jobs!
“Kkuuaaah!”
As expected, Lee So Geun was agile. In seconds, he was in front of me holding up his greatsword and as he struck it down, I blocked it with the spear.
Clang.
“Kuk.”
I was worried we would stay like that but my sharp spear stayed firm. But because of the strength of the grwatsword, my two feet started to dig into the ground.
“Die, you bug like human!”
“Hup!”
Because he was closer, his force felt stronger. Was a monster’s Fear like this.
“Beg for mercy by kneeling in front of me! Then I will end it with one of your arms intact!”
— Youngest!
Beyond Lee So Geun’s shoulders, I could see Jin Huikyung spring up. The people from Mount Heng Sword Sect were just sitting there laughing, while the people from Jin Sect couldn’t bear to watch and were turning their heads.
‘I need to hold on.’
Even if it’s until Jin Huikyung comes to save me!
“Kuuhap!”
Without hesitation. From all sides I blocked his attacks. It was for sure metal hitting one another, but my ears heard the sound of cannons.
Clang! Clang! Clang! I blocked them all.
“Kuuaah!”
“Hap!”
Clang! Clang! I blocked them again.
“Kuuaah!”
“Haaaap!”
Clang! Again, I blocked them.
“Kuuuhaaap…”
“Haaah…”
“…?”
“…?”
In the next moment, Lee So Geun and I met eyes.
The minute I saw his dazed and panicked expression, I knew he was thinking the same thing I was.
‘What is this.’
Lee So Geun was strong. With the strength reminscent of a monster, muscles that made him agile, and he was swinging around his greatsword with ease.
Not only that, but he was the son from Mount Heng Sword Sect. And the Mugong he was using was at a high level.
But…
‘It’s doable?’
Even now I was blocking all the incoming attacks from the greatsword. Attacks that numbered over 20. And the defense.
I could see it. I could see it, so I was able to block it. Before I knew it, the ankles and buried legs, I could see the stealthy footsteps. He pulled them out.
‘This can’t be…’
No, really. It can’t be.
Sweeek!
That moment, I pushed aside the greatsword that was aiming for my waist. And instinctively, I saw an opening and attacked towards Lee So Geun’s chest.
”Pak!”
“Kuk!”
… Huh?
Lee So Geun slide back a few steps, gripped his abdomen, and scratched his nose, acting as if nothing had happened.
“You’re pretty good. Unlike trash, you have a little talent.”
“…”
“Huhu. I’ll only go easy up until here.”
“… Hey.”
”The next blow will be towards your head… What?”
With a shaky face, I pointed to his face.
“You, you’re bleeding.”
Drip. A second later, the blood dropped down Lee So Geun’s face and onto his lips. It looked like he but his tongue. It must hurt.
“Ah! Eep! Eek! Huk!”
Lee So Geun, who was wiping the blood away, said.
“Shut up. Let it be.”
“…?”
“It’s easier if I wipe it away all at once later.”
Because basically starting from now, he’ll be beat up by me.