Chapter 19 - The Duel (2)

The gazes of countless people were pouring down on me. It was my first time standing on a stage, receiving this much attention.

Of course, the protagonist was not me, but the only daughter of the Muwon Sword Family, who was looking at me with haughty eyes a few steps away.

In fact, when I was first nominated as a duel opponent, I was indifferent without much thought.

Losing to an ordinary rookie would be a blow to my pride, but my opponent was the successor of the Muwon Sword Family, considered one of the 10 great prestigious families.

I didn't think I would feel much shame in losing to such a person who would have grown up receiving all sorts of top-class care since childhood.

But two days ago.

There was one person who created ripples in my own rationalization.

I do not want you to lose.

Seo Ji-han, the youngest successor of the sword family. He had urged me to win.

To top it off, he said he would teach me a way to win.

The more I thought about it, the more absurd his words were.

How on earth?

I knew firsthand that he was a much better person than the rumors suggested, but the words he had said to me were too arrogant.

To think he could elevate me to a higher level in just two days.

Such a thing was not possible, and it was impossible for him to have such an ability.

He was just a pitiful young master who had been living a terminally ill life until just a short while ago.

However, it didn't take long for my preconceptions about him to be shattered once again.

His words that he would elevate my swordsmanship by a level were not just empty boasts.

He had surprisingly accurately pinpointed the blocked points in my swordsmanship and had presented a way to break through them.

I can't hold a spoon and feed it into your mouth, so try to break through it yourself. From the looks of it, your talent isn't complete trash.

I couldn't believe it myself, but before I knew it, the joints of my swordsmanship were connecting much more smoothly.

Like a newly oiled gear.

“My name is Han Ye-ji.”

At that moment when I was lost in thought, today's duel opponent, Han Ye-ji, approached me.

“My name is Shin Ah-yeon.”

“I heard you’re three years older than me. Is it okay if I call you Unni? I'll be in your care, Unni.”

“Yes. I'll be in your care as well.”

Han Ye-ji greeted me with a bright smile, then took a few steps back and readjusted her grip on her sword.

How easy must the world have been for that child?

Born as the only daughter of a prestigious sword family that was renowned throughout South Korea.

She wouldn't have picked up a sword for a living like me, nor would she have ever clung to someone's coattails, enduring all sorts of humiliation, just to learn a single form of a third-rate sword style.

“The duel begins!”

She wouldn't have spent her teenage years running the distance of seven bus stops every morning just to save a few pennies on bus fare like I did.

Everything in the world would have revolved around her, and she would have only lived a life like the protagonist who always appears on stage last.

Today was a case in point.

Among the people watching our duel, there would be almost no one thinking of my victory.

It was clear that this duel was designed for Han Ye-ji to be the protagonist.

Whooosh!

Simultaneously with the start of the duel, Han Ye-ji's sword shot out fiercely.

This was probably the unique sword style that only the direct line of the Muwon Sword Family could learn.

Chaaaeng!

I countered with the Muyoung Sword Style.

A mass-market sword style created by removing the profound and abstruse core of the Haewon Sword Style.

Of course, it was a more than deserving and excellent sword style for me, but I couldn't deny that it seemed shabby when compared to what Han Ye-ji had learned.

Chaaaaaeng!

The domineering splendor of the Muwon Sword Style was famous not just in our country, but globally.

Facing Han Ye-ji today, I did have a lot on my mind, but that didn't mean I was a complex-ridden person bundled up in an inferiority complex.

I loved myself, having grown up in a poor but harmonious family with plenty of love, and I was extremely proud of myself for joining the Haewon Sword Family, which I had admired since childhood.

It was just that, I was feeling a bit sentimental today.

Just looking at that Han Ye-ji’s bright and unwrinkled smile, which was on a completely different level, just made me a little envious.

Chaaaaaeng!

But an unwrinkled smile?

By the time my thoughts reached that point, an unexpected sense of unease washed over me.

As the number of clashes between our swords increased, Han Ye-ji's expression had hardened before I knew it.

Chaaaaaeng!

She swung her sword with an increasingly serious gaze, and I lightly received her attacks.

Chaaaeng!

Now it was certain.

My swordsmanship, which was now moving more smoothly than before, had grown by a level.

What I was unsure about when training alone felt like it had broken out of its shell now that I was in a duel.

‘Was this really possible?’

Swordsmanship was something that could make a leap in progress by gaining enlightenment from unexpected places, but I had never expected that point to be the young master.

I had just thought it was an arrogant concept out of the blue.

Whooooosh!

It might be a delusion, but it felt as if my sword and I had become one.

All the senses in my body were on edge, and before I knew it, I was comfortably performing the Muyoung Sword Style.

The feeling of high-density mana, which I had never experienced before, being imbued in my sword. The feel in my hand was very good.

Against Han Ye-ji's sword, I swung my sword once more.

Kwaaaaaang!

The swords clashed strongly.

There was no feeling of being pushed back in terms of strength at all.

Before long, the sword in Han Ye-ji's hand floated into the air.

Pushed back by my strength, she had lost her grip on the sword.

When her sword fell to the ground, my sword was aimed at her throat.

As if time had stopped, she stood motionless with a dazed expression.

The people filling the area around the grand training hall were also silently staring only at the tip of my sword.

A moment later, what broke the silence was a single word from Han Ye-ji.

“I lost.”

In an instant, the surroundings were filled with murmuring sounds, and she bowed her head deeply.

Just as dazed as Han Ye-ji's soulless expression, I, too, couldn't believe this situation and could only stare blankly at the area around the training hall.

And my gaze naturally stopped at one place. The young lord, Seo Ji-han.

I do not want you to lose.

That person, as if this situation was completely natural, had an indifferent gaze, and then immediately left the place.

I want to learn more.

I want to serve that person.

Thoughts like these rushed into my heart like a storm.

***

Seo Chang-woo.

My father's younger brother and Seo Young-joon's father.

His network of personal relationships was in my hand.

“You said there was another message from that assassin?”

“That is correct, Young Master. Seo Chang-woo's side has directly approached that assassin. They asked if he would like to work with them one more time.”

“It’s so obvious. Since that idiot Seo Young-joon made a mess, once the mission is over, they’re going to kill that assassin too to silence him, aren't they?”

“That's right. And it seems he is well aware of that himself. He relayed a message saying that he thinks he will also be eliminated in the dungeon after this job is over. He asked that if that happens, his younger brother be released safely.”

“For an assassin, he sure takes care of his own bloodline. Anyway, this time Seo Chang-woo will be handling it himself, so who is he sending as my assassin?”

“It seems highly likely that it will be Im Jeong-seok, one of Seo Chang-woo's trusted men.”

“Im Jeong-seok…”

I looked over the character relationship chart of Seo Chang-woo that Choi Ho-joong had handed me again.

He was a guy who stood out even on paper.

Because he was bald.

I wasn't one to believe in physiognomy, but just looking at the pictures of these people, I felt a kind of fishy aura.

“What kind of guy is he?”

“He's already a 5-star Hunter in his mid-30s. I know him to be a guy that Seo Chang-woo cherishes quite a bit. Moreover, his specialties are stealth and tracking, so he's perfect for use as an assassin.”

“Then, we can pretty much assume it’s him. His skills will be solid too. Come to think of it, that guy Seo Young-joon was an idiot. Trying to push through with numbers, he only sent a bunch of nobodies, so not only did the assassination fail, but the number of guys to be silenced just increased, didn't it?”

“If they are preparing Im Jeong-seok, I think we should also be careful for a while. We should postpone the dungeon trip for the time being…”

“Enough! Prepare a suitable dungeon to enter right away.”

“Pardon? Did you not hear what I just said?”

“I heard you loud and clear. Those guys have taken the bait, so of course we have to reel them in. Don't you think?”

“We could be the ones getting eaten instead.”

“Who's getting eaten? Me? You've completely lost your mind!”

I was the great Johan Raven, what was a 5-star Hunter?

I was about to lose my mind in disbelief.

“Young Master, to catch one 4-star Hunter, you need at least two 3-stars like me. But a 5-star Hunter, sir, is on a level where you need three of those 4-star Hunters to catch one.”

“That's not a difficult calculation. It just means we need six guys like you, Choi Ho-joong.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“Prepare a 6-person dungeon if possible. We plan to enter with four people this time. Then from Seo Chang-woo's side, Im Jeong-seok and the assassin will come to attack together, right?”

“Four people? Who are they?”

“Three are confirmed, but the last one is still a bit ambiguous. For now, it will be me, you, and Han Ye-ji.”

“Han Ye-ji? Why is the only daughter of the Muwon Sword Family joining our dungeon trip?”

“Just know it as that. Oh, and when you apply for the dungeon bid, put any name for Han Ye-ji's spot. So we can make up some excuse later.”

Choi Ho-joong shook his head with an expression that he couldn't understand.

For him, no matter how he thought about it, it would be a combination with no answer.

Because he was thinking that even if all of us attacked, we wouldn't be able to beat one Im Jeong-seok.

“Young Master! No matter how I think about it, it is too reckless.”

“Then you can back out. If you hate it that much, what choice do I have but to find someone else to replace you?”

“When did I say I hated it?”

“Then prepare without complaining. I'm going to go to the Abyss spring now.”

My schedule for today was delayed a lot because of observing the duel.

I was so busy improving this damn body that 24 hours in a day felt insufficient.

***

“Young Master!”

As I was preparing to leave for the Abyss, the one who sought me out was Shin Ah-yeon.

“What is it?”

“I will serve you today.”

“It's fine. You must have already been overworked preparing for the duel, I'm not some evil landlord.”

“No, sir. At least let me drive you to the Abyss.”

“I know how to drive too.”

In fact, this driving thing was really fun when I tried it myself.

A car was much easier to handle than a horse, but the feel of gripping and turning the steering wheel was unfamiliar yet mysterious.

All the cultural products of Earth had a similar feeling, but the car was the best among them.

“I will do it. Please let me do it today.”

And so, the only leisure time in my day, driving, was taken away like this.

“Is there something you want from me?”

“No, sir.”

“Then?”

“I just wanted to express my gratitude.”

“Then you could have just said that and left.”

Why did this girl have to take away my enjoyment?

“Thank you, Young Master.”

“Alright.”

There will be more things to be grateful to me for in the future.

This girl didn't know it yet, but Shin Ah-yeon was someone I had already chosen.