Chapter 20 - The Duel (3)

Dawn.

Today, as always, the swordsmanship lesson with Seo Ji-won continued.

A peculiar aspect of this lesson was that since the transmission of the Haewon Sword Style began, he had not once given me a chance to swing a sword.

He had merely provided theoretical explanations about the Haewon Sword Style and had broken down the forms of the swordsmanship piece by piece to show me.

However, I had no complaints about this.

Although on the surface it seemed that Seo Ji-won found this lesson bothersome, I could feel how much thought and preparation he had put into a single lesson.

I could find traces of his contemplation in every word he used, in every piece of the swordsmanship's deconstruction.

He was called a perfectionist, and that was indeed true.

“Seo Ji-han, I have some good news for you. From now on, my lessons will be all practical until the end.”

“That is definitely good news.”

“You must have had many complaints, haven't you? Since all the swordsmanship lessons so far have been only theory.”

“It didn't matter. Practice was something I could do on my own after the lessons were over.”

“What?”

In an instant, Seo Ji-han's expression hardened.

“Why, is there a problem?”

“You foolish bastard!”

“Are you worried I might have developed a bad habit while practicing on my own?”

“I clearly warned you! The Haewon Sword Style is a swordsmanship that engraves memories onto mana, so if you go down the wrong path from the beginning, it's difficult to turn back!”

The unique setting of engraving memories onto mana.

This was an interesting part that I had never experienced even during my Johan Raven days, so I couldn't wait.

How could I not try this?

“You can put aside the worries you have now, brother. I understood it perfectly and practiced.”

“Are you being arrogant, or are you being stupid! Why do you think I haven't been urging you to practice swordsmanship all this time! It was all for a reason!”

“The Haewon Sword Style was certainly a tricky swordsmanship to learn.”

“You crazy bastard!”

I could understand to some extent why Seo Ji-won was so agitated.

This swordsmanship, which sought a combination with mana in a profound way, was, as he said, difficult to change course once it started to take root.

In fact, although it was a short practice of less than ten days, a path of memory had already been carved into my mana to some extent.

“But it doesn't matter to you, does it, brother? You probably didn't have any expectations for me anyway.”

“The surprising changes that have happened to you recently! They were at least a little bit tolerable. I could have had a tiny bit of hope.”

“Now your eyes are full of disappointment again?”

“Because you didn't listen to a single word I said.”

“Still, since you had a tiny bit of hope, at least give me your impression. Of the Haewon Sword Style I've been practicing for the past few days.”

“If you've made a mess of the Haewon Sword Style, your cheeks will not be safe today. Because that is an insult to my lessons.”

I nodded with a sly smile.

“Begin.”

The raised Reapersword immediately resonated.

The Haewon Sword Style was a swordsmanship that began its forms with communication with mana.

Although my mana was weak and I couldn't show a highly complete form yet, there would be no cause for Seo Ji-won's concern.

This was because there could be no errors or impurities in my swordsmanship, which was faithful to the basics and essence.

Shwaaak!

Shwaaaaaak!

The movement of my wrist as I swung the sword,

Pababa!

Pabababat!

And even every footstep that took a rhythm from the ground, everything felt endlessly light.

Woooong-

The Reapersword let out a greater and greater resonance as the forms of the Haewon Sword Style unfolded.

It meant that it was a swordsmanship that the guy liked as well.

As expected of an ego sword.

Shwaaaaaak!

The sword blade drew a long arc in the air, and my swordsmanship concluded.

It felt like I had burned a significant amount of the mana I had.

I had left only a tiny bit for today's lesson.

A brief silence fell.

Seo Ji-won was looking at me with a strange expression.

In that gaze, all sorts of complex emotions were mixed and swirling.

“If you’ve made your assessment, you should speak ?”

“...Unbelievable.”

“‘Unbelievable.’ You say that a lot.”

I hadn't counted, but wouldn't it have been at least twenty times by now?

“Did you receive private swordsmanship lessons from Father?”

“No way.”

“Otherwise, the swordsmanship you just performed is simply unexplainable. I'll ask again. Did you secretly receive swordsmanship lessons from Father?”

“Second brother. Let's say I really did receive separate swordsmanship lessons from Father. But from your perspective, isn't that the worst-case scenario?”

“What do you mean ?”

“If that's true, it means you lost out to the younger brother you treated as non-existent. The eldest brother, the firstborn son, also learned directly from Father, so wouldn't that make you the only one who's been wronged?”

At my words, Seo Ji-won's pupils wavered slightly.

I grinned and continued.

“But nothing like that happened, so you can rest easy. I really did figure it out on my own. Well, since it was based on your lessons, you can be proud of that part.”

“That doesn't make sense!”

“It does. Don't look at the world only by your standards. The world is very wide. Come to think of it, it seems you also lack a lot of worldly experience, brother. To think your insight is only at this level.”

At that moment, a laugh of disbelief escaped Seo Ji-won's lips.

“What on earth happened to you?”

“Just continue the lesson. You said it was practical from today, right? Precious time is just ticking away.”

There were only a few days left until the promised end of the lessons.

That was why I wanted to increase the density of all my time.

“Alright. A promise is a promise, so let's start.”

But Seo Ji-won's eyes still seemed to have more to say.

I paid him no mind and focused only on today's lesson.

The Haewon Sword Style was certainly fun to learn.

In terms of sheer power, the swordsmanships I had learned in my past life were superior, but the Haewon Sword Style, due to its setting, gave a different kind of pleasure.

And maybe a feeling that it would elevate my understanding of swordsmanship by another level?

Looking at this, perhaps my reincarnation as Seo Ji-han was fate.

30 minutes flew by like an arrow, and before I knew it, today's lesson was over.

Considering the abstruseness of the sword style, it was an absurdly short amount of time to realize anything.

Of course, that did not apply to me.

It was an informative, enjoyable, and satisfying lesson.

“Seo Ji-han, what on earth are you!”

A word that burst out of nowhere as soon as the lesson ended.

Seo Ji-won probably wanted to say this all along.

“What do you mean, what am I? I'm Seo Ji-han, Father's youngest son. The younger brother you were ashamed of.”

“That's not what I'm asking! How could you so easily grasp the Haewon Sword Style…”

“It wasn't easy. It's only possible because I have a history of swinging a sword until I died. If it weren't for that, I would have struggled a lot too.”

“What?”

“You've never swung a sword until you vomited blood and collapsed, have you?”

I have, countless times.

Even though I was the one with the greatest talent in the world, even though I was the one who handled the sword best in the world. I did so.

“I think we need a longer conversation. It's difficult now, so make time this afternoon.”

“Can't.”

“Can't?”

Seo Ji-won looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

Since he was giving me 30 minutes of his time every dawn, he probably hadn't expected to be rejected.

“I've decided to go conquer a dungeon.”

“I didn't hear anything about that.”

“There's no need to report such things to you, brother. And for E-rank dungeons, I don't even need to tell Father separately.”

“Alright. Then I'll tag along as well.”

…Really?

If Seo Ji-won hadn't said it first, I was actually going to make a deal.

Because to reel in a big catch, the power of someone of this level was absolutely necessary.

If I had been rejected, I was going to go with Plan B, but now there was no need for that.

“But why do you want to follow me?”

“Because I'm curious about how you deal with monsters.”

It seemed things were going to be easier than I thought.

***

In the end, a 4-person conquest party was formed.

Me, Choi Ho-joong, Han Ye-ji, and Seo Ji-won.

The dungeon was a standard E-rank dungeon located in the suburbs of Seoul.

The place where the portal was located was a small mountain, so we had to get out of the car and walk up for a bit.

“Brother, wear this on your head first.”

“What is this.”

“What do you mean, what is it? It's a hat.”

“I mean, why do I have to wear this.”

Because it would be troublesome if Im Jeong-seok, who will appear as an assassin today, recognizes Seo Ji-won right away.

He must reveal his evil intentions against me.

For that to happen, he must not notice that there is a master on our side.

“It's today's dress code. As a condition for following me, you agreed to grant such a trivial request, didn't you?”

“This is by no means trivial. It will ruin my hairstyle.”

“Just wear it. Didn't you say you value trust more than your life, brother?”

“This matter was not notified in advance.”

“If you're going to be stubborn like this, you can just leave.”

In the end, Seo Ji-won let out a deep sigh and put on the hat.

“It suits you. It would be even better if you pulled it down a bit more.”

“Cut it out.”

Well, it would be unreasonable to demand that much.

“Han Ye-ji. You wear one too.”

“I like it. I can keep it after the dungeon conquest is over, right?”

“Yeah. It's a gift. To commemorate your first duel.”

“What is this! We haven't even entered the dungeon yet and you're already team-killing?”

“You weren't bad in the duel either. It was just that Shin Ah-yeon was on a roll that day. There's no reason to blame yourself too much.”

“I thought I was in good condition that day too, but I never thought I'd be broken so easily. Thanks to that, my position in my family is not good, you know.”

I thought Shin Ah-yeon would win, but it was a fight where the gap was wider than I had expected.

To think that Shin Ah-yeon would awaken in such a way there.

“By the way, Oppa, aren't you having a public debut match? You got your license with me too.”

“Should I request one with you?”

“I'd be happy to. To get a glimpse of what your real skills are like.”

Anyway, I can't say anything.

“Forget it. I'm not planning to have a duel. A dungeon conquest is enough for a debut match.”

“No, that won't do. It's not a matter you can decide on your own against the family's tradition.”

Suddenly, Seo Ji-won interjected.

“Because it's a tradition I don't like. A tradition where you pick a sacrificial lamb and violate them as you please? I'll pass on that.”

Han Ye-ji was momentarily crestfallen. Seo Ji-won shook his head.

“Even if you don't like it, Father will push for it soon. There has never been a case where one of the 10 great prestigious families skipped a debut duel.”

“Then, that tradition will be broken starting from our Haewon Sword Family.”

“You really don't listen.”

Given my father's character, he would surely understand my intentions.

Even if I were to have a duel, I had no intention of choosing an opponent that anyone could see I would win against.

I had no intention of bending my will.

“Young Master! Look up there!”

“Oh, we're almost there.”

Finally, the entrance of the portal was in sight.

And by now, he must have just started to move behind us.

Then, from now on, the fishing begins.