Chapter 34 - My Sword Unit (2)

Shin Ah-yeon, having finally made up her mind, took a deep breath and began to speak.

Her expression was still flushed, but her eyes were sparkling.

“I’ve heard that everyone gets three opportunities in life.”

“Continue.”

“I believe the first opportunity was given to me by the Family Head, who showed consideration for me to enter the Haewon Sword Family. The Haewon Sword Family was a place far too good for me, who was lacking in every aspect.”

At Shin Ah-yeon’s words, my father replied with a pleased smile.

“It was because I saw your potential, Ah-yeon. In the end, my choice to bring you into the family was not wrong, and I am rather grateful that you have proven it yourself.”

Shin Ah-yeon gave a slight bow to my father and continued speaking.

“The second opportunity in my life came right after that. To be noticed by the Commander and join the Moonlight Unit. This too was a great fortune for me. Thanks to that, I was able to learn and grow a lot in the best sword unit.”

Twitch.

A smile formed on Im Moon-shik’s lips.

“I share the same thought as the Family Head. You, Ah-yeon, have shown that my eye for talent was not wrong, so it is I who should be grateful. You have done very well so far.”

The eyes of the Moonlight Unit Commander, Im Moon-shik, overflowed with a victor’s leisure.

He must have been thinking that it was ridiculous for Shin Ah-yeon, who held such feelings, to leave the Moonlight Unit and come to me.

“I have always been grateful, Commander.”

“Saying so makes me feel rewarded as well.”

“Then, from now on, I would like to speak about the most difficult part.”

“What would that be?”

“It is about the third opportunity that has come into my life.”

“A third opportunity?”

Shin Ah-yeon bit her lip firmly and looked back and forth between me and Im Moon-shik.

“The fact that I was able to fight and win against the granddaughter of the Muwon Sword Family in the recent Bimu, that was not actually my own skill.”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you win quite comfortably in your fight against Han Ye-ji!”

“The outcome was surely destined for my defeat. Miss Han Ye-ji, whom I actually fought, was a slightly overwhelming opponent for me.”

“To be honest, I also thought it wouldn't be easy. But you achieved a remarkable growth and secured a fine victory.”

“What I want to say is that this remarkable growth was not something I achieved on my own. I merely accepted what someone else spoon-fed me.”

“Spoon-fed? Who on earth?”

Shin Ah-yeon swallowed once and continued speaking without delay.

“It was Young Master Seo Ji-han.”

“What did you say?”

In an instant, Im Moon-shik's expression hardened.

He too had noticed that the direction of the story was taking an unusual turn.

“With just one word from Young Master Ji-han, I was able to break through the wall that was blocking me at once.”

“You’re mistaken. You may have thought you were blocked, but you were already chipping away at that wall little by little, Ah-yeon. It's a common occurrence for us sword fighters.”

“No. What Young Master Ji-han gave me was not simple advice. He not only scratched the exact itchy spot but also showed me the direction I should proceed in.”

“D-don’t tell me the third opportunity in your life you spoke of is?”

At Im Moon-shik’s words, Shin Ah-yeon slightly lowered her head.

“I am sorry, Commander.”

In fact, there was nothing for Shin Ah-yeon to be sorry about.

I was the one who made the proposal, and she was only stating her thoughts.

“So you wish to leave?”

“……I am sorry.”

Im Moon-shik was wearing a dumbfounded expression as if he were a still frame, so I brought his attention back.

“Is what Shin Ah-yeon says. Of course, the final approval is the Commander’s to make.”

“Hoho!”

“If the Commander doesn’t give his approval, only Shin Ah-yeon will be in a difficult position. Of course, I know you’re not the type to hold a grudge over something like this.”

“You don’t know me well. I hold more of a grudge than I look.”

“Then all the more reason to give Shin Ah-yeon to me. As I said, I will be sure to pay the price in the future.”

Im Moon-shik’s expression was serious and grave.

This situation might be quite unpleasant for him.

Even a child would scream if you took away the candy they were eating.

“Give me a moment to think.”

This was as good as a success.

To think about it meant he had opened up the possibility.

And Shin Ah-yeon’s firm statement of her convictions would play a large part.

Because this had given me the most important thing: a just cause.

Im Moon-shik thought deeply for a while before finally opening his mouth.

“I’ll ask just one thing.”

“Please, speak.”

“Can you be certain that you taking Shin Ah-yeon will be beneficial to the overall interests of the Haewon Sword Family?”

“I am certain that Shin Ah-yeon and I are a good match.”

Of course, this was said out of consideration for Im Moon-shik’s pride.

Regardless of compatibility, any guy who came under me would show optimal growth.

“I have no choice. I’ll have to trust those words.”

“Does that mean you will grant my request?”

Im Moon-shik nodded.

“But to agree immediately upon being asked makes me look like too much of a pushover.”

“No one will see it that way.”

“It’s just that I feel a bit guilty. So I’m thinking of setting a very trivial condition, would you hear me out? Well, anyway, it means I will accept your request.”

“Thank you, Commander!”

Im Moon-shik, true to his brotherly relationship with my father, did not act stubborn.

“Hey, Ji-han. You should listen until the end. I clearly set a condition, and this is something you must resolve!”

“I will resolve it. Whatever that condition may be.”

All four people in the office smiled.

Though the meaning of each smile was slightly different.

***

A bustling street in downtown Seoul.

It was my first time coming to a place like this in the middle of the night.

Excluding the Abyss, I rarely went out, and there was no reason for me to come to an entertainment district like this in particular.

If I had the time, I’d rather lift weights one more time.

“Ho-joong, are you sure it’s around here?”

“Yes, Young Master. Im Seong-jun is said to spend his nights drinking in this area. If nothing special has come up, shouldn't he be here today as well?”

Im Seong-jun. He was the late-born only son of the Moonlight Unit Commander, Im Moon-shik.

According to rumors, unlike his father, he was the worst of the worst troublemakers.

He had shown considerable talent in swordsmanship as a child and had followed his father Im Moon-shik’s guidance well, but it seems something went wrong during his growth.

Now, he has put his swordsmanship training on the back burner and is living a life of dissipation.

It seemed he also caused trouble quite often.

“The more I think about it, the more pathetic he is.”

The condition Im Moon-shik had set for me was related to this troublemaker son of his.

To fix Im Seong-jun’s habits.

He had spoken as if it were a trivial condition, but he had made the most difficult request.

Because there was nothing harder than moving a person’s heart.

“Ho-joong, you said you knew him well?”

“Yes. When we were young, he used to follow me around, calling me brother, brother.”

“And I don’t have much of a connection with him?”

“That was when you were lying in bed, frail and sick, young master.”

“That’s a relief.”

“What is, sir?”

“Since there’s no connection, I can beat him up without any burden.”

“Yo-young master! What on earth are you planning to do!”

“It’s just an expression. You never know what might happen, right? A situation might arise where I have to beat him up while admonishing him. Anyway, just keep guiding me.”

“I understand!”

The streets reeked of alcohol.

The boozy breaths exhaled by the drunks stimulated the tip of my nose.

At times like this, it was true that my extremely sensitive senses were a bit uncomfortable.

But the annoying stimulus wasn't just my sense of smell.

All sorts of profanities and lewd jokes spewed by the drunks were making me uncomfortable.

Moreover, it looked like a fight was about to break out in some alley over there.

‘Surely it’s not Im Seong-jun, is it?’

I had a bad feeling, so I decided to go and see.

Usually, these kinds of premonitions tended to be correct.

And as the distance grew closer, that conviction grew stronger.

“Ho-joong, that’s him, right?”

My Mana’s Eye reacted immediately.

Compared to an ordinary person, it was a given, but in terms of the amount of mana gathered in his dantian alone, he was much greater than me.

It would be impossible if he hadn't trained his mana.

“I think it’s Seong-jun!”

“What kind of answer is that? You said you were close when you were young?”

“It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen him too.”

A 1 versus 7 standoff.

Im Seong-jun was the 1 in that equation.

“Ho-joong, you wait here.”

“Are you going to handle it yourself, young master?”

“Commander Im told me to personally educate him.”

I walked alone towards the group.

Educating a troublemaker, of all things. I was doing all sorts of things in this life.

Even in a 1 vs 7 situation, a fight couldn't really be established.

Those seven also possessed a faint amount of mana, but if they charged in trusting that, they would be sent to the afterlife in an instant.

And all that would be left for Im Seong-jun would be to pay for the damages.

“Hey! You thugs over there! That’s enough, disperse now!”

In an instant, eight pairs of eyes turned towards me.

“Who are you?”

“Me? I’m the person who came to save you guys.”

“What is this! He’s completely nuts, isn't he?”

“Calling your gracious savior a madman. Anyway, let’s all disperse. I only have business with this guy here.”

With that, I pointed my finger at Im Seong-jun.

Im Seong-jun tilted his head at me, seemingly not recognizing me at all.

Seriously, Seo Ji-han, what kind of life did you live?

“We need to get rid of that crazy bastard first!”

One of the thugs immediately threw a punch at me.

I lightly tilted my head to dodge and walked towards Im Seong-jun.

“Ooh! You dodged?”

“Just mess them all up together!!”

As one pulled the trigger, punches and kicks came flying in succession.

Of course, they were too slow for me to just take them.

Every one of them possessed mana, but actually, these ambiguous types were the most dangerous.

They would only pick fights with non-Hunter civilians.

Im Seong-jun was one thing, but for the benefit of society as a whole, I thought I should take care of these guys first.

Assault was a bit too much, so I was just planning to lightly touch their dantians so they could never use mana again.

“Die!”

As expected of a thug, he spoke so crudely.

I dodged his punch, got behind him, and put him in a headlock.

Then, I whispered in his ear.

“You die.”

And then followed the dantian massage.

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

I heard that the momentary pain of a dantian being destroyed was considerable.

It posed no danger to one’s life or health, but it was said to be more painful than childbirth, so it must have been a rude awakening.

“This is why you should have dispersed when I told you to.”

I grinned at the thugs.

For this situation to end, six more screams would have to ring out.