“Come out with me, you bastard! I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done!”
The instant Lee Seogeun shouted those words in fury—
Ding.
System
Quest
Duel
Your debauchery has finally caught up with you!
A man must deal with his own mess. To protect the tiny scrap of honor you have left and avoid the wrath of the Mount Heng Sword Sect, only one option remains.
Type: Sudden Quest
Grade: First Rate
Restriction: Jin Taekyung
Mission: Win the duel (Incomplete)Reward: Title: Gambler
- A large amount of EXP
- Fame 50
Failure: Title: Sex Fiend
- Injury
Would you like to accept the Duel Quest?
Accept / Decline
“……”
Seriously? I hadn’t even dated anyone since high school, and now I had to be called a sex fiend?
I spent half my day running raids and collapsed asleep in my goshiwon every night. Now I had to clean up a mess I hadn’t even made in a game.
At least give me a decent Quest.
How was I supposed to fight Lee Seogeun when he was Level 30?
This is insane. He’s more than twice my Level…
This was a fight I absolutely couldn’t take.
I declined the Quest. Or tried to. But Lee Seogeun beat me to it.
“If you run away from this place… the Jin Family of Taiyuan will pay the appropriate price.”
Ding.
System
Quest information has been updated.
If the Quest is declined, the Mount Heng Sword Sect will declare war on the Jin Family of Taiyuan. In addition, Jin Taekyung will be designated a public enemy of the sect.
…I knew it.
I had wondered why the System was giving me a choice for once.
As I let out a deep sigh, the assembly hall was boiling like a cauldron over charcoal.
“How dare you!”
“That young punk thinks he can say whatever he wants because he has his family’s backing!”
“Even if the Third Young Master did something lower than a dog, how dare he look down on our family!”
“……”
The first two were fine, but who the hell was that last guy?
As the atmosphere turned hostile, Jin Wikyung, the Lesser Family Head, stepped in.
“Everyone, calm yourselves. And you, Young Hero, that is enough. Let us consider this a slip of the tongue and overlook it this once.”
Seated in the place of honor, he issued the warning in a low voice. His presence was no joke. He really did have the bearing of the next Family Head of a prestigious house with deep roots.
Perhaps cowed by his aura, Lee Seogeun answered in a noticeably quieter voice.
“Understood. However…”
“However?”
“It was not a slip of the tongue. Do you think I came here in a personal capacity?”
At those words, Jin Wikyung’s expression hardened, along with everyone else’s.
Right. Lee Seogeun was an envoy officially sent by the Mount Heng Sword Sect.
“My father—no, the Sect Leader—has entrusted me with full authority.”
“……Then what is it you want?”
“As I already said, I want a duel with the Third Young Master.”
No. I don’t want that.
Judging by how things were unfolding, those bastards from the Mount Heng Sword Sect had come here looking for a fight.
They intended to get as much as possible out of this incident, and even if that failed, they were going to wreck me, at least. Being targeted so blatantly sent a chill down my spine.
“There must be another way. Tell me what you truly want.”
“Withdraw from every commandery and county except Taiyuan. That should be an appropriate price for ruining my sister’s marriage prospects.”
The instant he finished speaking, shouts erupted throughout the assembly hall.
From the bits and pieces I could make out, he was basically saying they intended to strip us of everything but our underwear. Jin Wikyung’s answer was obvious.
“Impossible.”
“Then accept the duel—”
“That too, I must refuse.”
Jin Wikyung was a complete pushover when it came to his youngest brother. There was no way he would push me into a duel that was obviously dangerous.
At Jin Wikyung’s answer, Lee Seogeun smiled triumphantly.
“Then there is only one path left.”
War.
I wasn’t the only one who thought of that word. The assembly hall fell silent beneath its weight.
Amid that silence, I looked up at the empty air.
System
Would you like to accept the Quest?
Accept / Decline
- If the Quest is declined, the Mount Heng Sword Sect will declare war on the Jin Family of Taiyuan. In addition, Jin Taekyung will be designated a public enemy of the sect.
I read the System message, looked at the floor, looked at the ceiling, and then read it again.
Fuck…
There was no choice. Only one way remained.
“I’ll do it.”
For once, everyone reacted the same way. Wide eyes. Open mouths. Lee Seogeun, who had proposed the duel. Jin Wikyung, who had refused it. Every person in the assembly hall looked as though they couldn’t believe their ears.
“W-wait. Taekyung?”
Ignoring Jin Wikyung’s frantic attempt to stop me, I spoke to Lee Seogeun.
“Come out. Let’s fight.”
The corners of Lee Seogeun’s mouth curled into a cruel smile.
The winter wind was cold. I took a deep breath as I looked up at the cloudy sky.
“Whoo.”
I stood facing Lee Seogeun on the Jin Family of Taiyuan’s main training ground. About fifty people sat some distance away, watching us.
The Jin Family people looked like they were wondering what the hell had gotten into me, while the Mount Heng Sword Sect’s goons looked like they’d come out for a day of entertainment. All they were missing was popcorn.
Ah. Someone was sending me a Sound Transmission, too.
- Little brother. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out…
I’m doing it, man.
Jin Wikyung had a solemn expression, but he kept shifting his hips like a puppy that needed to poop. If Wipeng hadn’t been holding him down by the shoulder, he looked ready to charge into the training ground at any moment.
- Don’t worry. If it looks dangerous, this eldest brother of yours will… You know? If that bastard so much as lays a hand on our youngest, I’ll—fuck! Got it? Don’t get worked up. Take it slow and stay safe. You can do it, Jin Taekyung!
……I get it, so calm down.
He had radiated such overwhelming force in the assembly hall, yet Jin Wikyung was once again living up to my expectations.
Still, he’s a hundred times better than having no one.
At least someone would save me before I ended up half crippled.
With Jin Wikyung and Wipeng, I had two life insurance policies. Excellent.
But the moment I looked at Lee Seogeun with a much lighter heart, I took that thought back.
What’s so excellent about this? Fuck.
Now I understood why the Mount Heng Sword Sect’s people had been so confident.
Lee Seogeun suddenly stripped off his upper garments, and my breath caught at the muscles writhing like some kind of mollusk.
System
Lv. 30 Lee Seogeun
My hands and feet began to tingle at the sight of the blood-red Level window.
A gap of sixteen Levels. It was overwhelming. As if to drive that fact home, the System chimed.
Ding.
System
- You have been afflicted with the Status Effect Intimidation!
I’ll die three times before anyone gets here to save me.
Perhaps he noticed my reaction, because Lee Seogeun gave me a cruel smile.
“Do you understand the situation now? Your breath is caught, and your hands and feet are tingling, aren’t they?”
He could read minds now, too?
But momentum was half the battle.
I deliberately composed my expression before answering.
“Bullshit.”
“Your voice is trembling. Of course you’re afraid. Fine. If you answer my questions honestly, I’ll go easy on you.”
……To be honest, I almost wavered.
“Cut the bullshit.”
“Oh? Putting on airs because you’re the son of a martial family, are you?”
Lee Seogeun laughed as if I were ridiculous.
“Let me ask you one thing. What gave you the confidence to accept this duel? Your martial arts are pathetic, and you’re known as a coward. I want to hear your reason.”
“My reason?”
No matter how much I thought about it, this was the only way.
If war broke out, I would become a public enemy of the Mount Heng Sword Sect.
Hunting? Leveling up? I could forget about it. The moment I stepped outside the fence of the Jin Family of Taiyuan, assassins who caught my scent would come running.
As long as I stay alive, there’ll be another chance.
I had magic. The recovery magic called leveling up.
My mind eased slightly.
“I thought someone like you might be manageable.”
“Pfft! You’re just a wet-behind-the-ears pup.”
It was a mild provocation, but it didn’t work. He was confident in his abilities, and it showed in his relaxed manner.
“Is it my turn to ask a question now?”
“I never said I’d answer them… but I’ll indulge you as if they were your last words.”
“This incident. You fabricated it, didn’t you?”
Perhaps the question caught him off guard, because Lee Seogeun’s expression stiffened awkwardly.
That expression was answer enough.
So I was right.
I had wondered if that was the case, but sure enough. No wonder the whole thing had smelled rotten from beginning to end.
“You petty bastards. You should’ve just declared war.”
“……I’ll tear that mouth apart.”
Lee Seogeun lifted his massive greatsword and muttered ominously.
I raised the Sharp Spear I had taken out beforehand.
All right. Let’s do this.
I had learned martial arts. I also had instincts honed through seven years of real combat.
An F-rank Hunter and a Second Rate Murim martial artist. Don’t underestimate the skills I’d honed working two jobs!
“Graaah!”
Lee Seogeun was more agile than I’d imagined. He closed the distance in an instant, and I blocked the greatsword crashing straight down with the shaft of my spear.
Kra-kra-kraang.
“Urgh.”
I’d worried the Sharp Spear might be cut clean in half, but it was sturdy, as befitted a solid piece of steel. Even so, the force behind the greatsword began driving both my feet into the ground.
“Die, you insect!”
“Hup!”
Up close, his aura was even more suffocating. Was this what a monster’s Fear felt like?
“Kneel and beg for forgiveness now! Then I’ll let you off with one arm!”
- Little brother!
Over Lee Seogeun’s shoulder, I saw Jin Wikyung spring to his feet. The Mount Heng Sword Sect’s people watched while snickering, and the Jin Family people turned their heads away as if they couldn’t bear to watch.
I have to hold out.
At least until Jin Wikyung gets here!
“Graaah!”
Lee Seogeun’s greatsword struck from every direction in a relentless barrage. The weapons were clearly clashing, iron against iron, but all I could hear was cannon fire.
Boom! Boom! Boom! I blocked them.
“Graaah!”
“Hup!”
Boom! Boom! I blocked them again.
“Graaah!”
“Haaah!”
Boom! I blocked another.
“Graaah…”
“Haaah…”
“……?”
“……?”
The next moment, Lee Seogeun and I locked eyes.
The instant I saw the bewilderment and confusion in his gaze, I knew he was thinking exactly what I was.
What the hell is this?
Lee Seogeun was strong. He had the brute strength of a giant monster, moved with surprising agility for someone so muscular, and swung his massive greatsword like a matchstick.
And that wasn’t all. He was a Young Master of the Mount Heng Sword Sect—a sect that could actually throw its weight around. The martial arts he used had to be quite advanced.
And yet…
This is… doable?
Even now, I was blocking each and every strike of the continuously swinging greatsword. More than twenty attacks. And more than twenty blocks.
I could see them. That was why I could block them.
I slowly lifted one of my legs, which had been buried in the ground up to the ankle.
It came right out.
Could it be…
No way. Surely not.
Ssshwip!
At that moment, I deflected the greatsword flying toward my waist along the shaft of my spear. Then, without thinking, I kicked Lee Seogeun in his unguarded chest.
Whack!
“Urgh!”
……Huh?
Clutching his stomach, Lee Seogeun skidded back five or six steps. Then he casually rubbed the bridge of his nose as if nothing had happened.
“Not bad. You’ve got a trick or two despite being trash.”
“……”
“Heh. I won’t hold back anymore.”
“……Hey.”
“With my next strike, I’ll smash your head—what?”
I raised a hand, looking awkward, and pointed at his mouth.
“You’re bleeding.”
A beat later, a thin line of blood ran down from the corner of Lee Seogeun’s mouth. He had probably bitten his tongue. That had to hurt.
“Ah! Eeng! Eek! Hup!”
Lee Seogeun wiped away the blood with a series of ridiculous yelps.
“Don’t wipe it. Leave it.”
“……?”
“It’ll be easier to wipe it all off at once later.”
Because from now on, I was going to beat the absolute shit out of him.
System
- The Status Effect Intimidation has been removed!
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