Chapter 34

Once, while Jinho hyung and I were watching TV, we’d had this conversation.

“That’s him, right? Han Seongjin.”

“You know Han Seongjin?”

“Wouldn’t it be weird if I didn’t? Turn on the TV and his face is right there. I’ve seen him so much he feels like family now.”

“Watch your mouth. That’s defamation.”

“Son of a bitch.”

On the screen, a handsome man with a lanky build was smiling brightly. Dozens of cameras and a huge crowd reacted to his every move. Flashes and screams erupted without pause.

“He’s got it all. An A-rank Hunter is basically a walking mid-sized company, isn’t he? Model proportions and a celebrity’s face on top of that? That’s just cheating. How old was he again?”

“I think he’s the same age as me.”

“…Hang in there.”

No matter the job, there were people who made good money and people who didn’t. And no profession had a wider gap between the two than Hunters.

“Don’t worry, man. Wait a little longer and your day will come.”

“How long do I have to wait?”

“Try waiting another hundred years. It’ll be possible in your next life.”

I wanted to show Jinho hyung—the one who’d snickered while he teased me back then—what I looked like now.

I wonder what kind of face he’d make if he saw this.

With every step I took, dozens of people surged along with me. NPCs from the Jin Family of Taiyuan, men and women of all ages, watched me with shining eyes.

Is this how famous people always feel?

People’s attention. Those admiring looks were burdensome, and yet a little enjoyable.

It was the moment I finally understood that common game-promo line: Awaiting a new hero!

Yeah. It’s almost over. Might as well enjoy it.

I smiled and waved, and a roar went up. Trailing a crowd that only kept growing, I arrived at the main hall used for meetings.

“He is waiting for you.”

The martial artist’s face looked familiar. He was the same man who had looked at me with contempt when Lee Seogeun came to see me last time.

Has it been about fifteen days?

Just as I was no longer the person I’d been then, neither was he. He gave me an extremely respectful fist-and-palm salute and threw open the door.

The main hall looked exactly as I remembered it. The large table in the center and the chairs scattered along either side showed that a meeting had just ended.

“You’ve come?”

Jin Wikyung, seated at the head of the table, gave me a tired smile. He was alone in the spacious hall.

“Where’s Wipeng?”

“He’ll be back shortly.”

Once I sat down, Jin Wikyung got straight to the point.

“The Lower District Sect has contacted us. It seems the Mount Heng Sword Sect is rounding up troops however they can.”

They must be shitting bricks over there.

I didn’t know war, but I knew combat. And war was what you got when battles piled up. Having already lost so many martial artists and so much morale in one crushing defeat, the enemy would throw everything they had into the next battle.

“It’ll be a difficult fight.”

“They’ve poured the entire wealth of their sect into this. If the reinforcements join the main force led by the Blood Wolf Sword, they’ll number around a thousand.”

“A thousand…”

That was an insane number. I’d never been in a battle on that scale, and I had no desire to.

Jin Wikyung continued with a grim expression.

“We’ll march north with all our forces. The plan is to strike the enemy’s main force before it can join the reinforcements.”

“When is that?”

“In two days.”

Goddammit. That’s fucking fast.

The race against time wasn’t happening only between the Jin Family of Taiyuan and the Mount Heng Sword Sect. It was happening to me, too.

Can I Logout by then?

If I became First Rate within two days, I could Logout. But what if I didn’t? I’d have to fight my head off all over again.

Then I’d be completely screwed.

Jin Wikyung spoke again.

“I’d like you to take charge of the rear guard.”

Can’t. Won’t.

I barely swallowed the words that tried to leap out on reflex.

Jin Wikyung’s face was more serious than I’d ever seen it.

“This is a fight our family is staking everything on. Your presence alone will raise morale a great deal.”

“…”

I was still debating whether to accept when he continued.

“Fortunately, the Five Gates of Shanxi have agreed to help us. Move with some of them in the rear guard.”

“The Five Gates of Shanxi?”

“An alliance of five small and mid-sized sects. They’ve always been on good terms with our family.”

“…I see.”

“Then will you take charge of the rear guard?”

Ding.

System

Quest

Rear Guard Defense

Jin Wikyung has proposed that you take charge of the rear guard.

If you accept this mission, the martial artists will praise your will and courage.

Type: Short-Term Quest

Grade: Second Rate

Restriction: Jin Taekyung

Objective: Accept the proposal (Incomplete)

Reward: Fame +10

Failure: Fame −10

I answered without another thought.

“I will.”

A message appeared saying the Quest had succeeded and my Fame had increased.

I lose Fame if I refuse?

The Quest Window had made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. It was ridiculous, but a strange sense of relief spread through me all the same.

Relief? Have I actually lost my mind?

While I was berating myself for being a game addict, Jin Wikyung smiled broadly.

“It’s a relief to have you here.”

He was smiling, but an invisible shadow hung over his face.

Being buried under stacks of paperwork all day hadn’t been enough. Now there was a war, too. Commanding the enormous Jin Family of Taiyuan had to be a heavy burden even for him.

He said two days.

Two powers that split a region between them were about to collide. The Jin Family of Taiyuan was short on martial artists, so even if we threw everything we had into it, we’d still be at a disadvantage.

Can we win?

I forced the sudden thought aside.

Live or die, what do I care?

The march was in two days, and it would take several more days before the battle actually began. Whoever won, I wouldn’t be here by the time the victor was decided.

Now it was time to hear what I needed to know.

“Um, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m still stuck at the Second Rate realm…”

After hearing me out, Jin Wikyung tilted his head.

“You’re Second Rate?”

His tone made it clear that he couldn’t understand it at all. I had literally wiped the floor with Lee Seogeun and even brought down Jopil. Jin Wikyung had taken me for First Rate for a long time, and so had Jopil.

“Yes. My realm just won’t rise, so I wanted your advice.”

“Advice…”

Jin Wikyung thought for a moment before speaking.

“You’re already First Rate.”

“But I’m Second Rate.”

“I’m telling you, you’re First Rate. Not just that—you’re a Super First Rate martial artist who’s run into the wall of Peak.”

“No, I really am Second Rate…”

“Who told you that?”

Ugh, this is driving me crazy.

I wanted to show him the System Window. It plainly said Second Rate, but I was the only one who knew that, and the frustration was killing me.

I answered with a sigh.

“No one told me I was Second Rate.”

“Then?”

“It’s just… I’m just Second Rate, so it’s a little hard to explain.”

“Do you believe you’re Second Rate?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s simple.”

“Wh-what is?”

Is he finally going to reveal the secret to advancing realms?

I looked at Jin Wikyung, eyes full of anticipation, but he didn’t open his mouth. Instead, he dipped a finger into the tea that had gone cold and brought it to the table.

Ssssk.

A single character appeared.

信

信? The character for ‘believe’?

After checking my face, Jin Wikyung let out a short laugh.

“You look like you’ve just been slapped.”

“…You must be mistaken.”

More like I look like I want to slap you.

“What is this?”

“Exactly what it says. Believe in yourself.”

“What does that have to do with advancing realms?”

“Because martial arts begin with belief.”

They begin with belief.

It sounded like pie in the sky. But from the moment I heard those words, my heart was pounding.

They begin with belief…

Strangely, that one sentence kept circling through my mind, spinning round and round until I was dizzy.

What had I been believing in all this time?

The first word that came to mind—and the only one—was the System.

The thing that had helped me more than anything else in this game and had always told me nothing but absolute facts.

I had thought of myself as Second Rate because the System had told me I was Second Rate.

Because I believed in the System.

I had already overwhelmed Lee Seogeun, a First Rate master. I had taken down more than twenty wandering martial artists by myself, and I had even defeated Jopil, a Peak master.

Everyone praised me as a First Rate master and a hero, but I was still Second Rate.

Because I had believed in the System instead of myself.

But now I understood.

I’m already First Rate.

Already. Maybe I had been for a long time.

I was First Rate.

“You look like you’ve just been slapped.”

This time, Jin Wikyung was right. I slumped against the back of my chair, looking completely out of it.

What a dumbass.

If I couldn’t even believe in myself, I was Second Rate.

No. I had been Second Rate.

Ding.

System

— You have reached the First Rate realm!

— The realm of all martial arts increases by one stage!

— Your Sinews and Bones and your Meridians improve greatly!

— The size of your dantian expands!

— Level Up!

— Level Up!

From Third Rate to Second Rate. Then from Second Rate to First Rate.

I felt power surge from deep within my body, and Jin Wikyung burst out laughing.

“What happened?”

Wipeng showed up late and asked, looking bewildered.

It felt like a blocked nose had blown clear. Reaching First Rate had brought a tremendous leap in every way—senses, martial arts, everything.

I left the main hall and started walking. The wind felt refreshing.

“It’s the Third Young Master.”

“Has he fully recovered?”

Sure enough, people’s eyes gathered. I changed direction toward a place with even more people.

Anyone watching would take me for an attention hog.

But everything happens for a reason.

Ding.

System

— Someone gazes at you with awe.

— Fame increases by 1.

— Someone is impressed after hearing your rumors.

— Fame increases by 1.

As I walked, the crowd gathered like clouds. Plenty of NPCs dressed in unfamiliar clothing were mixed in among them.

Who are they?

My eyes met one of them. The young man looked a little over twenty. He flinched in surprise, then quickly approached and made a fist-and-palm salute.

“Guo of the Three Paths Sect presents his respects.”¹

“Ah, yes.”

My own fist-and-palm salute now came out on reflex and looked fairly convincing. But where was the Three Paths Sect?

Oh. Could it be…?

“Are you with the Five Gates of Shanxi?”

Guo Whatsisname nodded enthusiastically.

“That is correct. Our Three Paths Sect has agreed to lend its strength to the Jin Family of Taiyuan. I, Guo, could not be more delighted to offer even the smallest assistance.”

In a situation like this, he was a reinforcement worth his weight in gold. I grabbed Guo Whatsisname’s hand, hoping he would fight hard enough for my share as well.

“Thank you for coming.”

“Don’t mention it. It is merely an honor to be included in the Young Master’s tales of martial prowess.”

System

— Someone is impressed after hearing your rumors.

— Fame increases by 1.

A complete stranger had come all this way to fight for us, and he was even helping my Fame climb. I offered my warm thanks to the freely giving Guo Whatsisname.

“God bless you.”

“Pardon?”

“It means I hope the Jade Emperor’s blessing will be with you.”

“Ahh. Thank you. Gapburaesuyu.”

“Ah. Yes.”

I put on a fake smile and kept walking. Maybe because everyone who needed to know already did, the Jin Family of Taiyuan’s people no longer raised my Fame.

Still, I’ve piled up quite a bit.

I opened the Status Window and saw that I was about fifty points short of the target. If I spent the next two days grinding hard, maybe I could Logout.

“Um, Young Hero Jin.”

I turned around. It was the fellow from the Three Paths Sect. He looked ready to follow me to the ends of the earth.

“If you aren’t busy, perhaps we could have some tea together…”

“I’m sorry. I have something to take care of.”

It sounded like a lie, but it was the truth. My destination had been decided from the start.

I pointed out a building to him as he looked disappointed. A faded signboard hung there, and the smell of medicinal decoctions rolled out thick.

Medicine King Hall.

And beneath it hung a small wooden plaque.

No Entry Except for Authorized Personnel.

The people surrounding me let out pitying sighs.