Chapter 44 - Essential Armory (1)
After waking up in the hospital.
Kim Sun-woo stayed there for another full week before finally being discharged.
In the meantime, the Mugung Guild members who had wrapped up their mission in Gangwon Province trickled back and visited him one by one.
He took the others' visits in stride, but he couldn't help being greatly surprised when Guild Leader Han Kang-seok showed up.
"You used Sword Gang."
"...It was the only way to take down Ga Hwa-ryong. I couldn't even form a proper one."
"What matters is that you cleared the path."
This was only the second time he'd spoken with Han Kang-seok.
Just like their first meeting, there was this strange vibe about him.
He seemed incredibly powerful, yet there was an inexplicable familiarity, like they'd known each other for years. Was that just his imagination?
"In the Central Plains, countless swordsmen hone their blades their entire lives without ever coming close to Sword Gang. In that sense, you..."
In just a little over a month, he'd surpassed Sword Aura and reached the realm of Sword Gang.
Who could even put such talent into words?
Even Han Kang-seok, with his vast experiences from the Central Plains to Earth, had never seen anything like it.
Even now, having ascended to that realm himself, he hesitated to judge it hastily.
Han Kang-seok, who had been studying Kim Sun-woo intently, gave a short nod.
"Once you're discharged and your preparations are complete, come find me."
With that, he left without another word.
"......"
Staring at the spot where Han Kang-seok had been, Kim Sun-woo recalled the final sight he'd witnessed just before losing consciousness.
-Fwaaash!
His overwhelming martial prowess, spewing forth streaks of brilliant blue Sword Gang as he sliced Ga Hwa-ryong apart—it was still vividly etched in his mind.
...His words about coming to find him after discharge and preparations... does that mean he'll train me?
A master who wielded Sword Gang freely was offering to teach him martial arts.
Kim Sun-woo barely suppressed his thrilled excitement.
He had studied martial arts on his own through Baek Ryuk Geom's lectures.
Was this finally his chance to receive proper guidance from a true expert?
And he seemed to have checked my physical condition too.
Lying idle for the past week had left his body and senses rusty in places.
He was probably telling him to get back to peak form before training.
After discharge, Kim Sun-woo returned to his villa.
Click.
He hadn't been here long, but stepping through the door made it feel like he was truly home.
He opened the windows for some ventilation, did a light cleanup, then flopped onto the bed and fiddled with his smartphone.
[999+ Unread Messages]
"Ugh......"
His battle with Ga Hwa-ryong had been broadcast nationwide, catapulting Kim Sun-woo to considerable fame.
Even two weeks later, it was still a hot topic.
With dungeon breaks cropping up everywhere, his desperate struggle against Ga Hwa-ryong had struck a chord with many, they said.
...The problem is.
Scrolling down, he spotted long-lost but welcome names.
Even friends from his school days had reached out.
Kim Sun-woo had been the first to cut off contact.
After his parents passed and his family fell apart, his mind had been in tatters—he hadn't wanted to talk to anyone.
He still felt guilty for not properly saying goodbye.
Of course, that didn't mean he wanted to reconnect now.
The pain from back then still lingered.
Closing the messenger app, he browsed communities, then let out a short sigh and stared at the ceiling.
"I didn't ask for it to blow up this much."
He'd just wanted to pay off his debts and be free.
Honestly, he hadn't thought much beyond that.
He'd figured it was too late in life to start anything new anyway.
Maybe he'd just keep hunter work going until a natural retirement.
But somehow, he'd been thrust into the eye of the storm.
The funny part was, he was somehow adapting to it.
Bzzz.
Just then, a call came from the guild.
It wasn't about raids—various broadcasters and programs were flooding the guild counter with appearance requests.
Of course, he had no intention of going.
What would I even say if I did?
Probably just rehashing how tough it was paying off debts in the past, what hunter life was like—meaningless questions on repeat.
His head was complicated enough without turning his sob story into a sideshow.
And he wasn't hurting for money.
"Up we go."
He pushed himself off the bed.
He couldn't laze around forever.
He needed to get his body back in shape quickly, return to the guild, and receive Han Kang-seok's guidance.
Who knew when the next dispatch order might come, after all.
"The whole country's a powder keg, they said."
The cause wasn't clear yet, but dungeon breaks were rampant nationwide.
Seoul had managed without major damage, but Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces had taken heavy hits.
Other regions were on high alert, ready to move at any moment.
One wrong step, and monsters could flood the entire country.
Of course, it wasn't just Korea's problem.
"Whoa."
On a whim, he searched on his phone—overseas damage was even worse.
Europe and the US weren't even tallying it properly.
Nearby North Korea had already lost several cities.
China reported tens of millions of casualties in astronomical losses, and down south in Japan, the islands were bubbling over.
Compared to other countries, Korea had it good—but no room for complacency.
"Is the apocalypse coming or what?"
Even non-hunters could sense the ominous mood.
Communities were buzzing with doomsday theories earlier.
Crack.
Whatever. Kim Sun-woo grabbed his Black Flow Sword and headed out.
After ten years scraping by to pay off debt, it'd be a shame if the end of the world cheated him out of it.
If doomsday really hit, all he'd have to rely on was the martial arts he'd mastered and the Black Flow Sword at his waist.
This black blade from the Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim had held up perfectly even against Ga Hwa-ryong—truly grateful for that.
The hilt and guard were badly damaged and needed replacing, but the blade itself remained sturdy and razor-sharp.
The more he used it, the better it fit his hand—like it was his greatest gain from that place.
"We're here."
"Thanks. Card."
After leaving home, he took a taxi ten minutes to the training center.
It was a dedicated facility for hunters and awakeners like him—pricey, but top-notch.
150k a month, so I gotta hit it hard from now on.
The guild had a training ground too, but commuting there every time was a hassle, so he signed up for this one nearby.
Now that he'd reached a new realm, proper facilities would serve him well.
Whoosh.
Entering the private training room, the air purified and mana capsules activated.
Mana richer than on his usual back mountain trails floated in the air, carrying a sweet scent.
The changed environment made his body feel lighter.
After a light warm-up, he circulated his inner energy and practiced forms.
He'd done rehab in the hospital, but using inner energy had been banned, leaving him itchy all over.
Shiiik! Saaak!
Each swing pierced the air with sharp whooshes, lifting his spirits naturally.
It took about two hours to restore his body and senses to peak condition.
Panting and drenched in sweat, he noticed the training room's internal system.
"Right, they had a training system too."
Tapping the keypad brought up various options.
First time trying this—might as well pick something. He selected [Speed Ball].
Pong!
A red ball dropped from the ceiling.
Whirr.
Floating without wings, it spun lazily—then vanished from sight in an instant.
"Whoa."
Pretty fast.
Reading the instructions: Training starts 10 seconds after activation; chase the speed ball and press the button on it to end. Seven stages total. Damage or destroy it, and you'd pay compensation—no price listed, so he searched...
"Gasp."
One million won each?
And that was with insurance.
Hunters smashed hundreds worth in training without batting an eye—apparently true.
"Just don't break it, right?"
10 seconds had passed.
Eyes on the red ball darting erratically, Kim Sun-woo kicked off lightly.
Shyaak!
Illusion Flow Step had reached perfection.
Gone was the old clumsiness—his form became a streak of light slicing through the air.
Beep.
Before the ball could react, he pressed the button on top. Stage 1 cleared.
Pong!
Next, a yellow ball.
Seemed stages went by rainbow colors.
Red: 40 seconds.
Yellow: 25 seconds.
Green: 21 seconds.
Blue: 15 seconds.
Indigo: 11 seconds.
Ridiculously, clear times got faster per stage.
Early slow balls required deliberate speed control, which was trickier.
By indigo, speeds felt familiar to his eyes.
"Definitely good training."
The speed ball moved unpredictably.
Whatever tech it used, it accelerated and braked freely, pulled impossible drifts, faked with sudden vertical climbs and drops.
All child's play for Kim Sun-woo, though.
Pong!
The final violet ball dropped.
He bounced in place, waiting out the 10 seconds.
Shyaak—!
As expected of the last stage, the violet ball moved on another level.
"Still just a ball."
Boosting Illusion Flow Step another notch, he read its trajectory and stepped ahead.
The moment it entered his grasp—
-Thud!
The impact slamming into his palm made his eyes widen.
Like a bullet embedding itself.
He exhaled sharply and staggered back; the violet ball slipped free, tracing a chaotic path as it fled.
"Hah."
Rubbing his tingling palm, Kim Sun-woo grinned crookedly.
"Yeah, won't go down easy, huh."
With a casual wrist flick, he kicked off again.
This time, no whoosh through the air.
Beep.
The speed ball used optical sensors to detect and evade movements.
Not fully developed yet, but the violet stage...
Thud.
"Gotcha."
Grinning, Kim Sun-woo clamped down hard.
Vreeee!
The violet ball spun wildly, generating friction heat.
A normal hunter would've yelped and dropped it, but sadly, his opponent was the man who'd endured Ga Hwa-ryong's flames.
Squeeze.
He gripped harder and finally pressed the button...
Crack.
"Ah."
The violet ball shattered.
Staring blankly at the debris crumbling from his hand, Kim Sun-woo blinked.
"Gripped too hard, huh."
One million won gone in a flash.
Still, good training—worth it.
Scratching his head, he called the staff.
The employee heard about the speed ball, tilted his head—then blanched at the violet wreckage.
"Uh, uh......"
"...Something wrong?"
A uneasy premonition crept up on Kim Sun-woo at the reaction.
The staffer hurriedly called someone, then spoke awkwardly.
"Standard training rooms can't use combat systems. That's for VIP facilities only—must've glitched and registered here."
"Glitch?"
"Yes. And the speed balls..."
"I know one's a million won. More than that?"
Kim Sun-woo's fingertips trembled slightly.
He'd found it odd, actually.
Red was one thing, but the others had markedly different speeds.
Violet especially stood out—tech and hardware like that for just a million?
"Not my expertise, but unit costs more than double per stage. For violet..."
Gathering the shards, the staffer glanced nervously.
"At least ten million minimum..."
"......"
Kim Sun-woo's mind reeled.
One gesture, and ten million up in smoke.
...No, it's fine.
He still had money left, and his Gangwon exploits had earned hefty rewards.
It stung, but not like before—he could handle it.
"...Here to pay?"
Just then, a suited middle-aged man burst in, panting.
Face slick with cold sweat from rushing, his usually slicked-back hair disheveled.
The staffer stepping back warily meant this guy was the manager or higher-up.
Kim Sun-woo bowed sheepishly.
"Ah, sorry. Kim Sun-woo of Mugung Guild. My carelessness..."
"Shin Young-sik, deputy manager of Essential Armory. This record—"
Tap.
Shin Young-sik pointed at the tablet screen showing Kim Sun-woo's speed ball record.
"You set it yourself?"
With eyes burning like they could devour him whole.