Chapter 18
“Do you think you can copy it?”
The sword demonstration came to an end. Sidenmiller asked the question. Hyun-jun calmly replayed the swordsmanship the Last Sword Saint had shown him. Since it had been demonstrated slowly, enough of it had apparently stayed in his memory.
“Yes.”
With that answer, he imitated the sword form Sidenmiller had displayed. Even to his own eyes, it was not a satisfying performance, but it seemed to be different from Sidenmiller’s perspective. The saint’s gaze, fixed on Hyun-jun’s movements, was anything but ordinary.
He saw Imperial advanced swordsmanship once and copied it immediately. I knew he had broken through the mana circulation path, but to think his talent was this absurd! Remarkable!
Still, he gave none of that away. Too much praise could hinder growth, he believed.
“That’s not bad. But you’re still lacking.”
Sidenmiller barked the words, but in truth, mastering Imperial advanced swordsmanship perfectly in a single attempt was impossible. He stepped closer and corrected Hyun-jun’s mistaken posture.
“Try it again.”
Hyun-jun unfolded the sword form once more. Watching him, the corners of Sidenmiller’s mouth curved into a faint line.
“Much better. Excellent.”
In his heart, he wanted to shower the boy with praise, but he barely held himself back for fear Hyun-jun might become arrogant.
“Now, try to use the sword form together with your mana circulation technique.”
“Understood.”
Following Sidenmiller’s instruction, Hyun-jun performed the sword form while using the mana circulation technique. Yet his brow furrowed, dissatisfied. Trying to use swordsmanship and mana circulation at the same time split his concentration, making it hard to focus on either one.
“Is it difficult to concentrate?”
“It’s not easy.”
“That is normal.”
He did not add it, but performing advanced swordsmanship and mana circulation simultaneously was a high-difficulty training method that even elite knights struggled with.
“The sword form you are using now is not for overpowering an enemy. It is to strengthen the body through mana circulation. If you keep that clearly in mind, your heart will settle.”
Hyun-jun nodded. Sidenmiller was right. There was no enemy in front of him now. It was nothing more than a sequence of motions meant to increase the efficiency of the mana circulation technique.
No need to rush.
With that thought in mind, he swung his sword calmly. The blade, wrapped in aura, moved smoothly through the air. Even by his own judgment, the motion had improved considerably.
“Excellent. This is enough to count as the first lesson’s achievement.”
“It’s over?”
He had expected a merciless, one-sided spar. But it seemed not all of his past lives had trained him the same way.
“Disappointed? Sorry, but my way is different from Hashashin’s.”
Sidenmiller said with a slight curl of his lips.
“I’m not disappointed. I’m not a pervert either.”
Being skewered and turned into a human kebab was not a pleasant experience. If he had to endure it to become stronger, he would, but if there was a way to avoid it, he preferred to do that.
“When can I see you again?”
“If you are ready, you will be able to meet me again.”
“Then I’ll see you next time.”
The moment he opened the door and stepped out, his awareness slipped away again. When he came to, it was 9 a.m.
“Overslept…”
Yawning, he got out of bed, showered, and gathered his sword. The place he headed to after leaving the studio apartment was a small hill at the edge of the neighborhood.
This should do.
It was far from the walking trail. Here, his mana circulation sword training would not be disturbed. The faint aura rising from the sword he had drawn was not something just any C-Class hunter could do.
Hyun-jun calmly ran his mana circulation technique and unfolded the sword forms. They were the sword movements Sidenmiller had taught him. Slow, but precise.
I can feel it.
His understanding of swordsmanship was deepening, and his limits with mana were expanding along with his affinity for it. He could feel the change.
“Hoo!”
Even with the circulation technique, mana was not limitless, so rest was necessary. Hyun-jun sat down on a nearby rock and ate the gimbap he had brought.
There isn’t much time left until the day we promised.
The unofficial guild war was right around the corner.
I’ll keep training. With this, I can get stronger.
Hyun-jun’s eyes flashed coldly.
On the day of the unofficial guild war.
Hyun-jun received a call from Kim Tae-min, the executive chief of Wraith Guild, and went down to the first floor of the studio apartment building. A black sedan was parked in front of the building. The driver’s door opened, and Tae-min, dressed in a suit, got out. He opened the passenger door and sent Hyun-jun a look.
“Please get in. We’ll move straight to the rendezvous point.”
After getting into the passenger seat, Tae-min closed the door and moved to the driver’s seat. As the sedan pulled away, Tae-min opened his mouth to explain the situation.
“It’ll take about thirty minutes. We’ll meet up with five of our executive hunters at the first assembly point, then move to the location.”
“How strong are our forces?”
Comparing combat strength was essential.
“Including me, we have two B-Classes and four C-Classes.”
“What about Echo Guild?”
“Information about unofficial guild wars isn’t disclosed.”
At Tae-min’s answer, Hyun-jun frowned.
“There had to be a way to get some information.”
“With the capabilities of our guild’s intelligence division, extracting Echo Guild’s information was impossible. Considering the difference in funding they can mobilize…”
Tae-min let the sentence trail off. It did not seem pleasant for him to describe the helplessness of the guild he belonged to. Hyun-jun did not press further. For all he knew, Echo Guild was on the verge of an Silver-tier promotion, so its scale was certainly far beyond Wraith Guild’s, and it would no doubt field combat power on a completely different level.
“Still, Echo Guild has been under constant scrutiny because of its usual conduct. That means they won’t be able to mobilize their entire executive force. But they won’t bring only a small number either, so… you should stay on your guard.”
Perhaps because he was tense, Tae-min’s voice trembled faintly. Hyun-jun was different. His gaze, fixed straight ahead, did not waver, and he carried himself with a steady calm. Thanks to that, Tae-min could ease a little.
“We’ve arrived at the first assembly point. Please arm yourselves here before moving out.”
Tae-min got out of the car first, then opened the passenger door for him. Once Hyun-jun stepped out, his eyes moved quickly across the area. He could see five hunters, armed with weapons and armor, keeping watch around them.
Hyun-jun took out his gear as well. Since he had already returned the B-Class longsword Ye-seul had lent him to Ace, he had no choice but to use the F-Class longsword issued by the training center. He also picked up a B-Class shield called the Resentment-Imbued Shield.
“Mr. Kang Hyun-jun. Would you like to use our equipment? It’s only E-Class, but it should be better than nothing.”
Tae-min said this as two other executive hunters unloaded a crate from a truck and opened it. Inside were several worn leather armors.
“I’m fine. Just lend me something to wear over my clothes, if you have it.”
He did not want to dirty the clothes he was wearing. If the equipment had been D-Class, he would have put it on.
“We have one suit. The size should fit you, too.”
“Give it to me.”
“Here you are.”
After Hyun-jun changed into the suit, Tae-min checked his watch.
“It seems the time has come?”
“Yes. You should head out soon. And please put this on as well.”
Tae-min handed him something. When Hyun-jun lifted the red cloth covering it, a mask appeared beneath. He raised his head and looked around. The other Wraith Guild executive hunters were also putting on masks. Tae-min was no different.
“Interesting.”
It was an honest impression. After finishing with the mask, he followed Tae-min briskly toward the rendezvous point. They had walked about thirty minutes when Tae-min, who had been leading the way, stopped.
The chilling laugh of Hashashin warns you of an ambush. A hidden blade is aiming for your heart.
At the same time, Hashashin’s protection warned him of the ambush.
“There’s an ambush.”
“So it seems. They must have arrived first. They’re probably measuring our strength.”
“I don’t feel great about being treated like a monkey in a zoo. Mr. Kim Tae-min. I have one question.”
His voice was cold. Tae-min swallowed dryly at the faint murderous intent drifting through the air and nodded.
“Ask.”
“When does it start?”
He was asking about the start of the battle.
“The unofficial guild war already began the moment we arrived at this location.”
Then the choice was already decided.
“Mr. K-Kang Hyun-jun?”
Tae-min was startled. Before anyone realized it, a sharp dagger was already in Hyun-jun’s hand.
“First strike, first win.”
He swung his arm and threw the dagger.
“Aaaaah!”
The surprise attack came out of nowhere. A man in a suit fell tumbling from a tree to the ground. Hyun-jun’s dagger was buried in his chest.
“One hit?”
“Amazing!”
The Wraith Guild executive hunters cheered. By taking one enemy out at the very start, the pressure on their side had dropped considerably.
“I heard they hired mercenaries, but I didn’t think it would be this bad.”
Masked figures emerged from the darkness. They were clearly Echo Guild executive hunters. Hyun-jun drew his sword and shielded his body with the shield. At the same time, he assessed their numbers.
Ten.
This side had seven, counting Hyun-jun himself. The numbers were close, but the difference in force was significant. Unlike Wraith Guild, where only two hunters were B-Class, including Tae-min, there were at least four B-Class hunters among Echo Guild’s people here.
“If you’re not an A-Class hunter, it’s pointless. I’ll crush you with overwhelming power.”
The leader on the Echo Guild side raised a hand. It was the signal to attack. Their executive hunters moved at once.
“Attack!”
Tae-min also shouted at the top of his lungs, drawing his dagger. Hyun-jun did not stand still either. He dashed forward first, swinging his sword as he ran. His opponent was Echo Guild’s leader.
“I’ll crush you with overwhelming power.”
The leader said it aloud. A faint Aura Blade pulsed from his sword. Seeing that, Hyun-jun stepped back and let the corner of his mouth rise.
“Then I’ll give it my all too.”