Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: White Flame Baek Jincheon (1)
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Heaven-Shattering Sword.
As the name implied, it was the name Ma Ilcheon—born with the curses of being a hunchback and one-armed—had given while cursing the heavens.
It consisted of a total of ten sword forms, with the first three being thrusts.
First Form: Single Flash.
It contained the essence of striking first despite coming second, allowing one to seize the initiative faster than the opponent in any situation.
That was why he could launch the first strike even when attacking late in his spar with Park Chunduk.
Second Form: Sky Piercer.
Like water drops eventually piercing a stone, even a small force could penetrate even millennium steel if gathered properly.
That was why it could pierce through Jin Garyul's condensed mana and sturdy body.
Kim Gunja had tried to use the Second Form even in his initial spar with Han Juyeong.
But watching him hunt, he realized something.
'It'll likely miss.'
Han Juyeong wasn't foolish.
Sharpened like a blade, he knew how to move like a proper Defender.
Minimal evasion motions.
For unavoidable attacks, he deflected them using high hardness and technique.
A man trained to draw all attacks onto himself with virtually no damage.
He had every reason to be proud, and such a restrained person wouldn't easily let his guard down.
Not even against a D-rank.
'Hard to create a situation favorable to me.'
What remained was a head-on clash.
But since Han Juyeong had seen his sword, Single Flash or Sky Piercer would likely be evaded or deflected.
Thus, Kim Gunja needed a different type of sword from what he'd used before.
That was the Third Form: Heaven Shaker.
True to its name of shaking the heavens, it infused vibrations into a thrust to shatter the enemy's defense. Even though its speed was slower, it embodied the subtleties of motion within stillness, making evasion or deflection impossible.
On top of that, the ability gained from customizing helped as well.
Overall: The power of the Cave Gremlin's eye has been drawn out to its limit. Vision slightly improves in dark places. Due to the high rating, the additional ability [Mineral Analysis] has been unlocked.
Diamond might boast the highest hardness, but it was still a mineral.
Kim Gunja's eyes could see it.
The minute gaps between the diamonds formed by Han Juyeong's mana emission.
But that didn't mean Kim Gunja's attack had no weaknesses.
—Can you block it? Do I look like an idiot? Why would I block it? I'd just back off and attack from range.
As Yeji had said, simply retreating out of range would end it.
Then Han Juyeong could render Kim Gunja's strike futile and win easily.
However, Han Juyeong didn't retreat.
A Defender only fell back when they could no longer protect their team.
That was Han Juyeong's creed.
To uphold that creed, he had tempered himself thousands, tens of thousands of times to hone his unique trait and skills.
The timing of crouching and raising his shield, the angle for batting away the sword, control over his unique trait.
Everything was perfect.
The best move he could make.
And yet,
'And yet, why!'
Creeeak—crack!
Cracks were forming in Han Juyeong's pride.
He couldn't accept it.
The fact that he was crumbling under such a man's sword.
"Raaargh!"
Han Juyeong bellowed a thunderous shout.
Beneath the cracks spreading over the large shield,
Layer 2, 3, 4...
Up to seven layers of mana walls were generated.
As the translucent walls like diamond formed in multiples, the speed of the spreading web-like cracks slowed.
If he was being pushed back in technique,
"I'll crush you with raw power!"
Kiiiiing—!
The vibrations of Heaven Shaker seeking to pulverize its target resonated with Han Juyeong's power trying to block it, creating an ear-piercing ring.
A fleeting moment.
Endless cycles of cracking and repair.
Friction heat burst forth in blinding white light.
And when that light faded.
Only the hilt of the hunting sword remained in Kim Gunja's hand.
The blade couldn't withstand the clash of the two forces and shattered completely, scattering across the asphalt.
In Han Juyeong's hand, the large shield—once the size of an adult male's torso—had been reduced to the size of a palm.
His always neatly pomaded hair was disheveled from the impact's aftermath, strands falling over his forehead.
"Damn... freaking..."
Han Juyeong spat curses like he was swallowing them.
He had succeeded in protecting his large shield from Kim Gunja's attack, but not his pride.
Han Juyeong glared at Kim Gunja with blazing eyes.
The fact that his trait and skills had been neutralized by the man he'd despised was a massive shock.
How should he vent this rage?
As Han Juyeong steadied his stance to charge like a bull,
"I surrender."
Kim Gunja raised both hands in defeat.
Stunned by the unimaginable clash, the safety officer beside them reflexively asked,
"Pardon...? No, wait. So... you're declaring defeat right now?"
Before the safety officer finished, Kim Gunja plopped down on the ground.
"Hoo... As you can see, I can't even take a single step now."
At Kim Gunja's words, Han Juyeong's face twisted in frustration as he was about to charge.
He couldn't attack someone who had surrendered.
"Arrrgh... damn it all!"
Han Juyeong's roar echoed between the crumbled buildings.
With his opponent gone, he had nowhere to unleash his frustration.
But that was Han Juyeong's problem.
Not Kim Gunja's concern.
Above all, the Third Form of Heaven-Shattering Sword inflicted even greater mental fatigue than the first two, making it truly hard to even twitch a finger.
Kim Gunja lay flat on the asphalt.
Listening to the safety officer's match-end declaration and Han Juyeong's shouts, he gazed up at the sky turning egg-yolk yellow.
Ah, what a nice view.
And amid that,
Ding!
The quest completion alert finally rang out.
A deeper smile formed on Kim Gunja's lips.
#
Artificial Island Control Room.
Normally, this timing would be filled with scouts' heated debates and clamor.
Yet only a heavy silence hung in the air, so thick no one dared even swallow.
Due to one man's presence.
The man to whom even Lee Youngsik had yielded the head seat tapped the table with his fingers before speaking.
"Where did that guy even come from?"
Though clearly a mutter,
Everyone rolled their eyes, pondering how to respond.
A man who made even these scouts—sharp-tongued and bold—fidget uncomfortably.
That was Baek Jincheon.
His gaze remained fixed on Kim Gunja, who was being supported into a vehicle.
Lee Youngsik felt like he was dying watching Baek Jincheon.
'Why is he here!'
Baek Jincheon.
A single-number Hunter whose presence dwarfed even a nation's president.
The immense influence of him and his Hero Guild was powerful enough to vaporize even Lee Youngsik's top-ten position in the Association in an instant.
Thus, to avoid falling out of this man's favor, Lee Youngsik had no choice but to speak up as representative.
"...He's an Awakener registered at the Bucheon branch three months ago. Notable points include..."
"Do you think I came here without knowing that?"
Under Baek Jincheon's leisurely downward gaze, Lee Youngsik's mouth snapped shut.
"Why was such a notable point only discovered now?"
Not his superior, yet blunt condescension.
But since Baek Jincheon had nailed the core issue, cold sweat dripped down Lee Youngsik's back.
Damn! Damn it!
No flimsy excuses worked on this man. Lee Youngsik quickly bowed his head.
"S-Sorry."
"Show me with actions, not words."
"I'll immediately hold all related departments and personnel accountable!"
Ignoring Lee Youngsik's 90-degree bow, Baek Jincheon skimmed the materials the Association had prepared for the exam.
As Baek Jincheon gave no reply, Lee Youngsik—watching for cues on how to act—received a subtle glance from the headquarters chief.
Lee Youngsik bowed deeply again and quietly issued orders to the staff beside him, vowing to tear the responsible party apart.
"What do you think?"
As Baek Jincheon set down the materials and asked, the headquarters chief gathered his thoughts before replying.
"I believe he has sufficient investment value."
"Compared to Kang Inhyeok?"
"...Isn't that an overevaluation?"
At Baek Jincheon's faint smile, the headquarters chief's eyes widened.
It had been years since he'd seen him laugh out loud.
"You missed it too."
It meant there was something beyond Dual Stream. And he'd overlooked it.
"...My apologies."
"No. It's understandable. Where on earth did Kim Gunja learn that?"
Muttering about China perhaps, Baek Jincheon turned back to the screen, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
Hong Sua bit her lip listening to the two men's conversation.
The reason for airing personal opinions so openly here was all too obvious.
A warning not to meddle.
A declaration that Hero Guild would claim the examinee Kim Gunja.
His brazen, arrogant demeanor irked her to no end, but she could do nothing.
Before that man, even Infinite Guild's domestic No. 2 status meant nothing.
'Ugh, this sucks. Really...'
She quietly sighed, about to erase Kim Gunja from her mental scout candidate list, then paused.
'No. As long as it's not direct contact...?'
If she could make the examinee Kim Gunja come to Infinite Guild of his own volition, Hero Guild would have no grounds to complain.
A good idea sparking, Hong Sua smiled faintly and began busily contacting someone discreetly.
#
One vehicle was crossing the desert area.
It carried Kim Gunja and Han Juyeong, heading back to the waiting room.
In the silent car.
Han Juyeong, who had been quiet, finally looked at Kim Gunja and spoke with difficulty.
"......By any chance..."
"Yes?"
"...Never mind."
Kim Gunja tilted his head.
He seemed to have something to say but wasn't voicing it.
Was Han Juyeong 21? At that age, pride made it hard to speak up sometimes.
'I could ignore it...'
But he saw no need to.
Crossing swords often revealed a person's character, and in that regard, Han Juyeong struck him as quite honest and upright.
Kim Gunja didn't dislike such people, so he approached first.
"Speak freely. Unlike you, I quite like Han Juyeong."
"...I'm truly sorry for saying that upon first meeting. I think I misunderstood you."
Han Juyeong bowed his head.
As expected, he was the type to speak his mind directly without beating around the bush.
Looking up, Han Juyeong's face held remorse and embarrassment, not contempt.
With his anger subsided, his vision cleared, and replaying the clash, he was slowly accepting it.
That Kim Gunja must have shed blood and sweat no less than him to land that strike.
"It's fine. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared."
And since Kim Gunja wasn't one to dwell on trivialities, he accepted the apology readily.
Han Juyeong's expression lightened a bit.
Scratching his messy hair and averting his gaze, he spoke.
"Then, if... your body recovers, Kim Gunja, may I visit you sometime later?"
This was unexpected.
"...Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I want to have a proper rematch. Officially."
Saying this while staring straight at Kim Gunja, Han Juyeong's face showed a resolute stubbornness hard to call mere pride or arrogance.
It was likely a thirst for growth.
What an upright guy.
Definitely not a type he disliked.
"Anytime. I learned a lot too."
Kim Gunja extended his hand, still trembling from the aftereffects.
Looking at it, a slight smile bloomed on Han Juyeong's face.
'How many people can go all out until it comes to this...'
Fully acknowledging Kim Gunja, Han Juyeong clasped his hand and asked what had been on his mind.
"By the way, is Kim Gunja really D-rank?"
"Ah, I was three months ago. C-rank now."
Kim Gunja answered nonchalantly.
Han Juyeong nodded with an "aha," then tilted his head as something felt off.
Realizing it,
"Wait, then you ranked up in just three months?!"
He stammered uncharacteristically.
Even for low ranks, it usually took 3 to 7 years.
"Huh...?"
The safety officer driving mirrored that shock, glancing at Kim Gunja via the rearview with wide eyes.
"Haha..."
Kim Gunja let out a hollow laugh.
He'd forgotten.
That his growth rate was irregular.
There was only one way to handle this.
"I trained hard, and it worked out. Got lucky, I guess."
The textbook-perfect excuse.
The two staring at him could only gape, and Han Juyeong asked seriously.
"If it's not rude, where did you train?"
Kim Gunja grinned.
"Park Chunduk Academy."
Even while focusing on exams and quests,
Kim Gunja never forgot marketing.