Chapter 21
Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Upgrade (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kim Gunja's hand, unconsciously reaching for Hell difficulty, hesitated.
Austin's words came to mind.
—Just as quest penalties differ, the severity of a trial's penalty is proportional to its reward.
There was no need to rush.
He needed to check first.
"Austin."
"Yes, Master."
"Do you know anything about the penalties for trials?"
"I'm sorry. Only you, Master, can see that information after selecting one."
"I see."
Regret deepened his contemplation.
"However..."
Austin spoke again.
"I can tell you that all penalties relate to your body, Master."
"As expected..."
It was so consistent, almost obsessively so.
Daily quests, special quests, and now even trials.
Every penalty demanded his body.
He'd brushed it off at first, but now it bordered on madness.
Why did the Customizing Room crave his body so much?
...No answers now.
Pushing aside the nagging questions, Kim Gunja's gaze returned to the trial difficulties.
[Easy: C-grade Material Box]
[Normal: B-grade Material Box]
[Hard: A-grade Material Box]
[(Hidden Difficulty) Hell: Extra Perk Selection]
Considering the penalties, Hard was his limit.
A penalty rivaling the perk would be catastrophically steep.
'But...'
Their faces floated above the selection window.
Kang Inhyeok, Jin Garyul, and Baek Jincheon.
'You want to grow as strong as them without risking anything?'
A scoff escaped him.
Ridiculous.
Gaining something without any risk? What could be more complacent?
Closing his eyes briefly, Sin Yeji and his friends' faces flashed through his mind.
Opening them again, steely resolve burned in Kim Gunja's pupils.
Without hesitation, he reached out.
At the same moment, an unfamiliar voice rang out.
...Investors?
"Austin, what's this...?"
"They are the ones who contributed to creating the Customizing Room. It exists thanks to them."
He'd never heard this before.
"What exactly are these investors?"
No, were they even people?
With no knowledge, the term felt off, but it was the best he could muster.
"I cannot disclose that at your current level."
"......"
It was a first.
Austin knew but refused to answer.
"Information is restricted by the Customizing Room's level. Please understand..."
Austin bowed apologetically, looking genuinely troubled.
A new expression from her.
He was a bit thrown off, but her politeness made him feel guilty instead.
"No need. If it's the rules here, so be it. Don't apologize for that. It's not your fault, Austin."
"Thank you for understanding."
Seeing her faint smile, Kim Gunja thought it suited her far better than tears.
………?
Tears...?
'I've never seen Austin cry?'
Wondering why that crossed his mind—
Earn His Recognition
📍 Difficulty: Hell (Hidden)
⏰ Content: He will test if you deserve your arm. Earn his recognition!
🎁 Success: Extra Perk Selection
⚠️ Failure Condition: Loss of Master's Will
💀 Failure: Master's Entire Body
With the alert, a sword dropped before him, which he caught reflexively.
Reading its details slowly, Kim Gunja's face hardened.
"What is this..."
No way. A joke, right?
He'd assumed any trial would involve customization, so he felt somewhat confident.
But upon confirming the details...
That confidence melted like spring snow.
Rumble—
One wall of the Customizing Room rose, revealing...
Thud. Thud.
Steady footsteps announced an old man's entrance.
Kim Gunja had seen him exactly twice.
First, standing aloof atop a mountain of corpses. Second, clashing swords with a man called the Heavenly Demon.
How could he forget that indelible impression?
He knew instantly.
His identity.
"Sword Demon... Ma Ilcheon..."
A groan like a scream escaped his lips.
The shock was that profound.
The hunched elder with twisted skin wore a thin red robe, one arm missing.
His lone hand gripped a worn, unremarkable sword, but Kim Gunja dared not laugh.
He knew exactly who this was.
Their eyes met—cold, emotionless.
Kim Gunja moved to greet him first.
Regardless of why, he owed this man much; it felt right.
But a flash erupted before him.
Slash—
A chilling sound, and the ceiling and floor slowly inverted.
'Wha...?'
Recognizing the elegant trajectory as Heaven-Shattering Sword, First Form: Single Flash, his consciousness snapped.
Thud, roll roll roll.
Ma Ilcheon gazed at the severed head at his feet, utterly emotionless.
#
"Yaaawn."
Under a Han River bridge.
A young man fishing in an area inaccessible to civilians stretched lazily.
Staring at the unmoving bobber, he grumbled to himself.
"Weird. Why no contact yet?"
The youth, Monjiro of Gluttony, couldn't make sense of it.
Pentagram was the undisputed world's top guild. No contact?
'Hmm. This is a problem.'
They'd said a week in Korea, but he expected a call within a day.
Pentagram was a supranational dream for all.
'Should I reach out first?'
The thought soured; it didn't sit right.
As Monjiro furrowed his brow in deliberation—
A blaring K-POP ringtone.
Screen read: Isabelle.
"Hello."
—Found him? How's it going?
A woman's voice tinged with hope.
"Got one. You?"
—Whew, lucky. Rest are duds. Korea got four new A-grades, huh? Must be one. Oh, minus the Homunculus one.
"Not even close. Name's Kim Gunja. D-grade."
—What? Really? But that doesn't...
"Way off. No ring either, so not certain. But he's the most suspicious overall—my gut says highest odds for Master Ring owner."
—Sure? Not barking up the wrong tree?
Monjiro shrugged nonchalantly.
"If not, oh well."
—Hey!
"Ow, my ears. You're all blanks anyway, yet you yap."
—Ugh...
"I passed my number. I'll check and call back."
—Tch. Fine. That's what I'll tell the Leader.
"Not Leader—Guild Master. Outdated title..."
—Whatever! Once Leader, always Leader! What if he ghosts or rejects? Backup plan?
Monjiro replied casually, as if trivial.
"Then... we'll force it out."
He omitted "even if I have to devour him," but she got the drift.
—Leader'd hate that.
"A scolding's fine. Nitpick like her, and nothing gets done."
—...Do you. Whatever happens, I knew nothing!
"Chicken. Got it."
Hanging up, Monjiro checked the twitching bobber and reeled in.
A massive catfish flopped, brimming with life—
Crunch—
A giant maw materialized from thin air, swallowing it whole.
Munch, crunch, gulp.
Monjiro watched Gluttony devour it, a cold smile playing on his lips.
#
"Gahk!"
Kim Gunja gasped, clearing his blocked airway.
Coughing violently, he tremblingly touched his neck.
I-it's still there?
"...An illusion?"
No, impossible.
The cold steel slicing his throat, the searing pain—still vivid.
The inverting world, blood spraying—definitely real.
Yet his neck intact. Confusion mounted.
"What... the hell?"
Glancing around reflexively, there stood his tormentor, sword lowered, statue-still.
Sword Demon Ma Ilcheon.
"......!"
Clang, leap!
His training kicked in instinctively; he snatched the fallen sword and backpedaled.
Aiming at Ma Ilcheon warily—
Another flash exploded.
Not this time.
Gritting his teeth, Kim Gunja surged mana.
Heaven-Shattering Sword, First Form: Single Flash!
Outpacing the foe, two flashes collided mid-air.
Clang—!
And,
"Gaaahhh!"
Kim Gunja screamed.
His sword arm severed clean, spraying blood as it flew.
Followed by another flash—
Slash—
The world inverted once more.
"Damn... bastard..."
Drifting in air, Ma Ilcheon's impassive face reflected in Kim Gunja's eyes.
#
Familiar ceiling.
Familiar him.
This time, no rush.
Caressed his neck, gripped the sword, deep breaths—整理 thoughts slowly.
He'd died.
Wrist gone, throat slit—the pain lingered, flesh quivering.
Yet alive.
Both he and the monster before him.
Didn't know why.
But cause? Obvious.
'Earn recognition... Loss of Master's will...'
Recalling the trial, he bit his lip.
If right, this agony looped infinitely.
Until he lost the will to fight.
"Who said... I'd quit?"
Sword raised, deep breath.
"Come on!"
He bellowed at Ma Ilcheon.
To suppress terror, to steel his resolve!
Flash, slash—!
Result unchanged.
Dammit.
Third time, neck airborne, pain-twisted eyes brewed venom.
12th attempt.
"Shit!"
Slash—
Arms gone, writhing—neck falls.
Sacrificing left arm for a Single Flash? Failed spectacularly.
58th.
"Gurk..."
Half-neck severed; realization—clean cuts hurt less.
Dodging? Off the list.
129th.
"Can't you... say something now...?"
Slash—
...Going insane.
745th.
"........."
Sword up, Heaven-Shattering Divine Art surges—Single Flash exchange.
Craaang!
Slash—
No change.
Ever.
1287th.
Sword up—Single Flash.
No Divine Art.
Finally realizing: he'd fought purely with swordsmanship.
Heaven-Shattering Sword relied not on mana.
Craaang!
Slash—
Of course, unchanged.
3729th.
Craang!
Slaaash—
Three fingers gone.
Not arm—fingers!
Slash—
First smile on airborne Kim Gunja's lips.
29382nd.
Gripping sword, dipped shoulder, left foot half-step forward.
Kim Gunja mirrored Ma Ilcheon perfectly.
And,
Craaang! Craang! Crang!
Single Flashes clashed repeatedly mid-air.
No blood spilled.
'Finally...!'
Euphoria trembled through him.
Steadying breath, smiling—
Stab—!
Spear-like thrust: Ma Ilcheon's fingertip extended Heaven-Shattering Sword, Second Form: Sky Piercer—through his brow.
'You... son...!'
Absurdity brief; falling back, unyielding will now blazed beyond venom in his eyes.
And watching him, the faintest smile touched Ma Ilcheon's lips—then vanished.