Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Sharpened Blade
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The curved sword was shorter and lighter compared to the katanas universally favored by players. It carried the perception of weak destructive power because relatively less force could be applied to it.
But House Kang had stubbornly stuck to the curved sword all this time.
It wasn't stubbornness born from the founding ancestor's reverence for the kingdom's culture—it was for practical reasons.
The curved sword had strengths that meshed perfectly with House Kang's martial philosophy.
Because of its short, light blade, the center of gravity was biased toward the hilt.
Studying that trait and elevating it into an advantage had produced the extreme speed of Kang Family Iaido.
*Spang-!*
After finishing his meal.
Kang Jae-hyeok's hair stood on end as he swung his sword atop a nearby hill.
The sensation was different from usual.
The sword's trajectory, which he had honed day after day, felt sharper today.
It was a very subtle difference.
Assuming he had slashed the same rock as yesterday.
The sword mark left today seemed about two centimeters deeper than yesterday's.
If he shared this sentiment with players, they would surely double over in laughter.
They'd say just one point in Strength stat would make them several times stronger than that.
"Haha."
But Jae-hyeok was thrilled to the point of madness.
There were things only non-players could feel.
The tiny achievement grasped after enduring pain and tempering himself.
This thrill, different from system messages, was something players could never feel again.
*Man, what lame self-consolation.*
Jae-hyeok let out a hollow chuckle.
Of course, he knew it too.
The rush from leveling up as a player would overwhelmingly surpass the joy of this paltry achievement.
Jae-hyeok didn't deny players. He was someone who more than anyone wished to become a powerful player.
It was just that he still wasn't ready.
Being in a position where he had no choice but to delay his awakening, he was soothing his mind in this way.
"Hmm."
Wondering why his focus had broken, he realized the surroundings were noisy.
Rolling hills dotted with dozens of mounds.
There were occasional students like Jae-hyeok training atop the hills.
*Is there no quieter spot than this?*
Jae-hyeok, having sheathed his sword, twisted the belt ring to change the scabbard's orientation.
The hilt, which had faced forward, now swung to the rear, forming a structure that supported his elbow.
One reason Jae-hyeok favored the curved sword was this belt ring.
Loosely hung on the sash belt, it allowed him to freely adjust the scabbard's direction.
Meaning he could quick draw from any angle. It suited him perfectly, having trained his muscles to stretch flexibly.
*Shing, shing.*
Descending the hill and moving while repeating quick draws.
He pondered blind spots in his vision to prevent an imaginary foe before him from predicting his draw timing.
*What's that guy?*
*Some punk?*
Students who spotted Jae-hyeok walking a moonlit path and flashing his blade repeatedly recoiled in surprise.
The eerie energy flowing from Jae-hyeok's focused eyes was no different from a monster's glare.
"Hmm..."
How long had he walked?
Arriving at the ruined castle grounds, Jae-hyeok expanded his senses.
The area was as silent as if not a single insect stirred.
Exactly the environment he wanted.
Though the red ribbon marking the danger zone, set up fifty meters ahead, gave it an eerie vibe.
*Is that a monster habitat beyond?*
A forest where moonlight failed to pierce despite two moons shining.
Beyond the red ribbon, it was chillingly dark and still.
It felt like peering into the gaping maw of some colossal beast.
"Good..."
He liked the lack of people. As long as he didn't cross the line, it should be safe.
Decided, Jae-hyeok entered deeper into the castle grounds.
*A sparring arena?*
Passing crumbled walls and walking a bit further, he spotted a massive stage.
At first glance, it seemed like a plaza due to its vastness, but upon closer inspection, it was elevated compared to the surrounding flat ground.
There were audience-like seats here and there beyond the stage perimeter.
Though all structures had collapsed, it was probably originally like a coliseum, with seats encircling the stage.
"Lion..."
Ascending to the stage center and scanning around, Jae-hyeok's gaze fixed on one spot.
To the south stood an archway-like structure, with a lion's face relief carved in the center above the gate.
Cracks everywhere and moss clinging to it bore heavy traces of time, yet it looked vividly alive.
It wouldn't be strange if that lion roared and charged right now.
"It's just a head anyway, so no scare, just funny. Ahaha."
Jae-hyeok laughed loudly for no reason.
An old castle ruin on a plain devoid of even insects.
Dozens of meters behind him lay a monster habitat, and right before his eyes, a wide-eyed lion head glared at him...
Honestly, it was a bit scary.
The grim atmosphere made it seem like a ghost might pop out.
*At least if it were a monster, I could cut it down.*
Had he come too far...?
Should he turn back now? After a moment's hesitation, Jae-hyeok shook his head.
He liked the flat stage.
Though scars of destruction dotted it here and there, wind and rain over long years had weathered them, leaving no obstructing rubble piles.
"Ungh."
After a staring contest with the lion above the gate, Jae-hyeok slyly turned his back.
The lion's eyes were too intimidating. Even carved from gray stone, they seemed to gleam fiercely.
It also felt risky to stand with his back to the monster habitat.
*Thud!*
Facing the dark forest where monsters lurked, he stomped into stance, and dust piled on the stage billowed up in clouds.
Jae-hyeok didn't bother holding his breath. He could read the wind's flow. As expected, the agitated dust was swept by the wind toward the forest.
His senses were acutely sharp.
Like when he first experienced real combat not long ago.
"Ah."
Jae-hyeok realized anew.
In just a few days, he had undergone a great change.
Through life-and-death combat, he had confirmed the results of eight years of devoted training and gained confidence.
The conviction that his asceticism was not wrong took firm root in his heart and mind.
It was an absolutely necessary experience for a boy just beginning his journey.
The seed sprouts.
The boy who had polished his body and techniques his whole life had finally grasped the imagery and spirit befitting his physical realm.
*Spang-!*
Two scenes imprinted in the mind of the boy swinging his sword as if entranced, like photographs.
A girl shouting that she respected her father.
An instructor smiling sadly while reminiscing about his father.
Things he must protect.
Things he must create going forward.
Just two days after leaving the small world of the mansion.
Jae-hyeok realized that what had taken root in his heart and mind was not mere confidence, but conviction.
*Spang-!*
Conviction makes a person strong.
Jae-hyeok's sword grew a bit faster.
*Grrrrraaaaaahhh!!*
From beyond the deathly silent forest came a monster's roar.
Noisy and irritating, as if it would charge out any second to devour Jae-hyeok.
But Jae-hyeok didn't stop swinging his sword.
He stomped into successive stances, twisted the blade's direction, bent at the waist, linking different quick draw forms into what seemed like a single sword art.
His sharpened senses told him.
The hesitation carried in the monster's bellowing cry.
Those bastards couldn't easily cross that red ribbon... yeah, right.
"Huh? What?"
Jae-hyeok froze mid upward sword block, blinking.
A monster burst through the underbrush with a mighty leap, crossing the red ribbon.
Glared at Jae-hyeok on the stage as if to devour him, striding forward.
Green-skinned bulk armed with crude armor and a scimitar.
An orc warrior.
Not even an E-rank monster, but a D-rank. An elite monster that commanded regular orcs was inhabiting a forest right next to the safe zone.
*Is security for real?*
Well.
Considering the ducal mansion had been raided by a troll in broad daylight.
Given that this was inside a Gate, this was hardly noteworthy.
"Wow, already 4 a.m. Way past bedtime."
Checking his wristwatch, Jae-hyeok gave an awkward smile and backed away.
Honestly, he was startled.
It felt like only about ten minutes since arriving, but five hours had already passed...
Fatigue hit him belatedly.
With the monster emanating killing intent closing in, his weary body screamed.
*Grrrrraaaaaahhh!!*
No chance of reasoning with the monster.
Especially not an orc with its pig head.
When Jae-hyeok waved it away as if shooing, the orc warrior instead raised its scimitar and charged.
"What a pain."
Dodging the attack, Jae-hyeok reacted to the orc warrior's killing intent and nearly quick drew, but held back and swung his fist instead.
*Kuwek!*
The orc warrior's head snapped up from the jaw hit. An immediate elbow to the exposed throat produced a pig-slaughtering squeal.
House Kang's body techniques were practical for combat.
Jae-hyeok cautiously pushed away the staggering orc warrior.
"There, good boy? Let's call it quits and part ways. Okay?"
*Grrrrraaaaaahhh!!*
"Damn it."
In the end, Jae-hyeok dragged his tired body into a few more moves.
Stomping the orc warrior's knee to shatter it and leaping, he thrust rigid fingers into both eyes with full force.
*Ku, kuweeeek...!*
"Huh? Did I poke too hard? Hey, snap out of it! You bastard! Don't die!!"
Grabbing the collar of the orc warrior on the verge of blackout and shaking it, Jae-hyeok belatedly hurled it at the arriving orcs.
"Take your boss and treat him well! If he dies, you're all done for! Got it!?"
*Ku, kuwe...
It wasn't like they understood words.
The reason the orcs couldn't chase the fleeing Jae-hyeok was their boss suddenly crashing atop them.
Thanks to that, Jae-hyeok escaped unscathed, watched from start to finish by the lion head statue relief above the castle gate.