30. This Might Be Fate Too
Cromwell the Department Head wouldn't have noticed it either—a stealth technique that cunning. Of course I was tempted.
Kasumi's face twisted in confusion as she shot back, "A wish?"
"It's not that grand a..." I started to deny it, then shut my mouth. Asking to learn a secret technique was plenty grand from her perspective.
"What wish do you intend to make of me, you bastard?!"
"Where's the fun in spoiling it upfront?"
Kasumi flushed beet red, clearly furious. She had every reason to. Proposing a bet like this could only mean I was looking down on her.
"...And if I win?"
"You can kill me."
I'd just regress and challenge her again if it came to that. Though it wouldn't.
Kasumi was Section Chief level—a solid first-rate warrior. But I was days away from gathering enough internal energy to hit Peak realm. With my artifacts on top, I had nothing to worry about.
"You've been a coward since day one, Master."
I let Zhuque's words flow in one ear and out the other. I wouldn't need her help just yet.
But for some reason, Kasumi looked even more flustered. "What? Y-You're serious? You're that committed...?"
"And?"
"You're not messing with me?"
"Dead serious."
"In that case... give me a moment to think? I need to prepare myself mentally."
"Uh... sure."
What was with everyone today needing all this mental prep? And why? Hadn't she come here specifically to challenge me from the start?
She turned away and slapped her cheeks with her palms—smack, smack.
"At the crossroads of my life... Just like Mother said, find a man willing to stake his life on me..."
She mumbled something, then spun back around. Nodding firmly like she'd made up her mind, she spoke.
"Fine. Give it your all, then. I don't like weak men."
"You got it."
Swoosh.
Angelica quickly pointed out Kasumi's trail as she vanished into hiding.
-Behind you.
As expected. I'd already predicted it. Ability users like stealth or teleport types followed predictable patterns.
I widened my eyes. The emergence spot was obvious, but Kasumi's strike wasn't.
Amhwan Cheonsin-ryu: Empty Slash Blade!
Clang!
A heavy impact transmitted through the flying downward slash loaded with her body weight. My palm stung around the grip of the Sealed Sword. The blade I'd been carrying before had shattered on Lee Jun-yeol, so this must be a spare from the broken weapons rack.
"Tch."
This was the third time I'd spotted her stealth. Judging it pointless now, she backed off, creating distance and facing me head-on.
Shing!
She kicked off walls and pillars nearby, darting through the air in zigzags.
"Just gonna poke and run?"
"As if!"
This time, I charged. I recalled a form I'd used in a situation like this—swordplay for slicing agile foes. I swept the Sealed Sword horizontally, then assumed position.
Black Moon Tyrant Sword: Linked 5 Forms — Flying Moon Slash!
These Linked 5 Forms didn't just chain after the third form of Black Moon Tyrant Sword. At mastery, they theoretically connected from any technique in the world—infinitely versatile. A battle-proven move, the sensation lingered perfectly.
Thwack!
"Guh!"
I wasn't aiming to kill, so I struck with the flat of the blade. Her stance wobbled briefly from the hit to her left side. But she swiftly formed hand seals.
Stealth here? No— what unfolded was different from expected.
Slink.
Kasumi's shadow peeled up, forming an identical shadow clone that thrust a hand blade at me.
As I dodged urgently—
Slink...
"...?"
The shadow clone—whatever it was—vanished. Glancing down, Kasumi was suddenly prone at my feet. No warning; it had reverted to her shadow instantly.
While she panicked, I shoved her head hard with my arm. At the same time, my foot hooked her back leg, tripping her forward.
No fancy martial art—just practical grappling honed over twenty years of combat. My patented Kim Jeongha Throw: Wasabari. It worked great on smaller opponents.
"Hup!"
Her body tilting wildly, Kasumi used the momentum to plant her hand, flipping backward in a somersault.
"That clone technique a Gift?"
"H-How did you...?!"
Some employees were like this: stellar combat skills, but occasional techniques felt crude. Unless a special case like Lee Jun-yeol, it was usually a Gift. Makes sense—they weren't proficient yet.
She stiffened as I stayed silent.
"You figured it out, huh. This power let me grasp our family's secret arts in my own way."
"Mind showing me?"
"Fine. Take this!"
She assumed stance. An assassin type facing front-on? Had to be her ultimate move.
She crouched low, slashing upward from my legs. Right thigh to left shoulder—a bisecting strike. My strength advantage let me tank it easy.
But my brow twitched. A clone spawned above her waist, blade arm swinging from a different angle.
Too fast to evade. Only one answer.
Barrier Shield!
Barrier Shield
ZZing!
The blade clashed against the barrier, which flickered briefly.
Kang!
If it'd connected with real intent to kill, my body would've been torn asunder. Terrifying power.
"Gonna cost you big for that."
"I-Impossible...!"
Kasumi's eyes shook in disbelief, screaming This feeling of defeat is new.
Me? I felt great. After countless losses over years, I'd finally gained power that bowed to no one.
She looked up. "Are you a yin-yang master?"
"Nah."
"Then some divine artifact."
"Close enough."
"Using that in a sacred, fair duel? Cowardly!"
I just shrugged. Artifacts were my power too.
"Anyway, time for my promised reward."
"The fight's not over."
"When an assassin's ultimate fails to kill, their fate's sealed."
Her hand trembled regripping the blade.
"...You really want that? From me?"
"What? Of course—that's why I proposed the bet."
"...Fine. A promise is a promise."
Unable to bear the defeat, she squeezed her eyes shut, body twitching.
"D-Do whatever you want with m—"
"Teach me your stealth technique."
"..."
"That's what I want."
Suddenly, she formed seals and vanished. About to yell if she was fleeing—Angelica stopped me.
"Just stay put. She's not running away..."
Yeah, she'd want to bolt, but whatever.
"Mm."
Angelica had never lied to me, so I waited quietly.
Soon, Kasumi reappeared, looking drained. Sweat poured as she panted.
"Suuuuh... haaah."
Staying stealthed must've burned all her energy. Composing herself, she asked,
"You really want to learn Amhwan Cheonsin-ryu? You already know another school's swordsmanship."
"Don't need the whole thing. Just the stealth."
"All my ninjutsu and ninpo stem from Amhwan Cheonsin-ryu. Learning just a piece without the full style? Impossible."
"What?"
"You must master the breathing method first."
"Ah."
That hit me—I couldn't learn stealth, or even the style itself.
I'd once asked Gwak Do-cheol if I could teach him Black Moon Sect's inner cultivation method. He'd replied,
'Superior inner methods cycle through the Twelve Standard Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Vessels. Yours likely does too, Young Master Kim. Clashing energies could bring qi deviation.'
'What happens then?'
'Madness, idiocy, or at best, loss of cultivation.'
Same worry when I first learned Blood Cycle. He'd given a clear answer.
I'd die before risking that.
"...Damn it."
Wasted time after all?
"Kuh... kuahaha!"
"Greed in moderation, Master. How about focusing on Heart-Mind Unity training?"
What was so funny to this Zhuque bitch?
"Haa..."
A sealed soul daring to advise her master. Tempted to reeducate her on hierarchy, but Angelica had helped big today, so I held back.
Sensing my dark mood, Kasumi tensed. "What's wrong? S-Surely not me agai—"
She started mumbling, but I sank into thought. Better to meditate replaying today's fight. That clone strike would've taken my head without the Manager Badge.
Expert on this? Time to see Gwak Do-cheol. Military factory could wait three days.
As I turned to leave, Kasumi grabbed me. "Where you going?"
"No point sticking around. Can't learn stealth anyway."
I'd wanted it not for cool factor, but utility sneaking up on Jo In-ho. No stealth? Let it go quick.
Same reason I ignored superpowers or magic. Not mine.
"Even so, a warrior's promise must be kept, even at cost of life."
"You'd really stake your life?"
"Of course. If you command, I'll commit seppuku here."
Dead serious tone. I didn't need that.
"No need for extremes. I'll think it over."
"Very well. Come find me when you decide."
"Got it."
I nodded and left the military factory.
"All done, sunbae?"
"Kept you waiting."
"No issue. I'm used to it."
True—snipers like him hid for days surveilling targets. Routine.
We headed to the Safety Planning Department. Lee Jun-yeol marveled on arrival.
"This is where I'll work? It's noticeably bigger than others."
"As Cherubim-ssi told you at the interview, we handle company security. Suits Section Chief Lee Jun-yeol perfectly."
"Section Chief still feels off."
He chuckled. First time seeing him smile. I'd only known the stone-faced trigger-puller.
Regression and promotions revealed new sides to old colleagues.
I sent him to the operations control room. "Cherubim-ssi will brief you."
"Understood, sunbae."
Then straight to my dorm. Plenty to do, but the key's secret first.
Curiosity grew thinking about it. After time lost to Kasumi, hoped it was worth it. Would show Cromwell's expectations for the factory—and employee Kim Jeongha.
Employee Kim Jeongha. Approved.
All personal dorms had biometric scanners. Wrist to pad, door unlocks.
Inside mine, I went straight to the bathroom mirror. Pulled out Cromwell's key from my pocket.
Dull coppery hue, faded like an antique.
"Doesn't look special." Looked like a heirloom. Artifact scan? No info. Some brought-over artifacts from my old world were like that.
Held it to the mirror. No reaction. So I jabbed it in like unlocking a lock.
Squelch.
Incredibly, it sank into the mirror's surface. Didn't doubt Cromwell—he hadn't tricked me.
Twisted it like releasing a latch. The smooth mirror rippled like water.