Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Sword God's Curiosity
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#27
Seong Yura wore an excited expression at the sight of her friends, whom she hadn't seen in ages.
"It's been a year. How have you all been?"
"You look radiant. They must have taken good care of you in the Holy Kingdom."
"You're the one who's bulked up even more, aren't you?"
In response to Seong Yura's question, the guy, Park Jin-han, laughed heartily and flexed his bicep.
"I hit level 38. Ever since I got the 'Diamond Warrior' class, my muscles bulk up every time I level. Pretty awesome, right?"
Park Jin-han proudly showed off his solid physique.
It was packed with dense muscles, like looking at a wild stallion.
"What about you? How's the magic coming along?"
Park Jin-han asked his friend Kim Tae-jin, who had acquired the 'Superheat Mage' class.
"I'm at level 38 too. Ugh, I thought I'd be higher...."
Kim Tae-jin frowned, clearly displeased at being on the same level as Park Jin-han.
"Who are you trying to show off to?"
It seemed that since they were the same grade and received similar support, their growth rates weren't much different.
"Y-Yura, hi."
The one greeting her this time was a girl with the 'Dragon Tamer' aptitude.
"Tae-eun! How have you been... Huh? What's that on your shoulder?"
"Im Tae-eun! Is that a dragon?"
A palm-sized creature perched on the shy Im Tae-eun's shoulder.
At first glance, it looked like a lizard, but it wasn't.
There was no way a regular lizard would have wings on its back.
"Yeah. It's a baby I contracted with recently. Name's Innocent. It's only 100 years old, so it sleeps all day."
She handled it like a puppy.
But dragons were among the top-tier species.
Even a hatchling not yet 100 years old could easily roast most of the heroes here.
And it was cute too, so Seong Yura looked at Im Tae-eun with envious eyes.
"What's your level? How high is it?"
"I-I'm at 35...."
Hearing her level, Seong Yura looked slightly relieved.
Fortunately, her own level was higher.
"I'm a whopping 40! I'm the highest, right?"
Proud to have the highest level among her friends, Seong Yura beamed triumphantly.
"Hey, you're an SS-grade 'Saint Candidate.' Of course you'd level faster than us!"
Unlike her other friends, Seong Yura had an SS-grade class aptitude.
And...
"I'm not a 'Saint Candidate' anymore."
"Huh? Did you change classes?"
"I heard that happens sometimes."
Her friends pressed her with "What is it? What?"
Seong Yura tossed her hair and replied coyly.
"It's been ages since I shed that candidate label. Call me 'Saint' now."
Upon reaching level 10 and acquiring her class, she had become a full 'Saint' instead of a candidate.
Naturally, the Holy Kingdom of Aier was in an uproar.
No Saint had appeared in a thousand years, and now a hero summoned from another world had obtained the class.
Support for Seong Yura was beyond overwhelming—it was total.
"S-grade scrubs hang out in the 30s. I'll be chilling at 40."
Giggling as she teased her friends, Seong Yura soon turned to the last friend, who was lost in thought.
"Baek Si-woo, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
Even at this long-awaited reunion, the handsome guy hadn't said a word and looked deep in contemplation.
"Hm? Oh, just thinking about skill usage."
"...Even after a year apart, do you have to act like such a nerd?"
"Haha, sorry sorry. What were you talking about?"
Baek Si-woo laughed off Seong Yura's jab and apologized.
"We were talking levels. What's yours? SSS-grade, so like 43? 44? Something around there?"
Since the gap with her S-grade friends was that much, she figured it wouldn't be far off.
But she was wrong.
"I'm 51 now. What about you guys?"
His friends fell silent at Baek Si-woo's casual remark.
Level 51....
Even if higher grades grew faster, wasn't this too much?
Seong Yura in particular looked quite shocked.
She had known Baek Si-woo was exceptional since childhood.
But this kind of gap?
She had always strived to stand by his side, so her pride took a real hit, leaving her speechless.
"...Impressive."
But feeling jealous didn't mean she disliked him.
If anything, she felt a bit smug that such an amazing guy was her friend.
"Damn show-off."
"Why do you always have to be the best?"
The other friends grumbled at his overwhelming talent.
Just as Baek Si-woo looked flustered and tried to make excuses amid the sudden barrage of insults—
Bam!
A sudden noise rang out, followed by someone's nonchalant voice.
"Another challenger?"
'Who’s that?'
Baek Si-woo tilted his head at Seo Woo-jin.
He was a stranger.
He seemed to be a hero since he was here, but Baek Si-woo didn't remember him.
"Oh, that D-grade uncle guy."
Seong Yura cleared up his curiosity.
She pointed at Seo Woo-jin with a lukewarm expression.
"Did you just fight him?"
The atmosphere suggested a fight had broken out.
Someone lay unconscious in front of Seo Woo-jin.
'One hit.'
He'd heard only one striking sound.
That meant the guy had passed out from a single punch.
"Isn't that Lee Jin-ho?"
"Yeah, the handsome uncle. B-grade, right? Why's he down there?"
The fallen one was B-grade.
The standing one was D-grade.
Baek Si-woo couldn't make sense of the scene.
Grades were absolute.
It was something the Empire's knights had drilled into them endlessly while aiding their growth, and he had experienced it himself.
A lower-grade hero beating a higher-grade one was nearly impossible.
The gap between grades was just too vast to bridge easily.
Yet a D-grade had beaten a B-grade?
Baek Si-woo found himself walking toward Seo Woo-jin without realizing it.
"Hey, hey! Where are you going?"
His friends called out to stop him, but he didn't halt.
Curiosity.
He was the type who couldn't rest until he resolved any curiosity that struck.
Soon, Baek Si-woo stood before Seo Woo-jin.
And he asked.
"How'd you do it?"
* * *
Seo Woo-jin was a bit taken aback.
'Why's this guy suddenly coming at me?'
Baek Si-woo was famous.
At least among heroes, no one didn't know his grade or face.
Yet this big shot was approaching out of the blue.
'Not looking for a fight, I guess....'
That's what he thought at first.
He'd approached right after Seo Woo-jin said, "Another challenger?" so it was natural.
But up close, his face showed curiosity, not hostility.
And now a question.
The problem was Seo Woo-jin couldn't read his intentions.
'Is this like figuring out the examiner's intent?'
Never one for studies, Seo Woo-jin just asked directly.
"What?"
"How'd you win?"
Seo Woo-jin tilted his head.
'What? Picking a fight?'
But Baek Si-woo didn't look mocking—just purely curious.
So he answered honestly.
"I raised my fist and punched his face."
That was it.
Seo Woo-jin hadn't done anything beyond that.
No skills used.
Just a plain punch to the nose.
Of course, he had coated it with a bit of mana....
Without mana, knocking out Lee Jin-ho, who was over twice his level, in one hit would have been tough.
Baek Si-woo nodded calmly at Seo Woo-jin's half-hearted answer.
"Could I see it once?"
His tone was polite.
But the request was anything but.
"You want me to hit you once?"
"Yes."
Seo Woo-jin thought seriously.
Was this guy actually picking a fight?
"No reason not to."
Baek Si-woo was different from Lee Jin-ho.
'Could I win?'
Impossible.
At least not with one punch to knock him out.
'With a sword...?'
Still no guarantee of victory.
Unless he restricted mana and skills, going all-out meant the level gap was too wide.
Plus, the guy was a 'Sword God,' wasn't he?
In this awkward spot, someone came to Seo Woo-jin's aid.
"Hey, Baek Si-woo. The guy's in a tough spot. Leave it at that."
It was Seong Yura.
She had approached with her friends and was restraining Baek Si-woo.
"Ugh, that lunatic. Can't hold back his curiosity again."
"Uncle, sorry about this. He's not looking to fight—he's just crazy like that."
They apologized to Seo Woo-jin and dragged the struggling Baek Si-woo back.
"It's fine."
Seo Woo-jin shook his head.
He wasn't offended.
He hadn't been insulted or cursed at.
He just thought having a guy like that around might make things a bit tougher ahead.
'Level 51. Even Van Slane would cry.'
Of course, in a real fight, he wouldn't go down easy, but if a bit more time passed...
Even Van Slane might struggle against Baek Si-woo.
'I've gotta get stronger fast.'
Seo Woo-jin's current skill was on another level from regular heroes.
His level was low, but his swordsmanship and mana control were unmatched.
Add the 'Demon King' skills?
He could take most A-grade heroes easily.
But Baek Si-woo and his friends were different.
They didn't seem reliant solely on support and party carries.
Not on Seo Woo-jin's level, but they had put in their own effort.
Especially Baek Si-woo.
He was on another plane from the other summoned heroes.
'Survive among guys like that?'
He had felt confident leaving Sion.
Confident he could hold his own among heroes.
That confidence held even after flattening Lee Jin-ho.
But seeing Baek Si-woo and the others reignited his caution.
'This won't cut it.'
He needed at least matching levels.
Only then could he ensure survival.
'Damn, how do I level up?'
The Empire would have preparations for hero growth.
But Seo Woo-jin couldn't settle for that.
Faster and stronger than the rest.
He'd do whatever it took.
"Uncle, don't get too cocky."
'Hm?'
Lost in thought, he heard some nonsense.
It was Seong Yura.
Arms crossed, displeased for some reason, she scanned Seo Woo-jin up and down.
"You knew your place before, but now you're trying to stand out. If you can't back it up, just stay quiet."
What was this now?
After her friends dragged Baek Si-woo away, she started trash-talking.
"Like when you first got here. Got it? Just watch from the corner. Don't cause a scene. You're just background anyway."
She basically didn't want him stealing her spotlight.
It was so absurd he was speechless.
But Seong Yura took his silence as fear.
"See? Much better when you're quiet. Keep it that way so I don't have to deal with you."
With that, she turned away.
'Sshould I deck her?'
Unlike Baek Si-woo, she seemed like an easy one-hit.
He seriously considered it, then shook his head.
Most of her words were bullshit, but one thing rang true.
'Stay low.'
No need to draw attention by showing off.
With Lee Jin-ho knocked out cold, no one would challenge him openly now.
So, from here on, quiet.
Like water to wine, blending seamlessly.