Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Super Paeng Daesan
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“No, brother! Your brothers' skills are by no means low! They're all at the first-rate realm, so it's dangerous for you to go alone!”
He was genuinely worried about me. At his innocent concern, I chuckled and gently but firmly grabbed his collar.
“What makes you think you can judge my risks?”
Paeng Daesan's body stiffened. Looking straight into his eyes, I said.
“I'm not going off to do something dangerous.”
“...”
“I'm just going to perform an act of chivalry.”
At my words, Paeng Daesan blinked blankly.
“Y-Yes...? Ch-chivalry, you say?”
Releasing his collar, I brushed off some nonexistent dust. Then I asked.
“Paeng Daesan. What do you think chivalry is?”
At the sudden question, he hesitated, flustered for a moment, then started reciting clichéd answers he'd probably picked up somewhere.
“W-Well... It's not tolerating injustice, helping the weak and crushing the strong... saving those in distress... laying down your life for righteousness... something like that, right?”
I nodded.
“Yeah. That can be called chivalry too.”
Slowly tilting my head up, I gazed at the western sky. The sun was dipping low, painting the heavens red. A sunset blazing as if to swallow the whole world. This sentimental vibe's been a while.
“Yesterday's me, and tomorrow's me—we might choose differently in a spot like this. But what this moment's me wants to do? That's already set.”
I pulled my eyes from the crimson sky and looked down at him again.
“What I want to do right now. Not weighing the gains or right and wrong—just doing it because I want to. That's my chivalry.”
I gave Paeng Daesan's shoulder another pat.
“If that heart of yours—calling me brother and wanting to follow—is truly part of your chivalry, then spit out where those so-called brothers of yours are holed up. Time to go smash 'em.”
Damn, I'm cool.
Paeng Daesan stood speechless for a long stretch. He just stared up at me in a daze. His pupils quaked fiercely. I could see worries and conflicts flashing through his head like lightning.
How much time passed?
Finally, Paeng Daesan parted his clenched lips. Face set with resolve, he dropped to his knees before me and bowed his head low.
“I'll follow. In brother's act of chivalry... Paeng Daesan stands with you.”
Good. Let's go.
Guided by Paeng Daesan, we reached a sizable inn not far from the Azure Dragon Squad hall. Rowdy noise and thick booze fumes spilled out even past the door.
Stepping inside, sure enough, a gang held court at the biggest table smack in the center, deep in their drunken revelry. True to Paeng family stock, they were all hulking brutes rivaling Paeng Daesan in size. Guys built like that had gone and trashed their one little brother. Flanking them were courtesans hauled in from some nearby pleasure house—one per man—giggling and guzzling alongside.
I strolled toward them slow and easy, calling out low.
“Hey.”
My voice cut the din dead. The drinkers whipped their heads around to gawk at us. Meeting their stares, I jerked my chin at the biggest, meanest-looking bastard parked dead center and asked.
“You lot the ones who wrecked my little brother's face like this?”
“B-Brother... actually, this bruise was from you just now... Gah!”
I flicked another knuckle-rapping to the forehead of the clueless interrupter. This idiot.
To Paeng Daesan, who clutched his brow with watery eyes, I asked.
“That all your so-called brothers?”
“N-No. How many more exactly, I don't know... probably a bunch.”
That's when one of Paeng Daesan's brothers spotted him and jeered.
“Get a load of that moron! Crawled back on his own feet for another beating!”
Paeng Daesan's shoulders twitched. He instinctively tried ducking behind me. I tsked in pity.
“Hey. That bulk of yours ain't hiding anywhere. Get out here.”
Paeng Daesan scratched his head sheepishly and shuffled back to my side.
Boom—!
As Paeng Daesan's brothers surged up together, the inn floor thrummed like thunder. Those massive frames rising in unison crammed the wide space full. Classic extra mob stage presence.
The frontrunner eyed me head to toe with a sleazy smirk.
“You the vice-squad something-or-other? A Paeng son calling some unheard-of punk 'brother'? That's the real disgrace on the Paeng name!”
His bellow rang through the whole inn.
Shing—!
With that, they yanked swords from their belts in unison. Blades gleamed cold and lethal under the lantern glow.
“Don't dream of walking out in one piece today!”
The killing intent cleared the inn—customers, courtesans, staff from owner to kitchen hands all screaming out the door in a stampede. Like a textbook evacuation drill. Flawless.
Now the empty inn held just us and Paeng Daesan's brothers.
To Paeng Daesan rigid and tense at my side, I tipped my chin.
Go.
With that intent packed in.
Catching my gesture, Paeng Daesan bugged his eyes wide in a 'Me?' gape.
I clapped his taut shoulder.
“Go on, Super Paeng Daesan.”
Paeng Daesan cocked his head.
“Su... Super...? What's that mean, brother?”
Of course. No way this dim bulb knows English. Time for a kind explainer.
“You just hit second-rate, yeah?”
“Yes, brother. Spot on.”
Paeng Daesan nodded. I followed up.
“Next stage after that?”
“First-rate!”
No hesitation. I pressed.
“And after first-rate?”
Paeng Daesan's eyes went saucer-wide. Lightning cracked in his skull.
“...!”
Enlightenment dawned—he balled a fist and bellowed.
“Peak master!”
I shook my head.
“Wrong.”
“Huh?”
“First-rate's next is super first-rate.”
The slick phrasing lit awe across Paeng Daesan's mug. He hollered, voice thick with rapture.
“Only brother could drop wisdom like that! Such depths!”
Then he tilted his head.
“But... how's that...”
Relevant now? Dumbass.
“You're gonna pay back every humiliation those clowns heaped on you.”
Naïveté drained from Paeng Daesan's face; gravity took hold. He nodded mute.
Then one brother lost it and roared.
“What're you two plotting right in our faces?!”
Shut it.
Legs pumped with strength reinforcement, I stomped a suggestion-loaded Shock Foot.
Bang—!
The floorboards quaked with a boom, and unseen mental waves blasted outward.
Twitch.
The sword-brandishing brutes froze mid-charge. Like time-stuck statues, locked in launch poses. Time stop, baby.
I beamed will straight to their brains. My voice echoed in their skulls like a transmission.
'Shut up and wait.'
Terror-locked, they could only roll their eyes—no finger twitched.
Ignoring the statues, I picked up with Paeng Daesan.
“Feel the rage, Paeng Daesan.”
My voice sank into his ear.
“Forget that helpless you who never fought back.”
I pointed at the frozen pack.
“Remember. Every insult, every pain they dumped on you. Swallow the anger.”
“...”
“The agony and grief your loyal servants took from them. Gulp that rage too.”
“...”
“And that childhood pain you can't even recall—your mother bearing it all alone to shield you, her isolation. Swallow every scrap of fury...”
Locking eyes with Paeng Daesan, I finished.
“Blast past first-rate in one shot. Become super first-rate.”
My words hung.
Crack.
Paeng Daesan's frame ground with twisting joints. Fists shook, muscles and veins wormed and ballooned. Eyes blood-red, breaths exploded beastly.
I shoved his back light—the final booster suggestion.
“Go.”
“GRAAAAAH—!”
Paeng Daesan roared, ground exploding as he hurled at his brothers.
I snapped the binding on them.
Twitch!
They jolted like nightmare-wakers. But no fight left in their eyes. The freaky freeze-frame and Paeng Daesan's feral charge crushed their spirits flat.
Hesitation hit—I zapped their brains again.
'Fight.'
Irresistible order—they gripped swords grudging, no choice.
“A Paeng son ditching the blade? Disgrace!”
Frontman bellowed, slashing wild at Paeng Daesan.
Clang!
Paeng Daesan twisted razor-thin to dodge. But five brothers' combo stormed from everywhere relentless. He reeled back under the blade rain, no counters, just retreats.
Trained tankiness and my buffs helped, but tight quarters cramped sword arcs—no full swings—which let Super Paeng Daesan weather the storm big-time.
Super first-rate? Total BS, of course.
Pure hype to pump confidence, shatter his limits.
But he can't lose here. This arc's hero is him—not me.
Anger's rocket fuel for power.
Least, in every comic I read.
I bellowed.
“Dolt! That's your lifelong blade! Spot the flaws!”
My coaching landed—his moves flipped like magic.
Blind faith in me: instant, zero-lag response.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
No more dodging. He plunged into the sword paths. Slid blind spots of clunky slow swings, flowed like water, hammered broadsides with powered fists—not edges.
Boom! Boom!
Boxer slipping hooks to gut-punch. Paeng Daesan's slip-smack combo? Bit of hype, but straight outta legend: the Dempsey Roll.
Crack—!
Brute fists cratered steel sides, cracks spidering.
Crunch! Crackle!
More slams—they buckled, blades shattering piecemeal.
Clang!
Last sword smithereened—Paeng Daesan surged on. Into the panicking disarmed bros: headbutts and gut-bombs merciless chain.
Thud! Thunk! Urk!
Screams dropped the giants one-two.
Soon, sole stander: Paeng Daesan.
Panting ragged, blood-sweat paste, glaring down at fallen kin. Those punches? Mega-hype, but like Squad Leader Byeok's no-qi haymaker.
“Huu... Huu...”
Thud.
Paeng Daesan crumpled spent. 0.2-sec Byeok Cheonwi flash? No wonder. Just knocked out.
Leaning close, I murmured.
“You're number one, Paeng Daesan.”
Top little bro.