Chapter 47

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 47

Chapter Title: Modern (4)

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Jang Ye-hwa, who had heard the rumors of Si-woo dueling, tried to stop him.

"Please hold back."

"Why?"

It was nothing major, but it was blowing up online. A showdown between YouTuber Speedman and the rookie pushed by SH Smith.

This wasn't normal. Someone's hand was visible behind it.

Some were subtly framing it not as a duel between the two, but between two weapons companies. Since they were the same rank with similar abilities, the logic was that gear differences would be decisive.

"I'm sorry. After investigating, it seems our rival company is behind this."

Si-woo had also sensed something off about the sudden provocation, but now it made sense.

"That's all it was?"

"Still... it'll be a pretty big hit. Especially if you lose. Just ignore it. We'll handle the cleanup as best we can."

"Can't I just win? Why not make the stage bigger?"

She let out a frustrated sigh but shook her head. She didn't run the company like a gambler.

"The risk is too high."

Si-woo wanted to publicly crush that cocky bastard. The easiest way to build fame was to step on someone already known.

Speedman was the perfect mark. He needed a bigger stage.

"Keep this a secret for now."

"What..?"

He drew his sword and focused.

Hum...

Jang Ye-hwa glanced at Si-woo as he closed his eyes in concentration, then her gaze shifted at the sound of a vibration.

Blue aura wisped up from the blade. Her red lips slowly parted.

"How is it already...?"

Even she, raised in a chaebol family, was stunned by this growth speed—it was unprecedented. How long had it been since his awakening, and he already had sword aura?

Normally, even a talented hunter lucky enough to awaken as C-rank needed years to reach B-rank.

Yet he'd started at F and was already B.

True ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠superhuman status—where modern firearms barely worked—began at B-rank hunter.

She swallowed hard, sneaking a peek at Si-woo's face. Confirming his talent made her thirsty.

It felt like spotting that doll she'd desperately wanted as a kid.

As Si-woo opened his eyes and their gazes met, Jang Ye-hwa startled and turned away, fanning herself.

"It's, it's hot... Why is that? Ahem..."

Regaining her composure, her eyes gleamed. She was certain the new White Lotus Pure Steel series launch would be a massive hit. If victory was assured, there was no need to hold back.

She mobilized the company's power to hype up the event.

Speedman swaggered in front of the camera.

"Haa... Bros, I've been through something ridiculous. Listen to this first."

He played the recording.

Speedman heated up, feigning outrage.

"Man, yesterday I came back from a rift, and this Choi Si-woo guy demands money out of nowhere. What the hell? Not some gangster. No idea who this nobody is, but apparently he's a clan leader?"

He scanned the chat.

"Ahem... Anyway, next target's set. Looks like I'll wreck him easy, but the fun's in how I do it, right? Heh heh... How should I punish him? Missions accepted."

Combo was his signature stream bet: how many hits before the opponent passed out.

"10 combos ain't easy—only 100k? You kidding?"

Bam!

100k donation chimed with the electronic tone.

Speedman's eyes lit up. This was lucrative. He hadn't hunted rifts in ages—stream revenue was key.

He took occasional gigs like the one from Kang Jin Steelworks, but they weren't steady. Had to milk every drop.

Only then could he keep up the lavish life.

"Hey, screenshotting this? Don't pay up, and I'll come find you?"

"Sweet, got the screenshot. Man, my fists are itching. How many teeth a person got...?"

Whoosh whoosh.

Speedman shadowboxed the air. His body reinforcement specialized in legs, but to normal eyes, even his punches were blindingly fast.

"Duel's going live—be there, everyone!"

The duel began.

They even brought in commentators and cameras.

With both companies' interests aligned to stir hype, what was minor exploded online.

Capital's power was formidable.

But plenty of regular viewers were hooked by the bait too.

Kang Jin Steelworks part-timers chimed in sporadically.

The B-rank hunter commentator sat with an annoyed face.

A B-rank like him stuck commentating this? Sigh. A reporter shoved a mic in.

"Who do you think wins?"

"Hm... Speedman has the edge, probably?"

"Oh? Why's that?"

"His raw skill's superior, plus better gear..."

"Great point. Shall we dive deeper?"

The dragged-in B-rank got into it despite himself.

"First, skill. Same rank, but awakening time gap's huge. Same ability too, so..."

"Oho! So Speedman's superior in every way?"

The B-rank pulled out his script. Time to earn his pay.

But the script contradicted his earlier words. He hesitated, then spoke.

"Um... Let me add to what I said. Skill gap's not that big. Same rank, same body reinforcement. But there's one decisive difference."

"Which is?"

"Gear. If skill's even, gear has to carry."

"True."

"Obviously Kang Jin Steelworks over Gukbap—er, sorry, SH Smith. Dragon Head Sword's renowned for performance."

"Right! 'Buy Dragon Head Sword with confidence.'"

"Ah! And with that... Duel starts now!"

*

The inner arts from the murim surpassed this modern world in key ways.

Especially discerning an opponent's realm. Hunters trained in primitive mana breathing were hard to gauge visually.

They didn't stack qi neatly in the dantian—scattered, absorbed from monsters chaotically. Felt different from murim folk.

That C-rank Speedman strutted fearlessly for that reason.

No training in reading realms externally, so he acted like that.

Speedman drew his flashy dragon-head-adorned sword.

Tsk.

Si-woo clicked his tongue, eyeing him. Surface-level C-rank sword, but the edge felt unnaturally sharp.

'Ha...! Look at this punk.'

He cloaked his blade in Mixed Origin Qi. Not even sword aura—just qi on the blade birthed overwhelming sharpness.

Oblivious, Speedman smirked and whispered low.

"Heh heh... Should've paid when I asked nicely. Regretting it now?"

"Nah. You sure you're good?"

Seeing Si-woo unfazed, Speedman hardened his expression.

'Gotta teach him a lesson.'

Pa-pa-pat!

Leg-enhanced thighs propelled him darting everywhere. Like a hyper rat to the eye.

Speedman worried briefly. Background blurring thrilled him.

'Hope this guy's not too slow... Gotta break that sword...'

Couldn't dash forever—charged Si-woo.

But no need for worry.

Speedman locked eyes clearly with Si-woo. Zero panic.

Panicking, he stomped to retreat. But Si-woo closed faster.

"Gasp!"

Reflexively thrust his sword—more shock.

The top-grade sword, ground from a hatchling's molar, shattered. Not in two, but countless pieces. Like swinging a stick against a master blade.

Hilt-only now, he stood dazed—then a cheek exploded with impact.

Clatter clatter.

Teeth raining sounded like Kang Jin Steelworks stock plummeting.