Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Martial God (2)
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"N-No way..."
"The Chairman is getting pushed back...?"
At the start, they had been evenly matched.
Even then, it was astonishing, but they thought it was something to watch a bit longer.
However, as time passed, it became clear that the Martial God was being overwhelmed.
Though his power had weakened considerably compared to his prime, the man still hailed as Korea's strongest warrior was being overpowered in raw strength by a young man barely in his early twenties.
Boom!Boom!
"Kuhahaha!"
Blood trickled from the Martial God's fist where the skin had split upon impact.
Yet he paid it no mind, burning with even greater fighting spirit as he focused on the battle.
The mere shock of their monstrous fists colliding cracked the ground and crumbled the reinforced walls.
'Th-This place has never been this damaged before!'
'That young man is dangerous... Extremely dangerous...'
'If that power turned against Korea, could we even stop it?'
The researchers and Association executives watched the fight, each lost in their own thoughts.
The battle seemed to be nearing its end.
"Haa... Haa..."
"..."
He truly was a strong young man.
Once, he himself had been called a monster.
But the youth before him surpassed even his wildest imagination.
To put it bluntly, the difference made him realize he wasn't a monster at all—just an ordinary man.
He could proudly say his skill had improved since his prime.
Back then, he'd relied solely on his physical prowess to throw punches, but now he'd honed his martial arts to compensate for his weakened body.
Honestly...
'Even if I'd fought with my prime body and my current skill, I couldn't guarantee victory...'
No matter what, using techniques consumed far more stamina.
Yet unlike himself, gasping as if he might collapse any moment, the young man before him showed no sign of labored breathing.
"Whew... I'll be honest—I was surprised. I never imagined you'd be this strong."
"Uh... Thanks for the compliment."
"If we keep going like this, this old body of mine won't hold up. So... here's the thing."
The Martial God assumed his stance.
"Take my strongest technique. We'll end the sparring with this. You... should be able to handle it."
"Your strongest technique...?"
"If you block this unscathed, I'll fully acknowledge you."
Did he have a technique like that?
Do-yun racked his brain for what he knew about the Martial God, but nothing came up.
Which meant it was a secret technique, never publicly revealed.
"Is it okay to show something like that here?"
"Don't worry. I'm just thrilled to face someone like you."
"..."
Is this guy really okay?
Do-yun looked at the Martial God with concern.
Unlike moments ago when he'd seemed fine, one arm was now bruised and bent unnaturally, with flesh torn from his hand and blood dripping down.
His body was crumbling from their clashes in various places.
Even to an outsider like Do-yun, the Martial God's condition was visibly dire.
In contrast, Do-yun had only torn clothes—no real injuries.
No matter how he looked at it, they should stop now.
So...
"...I'll just block it. No counterattacks."
"Hm?"
The Martial God looked surprised.
"No need for that."
"I-It's just... I'm getting worried..."
"...Heh heh heh... It's not so bad getting worried over by my son-in-law..."
"No, seriously, what's with the son-in-law talk...?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Alright then..."
At that moment.
"I accept your proposal."
The air grew heavy.
Just lowering into stance made the air tremble, giving the illusion that the ground was caving in.
'...?!'
This looks dangerous.
Thinking that, Do-yun raised both arms to guard.
And as the Martial God took a single step forward—
Whoosh!
Space seemed to fold as he instantly closed the distance, thrusting out his fist.
'Wha...?!'
It felt like a mountain pressing down, defying the heavens themselves.
It was clearly just a plain fist.
No special powers—just the pure force of an old man.
Yet Do-yun felt as if the sky itself was crushing him.
Do-yun raised both arms to block the distorting strike hurtling through space.
And then—
KABOOOM!!
Do-yun's body flew back, the floor crumbling under the impact it couldn't withstand.
The shockwave followed, collapsing the inner walls of the training ground.
"Gaaah?!"
"I-Is this really okay?!"
Those watching through the screen were no less shocked.
The shockwave shook the entire room, feeling like an earthquake.
This was in a training ground built with the pinnacle of modern technology for maximum durability.
'H-He was hiding power like this...!'
The researcher gasped.
It was just one strike.
From a dying old man, no less.
Yet the aftermath was beyond imagination.
'Is the young man okay?!'
That single fist had been overwhelmingly powerful, enough to spark such worry.
The researcher swallowed hard, staring at the screen that no longer rose due to the damage.
Wondering if the two were alright.
"Huff... Huff..."
The Martial God looked at his trembling arm.
He could feel one arm was completely wrecked from that last strike.
'Ha... With my old body, it would've strained me a bit, but I could've endured it...'
Was it too much for his current body?
Forcing his twisted arm back into place for emergency treatment, the Martial God slung it over his shoulder and looked toward Do-yun.
"Heh heh..."
He'd unleashed his full power—no, beyond it, to the point of wrecking his own body.
Yet the young man was unscathed.
His upper clothes shredded by the aftermath, body flung back and embedded in the wall from the impact—yet not a scratch on him.
He stared back with strong, surprised eyes.
'A disciple surpassing the master... Though I haven't taught him anything yet.'
The Martial God felt a swell of pride for the first time in ages.
Losing wasn't a big deal.
He was a setting sun anyway.
Korea's future belonged to the next generation.
Powerless or not didn't matter.
If someone who overwhelmed him like this was powerless, that would be the real absurdity.
That in itself would be remarkable.
Such a young man had come here himself to become a hero.
It would be foolish to think he wouldn't become Korea's spear.
Unless Korea itself pushed him away.
Unless they did something stupid.
This young man would become an excellent hero protecting Korea.
"Your victory."
The Martial God sat down right there.
Smiling with satisfaction.
"Your hero license should come through soon. Check your rank then."
As he was carted off to the hero hospital, the giggling Chairman—no...
"Oh, and call me Father-in-law."
"More weird talk..."
Father-in-law?
"F-Father-in-law is for calling your wife's father...?"
"I raised her like a daughter. Her dad died early."
"I'm sorry."
I almost went straight to hell...
His name was Han Young-ho, but calling him Grandpa Han Young-ho felt off, so I'd planned to stick with Chairman.
He really wanted me to call him Father-in-law, though.
"Hehe... At least call me Grandpa affectionately, then."
"Sure, Grandpa..."
The distance feels all wrong.
Dealing with him was awkward.
"More importantly, let's talk about my granddaughter. Didn't you say you'd met her once before?"
"Yeah... Definitely that time..."
"Wait, no way... Did you two fight?"
Fight?
Well...
Strictly speaking, she was just following protocol, but overall...
"Yeah... We did...? She started it..."
"...Hold on! Son-in-law! Listen!"
"Yes?"
"Th-The first meeting might've been rocky, but she's not a bad kid! And she's got so many cute sides—take good care of her!"
"No, what are you even..."
"Alright, I'm off!"
With that, the ambulance doors shut and drove away.
'What the heck.'
I stared dumbfounded in the direction Grandpa had gone.
Then, wrapping myself in the clothes from the Association, I recalled that final strike.
'That attack...'
Unlike the danger alarm in my head, it was bearable when it hit.
Though my body couldn't withstand the impact and got flung into the wall.
Anyway...
'It far exceeded my expectations...'
It felt like a strike surpassing the Martial God's original power.
Is that what a technique is? I was inwardly amazed when—
"...Hello."
A familiar voice from behind made me turn.
Snow-white hair.
A face that seemed naive yet emotionless.
And a suit I'd seen plenty of times.
"...Sword Fairy?"
"..."
What an awkward reunion.
I'd suspected it from the shared surname.
But this is real...?