Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Thunder Emperor (1)
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"What kind of move is it to suggest meeting the very next day...?"
I've quit all my part-time jobs now, and I'm planning to drop out of university too, so I don't have anything pressing keeping me busy anymore. That's why I told him anytime works for me, and his response was to meet tomorrow.
Ah, right. I did say anytime was fine, so I have no right to complain about tomorrow. Fair enough.
But having no right to complain and him actually replying like that are two different things.
I need time to mentally prepare myself, and hitting me with this out of nowhere...
"Thunder Emperor..."
For starters, he's the man currently hailed as the strongest in South Korea.
He's also known by another name: the fastest man.
It's not just raw physical strength.
His ability, as the name suggests, involves controlling lightning.
Controlling lightning—considering he's reached S-Rank with that power, it's safe to say he's practically lightning itself.
He's even shown himself turning into lightning to move.
Of course, not as fast as real lightning, but still insanely quick.
With that kind of power, it's no wonder he's called Korea's strongest and fastest ability user.
The general consensus is that while there are people in Korea who can go toe-to-toe with him, no one can actually beat him.
'Is this all the info I can dig up...?'
Well... I didn't go asking around at the Hero Association or anything. This is just what I found online, so it's no surprise I couldn't learn much.
Unless you're directly involved with him, there's not a ton of info out there.
'When I asked Gramps, he said it'd be better for my own experience to find out by fighting him myself...'
He said you can't always rely on others to tell you everything, so it's important to figure things out on your own. He didn't give me a single detail.
He even shot back, asking why I'd bother asking when I'd win anyway without knowing.
'Still, lightning...'
Hard to say.
I've seen videos online of Thunder Emperor in action, even if they're just what's uploaded there.
From those, I gathered he favors moving at lightning speed while overwhelming opponents with massive firepower.
'Firepower, huh...'
Never thought I'd be throwing down with a guy like that so suddenly.
At least it's a private spar that won't leak to the public. Small mercies.
I have no idea why he suddenly singled me out and asked Gramps of all people for a fight.
Guess Gramps was the only one he could talk to about this.
Apparently, he was watching me spar with Gramps without me knowing.
"...This the place?"
I figured we'd fight at the Association since he said we were sparring, but whether that's a relief or not, the spot I arrived at was some building I'd never seen before—not the Association.
"This... should be it, right...?"
The address they gave me matches this place.
No way they'd send the wrong one, so I'll know once I head inside.
That's what I was thinking as I started to step in.
Vrrr.
"Huh?"
The front gate suddenly slid open, and out walked someone wearing sunglasses.
"Whoa, what? I was gonna pick you up, but you beat me here? What's the deal, miss?"
"You asked for the address, so I gave it to you... I didn't expect you'd arrive this early."
Isn't it obvious to show up thirty minutes before the appointed time?
"Well, you're already here, so no point wasting more time."
"Aw, too bad. I wanted to make a proper S-Rank Hero entrance on the way over. No fun at all."
"Young master, you radiate S-Rank no matter what anyone sees."
"Why'd you leave off 'Hero' there? What're you trying to say?"
"I have nothing to say."
What the hell are these two...?
I stared at them in disbelief for a second, but they were too busy chatting with each other to even acknowledge me.
What is this supposed to be...?
"Ahaha, sorry! I lose track of time talking with my maid here."
"You two seem really close."
I wouldn't think a master and contractor would get along this well.
"Well, we've known each other forever. Why? You think my house maid's super pretty? Your type?"
"She's beautiful regardless of tastes. I think you two suit each other well."
"Oho... I like that answer."
The man grinned as he turned to me.
"So, shall we get down to business... what do you say?"
"I'm fine with that."
"Good. Straight shooter—I like it."
The elevator dinged to a stop as he replied.
The doors opened, revealing a massive training hall stretching out before me.
I don't know much about this stuff, but it felt even sturdier than the Association's sparring arena.
I looked around, my face showing my surprise.
"This is my private training room. My ability requires it to be built tough, or it'd get wrecked. Makes it perfect for situations like this, though."
"I see."
"Hmm... Kinda abrupt, but... how much fighting experience does our friend here have?"
"Hm... Honestly, not a ton. I only became a hero pretty recently, after all."
Gramps himself said my lack of experience is my biggest weakness.
"Not much fighting under your belt, yet Gramps praises you nonstop? Impressive."
I flinched at that, shoulders tensing.
Bringing that up right now means he knows what went down back then.
"So you were watching."
His smile deepened at my words.
"Who knows."
"Give me a straight answer."
I'm serious.
"No way you'd pick me out of nowhere for a spar otherwise."
"Fair enough. Yeah, that's right. I saw you fighting Gramps and figured I'd test you out myself. I've got my reasons for needing to do it this way."
"Reasons?"
I tilted my head.
He nodded and began explaining.
"As you know, I've got the national exchange coming up soon. You know what that is, right?"
I do.
It's a social event where top heroes from each country compete, share info on their abilities, and such.
"There's a guy there I have to beat."
"Someone you have to beat?"
"Yeah. You know Overwhelming?"
Uh...
Isn't he the guy called America's strongest?
"Heard of him. Hard not to, especially when it's Overwhelming."
"To beat him?"
"You're the only one whose physical specs look anywhere close to that monster's. I need every scrap of info I can get to take him down."
Thunder Emperor grinned at me.
"So, how strong do you think you are?"
"..."
Tough to say.
For one, I've crushed pretty much every fight so far.
It'd be weirder if I lost with this power.
Overwhelming force that can bulldoze anyone, regardless of who they are.
Sure, I've slipped up on timing or whatever, but I've never actually lost a straight fight.
"Not sure exactly how strong I am, but I don't think I'd lose to anyone."
"Hm~"
Thunder Emperor flashed another wide smile.
"Love that answer. The kind of confident response you'd expect from a guy with insane power."
"You think?"
"Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's settle this with our fists from here on out."
The fight was about to begin.
Lightning began crackling around Thunder Emperor's body.
"No holding back. Got it?"
"You sure that's okay?"
"That's why my maid's standing by over there."
He chuckled, pointing at the maid.
She kept her eyes closed, ignoring him without a word.
Uh...
Is she ignoring him? Or acknowledging his words?
First time I saw her, I'd have said the latter, but after seeing those two earlier, it's hard to tell.
"Give it everything you've got."
"Ah... sure..."
If I go all out, things might get dangerous.
I haven't unleashed full power in any situation yet.
Not even against Gramps.
"Listen up. You'll regret it if you don't."
Ignoring my thoughts, he amped up the lightning surging around him.
Feeling the battle about to erupt, I tensed my body.
"Alright... let's do this."
The spar kicked off with his words.
Krarung! Boom!
The roar of thunder and a crash followed right away.