Chapter 45
Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Mount Hua Sect Confrontation
Things in the original world never go exactly as planned.
But doesn't that make it all the more interesting?
The predictable storyline of a thug getting thoroughly schooled by the protagonist...
It's about time it started feeling stale.
So I decided to boldly skip right over the process.
Of course, the readers watching might gripe a little, but that's okay.
The one getting flamed is the author, not me.
"M-Man-deok hyung!"
"Man-deok hyung, who's counted among our Mount Hua Sect's elite, getting one-sidedly beaten!"
"Even if he was injured! What the hell is that guy's deal?"
Listening to the extras explain what happened between chapters 44 and 45...
I slowly approached the fallen Sang Man-deok.
"Hey, what made you think you could strut around with that level of skill?"
"Urk... This can't be real..."
In truth, it was a fight with an obvious outcome anyway.
I've grown rapidly through experiencing all sorts of stories.
My overall stats are pretty high.
And my weapon's decent too.
I haven't mastered any proper swordsmanship yet.
But it's more than enough to take down a single extra.
'Well, the guy was just that underwhelming.'
I'd provoked him on purpose hoping a Mount Hua Sect swordsman might have something worth learning.
But it was so lame I nearly dozed off.
Skipping the fight scene was all for protecting our readers' eyes.
I can't dirty the eyes of our elegant, high-class readership with such a pathetic scrap.
"Get lost. And try being a bit nicer from now on."
"Urk... O-our boss won't forgive you in the name of the Mount Hua Sect!"
"Is your boss Sailor Moon or something?"
Honestly, at this level, I doubt it'll matter much.
No, actually, it's exactly what I want.
I might even get to see some real Mount Hua Sect swordsmanship.
"What's all this commotion?!"
As if the author had heard my wish.
A man's voice suddenly boomed across the training hall.
"I specifically asked you all not to start pointless squabbles since the event's about to begin!"
I turned to see quite a crowd had gathered before I knew it.
Everyone keeping their distance, watching us.
From among them stepped a man in training robes.
Tall stature, handsome face.
At first glance, definitely not some random extra.
'Eye of Truth.'
The job that popped up was none other than First-Rate Swordsman.
This is only the second time I've seen a job with a modifier like that.
'Thinking of Hye-na's "Best Driver," that one's probably pretty overpowered too, huh?'
Plus, unlike Hye-na's, this is a direct combat job.
And the trait is "Mount Hua Swordsmanship."
If the job and trait synergize...
His combat prowess must exceed that of a mere swordsman.
"You all know the party and event are starting soon, yet you dare cause this disturbance?"
"Seo-han hyung! That bastard's the one who did this to Man-deok hyung first!"
"Especially at a time like this, we can't let some outsider tarnish the Mount Hua Sect's name!"
Jong Seo-han glanced around at those words.
Already, plenty of people had witnessed us.
On the surface, it was just a spar, so no punishment issues.
But backing down now would make them look weak.
'They mentioned factions competing in the event. Things are more intertwined than I thought.'
Honestly, I don't know the full details.
But from what they said earlier about training hall authority...
The "Mount Hua Sect" name seems to carry weight even inside the hotel.
In that context, this defeat risks eroding their authority.
"Sigh... It seems there was some misunderstanding."
Jong Seo-han turned to me.
He wanted to wrap this up quick before it drew more spectacle.
"The spar's already over. Just apologize properly, and we'll let it go."
"H-Hyung! You're letting the guy who did this to me off...?"
"Tch! Quiet down. Can't you see all these people?"
The guys kept yammering on.
But from my perspective as the spectator, it was just absurd.
"Nah, I don't think so."
".......Pardon?"
"You guys started the provocation, you requested the spar first, and you got beat. So why should I apologize?"
If anything, I'm the one who deserves an apology.
Yet they're acting like I'll be done if I apologize.
Who in their right mind would swallow that?
"Our side's injuries are way worse."
"You deserved it."
Jong Seo-han's eyes narrowed.
Truth be told, even he must feel a bit frustrated.
He probably wants to just apologize and move on.
But with his underlings watching...
He can't.
In the end, his only option is picking on the easiest target: me.
".......If you insist on this, I can't just stand by. One of ours is injured, after all."
"Then bring it."
Familiar energy flowed from Jong Seo-han's body.
The killing intent Yoo-ri had been radiating nonstop.
Of course, it was nothing compared to Yoo-ri's...
But the fact he could muster this much already gauged his skill.
'Interesting.'
Maybe I've gotten used to it thanks to Yoo-ri.
Or maybe it's worth a shot.
Separate from Metafiction, that killing intent didn't scare me at all.
If anything, I felt a slight thrill.
'Will my skills hold up here too?'
I hadn't encountered any other strong players so far.
Putting aside the reincarnator Yoo-ri as an exception...
Everyone else was mostly weak.
So part of me had been anxious.
Maybe I was just a frog in a well.
In that sense, the Jong Seo-han in front of me was a pretty good opponent.
"......"
On the flip side, Jong Seo-han seemed slightly thrown by my reaction.
He'd probably assumed I'd cower and back off under his killing intent.
At this point, neither side can easily retreat.
As we glared at each other, the tension thick enough to cut...
"Hey, Ji-hoon!"
A familiar voice rang out from the crowd.
Hye-na and Yoo-ri, spotting me, walked over.
"What are you doing here?"
"You two, why are you here?"
"We saw the crowd and came to check it out, then spotted you and said hi."
Hye-na looked around and tilted her head.
"Oh, did we interrupt something?"
"Do I look like the type who socializes with total strangers?"
"Hmm...... Definitely not?"
I said it myself, but getting denied so quick feels weird.
Anyway, if even these two noticed, the crowd must be huge.
And with these unexpected beauties showing up, things got even rowdier.
"Whoa, who's that? Thought a celeb showed up."
"Never seen 'em before. How'd beauties like that fly under the radar?"
"They're with Mount Hua Sect folks. They with them?"
As expected, Yoo-ri and Hye-na's looks stand out anywhere.
The crowd's attention shifted to them in no time.
And Jong Seo-han—
"L-Lady Yoo-ri, fancy meeting you again here."
"......?"
—was blushing as he addressed Yoo-ri.
But Yoo-ri looked like she had no idea who he was.
"Have we met?"
"Uh, earlier in front of the forge, briefly..."
"......I see."
No, she doesn't remember at all.
Honestly, Jong Seo-han doesn't have a forgettable face.
"Anyway, Lady, what's brought you all the way here...?"
"Just passing by and spotted a colleague."
"Colleague... you say...?"
Jong Seo-han's head creaked toward me.
Yoo-ri ignored him completely, came over, and brushed the dust off my shoulder.
"What's the situation? Looks like some rough stuff went down."
"Ah, well—"
"Hahaha! Sorry about that! Just a little misunderstanding with my juniors!"
Jong Seo-han switched attitudes faster than light and bowed.
No, doing it now is kinda...
"Please accept this humble token as my apology! I'd be grateful if you'd forget this ever happened, young hero!"
.....Won't melt my heart, but I can let it slide.
Turning down sincerity isn't right.
"Hmph! I'll let it go this once, but I hope there won't be a next time."
"Y-Yes! Of course! Thank you for accepting, young hero!"
Yoo-ri tilted her head at our exchange of coins in friendly fashion.
"Hmm, nothing serious then? Looked like a fight broke out."
"Haha! Fight? Kids grow up bickering, right? Isn't that so, Man-deok?"
"H-Hyung? What're you—"
".......Right, Man-deok?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
Jong Seo-han's killing intent turned elsewhere this time.
Sang Man-deok, beaten black and blue by me, wore the world's most wronged expression.
But that's just how the world works.
"Ah! If you're okay with it, join my colleagues and me for a meal as further apology—"
"I don't eat with strangers."
"Ah, I see......"
Yoo-ri was Antarctic-cold to him, unlike with us.
So icy she wouldn't even glance his way.
"W-Well then, excuse us."
Jong Seo-han slunk away without a peep at the frosty reception.
Only then did Yoo-ri relax and speak.
"Martial world types?"
"Mount Hua Sect, apparently. You know 'em?"
"Hmm, do they breathe fire from their hands or something?"
She doesn't.
"Not familiar with Mount Hua Sect, but back in my past life, I saw similar groups. They used unique swordsmanship."
Guess martial world groups have been around awhile.
This "Doom" world really is something else.
Well, it's a place where all sorts of weird crap pops up anyway.
"So? What actually happened?"
To Hye-na's question, I shrugged lightly and replied.
"They jumped me."
".......What?"
At the words that a teammate got hit, Yoo-ri's eyes widened fiercely as killing intent surged.
Sorry, Seo-han.
But you guys poked me first.
Should've managed your crew better.
'Intriguing.'
At the same time.
A woman watched Lee Ji-hoon from a spot a little removed from the training hall.
She'd observed his training from start to finish.
The prowess he'd shown astonished her.
Not just his initial bout with the scarecrow.
When he utterly crushed a Mount Hua Sect member, she was genuinely impressed.
'To think such talent was still out there.'
She'd considered chewing out the Mount Hua Sect for bullying a newbie.
Never dreamed the newbie would crush them instead.
And the fight was utterly one-sided.
Sang Man-deok was no slouch in the Mount Hua Sect.
Yet Lee Ji-hoon steamrolled him effortlessly.
That alone marked him as exceptional.
But then he faced the sect leader Jong Seo-han without flinching.
A skilled powerhouse suddenly appearing in Doom Hotel.
'Never expected to spot someone like him right before the next event.'
With Doom Hotel's next event looming.
The hotel's factions were locked in a three-way deadlock.
The three currently in suites: Kim Chun-sik, Jong Seo-han, So Woon-hwi.
The forces they led were roughly equal in size.
No one could stay in Doom Hotel forever.
Leaving meant resuming the cursed battles outside.
To prepare for that...
They'd compete fiercely for event rewards.
One sudden powerhouse might trigger a seismic shift.
'I need to recruit him to our side somehow.'
She surely wasn't the only one thinking that.
The others would notice Lee Ji-hoon and try to approach too.
She had to snag him first.
With that thought, So Woon-hwi turned away.
'Lee Ji-hoon.'
Murmuring the suddenly appeared man's name.