Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Volkan
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Heading to the clearing.
There I saw Ermé, her face drained of all energy.
"Huh? Where are you off to right now?"
"Heading out for training."
"Training? Then you're going to the Adventurer's Guild, right? Let's go together. I was heading there to loosen up a bit myself."
Ermé's face lit up at my words.
But did the Adventurer's Guild even have a training ground?
"...Ah, I forgot to explain. Want me to fill you in on the way?"
"Sure."
Ermé sidled right up next to me and started talking.
She'd just been in the Labyrinth handling all sorts of things, but she smelled nice, like she'd spritzed on perfume.
With a playful smile swaying on her lips, she fell in step beside me.
She was acting just like a fox.
"First off, about the Adventurer's Guild. It's basically a massive interest group formed by all the clans banding together."
Back in the early days of the Labyrinth.
A bunch of people wanted to explore it. But the Empire and kingdoms were fighting over territory there.
"So they created the guild to stand up to them."
It was utter foolishness.
Adventuring was the job for people who couldn't cut it as knights.
Things were a bit different now, but that was the perception back then.
"Guess the bigwigs got pretty pissed."
It was only natural.
They saw adventurers as disposable soldiers for emergencies. But as adventurers delved into the Labyrinth, they grew ridiculously strong.
"At some point, they got strong enough to wipe out an entire kingdom."
That was the origin of the Adventurer's Guild.
A huge event that caught the eye of the Empire and every kingdom.
It changed how people viewed adventurers, too.
"The Empire and kingdoms shook hands and made a pact. In exchange for learning their know-how and secrets to getting stronger, they let the guild into the Labyrinth."
And that's how the modern Adventurer's Guild came to be.
Made sense why I thought it was so massive.
'They built it that big to keep up with the Empire and kingdoms.'
Maybe there were other factors, too.
By the time those thoughts crossed my mind, we'd arrived at the guild.
"Ah, the loot split's all done. What now?"
"Give Teresa like an extra 5%."
"Huh?"
"She carried my bag earlier because it was too heavy."
"Oh, the one with the corpse."
Ermé said that much, then turned around to look back at me.
Her crimson eyes gleamed seductively.
"You sure it's okay leaving everything to me?"
"Huh?"
"You usually check every little thing. Aren't you trusting me a bit too much?"
Ermé giggled as she asked me.
I knew she wouldn't pull anything.
'She's just wired that way.'
My friend had kept going on about it.
I figured even if she did betray me, there wasn't much I could do about it.
If someone like her turned on me, I was screwed anyway.
'If she betrays me, I can always stick a knife in her back later.'
With that mindset, I trusted her completely with whatever she did.
However.
I didn't feel like spelling all that out.
Better to go with something simpler.
"Because I trust you."
"Ugh..."
A single line like that probably hit deeper.
Just as I was thinking that, Ermé whipped her head around and pointed off to one side.
"Training ground's that way. I've got stuff to handle, so go on ahead."
"Got it."
No clue why, but I did as Ermé said.
'What's with all the embarrassment.'
Her ears were red all the way to the tips, her face buried low.
I headed for the training ground, and Rishiel sidled up beside me.
-This place... so many strong ones.
Really?
-I've heard humans are strong, strong, but I didn't expect this. More than a few are stronger than your average elf?
Rishiel kept chattering like that.
-But you... my identity won't get found out, right?
Who knows.
This world had all sorts of powers in the form of gifts.
In a place like this, a gift that let you see Rishiel wouldn't be weird.
To begin with.
'Stealing souls or obsessions.'
That was Plunder (S) for you.
This gift was pretty weird, though.
'Out of everything to steal, why crap like this...'
Nah, whatever.
The results weren't half bad, in the end.
-Hey, you. Ignoring me like this is a bit much, isn't it?
Talking here would make me look insane, so obviously.
I was listening to Rishiel when the training ground came into view.
"Ho? Haven't seen you around, newbie."
At what looked like the reception desk sat some old geezer.
'...What the hell's with that build.'
Insane.
Even sitting, the pressure was overwhelming.
His whole body was packed with muscle, and his forearms looked thicker than Ermé's waist?
-A terrifying powerhouse. Even with my body intact, I might have to fight for my life.
"What's your business, kid."
The old man grinned at me.
His eyes burned sharp.
Put nicely, intense. Less nicely...
'Kinda dangerous guy.'
The vibe of someone who could casually drown a few people and no one bat an eye.
Sensing that, maybe, people around started whispering as they eyed us.
"Why's that old coot at the training desk?"
"Hilda's day off today, probably. Poor newbie timing it like this."
"Look at that guy, black hair, black eyes... the Elf Slayer?"
"Elf Slayer?"
"Skaven jerks said he catches elves like it's nothing."
Everyone shot me looks mixing curiosity, wariness, and interest at that last bit.
'...Did it work out okay?'
From the vibe, those guys had spread the word pretty well.
"Ah, judging by the look, you're that famous one?"
"Famous?"
"Yeah. Heard there was some psycho emitting bloodlust on day one, sizing up the real deals. Came to check."
The old man eyed me up with a hum.
His gaze sparkled. Like he'd spotted a gem on the street.
"Got ourselves a real prize here."
"... ."
Prize, huh.
With Fatal Constitution (A) off, it'd be tough for him to gauge me.
'Gift that sees others' gifts?'
Or maybe fishing.
Those eyes on him, the old man chuckled and stood.
...Felt like a giant rising.
'Over two meters tall?'
The old man looked down at me and spoke.
"Kid. You look decent enough. This old body'll teach you a thing or two."
"... ."
"Sword King teaching someone?"
"Kid lucked out. Jealous."
I looked at the old man.
He seemed like a real heavyweight.
The reactions around shifted hard at his words.
'Opportunity.'
A chance to get stronger.
Sure, it'd hurt, but put differently, room to roll.
'That experience.'
I was looking forward to the dopamine rush of growth.
I accepted the geezer's offer.
"Good. Head inside."
The geezer grinned satisfied and led me deeper into the training ground.
But the reactions felt off.
Lots of envy at the entrance.
"How'd he end up in that mad old man's clutches..."
"Don't know much else, but the old man's rep is solid..."
"Well, true you get stronger going through him."
A smirking guy met my eye. He didn't say anything, just quietly prayed for my soul or something.
...What the.
Finally felt something wrong.
Usually people hustled to train and get strong. Why these reactions...
"We're here."
The geezer led me to a wide-open space.
Like a boxing ring, ropes strung at the edges.
'But those ropes are kinda thick.'
Normal ring ropes kept people out.
These felt like they kept someone in.
"Get in."
The old man grinned at me.
How could a person smile that ominously.
'Did I step in shit?'
But running felt lame.
I wasn't the type to bail over that anyway.
Won't escape this guy regardless.
I crawled into the ring.
"Man sneaking in like a girl. Don't like it."
"... ."
"Whatever."
The old man reached for the wall.
Then.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ WHOOONG! A massive wooden greatsword flew over on its own and into the old man's hand.
Some unknown force.
But more eye-catching was...
'What the size on that greatsword.'
Bigger than me.
No exaggeration, a colossal blade like it could hoist me right up.
"Everything here stays secret."
Come to think, no one else around.
Only gaze I felt was the old man's.
"So show me every ounce of power you're hiding."
The old man eyed me, like he could handle whatever I threw.
'Something like that exist?'
I mulled it over.
Put differently, I didn't even know my full power.
I drew Blood-Soaked Dagger (B) and Whisper of the Wind (B-).
"Dual blades, huh. Never seen a proper one among dual-wielders."
"Never trained."
"Heh, give it a shot."
The old man's eyes cooled a bit. I immediately activated Fatal Constitution (A).
"Ho?"
The old man's eyes began to shine brighter.
Sparkling.
Like someone who'd finished a fun game and just heard about the sequel.
'...Dual blades that rare?'
Thinking that, I sized up my opponent.
Now I saw him clearer than before. Where the vitals were.
'...Just heart, neck, face.'
Put differently, that's how honed he was.
Proof he was the real deal.
"All set?"
"... ."
I stared at the old man.
His weak points were visible now.
"Ah, right. Forgot to introduce myself."
"Introduce?"
"Yeah. Name's Volkan."
"Han Yuseong."
"Cheeky brat. Anyway, come at me."
Volkan crooked a finger at me.
But I couldn't move.
Cold sweat poured down.
'What is this.'
Felt like charging would just get me crushed.
Like slamming into a massive wall.
'Rishiel wasn't this bad.'
But I couldn't just stand there.
I charged at Volkan.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Blood-Soaked Dagger traced a crimson arc.
Whisper of the Wind drew a pale green trail.
As Han Yuseong swung both swords, the trajectories targeted Volkan.
'Huh, thought it'd be a decent boredom killer.'
Volkan stifled a laugh.
It had been that way from the start.
The moment combat began, the kid's razor-sharp reactions had his blood pumping for the first time in ages.
'Some kinda pufferfish?'
Like the guy himself transformed.
So he'd gotten his hopes up.
But the kid's moves fell short.
'Weird.'
Felt like he'd learned something but hadn't mastered it.
Most movements were straight-up beastly.
'But.'
A few sword clashes.
In between, the kid's swordplay started shifting. Growing more refined.
He swung again.
'What an absurd punk.'
Swordsmen could tell a style from crossing blades.
Styles were what swordsmen poured lifetimes into creating and evolving.
So Volkan could see what the kid was wielding.
'...That's the elves' swordsmanship.'
Elves wouldn't leak their arts.
Especially not teach a human.
And crucially, the kid showed no signs of formal training. Pure instinct in his swings.
Which meant.
'This punk stole the elves' swordsmanship.'
Volkan grinned ear to ear.
Their arts were tricky even for him, infused with elf racial traits.
Sure, humans stole styles sometimes.
But none ever stole elf swordsmanship.
He'd chalked it up to racial limits.
Until this kid.
Volkan assumed his stance.
A light diversion at first.
But no longer.
'Show me what you got.'
Brat.
I'll take it all. Just as Volkan eyed Han Yuseong with anticipation,
Han Yuseong raised both hands.
"I surrender."
"...What?"
"Seems my condition's off after the Labyrinth today."
"... ."
"Later then."
Han Yuseong scampered off quick as a rabbit.
Volkan could only watch in a daze.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📜 ENCOUNTER QUEST 📜 You have encountered Sword King Volkan.
Capture his interest somehow, or dispel it.
Reward: ???
Failure: No penalty.
'That was close.'
Almost didn't snag the reward.