Chapter 135
Chapter 135
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Heroes' Contest
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A hero contest, huh.
Parties weren't all that exciting to me anyway.
The food and drinks here were generally a step behind modern standards.
'At least my cooking is a cut above modern cuisine.'
It was a bit tasteless, but since I didn't care much about flavor, I could eat anything without complaint.
-You don't feel much interest in taste? Didn't you devour a whole cow by yourself yesterday?
'...It couldn't be helped.'
Ever since coming to this world and training under Volkan, my metabolism had skyrocketed.
I could control it with magic power, but it didn't help much with growth, so I often skipped it.
It cost a fortune in food, but I wasn't short on cash.
And soon enough, the party began.
What they called a party was really just another spot to build connections.
Since everyone stuck to their own cliques, I found a quiet corner to settle in.
"Did you see the aura that Sword Ghost Ja-an unleashed earlier? It was utterly overwhelming."
"An astonishing presence. No wonder the rumors say even Gorath the Mighty was pushed back without a fight."
"The Sword Hero... I heard a human's competing this time, but if it's a man like that, we'd welcome him."
One side was a cluster of orcs.
Oddly enough, they were dressed in suits and holding a calm conversation.
"Amazing, right?"
"Yeah, well..."
There were orcs around the Cradle too, of course.
But most of them just wore armor. Seeing orcs in suits was a fresh shock.
"Hmm, most of the East Continent seems built from wood, huh?"
"Seeing this, you realize wood ain't half bad. If those elves stopped whining about their precious forests, we could use it freely too."
"Why don't those pointy-ears just go to the East Continent instead of coming here to bitch?"
The other side was a group of dwarves.
"That guy over there doesn't seem normal."
"I thought no man could be prettier than me... but now I want him."
"Shut it. He's mine first."
This group was elves.
'...Yeah, no way I'm going over there.'
I grimaced and turned away from the elves.
Well, Rishiel had warned me about it first.
'She said elves don't fuss much over looks.'
Because they rarely met anyone prettier than themselves.
So when they saw a prettier guy, they lost their minds.
'...Did I overdo the charm training?'
If I'd known it'd get me this kind of attention from elves,
I'd have done it anyway.
Honestly, good looks were the best.
With them, everywhere you went, you got extra service and perks. Felt great.
Then I glanced at the humans' gathering.
Already, factions had formed around three key figures.
One was So Yeonhwa.
A huge crowd surrounded her.
But she scanned the room with indifferent eyes, then shot me a slight glare.
"..."
Still holding a grudge, huh.
The other was a man.
A guy with a neat impression. Someone I'd never seen before.
His skill level felt way below So Yeonhwa's.
'What a sleazy vibe from that guy.'
The others subtly showed me goodwill,
but this one reeked of something sticky and unpleasant.
-Jealous men are ugly.
The holy sword clicked its tongue in disapproval.
Even a hero candidate jealous of me? Come on.
-Humans always covet what others have more of.
'Nah, the ones who have it are usually the nice ones.'
From what I'd seen living with them.
-...That's just how it is. The greedy always eye higher peaks. The content ones give to others.
Well, even among the rich, there are those drama-level jerks.
I memorized the smiling man's face and sighed.
-Why the sigh?
'Like I can't sigh whenever I want.'
Orcs, dwarves, elves, humans.
I'd checked out those four groups.
So where were the last group, the beastkin?
Thinking about it gave me a headache.
'Beastkin.'
The beastkin weren't clumped with the others.
They moved in a herd.
"..."
Fine, that made sense.
Beastkin had a habit of picking a leader and following their chief.
The problem was,
'Why am I the one?'
They were all trailing behind me.
"Hee hee..."
Cheong Yurang, looking smug for some reason.
The reason the beastkin followed me was simple.
Cheong Yurang was wagging her tail happily behind me, sticking close.
"...You're popular."
"Can't you go join them over there?"
I nodded toward the elves.
Instantly, the elves' eyes lit up, staring at me like predators eyeing prey.
'...Now I get why Volkan and the others fear them.'
Rishiel sidled up beside me, pouting.
"Don't say such mean things, my lord."
You're an elf too. Was treating her the same as them that harsh?
'Maybe a bit harsh.'
The thought crossed my mind.
It was all elves' fault anyway.
*
After the party ended, talk turned to event entries.
So Yeonhwa, Rishiel, and Ermé all signed up for the sword division.
It made sense—they'd been focused on the sword from the start.
Rishiel was the surprise, though.
Her skills couldn't beat So Yeonhwa or Ermé.
'...Well, everyone has their reasons.'
You shouldn't judge people like that anyway.
Rishiel was plenty strong, plus she had the S-rank gift Dance of the Gale.
But one companion made an unexpected choice.
Surprisingly, Cheong Yurang entered the sword division too.
"Of course. This servant has no confidence in beating her master, so sword it is."
Cheong Yurang said.
Ermé panicked and approached her.
"No way! Wouldn't it be better to fight Yuseong and become a hero?!"
"What are you talking about, Ermé? Can't you feel that aura?"
"...I don't feel any."
"Me neither. But wild instinct picks it up."
Cheong Yurang glanced at me.
"Sorry to disappoint my master, but this servant isn't ready to die yet."
"...What the hell did you eat to turn out like this, Lady Cheong Yurang?"
"I leveled up a bit while with you."
"That demon cult... no, that pervert bastard?"
"Yep."
Thanks to that guy's chain labyrinth gates, she'd leveled up.
I'd even let the Death Knight get hit to feed her well.
'Feels kinda gross.'
I had no idea what he wanted, but he was clearly using me for his schemes.
It pissed me off.
But right now, he was beyond me.
A gentleman's revenge takes ten years, but never too late.
'Someday, when I see you.'
I'll rip off that fake mask
and shatter whatever plans you have.
"Ugh, So Yeonhwa's already way stronger than planned... this is tough."
Ermé groaned.
I looked at her curiously.
"Do you have to become the Sword Hero?"
"...Only the Sword Hero can properly wield the holy sword."
-See? This blade is that impressive.
'...Whatever.'
Impressive feats? Occasionally hijacking my body to escape crises, or taunting me that I couldn't learn swordsmanship, only to get schooled in one night.
...Fine, let's say it's impressive.
I sidled up to Ermé, cast a sound barrier around us, and whispered.
"I'll lend you the holy sword later."
"Huh?"
She blinked blankly, then asked me back.
I shrugged and headed elsewhere.
While the others registered for their divisions,
I went to the thief division and signed up.
"Impossible."
But a hulking man blocked me.
The Martial Alliance Leader.
Spear Sovereign.
The old man who'd called Volkan senile was in my way.
"...?"
"I'd love to say impossible, but for the fairness of the hero contest, we can't."
"Then step aside."
"Must you?"
Spear Sovereign eyed me.
"I don't know what you want. But... your talent is too great to waste on another class."
Straightforward words.
His honest eyes met mine.
"But thief suits me."
"I don't know everything about you, but on my name as Hyuk Woonseong, I believe the sword is your path."
"I'm not that into holy swords."
Having it wasn't a problem.
Though whether I keep it depends on who becomes Sword Hero.
-What? Even here, you're handing me off?
'...Not like that.'
-No need to go far. Learn proper hero swordsmanship and footwork, and even stubborn fools will acknowledge you.
We'll cross that bridge later.
'I already talked to Diago about it.'
The holy sword issue might resolve nicely.
The problem was this guy.
'...Not budging.'
Damn it.
I sighed inwardly, crossed my arms, and stared at Hyuk Woonseong.
The old man clearly didn't buy me as a thief.
'Can't just smack him.'
I'd only hurt myself.
Proving by force in public wasn't right either.
I met Hyuk Woonseong's gaze.
His upright eyes challenged me.
He could force it but chose persuasion.
'Not a bad core.'
Why pick on me, though.
Sigh-worthy situation.
'So, in the end.'
One option left.
Steal Strike.
The one upgraded from S-rank to (?).
But I wouldn't show my ultimate move for free.
"How about a bet?"
"A bet?"
"If I prove my thief talent is top-tier, you owe me a favor."
"..."
Hyuk Woonseong stared at me.
Then nodded.
"Guess I should thank you. Indulging my stubbornness."
"I'll make you pay up big later. Brace yourself."
"Fair enough. I started it."
Hyuk Woonseong said,
"Show me."
I activated Steal Strike.
My hand slipped into... somewhere.
Instantly, I knew what he treasured most.
I reached out.
A strange sensation as something gripped my hand.
I pulled it out and showed Hyuk Woonseong.
"How's this... wait, what the hell is this?"
I blinked at the gem in my hand.
[Hyuk Woonseong's Masculinity] "..."
For some reason,
Hyuk Woonseong had become a woman.