Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Hero Competition
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The arbitrarily upgraded Steal Strike had turned Hyeok Woon-sang into a woman.
-Pfft! Hahaha!
The holy sword was cracking up at the sight, as if the whole situation was hilarious.
Some lucky bastard, huh?
I kept a straight face while staring at the flustered Hyeok Woon-sang.
A woman with strong features came into view. It felt like this was what he'd look like if he suddenly turned into a woman—or maybe his sister.
But he's a guy?
Even looking at it rationally, I felt nothing.
'No, that's not the point.'
The moment Hyeok Woon-sang's appearance changed was just a split second.
I immediately used Steal Strike again.
My head throbbed painfully.
Was it because I'd stolen something from someone on Hyeok Woon-sang's level?
Even when I'd used Steal Strike right in front of Black Nether Art to swipe a dagger, it hadn't been this bad.
Using Steal Strike once more reverted Hyeok Woon-sang back to a man.
"......What......is this......?"
The bewildered Hyeok Woon-sang.
I clutched my pounding head and tossed out casually,
"I'll just say I stole some kind of concept."
"So that's why I turned into a woman just now?"
"Yeah, well......"
"Hm."
Hyeok Woon-sang nodded.
Then he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before speaking to me.
"Sorry about that. I had no idea you had such talent."
-You've got to admit it. There's at least a two-level gap. A guy who just hit level 6 landing a lucky shot on someone who's been at level 8 for ages and seen its limits.
The holy sword was giggling, clearly enjoying itself.
But it was getting a bit much.
It sounded just like proud parents bragging about their kid.
-Hah? Of course it is. After all the hard work I put into raising you!!
'......Yeah, you've got some share in my growth.'
-This talented little punk!
While I bantered briefly with the holy sword, Hyeok Woon-sang looked at me with complicated eyes and spoke up.
"A thief, huh...... I thought old man Unhyeon had lost his marbles, but maybe he sees people better than I do."
-Hmph, that guy's the same. He couldn't recognize this guy's talent and pushed Sword Hero on him.
'You're no different.'
-Already defending your master, huh.
The holy sword clicked its tongue.
I nodded appropriately to Hyeok Woon-sang, and with my decision to enter as the Thief Hero, the day came to an end.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
The streets were buzzing like a festival was in full swing.
Voices tangled into a constant murmur filling my ears, mixed with merchants' calls and snippets of conversation in unfamiliar tongues.
Red Eastern-style lanterns hung everywhere along the streets, and beneath them strode mercenaries and adventurers in the flashy garb typical of the Western Continent.
They paraded around like they were showing off their colors.
-It's finally today, huh.
The holy sword muttered, sounding expectant.
'Starting today.'
I chewed on a chicken skewer, thinking it over.
The Hero Competition.
That damn tournament was about to begin.
'Ah, I really don't wanna go.'
The rewards were tempting, sure.
But it was obvious it'd draw everyone's attention at once, and I had zero interest in that.
Fame is a double-edged sword.
The higher it climbs, the more perks, but...
It also attracts all sorts of annoying flies.
-You're doing pretty well on that front, though?
As the holy sword said.
Not many flies had stuck to me.
No big reason.
Ermé had been a huge help. She'd taken care of most of them before they could latch on.
'Ah, still hate it.'
Looking at the caliber of people gathered here, the more I stood out, the more troublesome flies I'd draw.
Ones even Ermé might struggle to swat mid-tournament.
"Woooah!"
"Look over there! No way, is that...?!"
Suddenly, a massive cheer erupted from the middle of the street.
People started crowding and murmuring.
Curious, I headed that way too.
Pushing through the throng, I spotted a man.
He wore pristine white robes, a long sword at his waist.
His face bore a gentle smile.
-Isn't that the guy?
'The one from the banquet yesterday?'
The holy sword reacted as soon as I saw his face.
The guy who'd shown faint jealousy at the sight of me.
"That's the 'White Cloud Sword Dragon' right there!"
"One of the top favorites for this Hero Competition!"
Chatter from the crowd drifted over.
Dragon.
A title granted only to the standout youngsters under thirty, called Post-Bloom Prodigies.
I had the title Sword Ghost of Ja-an, but my case was a bit different from theirs.
-He's no mere Post-Bloom Prodidy, after all.
The holy sword spoke with a pleased chuckle.
Right.
So Yeon-hwa had earned the Genius Killer title after first claiming Heavenly Dragon.
And that Heavenly Dragon was a title reserved for the absolute best among Post-Bloom Prodigies.
"......"
The man called Sword Dragon stared at me.
His smile frozen, eyes burning with intensity.
"What're you looking at?"
"......You're the famous Sword Ghost of Ja-an, aren't you, great hero? We met at the banquet yesterday, right?"
A soft voice.
But laced with something sticky.
What the hell was this guy's angle?
I furrowed my brows inwardly but smiled.
"And?"
"......Since the matches start today, let's both show our best and compete fairly."
Not dropping his smile, Sword Dragon clasped his hands in greeting.
-What a clown. As if I'd expect an arrogant punk like that to play nice.
'I keep up appearances too. Just not with black-hearted types.'
There were ways to be polite.
'But it'd attract more flies.'
So the public image I cultivated was arrogant and rude.
That suited me fine.
So.
I smirked at Sword Dragon's clasped hands and headed straight for the arena.
-Ooh, he stiffened up. Stiffened good.
'Kinda wanna see his face.'
-Mind-blowing. No booze needed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Arriving at the arena, I saw crowds everywhere.
I yawned lazily and strolled over to where our group was.
'They don't split them up early in the prelims, huh?'
-Gotta filter out the bare minimum first. Anyone who can't even cross the line gets another pass.
'People who can't make the cut are in the Hero candidate prelims?'
-Desperate types who'd kill for one glance. They don't even think about Hero spots; they prioritize catching noble eyes. That's why so many nobles are here.
Made sense, per the holy sword.
'Stimulates commerce too, draws people who wanna see nobles.'
-A real festival.
Like the Olympics.
Explained why it was hosted on the Eastern Continent.
Chatting with the holy sword, I fiddled with Cheong Yu-rang's tail.
"Eliminated."
"Out already."
Laments echoed here and there.
"People are already getting eliminated."
Gotash spoke up beside me, arms crossed.
"Already?"
"The prelim's set pretty tough. Over a hundred Hero candidates just for this."
Gotash pointed to one side.
A bunch were shuffling off dejectedly.
No spring in their step—clearly rejects.
"Test that hard?"
"Hard if hard, easy if easy."
What kinda answer is that?
I shot him a look, and Gotash explained.
"Prelim's simple. Can you damage the Eastern Continent's gadget or not?"
"What gadget?"
"Retinal Alloy. Shape-memory properties, takes on the user's mana traits."
"Retinal Alloy?"
I blinked at his explanation.
That stuff's a pain to get, and they're using it for tests?
'These guys loaded?'
-They are. It's a promo fest for the whole Eastern Continent.
Makes sense they'd pour in funds.
"Match is to scratch the Retinal Alloy."
"Easy."
"For you. Not for others."
Gotash glanced over.
At the rejects' area.
And one guy climbing up.
'Sword Dragon, right?'
The punk who'd forced that greeting earlier.
"Begin."
"Yes."
Sword Dragon drew his sword.
As he focused mana into it—
Shuuuk!
Sharp sword energy surged along the blade. Pretty fierce-looking stuff, slammed down.
Craaaack!
A huge noise rang out.
But despite the racket, only a tiny crack marred the Retinal Alloy.
"Pass!"
"As expected of White Cloud Sword Dragon—cleared in one shot!"
"So that's why they call him Sword Dragon... he can even dent that rock......!"
I eyed the Retinal Alloy, thinking.
'That tough?'
-Nah. Seems infused with mana from someone's Gift, like Blue Liquor.
'Makes a hard metal even tougher?'
Hearing that just made me want it more.
As I ogled the Retinal with greedy eyes, Sword Dragon—who'd finished—glanced my way.
And smirked ever so slightly.
'......What? Taunting me?'
-Looks like it.
The holy sword snickered gleefully.
"Heard that metal's sponsored by Sword Dragon's sect, the Wudang."
"......Really?"
"Hehe."
Ermé whispered mischievously.
After that, passes kept coming sporadically.
"Pass!"
"Pass!"
"Fail!"
Soon, Gotash's name was called.
Craaaack!!
A brutal sound echoed.
The Retinal Alloy dented noticeably.
Clear gap from that Sword Dragon punk.
Gotash smacked his lips regretfully at the mark.
Obvious difference.
Thanks to his Herculean Might Gift? Biggest damage so far among passers.
Srrrrk.
But soon, the dent began reverting bit by bit.
Shape-memory properties kicking in.
Faster than the stuff I'd handled, though.
-Not just tough. They put some thought into the test.
Others followed.
"Pass!"
"Yay~!"
Ermé flashing a V-sign at me.
Not as much as Gotash, but way better than Sword Dragon.
"Pass!"
"......Obviously."
Rishiel passed too.
"Pass."
"Dang, can't beat Gotash with raw power after all."
Brandil made it.
"Pass!"
"Simple for me."
Cheong Yu-rang passed.
Craaaack!
"Holy crap...... The Retinal Alloy split in half?!"
"Who's that?"
"As expected of Genius Killer! True to the name that brings despair to other geniuses!"
So Yeon-hwa passed—with top marks, yet she eyed the alloy dissatisfied.
-Sliced clean through.
'Yeah.'
I glanced at the fuming Sword Dragon.
-Having naughty thoughts?
'Not really.'
Just a tiny bit.
Enough to remind him of his place.
"Han Yuseong!"
"The Sword Ghost of Ja-an who beat Genius Killer, huh."
"Sigh, still buying that nonsense? Ridiculous. Didn't you see that sword energy? It's all rumors."
Chatter about me buzzed around.
I ignored it, drew my sword, and focused.
One thing to do now.
'Hero's orthodox swordsmanship.'
No big techniques needed.
Thief God's domain gauged its hardness via hand skill.
Orthodox style could cut it, I was sure.
Normally, I'd form under ten sword energies. But post-level-up? Different story.
The number exploded.
'At least thirty.'
Slice.
The rejoined Retinal Alloy halved again.
And thirty sword energies whirled, cubing it into tiny chunks.
"Wh-what?!"
"Han Yuseong? Sword Ghost of Ja-an! Find out who that guy is now!"
Stunned onlookers.
Judges slack-jawed, speechless.
"Pass?"
"Y-yes. Pass."
Leaving the flustered judge behind.
I hummed and strolled down.