Chapter 9
Chapter 9
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Debt Collectors' Reckoning
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Huh? Those guys aren't stopping. They're pretty tough, huh?"
"Oh? So we don't have to pretend not to know anymore?"
"I heard everything you were scheming."
"Wow, you've got sharp ears too."
"It's mana-enhanced senses. I'll teach you how soon."
Leaving the monsters behind.
He walked forward with steady steps.
Toward the loan sharks.
"Damn, just because I borrowed some money..."
There wasn't really any resentment.
The interest was pretty high, sure.
'They quieted down after I sent the ones who came to my house packing nicely, but now they're back.'
He'd sent them away really nicely.
In Kyle's way.
He explained the situation to Aden.
"What!? N-No way, people like this exist in Korea!?"
"Tell me about it. I'm shocked too."
There were rumors that creditors killed debtors who awakened, but.
He hadn't thought they were true.
"Humans never change."
No different from a hundred years ago.
"There were traitors like that back then too."
"Traitors?"
"Guys who sided with the World Tree faction."
Apparently, that's what they called awakened criminals nowadays too.
The loan sharks snapped out of their daze.
The senior one started thinking.
'Why'd the monsters stop?'
How'd they notice us?
And what's with that confidence?
He couldn't grasp the situation.
But something felt off.
'Is he really F-Rank?'
Aden hurried behind Kang Hyun.
"But if they're strong, you can't stop them?"
"Mana abundance makes it work, but I'm tapped out."
"Oh... So you'll fight with other Words of... er, other words?"
Aden nearly slipped and said "Word of Command."
"Nah? No mana left?"
"Pardon?"
Then what about those guys?
Aden was at a loss for words.
"Wh-What ranks are those guys?"
"D- something?"
"Then you're way behind, Master..."
What? Behind?
"'Behind' to your master? You wanna die?"
"B-But you're F+! If your only attack, mana, is gone...!"
This kid totally forgot she's A-Rank.
Exposed to malice, her thinking froze up.
'Too green.'
An A-Rank trembling before D-Ranks.
So much to teach her.
'When am I gonna make a proper disciple out of her.'
Meanwhile, the loan sharks.
While the two chatted, they sized things up.
'F+?'
And a mage type to boot.
Out of mana?
'Jackpot. Basically a normie.'
The frozen scene in front of them?
Some special skill or item, probably.
Of course, if the loan shark had been a mage.
Or understood what that frozen landscape meant even a little.
Or watched those TV shows analyzing the Heroes' Square flood.
Things might've gone differently.
'That big-chested girl next to him looks panicked too. Not that strong.'
Doable.
That's what the loan shark thought.
"Rookie, let's go."
"Y-Yes!"
The loan sharks charged.
Aden stepped forward too.
"I-I'll protect you!"
"Stay put. Don't get yourself stabbed doing something stupid."
A-Rank or not, no close combat experience.
She'd just get in the way.
A-Rank magic power?
Still dead if stabbed.
Kang Hyun felt a twinge of doubt.
'These guys and Aden. Do I really look like easy prey?'
Hurt his feelings.
He'd been called the strongest, after all.
"Inventory."
A short sword materialized from thin air.
Blunt scrap metal by now.
But it would do.
The loan sharks swung their weapons in unison.
"Die!"
"Hrah!"
D-Rank speed.
F-Rank couldn't keep up.
"Watch. Fights aren't just about stats."
Two steps.
That was enough to slip into their blind spot. And then.
Pfsh!
The worn short sword pierced the rookie's throat.
Pathetically simple.
"Huh?"
No, it just stuck.
No penetration.
Too shallow.
"Heh."
Blocked?
Stats were brutal.
Blood bubbled from the rookie's mouth.
"Guh, geh."
Kang Hyun tilted his head to dodge the spray.
Pulled the sword from the throat.
'Softer spot.'
Lifted it to the jaw and thrust.
Splurt—
"Grk—"
"Eh?"
Still shallow.
Didn't reach the brain.
"No way."
Unbelievable.
"Kghrk, rhk..."
The rookie was done for.
But now it was pride on the line.
Senior's blade came from behind.
Dropped the sword, stepped aside.
Dodged easily.
"B-Behind, kill him!"
One down in a flash.
Terror filled the senior's eyes.
Ignoring it.
One step forward.
Back to position.
Grabbed the back of the rookie's head, yanked down.
"Argh!"
Kneed the sword lodged in the jaw.
Splack.
This time, the blade punched clean through the skull.
"Whoa... Disciple, scratch that. Just grind stats first and don't show off."
These stats were scarier than expected.
He turned.
The other flinched at eye contact.
"Uwaaaah!"
Terror-driven desperate charge.
But Kang Hyun walked calmly two steps.
Ghosted past like a specter.
Ended up behind.
The panicked loan shark.
"Huh?"
Where'd he go?
In that instant.
Kang Hyun drove his elbow into the empty spine.
Crack—
"Ghk."
Done.
The loan shark crumpled to the floor.
Sharp elbow.
Force focused at the tip.
Jam it precisely between spinal nerves?
'Stats or not, paralyzed.'
But he felt his limit this time.
Technique could only cover so much against low ranks.
'High ranks... without 'that', no chance.'
Can't underestimate stats.
Gotta keep farming those Perfect Clear rewards.
"Ugh, argh! My legs! My legs!"
The writhing loan shark.
Lower body paralyzed for life, probably.
"Disciple."
"Y-Yes...!"
"I'm not a one-trick Word pony."
"Yes, sir!"
Kyle with his vocal cord nodules.
Had to baby his throat.
But a one-trick? No way.
The great hero Kyle.
Master of demon swordsmanship, imbuing summons and weapons with Words.
Aden... she's fine.
Worried she'd shake seeing a kill.
'Guess not. From Thea.'
Unlike Earth, life was cheap there.
Over a century at war with the Black World Tree.
"What about these guys?"
"Corpses vanish after dungeon clear."
He toed a head, pulled the short sword free.
"Total scrap now."
"Yeah. Useless."
Made him miss his old beloved sword from his past life.
"This one..."
"Sp-Spare me! I have bosses! I'll spill everything!"
"Dude, no loyalty?"
"None! Zero! Only respect and regret for you, Kang Hyun-nim!"
What an actor.
"Turn him over to the cops?"
"Nah. Not how you handle this."
"Why not?"
Advice from experience.
"The state is too public and lenient with criminals. Unless it hits their power directly."
"Ah~"
"Hand him over, and it'll bite you. Always kill your enemies yourself."
"Yes, sir! But..."
"What."
Aden hesitated.
"Have you... killed before? N-No, I mean, you seem so used to it..."
"Disciple."
"Yes?"
Sharp kid.
Damn, how to dodge?
...Bullshit my way out.
Put some gravitas in his voice.
Master mode on.
"Disciple. Do you know why heroes are called heroes?"
Aden's eyes widened.
"...! I'll listen intently. Teach me."
Good.
She eats up master mode.
Just like Mira from his past life.
"Heroes aren't titled for feeding orphans, nursing the sick, or saving girls."
"Then..."
"They killed the most enemies."
And Kyle among them.
Killed a ton.
Not just demons under the Black World Tree.
Traitors and rivals on humanity's side too.
Undoubtedly, the man who'd taken more lives than any in history.
"Wild histories say heroes' foes weren't just enemies."
Heroes face many assassins.
Many heroes met their end that way.
Yet the surviving Seven.
Showed no mercy.
Left no loose ends.
That's how they survived.
"If you admire them, learn their mindset too. Don't show mercy to foes in human skin."
"...Understood."
Perfect.
Not even close to answering her question.
But she bought it.
"Alright, let's butcher the paused mobs. Head home."
"Yes, sir!"
Then a voice from his feet.
"Um, me..."
"Ah. You."
Like he said, better learn about the organization.
Bosses might try something once they hear of dead underlings.
"Interrogate him."
"Pardon?"
"Disciple, eyes shut."
"Yes, sir!"
The loan shark sensed doom.
"W-Wait..."
"【Ignite】."
🔥 IGNITE 🔥 Flames erupted— "Aaaaagh—!!"
A horrific scream echoed through the dungeon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Section Chief Choi Young-ho frantically rifled through files.
Like this nonstop since yesterday's TV interview.
'Three Perfect Clears in a row!'
Couldn't bolt mid-shoot.
How antsy had he been?
"Bring every dungeon clear record from yesterday!"
"Th-That's a ton...!"
"All of them!"
Papers danced in his hands.
Shuffle—!
'This is my golden chance!'
Same guy conquering F-, F, F+ in a row?
He's real. About to crack it.
Then.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [One brave hero has 'Perfect Clear!'ed the F+ dungeon...] "Uwaaaah! Get today's clear reports too, all of them!"
Choi's horn-rimmed glasses flashed.
Overtime tonight!
'It's right there!'
Won't clock out till he finds him!
A subordinate brought coffee, commented.
"Not a solo clear this time, though?"
"What!?"
What now?
'He got a team?'
The perfect clearer hiding his identity.
Won't drag low-rank normies.
'Foreign scout attempt!?'