Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: 43. Black Rain (1)
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Cripple.
To be precise, it wasn't wrong.
Jeong Yeong-woo's legs hadn't regenerated yet.
He couldn't walk properly, let alone stand, so he was definitely a cripple.
And yet.
"...Ouch."
The way he gingerly caressed his face, which had been smashed into the asphalt, was almost comical.
What kind of First Sword was this guy, whining over a mere scratch?
"Who the hell do you think you are...?"
The Gyeonggi First Sword stared at the Joseon First Sword before him with utter disbelief.
Of course, this attitude was only possible because he had no idea of his opponent's power.
For Jeong Yeong-woo, injuries usually started with limbs getting severed.
So in truth, Yeong-woo wasn't so much rubbing his face because it hurt as savoring the unfamiliar mild pain after so long.
"Ah, forgot I don't have legs."
As Yeong-woo, who had been sprawled on the ground, lifted his upper body and sat up, the tattoo 'Yeobaek' wrapping his right upper arm flickered with Dogo's wedge pattern before vanishing.
This was another sign that Jeong Yeong-woo was dangerous, but the inexperienced Gyeonggi First Sword failed to notice.
Right now, his gaze was simply darting wildly.
"......"
Between the golden two-handed greatsword floating in midair, the impossibly sturdy black iron horse, and the two alien creatures.
-Kieee...!
-Ba-bat!
The Relic Slave Golden Goblin and the Unique Slave Popu Tenta, that is.
"What are those things?"
Swish.
In response, Yeong-woo pointed at them with his mythic weapon 'Illegitimate Child'.
"Got some gear that makes you stronger the ruder you are? Why do you keep talking like that?"
The Gyeonggi First Sword paused in thought, then wrinkled his nose, unable to find a retort.
"Uh... We're gonna fight anyway, so do we really need to be polite?"
"No need to be deliberately rude either. I didn't ask for formal greetings."
As he spoke, Yeong-woo glanced at the 'Golden Trajectory', which was still silent for now.
"I know what you're getting at. Up until a few days ago, I was killing plenty of people myself just to collect titles."
Of course, he never struck first unprovoked... but he hadn't avoided fights either.
It was murder by implied intent.
"But things are different now... I've finally learned how precious people are."
"...What?"
"Doesn't being Gyeonggi First Sword mean you've unified at least three regions? If you die, that's a security vacuum right there."
"...Sure, if I die, yeah."
"That's why I'm saying this. I'll overlook the rudeness, so keep your head attached and get lost while we're still talking nicely."
In that instant, a veteran's killing intent flared from Yeong-woo's eyes.
"......!"
The Gyeonggi First Sword flinched involuntarily, but quickly regained his composure and sneered.
"You might've been something once, but right now, you're just a cripple, aren't you?"
He'd known from the start that the opponent's titles and gear were impressive.
But no matter how great, he couldn't imagine losing to someone who couldn't even walk.
Confidence in himself. Pride.
It was a hallmark of major regional First Swords.
Hadn't Yeong-woo himself, as Gyeongbuk First Sword, never dared attend the Seoul First Swords' gathering?
All to challenge the rumored strongest in Seoul, the Gangnam First Sword.
So Yeong-woo knew full well that only actual combat could reveal who was truly stronger.
But.
"No."
"...What?"
"Today, you picked the wrong opponent. I'm not just some cripple."
"Kuh."
The Gyeonggi First Sword tried to scoff at Yeong-woo's words again.
Fwoooosh!
But Yeong-woo unleashed the majesty of a First Sword, silencing him.
"Keheuk...!"
It felt like his heart was suddenly being squeezed.
"I'm a born low-grade human, so I've got one obsession. Anyone who tries to kill me... absolutely..."
As Yeong-woo, radiating majesty with golden eyes, recited his line, something astonishing happened.
"...absolutely what, you bastard!"
Paaat!
The damn Gyeonggi First Sword had shaken off Yeong-woo's majesty.
"What...?"
Yeong-woo widened his eyes at the unexpected turn.
The opponent really was crazy enough to attack even after seeing his titles and gear.
Tatat!
Buoyed by withstanding the Joseon First Sword's majesty, the Gyeonggi First Sword had already left his spot and was charging at Yeong-woo.
"You idiot."
Realizing things were irreversible, Yeong-woo reached for Illegitimate Child, then switched and drew Dragon's Legacy like lightning.
Shwaaak, kaang!
In the blink of an eye, the blades of the two First Swords clashed in midair.
「Sensory stat temporarily increased from 3,300 to 4,376.」
Yeong-woo's vision clearly displayed the Gyeonggi First Sword's pathetically low sensory stat by comparison, while the Gyeonggi First Sword...
"Mi, mi-madness."
True to a major regional First Sword, he grasped his opponent's true power in the first clash, his expression crumbling.
"How is this possible...?"
His right hand trembled violently, struggling even to hold back the force pushing his sword.
Amid this, Dragon's Legacy, touching his blade, glowed red-hot.
A sign that this reckless challenger's birth grade wasn't high.
Seeing this, Yeong-woo asked through the crossed blades.
"What's your turf?"
"...What?"
The Gyeonggi First Sword, who had blankly stared, belatedly recalled.
—I'm a born low-grade human, so I've got one obsession. Anyone who tries to kill me... absolutely...
What the man before him hadn't finished saying moments ago.
"Ah."
Absolutely, won't be spared.
This Joseon First Sword didn't let opponents leave alive once a fight started.
And.
'I'm screwed.'
Finally grasping the situation, the Gyeonggi First Sword's jaw dropped.
Then.
"I, I made a mistake..."
He instinctively switched to polite speech. Without daring a second clash.
But Yeong-woo's eyes had already turned icy.
"That's in the past now. More importantly, what's your turf? We should at least save the people there."
Yeong-woo issued a veiled death sentence.
The Gyeonggi First Sword pulled his sword back from the lock and hastily retreated.
He figured he couldn't win head-on, but he could still run.
However.
Thung.
His body, trying to flee backward, slammed into a flat metal surface.
"...?"
Whirling in shock, the Gyeonggi First Sword saw a 2-meter golden greatsword blocking his path.
-Weeeeng...
Was the greatsword, once just an intriguing weapon, now sending chills down his spine? Or was that his imagination?
"Li, li-life..."
As the Gyeonggi First Sword tried begging again, the surface of the golden greatsword he stared at reflected the Joseon First Sword's silhouette.
"Uh...!"
It was unmistakably.
Shweeeeeek!
The image of him swinging a sword while on his knees.
* * *
At the same time, at Imjingak Peace Park in Paju City, Gyeonggi Province.
Yeoncheon First Sword Jo Seong-sik smoked while watching the pinwheels lined atop the hill spinning lazily.
"Sip."
Unlike his relaxed expression, enjoying rare leisure, swordsmen with various wounds lay exhausted throughout the park.
"......"
They were soldiers from the Yeoncheon Army temporary headquarters.
Having just dealt with Paju's mutants and monsters, they were understandably worn out.
But the grueling work ended here for today.
Paju, Yeoncheon, Cheorwon. With all three northern border regions of Korea cleared, only border watch remained.
Tap!
"Any casualties?"
As Jo Seong-sik tapped ash onto the back of his hand and asked, Sergeant Kim Han-su standing beside him reported.
"Two KIA, one severe."
In other words, three combat personnel down.
"We lost 10% of our force in one day."
Jo Seong-sik grimaced bitterly, and a man slumped behind him spoke up.
"Shouldn't we head to Seoul soon?"
Cheorwon First Sword Corporal Kim Gwang-yong.
He'd acted independently before, merely avoiding conflict with Yeoncheon's army HQ, but now moved with Jo Seong-sik as a true ally.
The trigger? Yesterday's encounter in Cheorwon with Joseon First Sword Jeong Yeong-woo.
Only then did he realize.
That powerhouses still upheld this world.
Not hope exactly, but something to rely on was encouraging.
The absurdly powerful Joseon First Sword, and the Seoul First Swords Alliance and provisional government centered around him.
"Yes. Urgent issues are resolved, so we should visit Seoul before dark."
Jo Seong-sik agreed with Kim Gwang-yong.
Even without his words, he'd planned to head there soon anyway.
That bizarre First Sword fighting mutants bare-eyed kept flickering in his mind.
Among all he'd seen, only that man seemed to live without bitterness.
Anyway, the aura the Joseon First Sword exuded had a strange addictiveness.
'Next time we meet, I should ask how things really are up north.'
As the representative First Sword of the army HQ self-appointed for northern watch, his top concern was the North.
"Fuu."
He crushed the cigarette butt in his hand, and right on cue, the pinwheels atop the far hill began spinning furiously.
Whiiiiaaa...!
Ear-flattening gale winds hit from then on.
"What the hell?"
"What's with this sudden wind?"
Suspicious of the weather, the army HQ swordsmen scattered about began rising one by one, and around then.
Kwarung!
Sudden thunder rumbled, and the surroundings darkened in an instant.
"Th-this is..."
Cheorwon First Sword Kim Gwang-yong cautiously drew his sword, eyeing Sergeant Jo Seong-sik.
Not mere weather whimsy, he judged.
The sunny sky moments ago was now choked with pitch-black clouds.
Then.
Kurung!
Thunder much closer this time, and it began.
Shwaaaaa...!
"...Rain?"
Torrential downpour from the black sky.
"R-rain's pouring buckets all of a sudden!"
"Should we pull back to Yeoncheon?"
Soldiers starting to feel extreme fatigue and unease voiced withdrawal to Sergeant Jo Seong-sik.
Meanwhile, Yeoncheon First Sword Jo Seong-sik...
Shwaaak!
Drew his sword instead and shouted through the rain.
"All hands, battle stations...!"
Pure instinct, but his gut was spot on.
Kwarurung!
Another thunderclap, lightning flashing from within the clouds.
Paat!
In that instant, a massive brazier appeared above Peace Park.
"......!"
"Uh!"
Yeoncheon's soldiers finally realized disaster struck, hastily drawing swords and rising, as Cheorwon First Sword Kim Gwang-yong noticed something.
"The rainwater."
Wiping his cheek at the sticky feel, thick black water smeared off.
"This isn't normal rain...!"
As he rushed to report to Sergeant Jo Seong-sik—
Shweeeeeeak!
Two massive yakshas leaped down from the black sky above.
Kwaang!
'Fuck, mutants after all.'
Jo Seong-sik gritted his teeth.
No light pillar marking mutants anywhere, but the things before his eyes were undeniable.
Especially with this dogshit rain accompanying them.
'Whoever sent 'em, no ordinary bastard.'
He felt it in his bones already.
"1st and 4th Platoons behind me! 2nd and 3rd with Kim Gwang-yong! Snap to it!"
Jo Seong-sik parted the thickening curtain of rain with his hand, and the yakshas looked up at the overhead brazier.
As if awaiting battle approval.
"......!"
Seeing this, Jo Seong-sik ordered.
"Corporal Kim Gwang-yong. Launch me up there."
Addressing Cheorwon First Sword Kim Gwang-yong in command tone, unlike before.
But Kim Gwang-yong wasn't oblivious.
"Yes, step up."
He knelt instantly, forming a foothold with his arms.
Then.
Taat!
Jo Seong-sik stepped on Kim Gwang-yong's arms without hesitation, and Kim Gwang-yong hurled Sergeant Jo skyward with full power.
Hweeeek!
"Who are you! Reveal yourself!"
Soaring aloft, Jo Seong-sik swung his sword straight at the brazier.
And moments later.
"......!"
Approaching right before it, Jo Seong-sik's eyes caught a single nameplate.
It was none other than.
"Huh? You bastard, how dare you...?"
[Dictator-Kim Jong-un]