Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: 2. Gumi's Greatest Swordsman (2)
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“…A life fee?”
The student’s face flashed with surprise at Young-woo’s proposal.
But he quickly composed himself and nodded vigorously.
“I-if I can survive, I’d give you every penny I have!”
It was a decision born from the realization that finding a bodyguard of this caliber at this point was impossible.
Anyone could see that possessing both Early Bird and a shield marked him as top-tier talent.
And he wasn’t even demanding cash upfront.
“So, I can pay you once we reach the exchange office?”
“Yeah. But…”
Young-woo hesitated for a moment.
Even though he was the one saving this guy’s life, stripping him of everything felt a bit off.
“Forget all your assets. How about 100,000? You need to keep some for yourself.”
“Oh…! Y-yeah, you’re right.”
“Deal at 100,000 then.”
And with that, the contract was sealed.
Now Young-woo’s tasks were clear: ensure his own survival, his employer’s survival, and the exchange.
‘The exchange office stay time was two hours, right? So about an hour left.’
Finding a new exchange office wouldn’t be hard. They were everywhere, as he’d seen heading to the Mountain of Swords.
But.
‘170,000 karma… that’s 170 coins.’
Good thing he had the bag—he could scoop them up somehow. But would people just let him?
‘Two options: find an empty exchange office, or…’
Kill everyone approaching.
Swoosh.
In the meantime, the arrow at his feet tilted westward.
‘Next destination?’
The main quest that had guided him to the Mountain of Swords showed no change.
[Main] “Rookie Soldier”
<Task> Follow the arrow to the Mountain of Swords, then alter your fate.
<Reward> Survival Gear
He’d need to fulfill the “alter your fate” directive for completion.
‘Whatever it is, looks like I can change it in the west.’
Swoosh.
While Young-woo pondered, the arrow shifted again.
‘Huh?’
He blinked, thinking it a trick of the eye, but it swung clearly once more.
The target area was moving.
‘No… maybe the arrow isn’t pointing to an area at all.’
Whatever it was, he had to follow the arrow.
“Any injuries? Anything making it hard to move?”
“N-no. I can run.”
“Good. We’re about to pick up the pace.”
Young-woo gripped his sword and shield tight and took the lead, while the student clenched his empty fists and followed.
* * *
“Huff… huff!”
“Hoo, haa!”
His first time ever as a bodyguard.
Running with a sword and shield was a bit awkward, but otherwise, it wasn’t as tough as expected.
Everyone they’d encountered had taken one look at their armed state and steered clear.
‘Hope the exchange offices are the same.’
They’d been sprinting west nonstop from the Mountain of Swords for about five minutes now.
By Young-woo’s estimate, exchange offices should start appearing soon, and the student tailing him closely seemed to think the same.
“Um… mister.”
“What?”
“If a fight breaks out, what do I do?”
“What do you do?”
Young-woo trailed off, at a loss for words.
His own combat experience was just as limited.
“…Just survive by any means necessary. I’ll try to handle any problems as fast as possible.”
In the end, that was all he could tell his client: stay alive, somehow.
And soon after.
“……!”
The exchange office zone reappeared.
Front-right, about 150 meters by eye.
‘No way. This is a gift from the heavens.’
Even better, barely anyone lingered near the closest one.
By the sluggish silhouettes, maybe three or four at most.
“What’s your name again?”
“It’s Ye-chan. Kang Ye-chan. And you, mister?”
“Jeong Young-woo. We’re heading into the exchange office now—stick right by my side.”
As Young-woo pointed to the approaching office, Ye-chan nodded.
‘They’re all unarmed anyway, so no reckless charges. Just grab the coins quick.’
Had life ever gone this smoothly?
Young-woo eyed the now 50-meter-distant office, gripping his shield tight.
Sensing something off, people there began turning toward his sprinting approach.
That’s when both sides got a clear look.
“Huh……!”
“Gasp.”
“W-what?”
The exchange office folks were the ones freaking out.
As Young-woo predicted, they were unarmed—mostly elderly and kids.
Any fighters had long since fought their way to the Mountain of Swords.
Still, to ward off any challengers, Young-woo bellowed with deliberate menace.
“Out of the way! Anyone near the exchange office dies!”
Even Ye-chan, trailing behind, shivered at the raw killing intent.
The crowd scattered like gazelles fleeing a lion.
“Go now.”
The moment the area cleared, Young-woo shoved Ye-chan forward.
“I-I just touch it there, right?”
“Yeah. Hurry.”
Securing the office was just the start.
The real deal began when the coins poured out.
Everyone nearby would zero in.
Plus.
‘Few people at the exchange means lots still at the Mountain of Swords.’
Which implied.
‘Armed folks will pass through soon.’
As Young-woo thought this, Ye-chan finally started the exchange.
Clink.
The sound that haunted Young-woo’s nightmares echoed from the office, and chaos erupted.
Rattle-rattle-ruuush!
170 crimson coins burst out at once.
“M-mister?”
Panicked, Ye-chan glanced at his bodyguard.
Young-woo tossed him the backpack and yelled.
“Scoop them all up!”
He dropped to his knees, grabbing coins himself.
“What……?”
“How’s there that much money?”
The racket drew crowds fast—from other offices.
Ten, then twenty, thirty… soon too many even for fully armed Young-woo.
Yet.
“…….”
Not one tried to snatch the coins.
Not just from fear of his sword—those types hadn’t stuck around here.
Then, at the uproar’s tail end, trouble arrived.
“What’s with the crowd?”
“Move it.”
A domineering voice cut through.
From the opposite side of the throng.
Young-woo knew instantly: the armed ones had arrived.
‘But not the worst timing.’
Coin recovery was nearly done.
“Pocket the rest. We’re moving now.”
As Young-woo shouldered the backpack, Ye-chan peered fearfully behind him.
“…Mister.”
“I know. Just pocket them.”
“Huh? Mister!”
“……!”
Young-woo read Ye-chan’s face and realized.
They’d already opened with an attack.
Whoosh!
He twisted back, raising his shield—just in time for a dull thud.
Thung!
Something heavy struck the outer face.
‘A hammer?’
Threats now auto-recalled the dormitory exchange beatdown.
The humiliation too.
‘You fucking bastards.’
Every cell boiled red again.
Young-woo spotted a lower body below his shield.
So above, naturally.
“…….”
In a blink, he angled the shield aside and thrust his blade up.
Spurt!
“Huh?”
The foe beyond yelped in shock.
Then.
“Urk? Aaaagh!”
Screaming in agony, he stumbled back erratically.
Young-woo swept the shield aside for a full view.
Three enemies total.
The closest one had his right eye pierced by the blade, toppling backward.
The other two gawked at their mangled comrade in disbelief.
Young-woo clocked their weapons first.
‘Spear, axe.’
Then positions.
‘In a line…’
Thought halted—he charged.
Thud-thud!
The second-closest spearman had just locked eyes with him.
“…Huh.”
As the spearman’s delayed brain buffered, Early Bird slashed diagonally across his face.
Splurt!
The man right behind swung his axe, charging.
“You crazy fuck!”
Announcing his spot with the shout.
Young-woo just thrust his shield toward the noise, blocking the exchange.
Clang!
A shallower ring than the hammer.
But no lower body visible below the shield this time.
The guy had seen the prior takedown and retreated the instant his attack failed.
Young-woo’s tenacity won out.
‘Anyone who comes at me dies.’
Thud!
Shield-forward, he advanced ferociously. The foe’s frantic retreat tangled his feet.
“Urk!”
With a yelp, he lost balance, tilting sideways.
Young-woo rammed Early Bird into his chest.
“…Die!”
Squelch!
The blade sank a foot deep. The encircling crowd murmured.
“M-my god.”
“What……?”
Some fled already; the rest backed away, staring at Young-woo like a monster.
Only his client, Ye-chan, didn’t fear him here.
“Mister! You okay?”
Concerned words, but awe filled Ye-chan’s eyes.
He’d just seen his bodyguard dispatch three armed men easily.
Reality was messier.
‘Ugh… done?’
Young-woo steadied his shaking hands, cautiously checking the axe man’s face.
Unblinking eyes confirmed death.
Left: spearman and hammer guy.
“U-ugh……!”
The spearman seemed most alive, crawling desperately despite blood pouring from his slashed face.
The eye-stabbed hammer guy just twitched faintly.
“…….”
Young-woo approached the hammer first, stabbing the throat, then pursued the spearman, now a few steps farther.
He’d dropped his spear anyway.
Step, step.
“Eek!”
Hearing the footsteps, the man flinched.
Then met death via blade to the nape.
Stab.
A 1v3 fight.
Final victor Young-woo exhaled raggedly only after they all stilled.
“Huff, haa.”
Tension eased; surroundings sharpened.
Bulging-pocketed Ye-chan standing dazed, dozens of distant spectators, and…
‘Huh?’
A line of text that had appeared in his vision.
[You can acquire a new title.]
Focusing on it revealed more below.
-Many have witnessed your prowess. None can dispute that you are ‘Gumi’s Greatest Swordsman.’
‘What?’
Young-woo’s pupils dilated.
But it didn’t end.
-Becoming the Greatest Swordsman brings great prestige. Yet all will know you, and some will challenge to claim the title.
‘No way it floats “Greatest Swordsman” over my head like a game.’
Young-woo glanced at his empty headspace.
Challengers implied killing the current Greatest Swordsman claimed it.
With the seat vacant, they’d arbitrarily crown the one most witnessed.
‘Anyone unfit loses it quick anyway.’
Swoosh.
The text dissolved into air.
Then, the one-and-only offer appeared.
Flash!
「Gumi’s Greatest Swordsman」 - Unique Title
【Prestige of the Greatest Swordsman】
【Gumi Swordsmanship】
-Will you ascend as Gumi’s Greatest Swordsman?