Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Joining Test
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There was no mistaking it.
The long scar stretching across the corner of his mouth strongly proclaimed that he was none other than Overlord Im Chang-yeol.
'So Im Chang-yeol is the man who founded the Seoul Alliance?'
It made sense now why he'd kept his identity so tightly under wraps.
He'd been immersed in the underworld since childhood, so he likely despised drawing attention to himself.
In the public's eyes, Han Shin was light incarnate, while Im Chang-yeol embodied darkness and shadow.
Yet Im Chang-yeol had been one of Han Shin's fiercest adversaries, the most vocal opponent from the start.
'He hated the stench of hypocrisy.'
Im Chang-yeol had despised Han Shin right from the beginning.
Ever since Han Shin started helping people and playing the hero.
His instincts had sniffed out the phony and kept his distance.
Their territories rarely overlapped anyway, so clashes were few and far between.
The trouble began when Han Shin embarked on his grand "great hero" narrative and started denying Im Chang-yeol's very existence.
True to his title of Overlord, Im Chang-yeol was magnanimous. He never forgave anyone who bared their teeth at him even once.
But to those under his protection, he gave his all.
And that was why...
He had so many loyal followers.
Each one ready to lay down their life for him.
That was why even max-level players couldn't ignore the name Overlord Im Chang-yeol.
His guards would die smiling if he commanded it.
Light and darkness.
Water and oil.
That was the relationship between Han Shin and Im Chang-yeol.
Both leaders of massive factions.
As time passed and conflicts between their forces grew more frequent, Han Shin fabricated a pretext to subjugate Im Chang-yeol and his organization.
'Han Shin accused Im Chang-yeol of dealing drugs and human trafficking. In reality, Im Chang-yeol forbade both more strictly than anyone.'
A trap meticulously prepared over a long time.
And Im Chang-yeol fell right into it.
After he died at Han Shin's hands, South Korea sank into utter chaos.
The nation's functions had long collapsed, but the security Im Chang-yeol and his forces maintained in the underworld had kept things somewhat stable.
Truth be told, Park Chan-woo had never cared much about their feud back then.
'...I was too busy just surviving.'
Park Chan-woo occupied a similar niche to Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo.
The type who didn't care much about others and preferred operating solo.
Having late-switched to mage, he was obsessed with filling his gaps.
"You're Kim Byung-han, right?"
Im Chang-yeol eyed Park Chan-woo as he spoke.
One of them had to be Kim Byung-han, and since the guy hadn't flinched when he appeared from behind, it had to be him.
Plus, that scar on his mouth was intimidating enough.
Yet Park Chan-woo met his gaze head-on, without a hint of fear.
"...That's me."
"Oh? Not this one?"
The voice came from beside them.
Im Chang-yeol shifted his gaze to Kim Byung-han with a tone of surprise.
'Damn. How long has he been behind me?'
Kim Byung-han startled at the sudden appearance but forced a calm facade.
Still, those eyes instinctively shrank him back.
'What kind of eyes are those...!'
That predatory glare was far more menacing than the scar.
Despite meeting plenty of people in his line of work, he'd never felt anything like this.
Kim Byung-han steeled his gaze.
Losing momentum first meant defeat.
He was the invited guest here.
The Seoul Alliance needed him, not the other way around.
Im Chang-yeol pointed at Park Chan-woo.
"Then who's this guy?"
For some reason, more attention was on Park Chan-woo than the invitee.
Kim Byung-han scowled.
"Park Chan-woo. My subordinate."
"...I see."
Im Chang-yeol inwardly tilted his head.
'Doesn't look like anyone's underling.'
He was a good judge of character.
And he placed great stock in first impressions.
How they acted facing him determined his verdict.
To Im Chang-yeol, Kim Byung-han was a coward playacting bravery. The shifty eyes screamed schemer—strong against the weak.
Park Chan-woo, on the other hand... the guy Kim Byung-han called his subordinate radiated unflappable calm.
He didn't flinch or dodge.
Fewer than five people in his life had reacted to him this way.
Im Chang-yeol shrugged.
"Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Im Chang-yeol, leader of the Seoul Alliance. Heard you're quite the powerhouse."
"Not bad, I'd say."
"Level 15, was it? Higher than mine."
Kim Byung-han's shoulders tensed at the implication his level was higher.
If the leader's level was lower, the rest were obviously no better.
"Planning to tackle the Tower of Pride yourself?"
"For now, I'm forming a party of top talents. What weapon do you wield?"
"Sword."
"Hm, solid choice. But we've got plenty of swordsmen."
"Higher level than me?"
"Probably not."
"Then I'm your man."
"Fair enough. Mind a little test?"
"Not at all."
Kim Byung-han nodded confidently.
Im Chang-yeol chuckled softly.
"Love the spirit. Grab a weapon from that box over there."
He pointed to a large wooden crate stuffed with all sorts of arms.
Kim Byung-han blinked.
He'd assumed the test involved the Abyss.
"Doing the test here?"
"One quick spar with me, and we're done."
"...?"
The unexpected words left Kim Byung-han speechless.
He never imagined the alliance leader would spar personally.
But Kim Byung-han trusted his skills.
High level, top-tier gear.
"Nothing worthwhile in there, so I'll use my own sword."
"Fine by me."
Kim Byung-han drew a flashy golden sword from his inventory.
Epic-grade weapon at that.
Those cheap blades would shatter on contact.
"Oho, flashy sword you've got. I'll take... this."
Im Chang-yeol casually pulled a rusty dagger from the box.
No other gear equipped.
Kim Byung-han's face hardened.
Open disdain.
Alliance leader or not, wasn't this arrogance overboard?
"Don't cry if you get hurt."
"Even if I die, give it your all."
Even if he died?
Did he think Kim Byung-han couldn't kill him?
"What if I actually kill you and trouble brews?"
"Won't happen. I swear on the alliance."
"Got it."
Kim Byung-han smirked inwardly.
Level gap was absolute.
Abyss gear versus that rusty junk? No contest.
Besides...
'I can see every sword path.'
Kim Byung-han held a secret class: Swordsman.
The name alone denoted mastery of the blade.
To his eyes, every opponent movement and swing path was laid bare.
No matter how skilled Im Chang-yeol was, he couldn't overcome Abyss blessings.
In a 1v1, Kim Byung-han was invincible.
"Shall we begin?"
Im Chang-yeol's eyes darkened.
"Hup!"
Kim Byung-han lunged first.
First strike wins.
In human combat, initiative decided half the battle.
Swoosh!
His sword cleaved the air.
Im Chang-yeol dodged fluidly and thrust at his side.
Clang!
It bounced off.
No way a cheap dagger could pierce Kim Byung-han's armor.
Whirl!
Im Chang-yeol spun his wrist acrobatically.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The dagger hammered the armor repeatedly, but only hollow echoes—no damage.
Fast, sure, but level and gear gaps were insurmountable.
'I've got this.'
His initial strike missed, and Im Chang-yeol gained no ground from the opening.
Kim Byung-han stayed relaxed.
Lower level meant inferior stats.
Forcing that dagger would just hurt his own wrist.
Clang!
Kim Byung-han calmly parried the incoming dagger.
He saw it coming a mile away.
Surprising the dagger didn't shatter, but the recoil alone was wearing Im Chang-yeol down.
His wrist tendons must be screaming.
A few friendly clashes, and victory was his.
After several more exchanges...
'Useless. Pointless.'
He was yawning now.
Im Chang-yeol just repeated futile efforts.
Impressive moves, but even successful hits did nothing.
Arrogance brought this humiliation.
With proper gear from the start, he wouldn't be so embarrassed.
Once this ended, the tables would turn.
He might even take over the Seoul Alliance.
Whoosh!
'Useless, I said.'
A low sweep with the dagger.
Kim Byung-han didn't bother blocking.
Crunch!
Stab!
"Gah...?!"
The deep blade sensation drew a scream from Kim Byung-han.
Impossible.
A tiny gap in his armor's joints.
The dagger had slipped right through.
Not deep, but the shock staggered him.
As he half-fell, the dagger hovered at his throat.
"H-how?"
Unbelievable.
Im Chang-yeol replied nonchalantly.
"Abyss gear has 'durability.' Yours was pretty worn. You probably fought like that in the Abyss too."
True.
He'd relied on armor and skipped dodging.
Hence the heavy wear.
"Worn durability means gaps. They might look seamless, but find the damaged spots, and you can slip right in."
That explained the constant armor taps.
Probing for weak points.
Easy to say, impossible in practice.
Doing it on pure instinct and feel? Insane.
If possible, he'd be a monster.
Overlord Im Chang-yeol.
He was a monster.
"High level, but skills are lacking."
Im Chang-yeol shook his head regretfully.
Kim Byung-han over-relied on gear.
His swordplay was mediocre too.
"Park Chan-woo, right? You want a test too?"
Level mattered little here.
Im Chang-yeol sought raw talent.
Sharp senses and skill that responded anywhere, anytime—no matter the situation. Not levels or gear.
Park Chan-woo nodded.
'If the Seoul Alliance leader is Overlord Im Chang-yeol, that's a game-changer.'
He'd planned to solo the Tower of Pride quietly.
But with Im Chang-yeol involved, joining up was worth reconsidering.
'I'm pretty damn good with a sword myself.'
Though masquerading as a mage now, Park Chan-woo had originally been a Barbarian Warrior and Knight.
One who, excluding transcendent outliers like Han Shin or Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo, had no equals in the human realm.