Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Karan Balan's Escort
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"What do you want...? Money? Gear?"
Karan's question made Woojin shake his head.
"What I want isn't as hard as you think."
"What is it, then?"
"A private meeting with your father, Aswell Balan."
At that moment, Karan's face twisted in horror.
"You mad bastard... Are you insane enough to want to die? If my father finds out I was under your protection, you're done for! Once we cross the dimension gate, you need to vanish without a trace!"
"Don't worry. I'll handle the aftermath myself."
"Suicide comes in all forms, huh..."
"So, you against it?"
He frantically shook his head, as if afraid the words might slip out.
Karan Balan Escort
▶ Grade: C
▶ Escort Karan Balan to the dimension gate leading to the Central Continent.
'A C-grade quest after so long.'
Woojin had grown so accustomed to high-grade quests that even C-grade ones now felt easy.
"Here."
Woojin shoved a glass of water toward him.
"Drink up and snap out of it. We're heading out right away."
"...Huh?"
-Huh?
From afar, Luen and Setsuna, mouths stuffed with bread, perked up their heads like meerkats.
"Where are the horses! The carriage!"
"You know as well as I do. The snowy forests of Baekhwa Valley are too rugged for horses. We go on foot."
"Damn it..."
"No way the scion of a great swordsmanship family is whining over a mere two-day hike, right? Son of the Sword Emperor?"
"W-what nonsense!"
Though Karan huffed and puffed to take the lead at Woojin's words, his gait alone screamed exhaustion.
'Same age, nineteen, but worlds apart...'
Woojin thought of Irurin and let out a quiet sigh.
"Ugh!"
As expected, Karan's foot sank into the piled snow, sending him sprawling forward.
"Damn it...! So cold!! Ack!"
Woojin grabbed the back of his collar and hoisted him up, eliciting a bizarre yelp as Karan flailed wildly.
"Snow's cold, obviously. Warmer than that?"
"Damn it. Tekan Kingdom has no seasons—just endless warmth. Snow like this...! It's not even pretty, just garbage!"
Hanging from Woojin's grip, Karan thrashed about in a fit of nerves.
"Ever actually learned swordsmanship?"
"Of course! Do you know who my father is! The great..."
"Yeah, that's enough. Good thing you have, anyway."
"...What?"
"Time to put that sword to use."
[Grrrrrr---!!!]
It was then.
Ice Trolls emerged around the forest.
'A lot of them.'
About twenty of the level 47~48 beasts.
'Did their ecology change after the ice cave?'
Since the dungeon appeared, Ice Trolls and Ogres had started forming packs.
"Guess it's not just 'cause you're a spoiled brat that no one's escorting you."
Taking on twenty Ice Trolls at once would've required at least a five-man party.
"H-heek...?!"
The moment he spotted the monsters, Karan's face drained white as he screamed and backed away.
"Where you going?"
"W-what?!"
"To fight."
"Fight what?! That's your job! Protect me already!"
Karan bolted at Woojin's words.
"W-wait...!"
"Let go! You fight!"
He shook off Luen's restraining hand, only to trip on a tree root mid-flight.
"Uwaaack?!"
He tumbled face-first into the snow.
"Told you to stop..."
"Leave him."
Woojin clicked his tongue at the sprawled Karan and turned away.
'Knew he's an NPC, but still annoying...'
"Luen, take the left."
"Got it!"
At his command, Luen nocked an arrow.
Swaaaa---!!!
The arrow sliced through the trees, embedding perfectly in an Ice Troll's head.
Shuk—! Shushuk—!!
Rapid Fire
[General attack followed by skill for reduced delay]
As the lead troll fell, two more arrows flew in.
'Her attack pattern's changed a bit.'
Woojin glanced at Luen while fending off trolls on the opposite side.
Normal NPCs tended to use skills before basic attacks.
But Luen had fired one normal arrow first, then followed with Rapid Fire's two shots.
Putting the faster skill draw after a normal shot minimized arrow delay.
Seemed minor, but rare for NPCs.
'Growth-type NPC.'
Maybe it wasn't just about leveling up.
Paat—!!!
Woojin dodged an Ice Troll's spear and thrust his sword into its side.
[Keurk—!!]
With a single cry, Woojin slid his blade free in a fluid motion.
Bolton Secret Sword Form 1 - Wind Wave
Kwagagang—!!!
A sharp roar echoed as Woojin's body zigzagged.
Chwak...! Chwajajak...!!
In an instant, he dashed ten meters, his sword cleaving three Ice Trolls at once.
'Different from Cheyson's version...'
Powerful, but rough and crude compared to Cheyson's Form 1.
Less precise slicing, more brute smashing.
'Low Dexterity?'
Most would focus on raw power, but having wielded a sword himself, Woojin saw deeper.
"Need more practice."
Woojin readjusted his grip and began slaughtering the Ice Trolls.
[Kuhak!!]
[Kuaaaak...!!]
Troll screams erupted everywhere.
Though a beginner zone, Ice Trolls were high-level threats in the Dark Forest.
Now, they were mere training dummies.
[Grrrrrr---!!!]
Soon, the trolls hesitated to charge Woojin.
'No way... Are the Ice Trolls scared?'
Karan stared, speechless.
'Even the escorts Father assigned didn't faze them...'
What the hell was this guy?
Karan watched Woojin casually decapitate another troll, eyes glazed.
Shuuk—!!!
"Heek?!"
It was then.
An arrow grazed Karan's shoulder.
"Hey!! What the hell are you doing!!"
He clenched his fist toward Luen, who had loosed it.
"Master's skilled, but his minions are unreliable. Tsk tsk, can't charge for this...?"
Instead of replying, Luen pointed behind him.
Thud—.
Something collapsed.
Gulp.
Turning, he saw a troll with an arrow dead-center in its forehead.
'A mere mercenary...'
Crunch—,
Yet Karan unconsciously tightened his fist.
Something ached in his chest.
"You can come out now?"
At Woojin's call, Karan looked up.
The troll horde was cleared; Woojin casually maintained his weapons.
It was then.
Karan realized what that earlier feeling was.
A craving for strength.
"Son of the Sword Emperor?"
"Born with everything."
"How strong if he actually trained under the Sword Emperor?"
No one remembered him as Karan.
Just the Sword Emperor's son.
That title always trailed him.
Every glance at his father brought self-loathing.
Too exalted to approach, an object of awe.
So he gave up.
He knew better than anyone he could never surpass him.
That twisted him further.
If the Sword Emperor abandoned his son, he'd no longer be his son.
But...
"...Why are you so strong?"
Karan mumbled blankly at Woojin.
"Did you train in swordsmanship too?"
"Yeah."
"Th-then of course. No one gets that strong without..."
"You trained too."
Woojin pierced Karan's rationalization effortlessly.
"Plus, the Sword Emperor's techniques should've been superior to mine."
Woojin told him plainly.
"But you're weak."
"Th-that's...!"
He wanted to retort but could only bite his lip, head bowed.
"A pearl around a pig's neck."
"...What?"
"No matter how great the swordsmanship, it's useless without talent."
Crunch—.
Karan bit his lip at Woojin's harsh words.
"From now on, no more trouble. Just live quietly."
As if done talking, Woojin signaled Luen.
"Let's go. More monsters'll smell the blood. Keep moving."
"M-me too...!"
As Woojin stepped off, Karan shouted.
"I wanted to get strong! Talent? Yeah, I know I'm talentless! But I still wanted to!"
Yet the colder his father's gaze grew with every lesson, he couldn't forget.
"But... it was too hard... Father's swordsmanship..."
Like unleashing pent-up rage, Karan collapsed, tears streaming.
'No way...'
Seeing him sob, Woojin felt an odd disconnect.
Was he really talentless?
He'd treated him that way based on Irurin's words, but nothing was confirmed.
"You ever try anything besides the Sword Emperor's style?"
Karan shook his head at Woojin's question.
"Ha..."
It hit him then.
'Being exceptional doesn't make a good teacher.'
He'd never seen the Sword Emperor's sword, but it was hailed as continental best.
Naturally profound.
'Not something you learn easily.'
Yet the Sword Emperor started him on it from the basics, without building foundations or understanding.
'Excessive paternal love backfired.'
"Start from the basics."
"...What?"
"Exceptional doesn't mean good teacher. He probably judged by his own standards. 'I did it, so my son can too.'"
A common parental mistake.
"If his style's too hard, start simpler."
"Then..."
It was then.
Karan's eyes sparkled as he jumped before Woojin.
'Why's he looking so eager?'
Woojin frowned slightly at him.
Better as the empty-headed noble he'd been.
"What?"
"Could you teach me swordsmanship?"
"What could I even teach..."
'No. I can.'
Raoul came to mind.
"Can't teach Dragon Heaven, but... basics, sure."
His own words from Raoul.
Grip, stance, gaze, footwork...
Plenty to teach Karan.
"You really want my instruction? Your house'll have swordmasters."
"No one wants to teach me."
Of course... Son of the Sword Emperor.
They might've seen flaws but stayed silent.
Because Sword Emperor.
His actions had reasons.
'Everyone thought that.'
"I'm not so different."
"You took my escort job."
"...What?"
"Defying Father from the start—and you did it."
Odd reason, but not wrong.
"Fine... Basics till the dimension gate."
Flustered, Woojin echoed Raoul's words back.
"R-really?!"
"But commit fully. Gate's not far."
"Of course! Yes, sir!"
Overjoyed, Karan grabbed Woojin's arm and yelled.
Ding—.
It was then.
Woojin opened the alert window.
'What?'
He couldn't help but be shocked.
Karan Balan's Talent
▶ Grade: C~S
▶ Teach swordsmanship to Karan Balan.
▶ Grade and rewards vary by teaching outcomes.
'What is this...?'
C to S-grade? Variable.
He knew S-grade value best.
'No way...'
He stared at Karan.
'Hmm...'
Dexterity low, but physical stats impressive.
'Strength in the 90s seems usable.'
Just overshadowed by the Sword Emperor's brilliance?
'No. For S-grade, there must be more...'
It was then.
Like with Luen, his vision shook, and something appeared on the status.
"...!!"
Woojin couldn't hide his shock.
"Ha..."
'So that's it.'
Seeing the hidden status, he let out an involuntary chuckle.
'This much-maligned wastrel...'
Might just change the continent's history.