Chapter 499: The Exchange (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 499: The Exchange (8)
There is the real, and there is the fake that brilliantly imitates the real.
On the surface, the two are so identical that it's difficult to tell which is which.
So, who would be the one to best see through them both?
“…It’s the real one.”
The answer is the fake.
Because the fake was created after obsessively studying the real.
Having been created after a thorough deconstruction, it ironically knows better.
It knows that it is merely a plausible-looking fake.
And that the other is a one-of-a-kind original that can never be surpassed, no matter how much it is imitated.
That is why Kim Do-jin knows better than anyone.
That Francis Meyer is one of the few true originals in this world.
A hero without a single shred of doubt.
“The real Francis Meyer is right in front of me…!”
Francis Meyer was an excellent model.
A role model who showed how one should act to appear as a hero to the people.
In a way, he was the person who contributed most to creating the "National Hunter Son Si-woo" of today.
Perhaps that's why some media outlets even called him the Francis Meyer of Korea.
‘What a ridiculous thing to say.’
The first things Kim Do-jin felt as he took Francis as his role model and learned his mannerisms were none other than ‘resignation’ and ‘surrender.’
He was certain the moment he saw him.
‘Ah, I could die and be reborn and still never become like him.’
It would be impossible to become like him even if I poured my entire life into it.
They say jealousy and envy only manifest when you're in the same league.
And it was true.
Kim Do-jin didn't even feel a hint of envy or jealousy toward him.
‘How can anyone be like that?’
He could only admire and admire him, looking up to him in awe.
So, in a way, it was only natural.
For Kim Do-jin to develop a fanboy crush on Francis Meyer, the kind you'd expect from a young girl.
And that's also why his heart was a jumble of joy and shock.
‘To think Francis Meyer was a member of the Guardians…’
It wasn't that strange.
In terms of both skill and character, there was no hero more suited for this organization.
He just hadn't expected it.
The fact that Francis Meyer might be a member of the Guardians.
And by extension, the fact that he would become his enemy.
He watched the brightly shining man surrounded by people from a distance, lost in thought.
“…The difficulty just shot up.”
The difficulty, which was already on hard mode, had now escalated to hell mode.
At this point, escape seemed more viable than an aggressive approach.
He was just about to consider drastically revising his original plan.
“Angela!”
He approached.
Parting the surrounding crowd, he joyfully called the name of the woman standing next to me, Angela.
“Hey, you! It's been a while!”
He walked over with a light step and greeted her warmly, ruffling her hair.
She didn't seem to mind, as the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
“Ah, seriously! I'm not a kid anymore, Ajeossi!”
A complaint that was almost a tantrum.
Angela tried to twist her head away, but she failed every time.
“You little rascal! Getting rebellious now that you're a little older, huh!”
“Aargh, ack!”
Because wherever she twisted her head to escape, Francis's hand was already there waiting.
“……”
Watching this, Kim Do-jin was stunned.
Because in that simple hand movement, like an uncle teasing his cute niece, he glimpsed an unfathomably profound level of mastery.
This delivered a shock on a completely different level than when he had only seen him through videos.
‘So this is Francis Meyer…’
You can't become a hero just by having a heart for others.
At least, not in this world.
It's only possible when boiling altruism is combined with the ability to put it into action.
So that's why Francis Meyer was a hero.
Just as he was realizing this anew, watching Francis's hand with a dazed expression…
“Oh…?”
A small sound of interest was heard.
The owner of the voice was none other than Francis Meyer.
He had felt it.
The gaze of another person staring intently at his hand, at the mastery naturally infused within it.
His curiosity piqued, he asked Angela, who was in the middle of their squabble.
“Angela, who's this friend?”
“Hoo… He's new. His name is Kim Do-jin. Have you not heard of him?”
Angela introduced him while fixing her messy hair.
At this, Francis paused in thought.
“Hmm, Kim Do-jin. Kim Do-jin, you say…”
Soon, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Haha, sorry.”
“Geez… this ajeossi. Do-jin, you'll have to understand. This guy lives with a wall between him and the internet.”
Kim Do-jin shook his head at Angela's excuse-that-wasn't-an-excuse, offered out of concern that he might be offended.
Offended?
Not at all.
Because he already knew.
That Francis Meyer was the type of person who had zero interest in things like worldly rumors.
Kim Do-jin extended a slightly trembling hand and offered a greeting.
“I'm Kim Do-jin, the newest member of the Guardians. It's an honor to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, friend. It must have been a difficult decision. Thank you so much.”
“No, not at all.”
A brief handshake.
In that fleeting moment, Francis grasped Kim Do-jin's skill level.
“Huh… Where did a monster like this suddenly come from?”
“Eh?”
At his high praise, Angela's eyes widened as if they would tear.
She knew.
The true nature of Francis Meyer, the man called a warm hero by all.
‘The ajeossi who can't give empty compliments to save his life… is saying something like that?’
He was not the type to offer empty praise.
To the point where you'd think he had a disease that would kill him if he spoke indirectly or offered a mere pleasantry.
And that man had just called Kim Do-jin a monster.
Which meant that Kim Do-jin was a talent great enough to earn the acknowledgment of the notoriously picky Francis Meyer.
She was quite surprised, but that feeling didn't last long.
“Hee… heheh.”
A laugh suddenly escaped her.
‘A guy like that… was my first opponent, huh?’
Thinking back to that time, she felt her body grow hot again. Unseen by the two men exchanging greetings, she rubbed her thighs together and made a vow.
‘I'll have to take him down again soon…♥’
That this time, she wouldn't lose.
* * *
It feels like a dream.
Not only did I get to greet Francis Meyer, but I even earned his acknowledgment.
He called me a monster.
A man who's practically a monster himself.
To me…!
My joy at the overwhelming wave of emotion was brief.
“Hmm… but something's strange.”
Francis voiced his doubt, stroking his sharp chin with his other hand.
He asked me.
“You're good with a sword, aren't you?”
“Uh, well.”
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
“I'm decent enough.”
“Hoh…”
He was the best in the world.
But that was that, and this was this.
No matter how great he was, my swordsmanship wasn't something to be looked down on.
When I spoke with a measure of pride, he nodded as if in agreement.
“Right. You seem like you'd be quite good with a sword.”
“Uh… thank you.”
Is this the difference that makes him the best?
To think he could figure that out without even seeing me hold a sword.
“Everyone has what you'd call an aura. The feel of it is quite different depending on what you specialize in, and swordsmen are incredibly sharp. Just like you are now.”
“……”
His words sent considerable ripples through me.
A man who gauges others by their aura had accepted me as a swordsman.
Which meant my magic must still be lacking compared to my swordsmanship.
“Your aura is definitely that of a master swordsman…”
His gaze dropped slightly.
“But I don't understand why your hands are so clean.”
“……!”
Something no one had thought of.
He'd struck a blind spot that even I had overlooked.
It wasn't just swords; the hands of most people who worked with tools were similar.
Rough and hard, with calluses embedded everywhere.
That's why, when we were young, Seo-yeon loved my hands.
She used to say they felt good because they were rough and warm, and would rub her cheek against them.
But what about my hands now?
“It's strange. With an aura like that, even a genius would have had to hold a sword for at least ten years straight.”
They were fair and soft, enough to make him suspicious.
There were some calluses, but compared to my old hands, they were practically nonexistent.
These were not the hands of a swordsman.
And yet, I was a swordsman skilled enough to answer with pride even before Francis Meyer.
Just as the contradiction was making it hard to breathe…
“Ajeossi. Stop talking like you're from the stone age.”
Angela stepped in and chided him.
“Hey, what did I do?!”
Francis protested, feigning injustice.
Angela continued.
“Medicine is so advanced these days that with just a little care, calluses can disappear without a trace, you know?”
“I-Is that so?”
I was surprised, too.
…They can get rid of calluses that cleanly these days?
“Look at mine.”
Angela showed her own hand to the bewildered man.
“I started getting them treated a few days ago, and my calluses are already almost gone.”
A fair palm came into view.
Just a few days ago, when we had sex, her palm had felt rough when I held it.
Huh, wait a minute.
“Hoh… you're right. Your hand has gotten really clean.”
“See? I told you.”
A mischievous smile played on Francis's lips.
It seemed he was thinking something similar to me.
“So why the sudden hand care?”
“……!”
“Could it be… you've got someone you like? Huh?”
His teasing gaze darted back and forth between Angela and me.
“I thought you two seemed awfully close. So that's what it was? Hmmm?”
“N-N-No, it's not like that!”
“Sure it's not.”
“Ah, seriously…!”
Angela flapped about like a live fish that had taken the bait.
I could see why that man enjoyed teasing Angela so much.
Her reactions were definitely great, yep.
“Aish… my ears are going to fall off, you rascal. We'll just say you're right, then.”
Francis took a step back to shut Angela up, who was shouting at the top of her lungs.
Then, his gaze turned to me.
“Hey, monster friend.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Any interest in becoming my disciple?”
“……!”
At his sudden, shocking statement, the noisy hall fell dead silent.