Dull Idiot

"Obtuse moron."

Jayden's pumpkin-colored eyes, laced with sharp condemnation, fixed on Miura. The man couldn't so much as twitch, bound by Time Discrepancy.

Seduce her? You idiot.

"Don't you know that kneeling here is the way to preserve your honor?"

At first, I thought Jayden was just talking to himself, but the nuance felt off somehow. It was as if he was addressing Miura directly, assuming the man could hear him despite being trapped. Apparently, even ensnared in Time Discrepancy, his consciousness remained intact.

"It's not that you can't kneel because you're a mega ranker. It's that as a mega ranker, you should know how to kneel."

If anyone else had said it, it might've sounded like empty hot air, but coming from Jayden, it carried real weight.

He swept back his shoulder-length black hair with his bronze hand and turned to me. "You wouldn't want this to just fizzle out unresolved, would you?"

"Of course not."

"Refreshing to hear. Truth be told, I won't feel satisfied until I see this guy apologize to you."

Jayden said it with a beaming smile, but there was an undercurrent of irritation in his voice.

"That you'd be scraping by as a high ranker without your parents' halo?"

That was the exact insult the meathead had hurled at me earlier. Jayden had quoted it verbatim, so he'd clearly overheard.

"Do you even realize how insulting that is—not just to you, but to them?"

The moment Jayden snapped his fingers.

Thud-thud-crash!

I agreed completely. I'd heard plenty about it, but seeing it in action felt less like a skill and more like goblin magic.

Anyway.

That wasn't the point right now.

"Urk... grh..."

Miura, sprawled on the floor, struggled to lift his head. He must've been dying of shame and humiliation.

Exactly.

"Your choice. Apologize cleanly and we're done. Or—"

Jayden's eyes gleamed ominously as he gazed down at the fallen man.

"—we settle this to the death. For real."

Of course, I'd have Jayden backing me up too. "Settle this to the death" was just a fancy way of saying "die by my hand."

No matter how thick-headed Miura was, he had to realize that, right?

A heavy silence fell.

"......"

Miura, still face-down, slowly placed his hands on the floor. His legs shifted.

Was he getting up? But midway, his motion halted.

And just like that—

"M-Miura-san..."

"Oh my god..."

Miura was on his knees.

Gasps of shock and sharp intakes of breath echoed from the crowd around us.

But that was their reaction. None of my business.

Nice effort kneeling, but he still owed one more thing, didn't he?

"Don't you have something to say to me?"

"......"

"Spit it out. Let's wrap this up and head back to the dorms for some rest."

Now that he was finally showing some manners, I switched to polite speech.

Miura's face was pale as if he'd washed it with flour. His pupils darted wildly, his lips trembled like he was freezing, every sign of utter instability—

"S-Sorry... I am..."

Finally, the words I'd been waiting for slipped from his mouth.

I'd planned to call it even there, but he added a few more on his own.

"I think... I made a huge ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mistake... I have no face to show... All I can say is... I'm sorry..."

His throat seemed to give out; he clamped his mouth shut. His expression was that of a man who'd lost both arms and legs.

I kept it short. "...Yeah, why'd you have to drag my parents into it? Made me feel like shit."

Especially my mom and dad, who sacrificed themselves to save me and this world.

Getting publicly humiliated in front of everyone was mercy enough. I hoped this meathead realized that.

A moment later, he slunk away with Sawajiri's support.

The onlookers, deciding there was nothing left to see, dispersed on their own.

Leaving just me, Choi Kwang-hyun, and Jayden.

"Finally, my stomach feels settled!"

Jayden shouted with a bright expression. I was the one who'd gotten the apology—why did he look happier than me?

His face radiated relief, like heartburn had vanished, as he turned to me. "I watched the spar. The outcome was obvious, so it wasn't that impressive."

"You knew I'd win?"

"I told you at the hotel. You're qualified. Anyone outside the top ten couldn't touch you."

Didn't sound like a lie. Common sense would've bet on my loss.

He'd sized me up perfectly from that brief glance. As expected of an Ender 7—eyesight on another level.

"I'm at a loss for words with such generous praise from you, Jayden."

"Just an objective assessment. Oh, right—now that I think about it."

Jayden clapped lightly, as if something had just clicked.

"Winning the spar didn't just mean an apology, did it?"

"Pardon? Oh, right."

"You'll remove Miura Kei from the first assault team and slot in Choi Kwang-hyun... That for real?"

"If it wasn't, I wouldn't have brought it up."

I made eye contact with Choi Kwang-hyun, who'd been listening in. He flashed his white teeth and winked at me.

...Did I need to do that?

"I'm not opposed. If that's your call, I'll request the roster change with the League. As an Ender 7, they'll listen. But..."

Jayden trailed off, his gaze shifting to Choi Kwang-hyun.

"You sure? The first assault team's dangerous. That's why they prefer mega rankers."

"Ha, haha. You're scaring me into second-gu thoughts—"

I cut in before Choi Kwang-hyun could waver. "He'll be fine."

Was my voice too confident? Jayden and Choi Kwang-hyun stared at me with wide ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes.

What can I say? I really was confident. Overwhelming the 14th-ranked Miura had sealed it.

Compared to my pre-family-training self, I'd grown a lot.

And...

"I've got his back. So Choi Kwang-hyun should be good too."

This Full Moon Canyon raid wouldn't be easy, but it was doable.

Four days later, with D-day three days away.

"It's an honor to have you use our Teleportation Center this time, Hwang Jae-min."

The San Francisco Player Association staffer bowed politely to me.

As you can see, I was using the city's teleportation magic circle service.

Destination: Korea's Player Association.

Why? No idea. Uncle just summoned me, so here I was.

I asked why, but he just said come first—no answers.

A bit absurd, but... He knew the raid was in three days and still called me urgently. Must be important.

Plus, providing teleportation service—definitely big. Even most S-rankers couldn't access it casually.

I stepped onto the central teleport pad. The staffer approached.

"Have you used teleport services before?"

"Yes."

"I see. Safe travels, then."

She activated the machinery, and the magic circle beneath my feet blazed with light.

When the enveloping glow faded—

"Welcome. Good to see you, Hwang Jae-min."

Uncle's secretary, Yoo Soo-yeon, greeted me warmly.

Due to the time difference, night sky filled the window outside, unlike San Francisco.

I asked Yoo Soo-yeon casually, "Where's Uncle?"

"In his office. Important guest arrived, so I handled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠your welcome alone."

"Important guest? Who?"

"Well..."

She hesitated, then continued. "You'll find out soon."

"......"

Why was everyone dodging questions today? Felt like they were hiding a surprise birthday party.

I followed her to Uncle's office.

Opening the door—

"Ah, there you are."

Uncle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sat on the sofa, sipping coffee. But someone sat opposite him.

The "important guest" Yoo Soo-yeon mentioned? Only saw the back of their head from here.

Bright yellow, bushy hair—something imposing about it...

Wait. Why does this feel so familiar?

Just as I racked my brain—

The figure turned, revealing themselves. "Long time no see! We're old pals, right? Legendary sonny-boy."

Ah, called it.

Korea's top S-rank item maker, Jung Sun-ah, grinned with her sharp fangs and waved enthusiastically.

Jung Sun-ah and I caught up excitedly, swapping overdue stories. We'd both held positive impressions of each other, so it was a fun chat.

Uncle's shocked reaction upon learning my armor came from her contracted constellation was hilarious too.

About twenty minutes of small talk later—

Uncle, seated beside her, faced me and got to the point. "I called you here amid my busy schedule for one reason. Got something to pass on."

"Something to pass on? Why not just ship it overseas? No need for the headache of teleport services..."

"This has to be handed to you directly."

Uncle's tone was the most serious I'd ever heard.

Something that had to go straight to me?

No clue. I looked puzzled, and he nodded at Yoo Soo-yeon.

Thud, thud.

She silently approached the desk.

Come to think of it, a mid-sized carrier had been sitting there.

Clunk.

She brought the mysterious case over and set it on the low table between the sofas.

"Even up to the day before yesterday, I agonized over whether to give this to you—or even if I should."

Uncle gazed at the carrier with complicated eyes.

"Open it."

"......"

Why make it so tense? I swallowed hard and pressed the handle button.

Click!

The carrier opened with an analog click, and what I saw inside made me doubt my eyes.

"This is..."

"Your mother's relic."

A single guandao in complete form, stored within.

Hard to believe, but no mistaking it.

The one and only Guwon Sword left in the world, bearing my mother's trace.

That sword was right before my eyes.

"Withdrew it from the Sacred Relic Exhibition using chairman privileges."

"Ah..."

Okay, so that explained why a display-piece sword was here.

Still questions galore, though.

"B-But if it's from the exhibition, shouldn't it be broken...?"

"I fixed it."

Jung Sun-ah slurped her coffee casually. "Got a skill that resets damage to zero if even part of the original remains. Lifetime limit of three uses—I burned one on this."

"Sun-ah..."

"Don't look at me like I'm some saintess. Just a special commission. Haven't flexed in a while."

She brushed it off like no big deal, but I couldn't.

She'd restored my mother's damaged relic.

As her son, how could I not be grateful? She'd be a lifelong benefactor.

"The reason I hadn't passed Hyun-sook's relic to you until now..."

Uncle gazed fondly at the Guwon Sword, hesitated, then continued.

"Was because it felt too dangerous. If word got out you had her cherished blade, greedy types would come to seize it by force."

"...As a sacred relic sword, its value is immense."

Mom, read the room.

"There was backlash too. Even as her son, doubters questioned your right to privatize an exhibition piece."

"......"

"But not anymore, Jae-min. You're no longer weak enough to have it stolen—and no one questions your right to it now. You're a mega ranker. A hero in the making."

"Uncle..."

"That's why I'm giving you Hyun-sook's relic. Yes. You deserve it. Even she'd approve from up there."

Yes, instant approval.

The heir—that's me—was still dazed, unable to process it fully. A hazy, dreamlike fog wrapped my whole body.

"Thank you, Uncle. Sun-ah..."

Emotions tangled, my voice came out hoarse.

Then Jung Sun-ah slapped her knee like a brilliant idea struck.

"Why not draw it right here? Let's see if it suits you!"

"Jung Player's got a great idea, Jae-min."

...Suddenly everyone's pressuring me.

Well, still... it was what I wanted deep down.

"......"

Not the replica from the sanctuary made by Mom and Rebecca—this was the real Guwon Sword.

Shing.

I reached for the hilt wrapped in twilight-red cord, grasped the blade, and stood.

Then slowly drew it from the sheath.

Shiiiing!

Shiiiing!

The moment the blade cleared the sheath, Lee Tae-ho felt chills race up his spine.

"......"

The already keen sheen seemed alive, gleaming brighter under the moonlight.

Just like in his memory.

The Guwon Sword gripped firmly in Jae-min's hand radiated the exact majesty Lee Tae-ho remembered.

"How's it look, Uncle?"

Then, Jae-min innocently asked, blade raised.

And unwittingly, Lee Tae-ho recalled a day 18 years past.

The tomboy who would later be dubbed a "legend" had held a guandao just like this and asked the same.

How's it look, Uncle?

How is he so much like her? Blood doesn't lie.

Lee Tae-ho barely held back tears, voicing his heartfelt impression from the depths of his soul.

"Fucking suits you perfect, kid."

And three days later.

Full Moon Canyon opened.