Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Wager
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"What?"
Shin Cheol-jin's face twisted in fury at those words.
But Shin Yu-hyun remained utterly calm.
"I thought the deadline for completing the designated request was a week from now. Isn't that right?"
'How does he know that?'
Shin Cheol-jin inwardly frowned at Shin Yu-hyun's words. Just as he said, the deadline for the designated request was indeed a week away.
But in his previous life, Shin Yu-hyun hadn't known that and had rushed to the dungeon right away under Shin Cheol-jin's scolding threats.
"...Fine. Then I'll give you a week."
In the end, Shin Cheol-jin spoke as if he were doing him a grand favor.
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled to himself at those words.
'A week is plenty.'
He still wasn't fully adjusted to his current body.
Compared to his body before regression, this one was far inferior, so it would take time to get used to it.
"You know this is your last chance, right? If you can't help with conquering the dungeon, you'll be kicked out of the clan."
Shin Cheol-jin sneered.
"That won't happen."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled right back at him.
In his previous life, he had indeed failed to seize that final chance.
But this life was different.
He had the ability and the means to resolve it.
"Hmph, a mere 1-star talking big. By the time I was your age, I was already a 4-star swordsman. I cleared 2-star dungeons all by myself. And what have you done?"
Shin Cheol-jin looked down at Shin Yu-hyun with utter disdain.
Shin Yu-hyun felt a pang of bitterness inside at those words.
If he had possessed mana on par with Shin Cheol-jin's, he could have faced Barbatos.
But...
'Well, it doesn't matter now. I've gained something far better than talent.'
He had returned to the past and gotten a second chance at life, after all.
And not only that—he had even inherited the Immortal King's power.
It was incomparable to mere talent.
And so, Shin Yu-hyun began laying the groundwork to pry something from Shin Cheol-jin.
"Then how about a little bet?"
"A bet?"
"If I lose, I'll leave the clan."
"What? You'll leave the clan?"
Shin Cheol-jin eyed Shin Yu-hyun suspiciously.
'What's his angle?'
The earlier threat about being kicked out had just been to scare him.
He hadn't expected Shin Yu-hyun to volunteer to leave on his own.
"Do you even know what that means?"
"Yeah."
Leaving the clan meant completely severing ties with the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
"And I'll hand over my shares to you, Brother."
"Your successor shares?"
Shin Cheol-jin stared at him in shock.
The direct descendants of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan were competing for the successor position using their respective shares.
Even though Shin Yu-hyun was ignored in the clan, he was still a direct descendant and held shares.
"Think about what happens if you get my shares."
"Hm."
Shin Cheol-jin fell deep into thought.
If he acquired Shin Yu-hyun's shares?
No need to explain—it would give him a huge advantage in the successor race.
But first, he needed to confirm one thing.
"So what do you want from me?"
"The Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill."
"..."
Shin Cheol-jin's face hardened at Shin Yu-hyun's follow-up words.
The Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill.
An inner pill that dramatically boosted mana and qi, a treasure granted only to those who had rendered great service to the clan.
If Shin Yu-hyun obtained it, it would greatly aid in increasing his chakra.
However, the pill was as rare as its effects were potent, provided only to those whose merits were recognized by the Clan Leader himself.
Even Shin Cheol-jin had only recently received one after years of accumulating achievements.
And now Shin Yu-hyun was trying to wrangle that precious pill from him.
"Is this bastard insane? You want me to bet the Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill?"
Shin Cheol-jin glared at Shin Yu-hyun in disbelief.
But Shin Yu-hyun stood tall.
"Why not? If I fail the dungeon conquest, I have to leave the clan anyway, right? You need stakes like that to make it worth your while. If you're scared, just chicken out."
"Who are you calling scared? You think you can conquer the dungeon alone?"
'So he won't bite after all.'
Shin Yu-hyun gave a wry internal smile at Shin Cheol-jin's pointed jab.
He had deliberately provoked him with the 'if I fail the dungeon conquest' line.
But true to his blood, a direct descendant of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan didn't fall for it easily.
"Of course not."
Still, Shin Yu-hyun shrugged nonchalantly.
As Shin Cheol-jin said, dungeon conquests were handled by the clan's members together.
In his previous life, the 2-star dungeon conquest had been carried out by the 2-star swordsmen who went with Shin Yu-hyun.
Even in the worst case, there was no issue—a 4-star swordsman instructor would accompany them.
It was to protect the lower swordsmen and ensure the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan didn't suffer the dishonor of failing a dungeon.
"The bet will be me soloing the 2-star dungeon boss."
"What?"
Shin Cheol-jin stared at him in utter disbelief.
But his expression soon relaxed.
"For real? You'll really bet on soloing the 2-star dungeon boss by yourself?"
"Yeah. If you don't believe me, we can draw up a contract."
Shin Cheol-jin practically beamed at Shin Yu-hyun's response. A 2-star dungeon boss required at least three 2-star swordsmen to take down.
In contrast, Shin Yu-hyun was a useless failure who hadn't even opened his energy core.
How could he possibly solo it?
'He's given up.'
That's what Shin Cheol-jin thought.
The bet's conditions were heavily stacked against Shin Yu-hyun, with massive risk.
Failure meant losing his successor shares and being expelled from the clan.
But...
'If I can't even handle this now, I won't stand a chance against Getia in five years.'
Shin Cheol-jin was right—Shin Yu-hyun's current body couldn't take down a 2-star boss.
But he had a week.
If he couldn't solo a 2-star boss in a week, he wouldn't be able to lift a finger against the Getia who would appear in five years.
He'd relive the horrors of his previous life.
That's why Shin Yu-hyun planned to train relentlessly for the next week and grow strong enough to devour a mere 2-star boss.
"Fine, I accept the bet. No backing out later."
"You too, Brother."
Shin Cheol-jin and Shin Yu-hyun exchanged smiles.
Each harboring entirely different thoughts.
After signing the bet contract with Shin Cheol-jin, Shin Yu-hyun headed to the central main house. More precisely, to an annex slightly separated from it, spanning about 150 pyeong of land.
'I can see Mother again.'
His heart raced the entire way to the annex.
He had wanted to visit her first thing upon returning, but confirming the clan's designated request took priority. It was an order from his father, the absolute authority of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
Ding-dong!
Finally arriving at the gate, Shin Yu-hyun pressed the bell.
"Who is it?"
A middle-aged woman's voice came through the intercom. Tears welled up the moment he heard it.
His mother, who had always taken his side in the clan, brutally murdered alongside the family by those Getia bastards...
The moment he vowed never to forgive them while staring at her body impaled on a spit.
He thought he'd never hear her voice again.
Yet here he was, hearing it once more.
Shin Yu-hyun suppressed his emotions and replied.
"It's me."
Moments later, the front door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman.
His mother, whom he had longed to see.
"Son! What brings you here at this hour?"
She approached with a bright smile.
"Came to see you, Mother."
Shin Yu-hyun gazed at her.
She looked exactly as she did in his memories.
Her long hair braided over her right shoulder, a gentle smile on her face.
In her early forties, she looked no older than her early thirties.
"What's going on?"
She eyed him with narrowed eyes.
"Nothing special. Just wanted to have lunch together after so long."
Making an excuse, Shin Yu-hyun stepped through the gate she opened and embraced her welcoming arms.
The fresh floral scent and warm embrace.
Only then did it feel real to him.
That his mother was alive.
'This time, I'll protect her no matter what.'
In his previous life, he had failed to protect her and his loved ones.
But this time would be different.
With memories and experience from the future, plus the Immortal King's powers.
He vowed once more.
To repay Getia tenfold for what they did.
So he could protect his precious people.
"What's with you today? Acting all out of character?"
Even as she said it, she smiled and stroked his hair.
And so, Shin Yu-hyun spent lunchtime with his mother, whom he hadn't seen in years.
After time with his mother, Shin Yu-hyun returned to Black Tortoise Hall.
Black Tortoise Hall was the Four Directions Guardian Sword Hall to which Shin Yu-hyun currently belonged.
The Four Directions Guardian Sword Halls were led by direct descendants, and Shin Yu-hyun was no exception.
But until now, as an incompetent who hadn't even opened his energy core, he had been shunned by the hall's swordsmen.
As a result, all the hall's duties were handled by the deputy leader and other executives.
'Who would've thought I'd return here.'
Shin Yu-hyun looked around the outdoor training ground in front of the Black Tortoise Hall building with a wistful gaze.
The hall had his personal quarters, training grounds, and various facilities.
The outdoor training ground was several times larger than the indoor one.
As he took it all in after so long, he spotted Black Tortoise Hall swordsmen and disciples practicing swordsmanship on the training ground.
'Just like before.'
Shin Yu-hyun gave a bitter smile.
Not a single one of the Black Tortoise swordsmen on the outdoor ground acknowledged him.
If it were his other brothers, they would have stopped training and come greet him.
'I'll change it slowly.'
Shin Yu-hyun didn't rush.
If he soloed the 2-star dungeon boss, their views would change.
Showing skill and results would win their hearts.
'First, pry out that Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill.'
That's why he had bet against Shin Cheol-jin.
With the pill, he could grow stronger faster.
'But before that, there's something I need to do.'
At one end of the vast outdoor training ground, Shin Yu-hyun looked down at his body.
Since returning to the past, he had felt a disconnect. His body didn't move as his mind commanded.
His bodily senses were off.
'First, get a feel for it.'
His current physical abilities were barely 1-star level.
Unsurprisingly different from before regression.
So he began training right away to regain his physical senses and prepare to take down the 2-star boss.
Not long after he started practicing forms...
"What the hell are you thinking?"
Someone spoke up.
Shin Yu-hyun turned toward the voice. A man in his early forties stood there.
Meteor Sword, Shin Sung-hyun.
An A-rank hunter certified by the Hunter Association and one of the clan's top 6-star supreme swordsmen.
And Shin Yu-hyun's uncle.
'Why is he here?'
Shin Yu-hyun stared at his uncle in surprise. In his previous life, Uncle Shin Sung-hyun had never come to see him at this time.