Chapter 129
Chapter 129
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Aftermath and Revelations
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jinun's procedure was finally complete.
Soo-hyuk shared the simple meal he had prepared.
A modest table with just one bowl of soup made from greens, julienned radish, and beaten eggs.
As he picked up some greens with his chopsticks, Jinun spoke.
"You're a tough one too, huh."
After saying it, Jinun flinched slightly.
Soo-hyuk continued eating without pause.
"Doesn't matter."
"...My mistake."
"It's natural to compare. The names are the same, after all."
Tap, tap.
Tapping his mask with his chopsticks playfully, Soo-hyuk added,
"Probably the face too, because of this."
Jinun's "you too" had been said thinking of the past Lee Soo-hyuk.
It wasn't just a passing thought; comparing him right in front of his eyes didn't sit well with Jinun.
Still, the words had slipped out due to his focus waning from the long procedure.
'What's there to feel bad about?'
Chewing the greens, Soo-hyuk smirked at Jinun's reaction.
'They're both me, anyway.'
No, if anything, he was grateful. It meant they hadn't forgotten him.
Both Jinun and Unhyang.
Being with them eased his mind, probably for that reason.
"I almost gave up once or twice myself. This isn't as easy as it looks."
His back, where the procedure had been done, still ached. The pain of flesh tearing and burning had lingered for days, leaving his mental strength drained.
"That's why I call you tough. I figured you'd want to stop at least once."
"Really?"
"How's the effect?"
"Great. Who did it, after all."
Flinch.
This time, Soo-hyuk was the one startled.
He'd spoken as if it were the most obvious thing, knowing Jinun so well. Glancing over, Jinun seemed unfazed by his words.
Clack.
Instead, he stopped his chopsticks and asked something else.
"Mind if I ask one thing?"
"Go ahead. Anything."
"Don't you have enough without this? For just the 6th floor."
So that's what had been on his mind.
It was a fair question. Especially from Jinun, who could gauge Soo-hyuk's current state.
And sure enough.
"During a procedure, you learn quite a bit about the person. Especially their physical aspects."
Jinun spoke as if he'd seen Soo-hyuk's status window, knowing him inside out.
"Now, most rankers wouldn't stand a chance against you."
"...Yeah."
It had been true even before, but the gap was even wider now.
After the procedure, Soo-hyuk could match top rankers without even using Master of Lightning.
"Why? Perfectionism? Or for the stream?"
"The process."
"Process?"
"Yeah. In a trial, how it's overcome matters most. The result is just the period at the end."
This had been Soo-hyuk's philosophy for a long time.
"If you're just rushing upward, you'll hit a wall someday. Inevitably."
The heights above.
To conquer a tower of unknown height, every step needed care.
"I see."
Slurp.
Sipping the warm tea, Jinun let a faint, irrepressible smile form.
Just like him, he thought.
Jaunyeop couldn't believe his eyes.
It was unbelievable, even seeing it.
Eight warriors from Shinryeon Fortress had fallen. In mere minutes.
And among them was Won-gok.
'He noticed Won-gok's stealth technique mid-fight with Shinryeon elites.'
Won-gok was one of the top three in Shinryeon Fortress at stealth. Jaunyeop had drawn attention, but it was Won-gok who'd briefly held Cheongryang hostage, evading Unhyang.
Yet Lee Soo-hyuk had cut him down.
'Miscalculated.'
He'd timed it when Lee Soo-hyuk was away on purpose. But not because he doubted his skill.
The danger was his streamer status, drawing tens of thousands of viewers. Bad publicity for Shinryeon Fortress.
But no.
Lee Soo-hyuk hadn't threatened with his broadcast—he'd sliced through them with sheer skill.
'Both Lee Soo-hyuk and the genius.'
Swish.
Lowering his sword slowly, Jaunyeop sighed.
'Both far exceeded expectations.'
The plan had failed.
He wasn't in great shape either. Heavy bleeding from recent wounds, and now one more opponent.
This might be...
'My grave.'
But then.
"Looks like it's over. Why not head out?"
Unhyang's unexpected words made Jaunyeop frown.
"Leave?"
"Or you planning to die here? Uncle, you got two lives?"
It didn't sound empty. She'd lowered her sword too.
"Just promise one thing. Don't come after me if you go back. Do that, and I'll pretend you're dead here."
"...For real?"
"Keep pushing, and I'll change my mind. Counting to five. Get lost. One, two, three..."
No time to think.
Jaunyeop nodded and leaped away. Unhyang's eyes followed from the ruined forest center as she counted.
"...Five."
And in that instant.
Flash!
Faster than against Jaunyeop, Unhyang rushed to Soo-hyuk.
"Soo-hyuk-nim!"
His condition was precarious, it seemed.
Judging by the constant alarms.
'About 3 minutes.'
Crackle.
The power filling his body dispersed. As Master of Lightning ended, he felt like a deflated balloon.
'The procedure's effect is solid.'
Short, but enough for combat. Before, 30 seconds was the limit—a huge leap.
'Great, but...'
His body felt drained, like severe dehydration.
Still, the fight wasn't over.
One left.
The most dangerous one.
'Can't collapse yet.'
Fatigue at its limit for more fighting. But only he knew.
Can't let the enemy see weakness. End it here if possible.
Fortunately, Jaunyeop spoke with Unhyang and left.
Right after.
"Soo-hyuk-nim!"
Unhyang arrived at startling speed, checking him over.
"Not hurt anywhere? Wounds? You looked like you were pushing too hard..."
She knew his state.
Of course.
As his manager and huge fan, she knew Master of Lightning's side effects and his current specs.
So she must have noticed he wasn't fine.
In his close-up fussing view, Unhyang's wounds appeared.
Several large ones. Even more small.
Avoided vitals for capture, but that blood loss could drop her anytime.
"What about you, Manager?"
"Me? Why me?"
"You seem mobile enough."
"Oh, this?"
Only then noticing, Unhyang checked herself.
Then.
"Right..."
She swayed dizzily and collapsed against Soo-hyuk.
Both equally spent. If Jaunyeop had pressed, it'd have been rough.
"Let's head back."
Soo-hyuk was better off. Skill backlash, but no wounds.
He was about to support Unhyang and leave before Jaunyeop returned.
"Unhyang! Unhyaaang-!"
Cheongryang's urgent voice from afar.
Soo-hyuk and Unhyang exchanged grins of relief.
Arriving late, Cheongryang hoisted Soo-hyuk and Unhyang over each shoulder and returned to the lodging.
After treating and bandaging Unhyang's wounds, she fell straight asleep.
No.
She'd been dozing on Cheongryang's back already.
"Wasn't planning to end up like this."
Shoulders stiff from carrying them without full recovery, Cheongryang rolled them out.
Soo-hyuk gazed at the now-familiar Cheongryang.
In the deep night, they sat side by side on the veranda. Unhyang slept soundly inside.
"You okay, Soo-hyuk-nim?"
"No injuries. Just skill backlash."
Fatigue high, but movable. No wounds to reopen.
He wanted to sleep beside Unhyang.
But circumstances prevented easy rest.
"...Thank you."
Soo-hyuk nodded at Cheongryang's gratitude.
"No need."
"Still, you fought people you didn't have to, for us. And..."
Hesitating to voice reality, Cheongryang continued.
"...Murim at that."
Her guilt was understandable.
Murim was a colossal force—no, more like a world unto itself.
Making an enemy of Murim was like defying a whole world.
But.
"Doesn't matter."
Nothing changed.
Just accelerated a bit.
'I'd clash with Murim eventually anyway.'
Murim were the ones who'd betrayed his comrades with Kim Il-su. Conflict was inevitable.
But Soo-hyuk lacked cause.
Murim prized justification above all. With it, no issue; without, the whole alliance exterminates.
This fight gave him that: protecting his manager as a streamer.
Still.
"Don't you think it's time to explain?"
He'd waited for her to speak first.
But now, it was hard to hold back.
"Feels like I've got a foot in it now."
Unhyang and Murim.
How were they entangled? Why target her?
Why did she hate Murim so?
"...Yes."
Cheongryang nodded.
He'd helped without hesitation, even against Murim. Time to tell Soo-hyuk.
"I should explain now."
And so Cheongryang's story began.