Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Mad Sword
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It was certain.
And that made sense, because he had taken Park Yong's life himself.
‘To think that crazy bastard was in this batch.’
Park Yong was worthy of being called a madman.
No, he really was a madman.
A madman obsessed with the sword and power.
He wielded the sword like a maniac and was so obsessed with swordsmanship that his nickname was Mad Sword.
Su-ho narrowed his eyes.
‘So if both me and that guy make it, we’d be in the same batch?’
Correct.
Of course, the industry didn’t put much stock in things like being in the same batch or senior-junior relationships, but if you had to draw the line, that’s how it would be.
And Park Yong would probably pass.
He didn’t remember the guy’s debut info, but he was one of the world’s swordsmanship geniuses that even Su-ho acknowledged.
‘Hmm.’
Su-ho stroked his chin and fell into thought for a moment.
Park Yong was a typical superiority complex type who judged everything by strength alone.
On top of that, his thirst for power was so intense that he’d pick fights with masters whenever he got the chance, which was why he became the hunter serial killer.
That meant he had to take preventive measures as much as possible while he could.
If he just ignored it, who knew what innocent victim might suffer next.
‘Annoying, but no choice.’
After racking his brain, Su-ho came up with a suitable method and approached Park Yong.
He glanced at the name tag on his chest, confirmed it was indeed Park Yong, and spoke up.
“Hello?”
“……?”
Park Yong glanced at Su-ho and quickly looked away.
Yeah.
That’s just how you were.
Not giving a damn about anyone who looked weak.
But conversely, obsessed with the strong like a stalker.
That’s why Su-ho knew better than anyone how to handle Park Yong.
Su-ho asked again.
“My name is An Su-ho. Seeing you with a sword, you must be an aspiring swordsman. How about a spar with me?”
Su-ho waved the practice wooden sword he had brought.
Park Yong scowled and said.
“Get lost.”
“Pardon?”
“I said get lost.”
A cynical response from Park Yong.
Just as expected.
But you think I’d give up that easily?
Su-ho lifted one corner of his mouth and asked.
“Your words are a bit harsh. Scared, maybe?”
In that instant, Park Yong’s gaze, which had been avoiding Su-ho at an angle, snapped straight to him.
Oh man, scary.
As expected of Park Yong, super sensitive to anything about skill.
Park Yong furrowed his brows and asked.
“What did you just say?”
“Aren’t you dodging because you’re scared?”
“You got some skills? Why are you acting so cocky?”
“What if I do? Wanna check?”
“……Ha!”
At those words, Park Yong shot up from his seat.
“I was getting bored with all these losers anyway. Perfect timing. Fine, let’s check. Come at me.”
“Should’ve said that sooner. Follow me. There’s a sparring area over there, let’s do it there.”
“……Crazy bastard.”
Park Yong let out a hollow laugh at Su-ho’s confident attitude.
It was the first time he’d seen someone like this.
Fortunately, Park Yong followed Su-ho’s suggestion and headed to the sparring area.
Even though they were waiting, this was still during the exam, and Park Yong didn’t want to fail the hunter exam over something trivial.
“A spar? Yes, well…… Understood.”
The supervisor looked a bit surprised at the sparring mediation request but nodded.
It wasn’t the first time he’d seen guys like this.
Soon, the three of them, including the supervisor, moved to the temporary sparring area set up in one corner of the training ground.
Naturally, no one was sparring there.
No one wanted to risk injury on such an important exam day.
Was that why?
Bored examinees started gathering one by one to watch the sudden sparring news.
The supervisor said.
“Both of you can only use the practice weapons provided by the Association, and since it’s a spar, if things get too heated, I’ll stop it at my discretion. Also, this is during the exam, so be as careful as possible. If you get hurt here, you might not be able to take the main exam, so keep that in mind.”
They also agreed that neither would be responsible for injuries sustained during the spar, and only then did they take their distance.
The onlookers began chiming in at the sight.
“Damn, look at those guys.”
“How can they not hold it in on a day like today and pull this crap?”
“Attention whores, that’s what they are.”
“Whatever, who do you think wins?”
“I’m betting on the droopy-eyed one.”
“Why?”
“In manga and stuff, the half-lidded or droopy-eyed guys are always the skilled ones.”
“That’s true.”
The droopy-eyed one was Park Yong.
Su-ho smirked at that.
‘Not wrong, but not this time.’
Park Yong was impressive, but Su-ho was even more so.
Soon, the supervisor signaled the start.
At the same time, Park Yong immediately assumed a ready stance. But.
“Huh?”
“Look at that guy.”
“Why’s he just standing there without even drawing his sword?”
Unlike Park Yong, who took his ready stance right away, Su-ho stood in place with his sword still sheathed at his waist, not even drawn.
Some found it intriguing, others shook their heads, calling it arrogance.
“Look at that bastard’s pose. No skill, just full of style. Bet he’s some otaku who got high off watching sword character anime. Definitely. 100%.”
“What if he’s actually skilled?”
“Then I’ll ditch today’s exam and go eat pork belly right now.”
“You better not.”
Park Yong scowled just as much as the mocking crowd.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“What do you think? Sparring with you. Hurry up and come at me.”
“You little…….”
Park Yong ground his teeth seeing Su-ho, sword at his waist, not even in a ready stance.
So he vowed.
Even if it meant paying compensation today, he’d break at least one…… no, two or three of that guy’s bones for sure.
Having made his vow, Park Yong charged at Su-ho ferociously.
But Su-ho still stood motionless in place, and the moment Park Yong’s sword closed in right up to his nose.
Whoosh!
The sound of cutting through empty air.
In that instant, Park Yong’s eyes widened like saucers.
Because there was nothing where it should have hit.
Su-ho had simply twisted his body to dodge Park Yong’s attack.
Beginner’s luck?
Yeah, lotto has winners every week, so dodging the first attack is possible.
Thinking that, he twisted his waist for the follow-up, swinging his sword again in the direction he’d evaded.
Or tried to.
Clack!
The moment the wooden sword was about to swing, something landed on the flat of the blade.
Surprisingly, it was Su-ho’s foot.
He’d placed his foot on the blade before the power could explode, preventing the swing.
Stunned by the sequence, Park Yong pushed the sword with both hands.
Trying to force Su-ho back and create distance, but Su-ho didn’t budge like a rock.
Snicker.
Seeing Park Yong struggling and panicking, Su-ho couldn’t help but laugh.
Yeah.
You’d be rattled.
But there was nothing he could do.
Su-ho’s current level was 10.
He was certain—no, among all unregistered hunters in the country…… no, in the entire world, he had the highest level and highest stats.
Because world hunter law absolutely forbade unregistered hunters from entering gates.
That was when.
Su-ho, who had pinned Park Yong’s movement with his sole, pushed hard with his foot, sending Park Yong flying far back.
Unable to overcome the overwhelming stat difference, Park Yong was pushed way back, nearly tumbling over.
The surroundings fell into a stunned silence, like cold water had been poured over them.
Everyone thought it would be a dogfight or one-sided beatdown, never imagining the spar going like this.
And the supervisor was the same.
‘What…… what’s with that guy?’
The supervisor had barely slept preparing for the hunter exam the day before and was exhausted.
But seeing Su-ho’s skill blew away his sleepiness.
He’d seen many examinees and even elites pushed by major guilds, but a case like Su-ho was a first.
Su-ho said with a smile.
“What’re you doing? Not coming again? Giving up?”
“You……!”
Park Yong ground his teeth in rising fury but soon swallowed his anger and lifted one corner of his mouth.
At first, he’d been enraged at being toyed with like a clown, but as a skill supremacist, Park Yong immediately acknowledged Su-ho’s ability.
Because when it came to swordsmanship, no one was more serious than Park Yong, and his eyes could see it.
That what just happened wasn’t beginner’s luck or a skill, but the ‘real deal.’
So Park Yong changed his stance.
“You’re fun. Now I get why you were so relaxed against me. Fine, now I’ll get serious.”
“You looked pretty serious earlier.”
“Yeah, I was serious then too.”
Park Yong lifted the corner of his mouth.
But that smile felt eerily chilling for a moment, like a glimpse of the true madness unique to the Park Yong Su-ho remembered.
So it was very satisfying.
‘Looks like the kid’s finally fired up properly.’
Perfect.
That’s what he’d aimed for from the start.
Su-ho wanted Park Yong fixated on him. That way, he wouldn’t pay attention to anyone else until he surpassed Su-ho.
Park Yong, having changed stance, took a different ready position.
Seeing it, Su-ho’s mouth formed an O.
Because the stance he’d taken was the basic form of Park Yong’s original swordsmanship, ‘Dragon Swordsmanship.’
‘Been a while since I’ve seen Dragon Swordsmanship. Well, those in the know call it ‘Mad Dragon Sword’ instead.’
Why was it called Mad Dragon Sword?
Simple.
Because his nickname was Mad Sword and his name was Park Yong.
Anyway, he didn’t have a hunter license yet, so he couldn’t have mastered an original swordsmanship; it was probably still basic level?
In that instant, Park Yong closed the distance to Su-ho in a flash.
Not normal movement.
It was clearly boosted by footwork skill correction.
But.
‘I have footwork too.’
Su-ho’s gaze tracked Park Yong perfectly.
And like a computer calculation, the moment the guy swung his sword, Su-ho twisted half a beat faster, watching the blade pass right in front of his eyes.
Once.
Twice.
Even the third time.
Three consecutive attacks missed, but Park Yong didn’t rage.
Nor did he laugh like a maniac.
Park Yong’s eyes gleamed as he focused on Su-ho with terrifying intensity, and at the moment the fourth attack was coming, Su-ho suddenly thrust his forehead forward. Then.
Thwack!
A light thud.
Su-ho’s forehead hit Park Yong’s philtrum.
With both hands still at his waist.
A headbutt.
Startled by the sudden philtrum strike, Park Yong stumbled back two or three steps.
And clutching his mouth, he stared at Su-ho with a look of utter bewilderment.