Team 2's Training and the Promised Meeting
Kang-jun was utterly bewildered at first. Then his expression darkened into one of pure fury. How could anyone hear the same words twice and still think it was a misunderstanding?
“You… you…”
The man shot upright, eyes blazing like twin torches.
“You fucking bastard. Say it again. What the hell did you just call me…?”
“Cum dump. How the fuck could you not get that? Did you shove a dick in your ear?”
“You son of a bitch!”
Kang-jun lunged. In the blink of an eye the two men were tangled together. A magic-type bastard trying to take on a physical specialist? Kang-jun, who dwarfed him in every stat, hammered him senseless. Soon the chaos spilled out of the tent. Team members scrambled over to tear them apart.
The team leader, who had finally woken from his nap, ordered the fight stopped and hauled both men before him.
“You little shits, do you have any idea what you just did?! When you get back, both of you are on report!”
Kang-jun’s face was twisted with injustice. He had done nothing wrong. Everything—both the insults and the blows—had come from the man sitting across from him!
“No, Team Leader! What can I say… it’s like this…”
“No excuses!”
The leader shoved them both toward their own tents. With only thirty minutes until the next shift, he ordered the next person on rotation to take the night watch. “Shit, unlucky bastards.” The new man assigned to thirty minutes of night duty with Lexy already looked irritated. He kept glancing back at the two men’s backs, worry etched in his eyes.
The next morning, at six sharp, the two hotheads were dragged before the leader again and thoroughly reamed out.
“This is a dungeon. Even the smallest argument can destroy team morale, did you idiots know that?!”
Kang-jun looked sincere, almost pained.
“I’m truly sorry. I never expected a trivial disagreement to escalate like this. I should have been more careful…”
The words made Kang-jun want to vomit. The smug little prick…! He wanted to shout that it was all an act. But calling the leader on it now would accomplish nothing. Kang-jun swallowed the boiling rage and kept quiet.
Seeing Kang-jun back down, the leader’s irritation eased a fraction.
“Fine. Disagreements can happen. Then you two should have talked it out like adults instead of swinging first. …Still, since you’re both showing remorse, I’ll let this one slide.”
In truth the leader didn’t want to waste the paperwork of a formal discipline hearing. So he swept the matter away with a wave of his hand. Kang-jun read the man’s mind instantly and thanked him with perfect sincerity.
“Thank you.”
The leader’s gaze dropped to Kang-jun, who was still staring at the floor.
“Kang-jun. You heard me?”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
“Dismissed. Go back and focus on training.”
“Understood, Team Leader.”
“Go on.”
The two walked back toward the others with their heads bowed. As they passed, Kang-jun shot daggers at the man behind him.
“You fucking bastard…”
Kang-jun offered a crooked, mocking smile.
“Didn’t you hear the Team Leader? Keep your mouth shut and stop whining.”
Kang-jun ground his teeth. Meanwhile the man with the night watch had been looking at Kang-jun, not the aggressor. But Kang-jun intercepted him mid-stride and physically blocked the approach.
Kang-jun didn’t spare a second glance for whatever they were whispering about. He went straight to his own tent, packed his gear, and was halfway through a quick breakfast when Lexy slipped over.
She’d clearly heard some nasty things. Her face was tight.
“I… heard from Ken.”
“…What?”
“You were planning to toy with me…”
She hadn’t actually called him a cum dump. Still, the implication was the same. …No wonder. A woman you’re pursuing would never speak that crudely. Instead she’d labeled him a complete asshole. Well, she hadn’t lied.
Of course Kang-jun didn’t claim he was innocent either. A stupid girl like her was hardly worth the effort to fool.
He gave her a sad, understanding smile.
“So you misunderstood me.”
“Misunderstood?”
“Tell Ken I’m sorry. I’m just not very good with words… I probably came across as suspicious.”
The moment Kang-jun’s sincerity reached her, Lexy’s face relaxed. Of course. People misunderstand each other all the time, right?
“So it’s all a misunderstanding? Nothing more?”
“Of course. Think about it. My actions. Did I ever do anything that could make you think I was up to anything?”
“N-no! I never thought that! I knew you better than that!”
Lexy shook her head. If Kang-jun had simply ignored her, that would have been fine. But he’d never once toyed with her. His behavior was the exact opposite of what Ken had described. She was certain she’d been deceived.
“Then it really is a misunderstanding! I’ll make sure Ken understands.”
She smiled brightly and dashed back to Ken. Kang-jun watched the man’s face twist into pure rage. He sneered at Kang-jun, then switched to the most pitiful expression the world had ever seen the instant Lexy’s eyes were on him. That fucking bastard…! No matter how many times Kang-jun explained it wasn’t him, Lexy shook her head. It couldn’t be Kang-jun.
Frustrated, Ken closed his mouth and rubbed his temples. If he stayed he’d just get his palm slapped. Better to step back and keep them apart for now. He couldn’t watch someone he liked get used like that.
“…Okay, maybe I misread the situation.”
“Yes! Kang-jun isn’t the type to do something like that. …So we’re good now?”
“I’ll make it up to you later.”
“Great!”
Relieved that her pleading had worked, Lexy beamed. Ken felt a pang of pity for her pure heart, but the irritation lingered. She was too naïve. …At the same time the duty to protect her from that snake who wanted to use her grew heavier.
From that day on, the two never clashed again. They didn’t even exchange glances. Lexy treated Kang-jun and Ken exactly as she always had.
Ken spent the entire time agonizing over one question: how to crush the bastard. First he had to learn who Lee Kang-jun really was. He asked his teammates.
“Who’s Lee Kang-jun? …Not the best reputation, but he keeps to himself.”
“Training? Nothing flashy. Just too good-looking, that’s why everyone stares.”
“He’s insanely handsome. If you could date him, you’d win the lottery.”
Most teammates had almost nothing else to say. The only common thread was that despite his looks, he didn’t act like an asshole. Overall: not the sharpest tool in the shed, but harmless.
That told Ken everything he needed to know. The man who called Lexy a cum dump without hesitation wasn’t a good guy. Which meant he hid his true self perfectly.
…But why had that bastard shown his real face to Kang-jun of all people? And why now, out of nowhere?
Why him? What was the reason? He knew creating enemies was dangerous, yet he’d still spat out something that monstrous.
Ken had been tearing his hair out for two days trying to figure it out. Even when the dungeon released them, the answer still wouldn’t come.
Team 2 finished their mission cleanly and finally stepped out of the dungeon’s maw. Everyone looked like they’d just clawed their way out of hell. The leader praised the exhausted members for their hard work during training.
They climbed back into the van and headed toward the branch. It was nine o’clock at night. Kang-jun finally had some distance from the man he hated more than anyone.
“If she calls, you tell me immediately. Understand?”
“Understood.”
“Promise?”
“I said I would. Go well, Ken. See you later.”
Ken shared a tearful farewell with Lexy, then climbed into the company van. He barely heard the manager’s chatter.
…His chest felt strangely tight.
The dungeon exploration training ended. Kang-jun didn’t get so much as a day of rest. He dove straight back into a brutal solo regimen to push his body past Ogerman’s limits. Since he had already completed his first awakening, there was no risk of stat caps.
He had no mercy. If it hurt, he kept going until it didn’t. Muscles screamed, bones ached, but his body learned faster than his mind could. And because his innate talent for this path was already exceptional, he grew at an absurd rate.
Once the team sessions ended, Kang-jun hunted down Jang Hwa-young whenever he could. The day of the Great Catastrophe was approaching. Anxiety gnawed at him. His growth so far was impressive, yet still far from enough. At minimum he needed to be able to face Level 300 without any buffs.
Years of experience and the supreme Sword Technique Tai Chi Divine Sword let him absorb her lessons faster than anyone could teach. Especially the Tai Chi Divine Sword. Its core was formless. He absorbed her entire swordsmanship into his own body as easily as mixing a single extra flavor into soup. It was like suddenly switching from a Taekwondo roundhouse kick to a perfectly timed boxing straight punch.
Naturally, Jang Hwa-young, who didn’t know the Tai Chi Divine Sword’s true nature, fell into deeper confusion. “This is what a real genius looks like,” she thought. The more she saw, the more she clung to him.
Jang Hye-yeon saw the growing obsession and threw herself into harsher training. She bled, sweated, and suffered until she believed that one day her aunt would finally recognize her effort. Truly devoted.
But Kang-jun’s twisted mind produced a cruel remark. He shoved it into the woman writhing beneath him.
“If I do that, your aunt will take care of you, won’t she? Just shut up and go have a baby, you brat!”
“Agh… ah… ugh…!”
Facing an opponent who could never win and hearing such words was infuriating. Jang Hye-yeon’s glare burned hotter.
The harder he glared, the rougher Kang-jun grew. Especially when he pinned her to the ground and pounded until her hips left bruises.
When she could barely move anymore, that was the end of the day’s work at the Jang family estate.
Kang-jun also took occasional moments to speak with Lexy. She clearly wanted to meet him privately, but he was too busy. If he had two bodies he would have made time. Right now he was even considering making a move on Jang Hwa-young.
Just then his phone rang. The call he had been waiting for all day.
“Hello? The two Paha Nan you mentioned… I found them. The 232nd batch, right?”
“Yes, 232nd batch, Park Hana. Which branch are they assigned to?”
“51st branch. Luckily they’re right next door. …But why?”
“No reason. Just curious.”
“Want to meet them?”
“Yes.”
“I have one candidate on our side who might work.”
“Then send me her name and contact info.”
“Roger.”
The call ended. Kang-jun slammed the phone down and shot to his feet. At that moment Jang Hwa-young walked in carrying a tea set.
“Senior, I need to clear my schedule today.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“I have something to do.”
“Really? …Then when will you be back?”
“A little late, I’m afraid.”
“Understood. Take your time and come back safely.”
Too bad. Jang Hwa-young had been thinking about visiting her niece anyway.
The moment Kang-jun left the dojo he called the company manager.
After a quick shower he stepped outside. Just as he reached the gate, the company van pulled up. The door slid open and the manager—hair braided neatly—emerged.
“Mr. Kang-jun, you’re ready?”
Perfect timing. Kang-jun climbed in without a word.
“Where to?”
“51st branch.”
“Sir, take us to the 51st branch!”
Kang So-mi turned her head and shouted back at the driver. The man acknowledged immediately.
“What’s the purpose?”
“I need to meet someone.”
“Who? …Can I know?”
“It’s not secret. …51st branch. A new recruit named Park Hana.”
“New recruit?”
“232nd batch.”
232nd… Kang So-mi chuckled softly as she repeated the number. “So someone who was born in the 2000s, huh?” She was still much younger than Kang-jun.
“Is her talent impressive enough to catch Mr. Kang-jun’s eye?”
“Talent? …You’ll see when you meet her.”
He said it casually, but in truth he left nothing to chance. She would become one of the protagonist’s companions. …Her personality, however, was another matter.
“Excited?”
“…I’m looking forward to it.”
Kang-jun muttered the words and stared out the window.
The manager felt a strange chill from the remark. Not exactly the tone of someone who was excited.
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