Chapter 152
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: The Warrior's Proof
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Kukri, who had been dragged off by the tenant farmers, was getting a thorough beating with clubs.
His level was so low that hardly any damage was coming through, but right now, he felt like dying from the humiliation.
In his entire life, he had never once been pummeled by someone weaker than him.
"Come out. It's my turn now."
"Aren't we gonna kill him like this...?"
"Fuck, those bastards trashed my field, and now I'm gonna starve to death!"
"Here, take this."
Damn bastards.
He could crush them all if he wanted to.
But if he did, the boss would kill him.
That fear kept him from charging at them.
"You fucking dog!"
The tenant farmer who took the club raised it high, aiming to bring it down on the cowering Kukri.
That was when it happened.
"Don't you think it's time to stop...?"
Sors, who had been watching from the side, finally stepped forward.
"Stop? You want me to forgive this damn bastard?"
"Then are you saying you'll kill him?"
"Well..."
Kukri was hateful enough to kill, but he had no real intention of doing it.
"Look at him! Does that look like a remorseful face to you!"
One of the tenant farmers pointed at Kukri.
He was apologizing, but it was all forced.
He wasn't truly regretting his wrongs.
"So, let's try a different approach."
A different approach?
All the gathered tenant farmers turned their attention to Sors's words.
"What's that?"
"I'll hear it out and decide."
Sors nodded and continued.
"What if we use him as a laborer for replanting the crops?"
"A laborer?"
"Yeah. We have our benefactor right here who helped us, so that guy won't dare do anything."
Jeong Hoon had brought him personally, and the guy had acted all meek in front of him.
He must be terrified of him.
"W-Wait...! I was wrong! Just keep beating me!"
Kukri, sensing things were going south, shouted desperately.
Was it because his true feelings were plain on his face?
The tenant farmers nodded with knowing looks.
"We definitely need a lot of hands to restore the crops."
"I hear there are plenty more bandits besides this one. If we put them all to work, it should more than cover it, right?"
"Sounds like a good idea."
Sors grinned at the positive response.
"Then hand that club back to me. You know it'll just dirty your hands if you keep hitting him."
"...Fine."
The tenant farmer holding the club hesitated for a moment before handing it back to Sors.
Kukri's face twisted in despair.
A day passed, and it became the second day.
Jeong Hoon hadn't logged out once as he kept digging up the field.
How about taking a break...? You'll really collapse at this rate.
Mukho, unusually, expressed concern.
"You're worried about me right now?"
Jeong Hoon asked without pausing his digging.
Of course. If you collapse, I can't recover either.
So that's why.
Jeong Hoon chuckled.
"That won't happen, so don't worry."
He knew he was putting a heavy burden on his body in the capsule, but he couldn't afford to slack off.
Time was more precious than gold to Jeong Hoon.
He had to get stronger, even if just a little more.
Ting!
As Jeong Hoon's shovel sank deep into the dirt with a squelch, he felt something catch at the tip.
It was distinctly different from hitting a rock.
'Found it.'
Jeong Hoon's hands moved faster.
Where he cleared the dirt, a wooden box matching the one Kukri had described was buried.
'Oh, is this it?'
Even Anima's voice, which had been watching boredly, livened up.
"Yeah, I think so."
Jeong Hoon pulled the box out.
Then he slowly opened the lid.
Fragment of the Old Warrior's Mark
Inside the box was the familiar fragmentand not just one, but two.
Jeong Hoon immediately pocketed the two fragments.
You have acquired a Fragment of the Old Warrior's Mark.
You now possess 4 fragments.
'Good. Now I have four.'
Only three left.
One with Verd, and two with his master.
Once he collected those, he could complete the Warrior's Mark.
'And since I've earned Verd's recognition, the other quests should go smoothly too.'
They say New World truly begins at the third job change.
That's when you can skyrocket your specs through various contents.
Of course, to explode your specs, you need to hit level 500, but that could be solved by shortening the time.
'They should have found him by now, right?'
He had narrowed down the candidates and sent the bandits, so finding Lian Dor was just a matter of time.
Jeong Hoon reburied the empty box in the field and left.
"Did you check the field thoroughly?"
Back at the rest area, he ran into Luras, the field owner.
Jeong Hoon nodded.
"Yes. As promised, I'll sell the field back to you at the original market price."
"So soon?"
"My business here is done."
Was there treasure buried or something?
Luras was tempted to ask, seeing Jeong Hoon covered in dirt.
It was obviously from digging up the field.
He was curious, but Luras decided not to pry.
Whatever it was, he had bought the field for three times the market price and was reselling it at market value after just two daysa huge profit for him.
That was enough.
"Thank you. Instead of this, why not come to my house for a meal?"
"No, thank you. I'm in a bit of a hurry. More importantly, where's Kukri?"
Kukri, dragged off by the tenant farmers.
His pride must have been shattered down to the basement floor.
Jeong Hoon didn't expect genuine remorse just because he was the leader.
Kukri was just for buying time.
But then Luras said something unexpected.
"Oh, you mean the bandit leader? He's out plowing the fields."
"Plowing the fields?"
"Yes. Beating him with clubs didn't quench our revenge."
Jeong Hoon quickly caught on to why he brought it up.
Revenge they never would have dreamed of before, but with Jeong Hoon there, they went for it.
Plus, extra hands would make farming much easier.
He didn't know who suggested it, but it seemed like solid revenge.
"I'll send the rest of them to the fields too."
"Really...? You can do that?"
"Yes. Things won't go smoothly without me stepping in, right?"
"That's true, but..."
"Then don't worry too much."
Jeong Hoon grinned and headed back to the bandits' hideout.
Rob's group had already arrived there.
"Boss! You're here!"
Rob rushed over upon spotting Jeong Hoon.
"Did you find him?"
"Yes! He was right where you said."
Fortunately, Lian Dor was at the spot James Marcus had discovered.
"Good. Where is he now?"
"He's resting inside."
"You did well."
Jeong Hoon patted his shoulder.
"Thank you!"
Now that he got praise, he could finally rest.
He had been thoroughly beaten by Jeong Hoon, healed right after, and carried out orders.
Physically and mentally exhausted.
He was sure he'd pass out the moment he lay down.
"Next order. Take the guys and head down to the tenant farmers' fields."
"The tenant farmers? Why there...?"
"Help with the work as your apology."
"What?!"
Rob and the bandits behind him couldn't hide their shock.
"What's the surprise? Isn't it right for you to go apologize to the farmers you've been looting?"
"That's not it, but... can't we rest a bit first?"
"Want to die?"
In an instant, thick killing intent leaked from Jeong Hoon's eyes.
Rob and the bandits froze solid.
"Th-That's..."
"I'll give you one more chance to answer. What'll it be?"
"We'll head out right away!"
"That's more like it."
Satisfied with the response, the killing intent faded from Jeong Hoon's eyes.
"Then we're off!"
Rob hurriedly led the bandits down to the tenant farmers' fields.
Now only Jeong Hoon and Lian Dor remained in the hideout.
As Jeong Hoon entered the hut, hearty laughter echoed from inside.
"Puhaha! What an entertaining show!"
Jeong Hoon slowly approached the source.
There sat an old man who looked to be in his early eighties.
NPC Information
-Nickname: Lian Dor
-Level: 375
-Job: Former City Lord of Warriors
The former city lord and Verd's master.
And the one holding two fragments of the Old Warrior's Mark.
"Glad you enjoyed it."
Jeong Hoon grinned.
Lian Dor stopped laughing at the relaxed demeanor and slowly rose from his seat.
"So, how did you know where I was?"
"That's a secret."
"A secret? You're an interesting one. Then what's the reason for finding me?"
"Hand over the two fragments of the Old Warrior's Mark you have."
"...Fragments?"
"Yes."
Lian Dor let out an incredulous laugh at Jeong Hoon's boldness.
"Hah, how do you even know I have fragments?"
"The current city lord told me."
"Verd...?"
Lian Dor muttered in disbelief.
Above his head, a red question mark blinked.
Hidden Quest: Lian Dor
-Restriction: Mention fragments to Lian Dor
-Reward: Old Warrior's Mark Fragment x2
-Description: Earn Lian Dor's recognition to acquire the fragments.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest immediately.
"Yes. I need those fragments."
"Interesting. Can you restore it?"
Lian Dor snorted, mentioning the possibility of restoration.
"Yes."
Jeong Hoon nodded confidently.
Lian Dor's eyes trembled slightly.
"What...? You can restore it?"
"Yes. I can restore it. Perfectly."
"Hah, what an interesting fellow. How many fragments do you have to speak so boldly?"
Restoration requires collecting a certain number of fragments.
Lian Dor had given one to his disciple Verd, including that, he had three total.
To even attempt restoration, even imperfectly, you'd need at least three more fragmentshow could an outsider have that?
But Jeong Hoon's answer shattered his expectations completely.
"Four."
"What?!"
Lian Dor's eyes widened.
He himself had only found three in his lifetimehow had this outsider found four?
That meant if he handed his over, restoration was possible.
"Hand them over."
"...Do you have a sword?"
Lian Dor had no intention of giving them easily.
"Yes. I do."
"Then draw your sword. Prove to me you're a true warrior, and I'll give you the fragments."
The outsider before him was clearly a Martial Artist.
No way such a guy was a true warrior.
"Understood."
Jeong Hoon nodded and drew Leviathan.
Combat with Lian Dor begins.
Endure for 5 minutes.
With the message, Lian Dor's aura shifted.
In his hand was now a pure white sword.
Lian Dor uses 'Footwork.'
He closed in on Jeong Hoon with footwork.
As expected of a former city lord, his movements were no joke.
But to Jeong Hoon, who had faced stronger foes, it didn't seem that impressive.
Lian Dor raised his sword and slashed diagonally at Jeong Hoon's neck.
Clang!
Jeong Hoon blocked with Leviathan.
Lian Dor was slightly impressed at the effortless defense.
He had aimed to kill in one exchange, yet this low-level guy blocked casually.
Black Field activates.
All stats are boosted by 1.5 times.
All monster stats in the Black Field territory drop by 10.
The ground turned black.
"Quite the unique ability."
Lian Dor stared at the floor with interest.
"Here I come."
First Form: Stance activates.
The Unique-ranked Annihilation Sword.
Jeong Hoon's sharp strikes poured toward Lian Dor.
"Hup!"
Clang! Clang!
Lian Dor blocked every strike of the First Form.
'Hoo.'
Jeong Hoon was impressed by his swordsmanship too.
Even well past his prime, his movements were still alive.
Second Form: Erosion activates.
Shift to the Second Form, changing the sword path.
Lian Dor's eyes glinted at the completely altered path.
He swung his sword to meet it head-on.
Clang! Clang!
Blocked perfectly again.
Jeong Hoon's lips curved up.
Regardless of level, it had been a while since he faced such seasoned swordplay.
The quest was to endure five minutes, but he wanted to clearly overpower him.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The clash of swords rang out repeatedly.
It seemed evenly matched, but the reality was different.
The momentum had already tilted toward Jeong Hoon.
As the exchange dragged on, Lian Dor's stamina steadily dropped.
Meanwhile, Jeong Hoon's strikes remained solid and sharp.
He recovered any lost stamina with heals.
Clang!
"Urk."
As swords clashed again, Lian Dor momentarily lost his stance.
Jeong Hoon's eyes flashed at the opening.
Third Form: Annihilation activates.
Annihilation activated, and Leviathan pierced Lian Dor's abdomen in an instant.
'It's over.'