Heaven-Breaking Divine Art (2)
'So that's how it was structured...'
Just beyond the wall, roughly four meters away, was another challenger's waiting room.
'I wonder what would happen if I kept smashing straight through in one direction...'
He decided to leave his curiosity for later. There was something more pressing to deal with first.
Yun-seok turned to the woman living next door(?).
Her fluttering martial robes. The sword at her waist. And her East Asian features and skin tone. She was clearly a challenger from Murim.
The bed visible behind her was made of wood, complete with what looked like a stone pillow.
But was it just his imagination? Her face seemed oddly familiar.
"Y-y-y-you're...!"
As he stared openly, she spotted him and had another fit.
Her reaction jogged his memory belatedly.
Ah...
That explained why she looked familiar.
Now that he thought about it, she was the woman he'd met in the captain battle.
He didn't know her name since they hadn't exchanged introductions, but she'd bickered with Pahur, insisting she should be captain.
He hadn't paid much attention, so all he remembered was a vague impression: immature. A bit funny.
But she seemed to remember him differently.
"H-how did you get h-here...? No, wait, why? M-me? I-I really lived a good life! For real!"
Her face drained of color like she'd seen a ghost, and she started babbling excuses.
Then he recalled his final words to her.
He didn't remember the details, but he'd warned her to live a better life.
Apparently, she'd taken it to heart since then.
"Ever since that day, I haven't picked fights with anyone! I've been careful with my words too! Believe me!"
He hadn't come looking for her on purpose, but from the circumstances, she clearly thought otherwise.
For now, Yun-seok drew his referee sword. Just to check for a malice mark.
No mark appeared above her head, like last time.
Of course, he knew it wasn't a perfect judge of character.
Still, it was the best basic verification available.
But she misunderstood again.
"...!"
She glared at him with a strange mix of resignation and resolve.
Realizing his mistake, Yun-seok sheathed the sword and cleared up the misunderstanding.
"I didn't come looking for you on purpose. The wall broke during training... It was just a coincidence."
He explained plainly without embellishment, and at least the fact that he meant no harm got through.
Relief washed over her eyes.
But it was short-lived. Soon, they widened like saucers.
"During training? How do you even train to break a wall...? Wait, the walls were breakable to begin with?"
It was a natural question.
Even Yun-seok hadn't known until he'd acquired Heaven-Breaking Divine Art and tried it himself.
But there was no need to reveal info about Heaven-Breaking Divine Art carelessly.
He changed the subject.
"Anyway, I ended up causing unexpected damage. Sorry about that."
"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine."
She hadn't expected an apology, it seemed. Despite it being the obvious thing to do, she was the flustered one, waving it off.
But Yun-seok wasn't oblivious enough not to notice it stemmed from fear of him.
"... "
An awkward silence settled in.
What was he supposed to say in a situation like this?
He asked himself, but with zero data, no answer came.
Then she spoke up.
"...But will it repair itself? This? I mean, it should, right?"
Yun-seok had no answer for that.
Because he didn't know either.
This is awkward.
A hole now gaped between their waiting rooms. Not a small one, either—it was big enough for a person to pass through easily.
If it stayed like this, all sorts of inconveniences would arise.
"...Let's wait and see for now."
"O-okay..."
That was the conclusion.
And since things had turned out this way, Yun-seok decided to ask about what had been nagging at him during the remaining time.
"What floor are you on right now, by the way?"
"...9th."
The 9th floor featured a cloned version of oneself as the opponent.
Quite some time had passed since that day, yet she was still here.
Was that normal speed?
But that wasn't the point.
So the waiting rooms aren't densely packed by floor.
When promoting, a message appeared about moving to a higher-floor waiting room, but maybe that was just wording—perhaps the rooms stayed the same even as floors advanced.
Then she cautiously asked in return, "And you?"
He answered honestly, and she was shocked.
"Already the 11th floor?"
If he hadn't gone on missions or explorations or back to Earth, it would've been even faster.
But no need to mention that to someone already using "already" for the 11th floor.
"Well, you were that strong back then too..."
She seemed to understand, but envy was another matter, nodding bitterly.
Then, as if something occurred to her, she asked a new question.
"But seriously, how did you clear the 9th? This'll be my third try next challenge. I think 'that's enough' and go for it, but it's always stronger than before... What do I do?"
With the mess already made, she seemed eager to use the chance to get info.
Yun-seok welcomed it. It was a way to make up for his blunder.
But...
I can't help much.
He'd watched his clone fight, learned from it, and used the same technique mid-duel to win.
Simple in words, but anyone who could do that wouldn't be asking.
Especially not on a floor like this—unlike others, advice wouldn't yield a strategy.
Still, just in case, Yun-seok shared what he'd felt during the duel, and she listened intently.
"'If it can do it, so can I'... I think I get the idea now. Thanks."
Had her mindset changed? Or did facing a powerhouse naturally cure her temper issues?
Whatever the case, unlike their first meeting, she stayed humble and gentle.
"I'm Namgoong So-so."
"...?"
"We might be stuck like this awhile, so at least we should know what to call each other. Let's introduce ourselves. Even a fake name's fine."
Namgoong So-so was under one misunderstanding.
The reason Yun-seok flinched at her name wasn't reluctance to introduce himself.
It was just...
"I'm Choi Yun-seok. But Namgoong?"
The surname nagged at him. Was it common?
Maybe. There were plenty of Namgoongs in Korea.
"Yes. I kinda guessed from your swordsmanship that day, but knowing my family means you're from the East too. Choi, huh... From the Wicked Blade Choi Clan, by any chance?"
As she jumped to conclusions, Yun-seok shook his head.
"No. I just got tangled up with someone who had that surname once, so it surprised me. Is Namgoong common in Murim?"
"Of course not! Hmm, are there any? Anyway, your question means I guessed wrong."
Was the question itself an insult?
She bristled briefly at his words, then forced an awkward smile.
Whatever. Yun-seok asked again.
"Then do you know a Namgoong Cheol?"
"Cheol... Nobody uses that character these days, as far as I know... Did you meet him here?"
"Yes. But probably from a long time ago."
"A long time ago?"
"Yeah. Around five hundred years? That's my estimate. You don't know him?"
"Hold on. Even if he's from the main family, five hundred years... Huh? Namgoong Cheol?"
Namgoong So-so's mouth tightened.
She shuddered as realization dawned, shouting loudly.
"Demon Sword Namgoong Cheol!"
Yun-seok knew him as Soaring Heaven Divine Sword, so he thought it was a namesake.
He mentioned it, but she shook her head firmly.
"No! That's him! I saw records of him using that nickname in his youth. Wait, you met that guy here?"
He was clearly her ancestor, yet she called him "that guy."
Like how Soaring Heaven Divine Sword became Demon Sword, there was some story there.
Yun-seok explained he'd met him on the 7th floor against an administrator.
The weight of the name hit hard; she freaked out.
"...An administrator? That means that lunatic was a challenger!"
"...Probably."
"Whoa! Who knew there was such a hidden tale! The elders back home would flip!"
"... "
"Wait, hold on! Does that mean you beat him? No way, right? Even for you... What? You did? Impossible!"
Maybe she'd judged him less dangerous through their chat? Or it was just that shocking?
Either way, she grew chattier, her voice excited and animated.
Namgoong Cheol was just a side note, really.
Having met a Murim challenger, Yun-seok wanted to ask about Cheonma or Sword God Lee Hyun-hak.
But he dropped it.
Is chattiness a Namgoong family trait...?
Yun-seok glanced at the hole in the wall. No sign of repair yet.
But he needed to find a way soon.
* * *
"I have some business at the plaza, so I'll head there."
"Sure!"
Yun-seok was dumbfounded by Namgoong So-so's bright smile and nod.
Just moments ago, she'd trembled like he'd come as the Grim Reaper, and now this sunny expression.
All Murim folk are a bit off somehow.
If anyone overheard his thought, they might've been appalled.
Who're you calling off?
Moving to the Integrated Plaza.
He hurried to the plaza like he was fleeing.
It was like leaving a stranger in an empty house, but Yun-seok wasn't worried.
What was there to steal? And even if she did, where could she run?
"You've arrived."
Eshton greeted him immediately.
Two teacups sat on the table, prepared in advance but long cold—he'd clearly waited a while.
Was he counting days based on when I returned?
If so, Yun-seok felt a twinge of guilt.
Without checking new skills, breaking the wall, and the ensuing hassle, he could've made it on time.
Eshton, however, showed no sign of minding the delay.
"Did you obtain it, then?"
"Yes. I got lucky."
Eshton beamed like it was his own victory as Yun-seok nodded.
Yun-seok then detailed the recent exploration, and Eshton paid special attention to the Abyss, Heaven, and hidden spaces.
"I can't use your method, but the conditions you shared will greatly help other challengers. Thank you."
He skipped the wall-breaking with Heaven-Breaking Divine Art and meeting Namgoong So-so.
"That's my update. Any issues on your end?"
Eshton's turn: things on Earth were uneventful overall.
Rifts were opening more frequently and on larger scales, increasing invader damage, though.
"We don't need you yet. Keep focusing on getting stronger, as you have been."
Eshton spoke as if Yun-seok were the sole hope.
Come to think of it, when had that started?
Initially, he was just a liaison for the American challenger group.
Now? Reverent gaze? Chatting with him felt like facing Jang Il from the 6th-floor plaza sometimes.
But he didn't dwell.
Just strong sense of duty to stop the end. He'd be the same with anyone here.
He brushed it off.
As they chatted freely about Earth and the Tower alike,
Eshton dropped an unexpected name.
"Do you know a Murim challenger woman called Cheonma?"
Cheonma. Heavenly Demon.
His mentor in heart, yet a rival wall he'd eventually face climbing the Tower.
"She's looking for a challenger, and I suspect it's you."
She was searching for him.