episode_0012

The two of them charged at each other without hesitation.

The initiative was with Geumchiho.

As he spewed out flickering flames from his mouth, Seonghyun responded with fire as well.

Of course, if he had only used fire skills, he would have been pushed back.

What Seonghyun used was lightning fire. The lightning fire was enough to push back the opponent’s fire.

Crackle.

Whoosh.

Simple flames. Fire mixed with lightning.

The two forces clashed, exerting their presence and expanding their bodies.

Seonghyun and Geumchiho were not just watching the power struggle.

Geumchiho led the flames all over his body, while Seonghyun added more power of lightning and fire.

Eventually, the winner of their power struggle was determined.

Fire lightning.

Geumchiho was hit by the fire lightning contained in Seonghyun’s sword and staggered back.

“It didn’t feel like a breeze. It felt like a hit.”

Although Geumchiho’s neck was cut, it felt like it hit something solid.

“Let’s try again.”

Seonghyun used lightning fire.

Raising his sword, he swung it once more.

When Seonghyun suddenly accelerated, Geumchiho, as if expecting it, transformed his body into fire.

Whoosh!

Geumchiho’s entire body glowed not red, but blue.

The clash of lightning fire and flames from earlier was just an extension of this.

Seonghyun’s lightning and Geumchiho’s blue flames clashed.

Once again, the winner was Seonghyun.

This time, Seonghyun’s sword moved differently.

He grasped each hair on Geumchiho’s body and inserted the sword between them.

“I thought it would pierce through the flames. I was worried, but it seems not.”

Perhaps due to the magic using Taeguk, Seonghyun felt resistance from the sword.

It was a sword that could cut through even fire.

Swish.

As Seonghyun reached out with his sword, Geumchiho dodged.

“Too shallow.”

Although he was cut, it was shallow.

Geumchiho looked at Seonghyun with blood trickling from his neck.

Running away was not an option for Geumchiho.

Therefore, Geumchiho burned his last breath.

Even the last moment was like fire!

Geumchiho’s body began to burn white.

Seonghyun raised his sword.

“What, are they all awakening and going berserk?”

Seonghyun pondered how to deal with Geumchiho.

Should he run away?

After all, he would win if he just dragged out the time, right?

However.

He didn’t want to use that method.

Seonghyun hated cowardice. Always facing things head-on.

Someone might call it cowardly, but…

“What can I do? I’ve lived like this.”

Seonghyun began to control the lightning more meticulously.

A bit more carefully. But freely.

-The proficiency of Little Lightning has increased.

-The proficiency of Little Lightning has increased.

-The proficiency of Little Lightning has increased.

In Seonghyun’s vision, a small notification appeared.

“It’s noisy, I’m concentrating right now.”

Seonghyun closed his eyes.

Geumchiho didn’t charge straight away but waited for Seonghyun.

Geumchiho, who shared the same sentiment as Seonghyun, wanted to show each other their best at the end.

Seonghyun thought, what is lightning? Lightning is fast and free.

If you try to grab it with your hand, it slips away. If you try to remember it with your mind, it disappears.

Then.

What should he do?

Just leave it as it is.

Seonghyun let the lightning he was trying to control be free.

That’s it. The lightning began to jump around. Seonghyun cautiously followed its flow.

Crackle. Crackling.

Seonghyun’s body began to blur.

He became the lightning itself.

Only then did Geumchiho start charging at Seonghyun.

However, the lightning was everywhere.

Swish.

Crackle.

Along with the sound of Seonghyun’s sword cutting through Geumchiho,

Destructive lightning struck.

-The grade of Little Lightning has increased.

With the notification, the lightning started to turn red.

Blood gushed from Geomchiho’s body like a fountain.

It covered Seonghyun from above. However.

Sizzle.

The blood spurting from Geomchiho evaporated as soon as it touched the lightning.

“Haah-.”

As Seonghyun exhaled, hot steam escaped.

Seonghyun closed his eyes for a moment.

Upon opening them again, he looked at the newly updated status window.

-Kim Seonghyun (38) Male

Traits: Investment [EX] (LV. 1, (0%)), Crimson Lightning [B] (LV. 1, (13%)

Health: 52 (26%)

Mana: 52 (17%)

Skills: Coin Market [EX] (LV. 3, (32%)), Fire [D] (LV. 9, (46%))

Account Balance: 1,840C

“Better than yesterday.”

Having easily hunted down one more than yesterday.

Those similar or weaker than Geomchiho were no longer a match for Seonghyun.

Zap.

Seonghyun wielded the newly transformed lightning.

A more freely destructive appearance than before.

As he shot the lightning forward.

Crackle.

The manifested lightning destroyed and burned a tree.

“Not bad.”

Seonghyun immediately looked at the approaching enemies.

-Health level increased to 55. Account Balance: 1,360C

-Mana level increased to 55. Account Balance: 980C

Although his mana had increased significantly.

“I can handle this much.”

He spun the Taeguk once to make it his own.

“Seen them yesterday and some new ones too.”

-Stone Tiger [1,300C]

-Fire-breathing Crocodile [1,600C]

-Shining Bird [1,800C]

-Dark Monkey [1,500C]

Seonghyun unsheathed his sword.

The creatures known as kings in his domain howled at Seonghyun.

“Kraaah!”

***

Hayato and the Knight Commander had become close, eating and conversing together.

Interestingly, the team leader and detective were always together.

“Knight Commander, sir. So, what kind of place is the Forest of Maesu?”

The detective asked, nibbling on a chicken leg.

This was a story that the team leader was also curious about.

Perhaps that’s why both the team leader and Hayato perked up their ears.

The Knight Commander looked up at the sky as if recalling something.

“Well, I’ve only been to the Forest of Maesu twice because it’s so dangerous.”

“The first time was during my squire days.”

The Knight Commander began his story lightly.

“At first, I just wanted to see the place I had only heard stories about. Curiosity almost killed me. Haha! I almost died back then. Do you see this?”

The Knight Commander pointed to the scar on his forehead.

A long, jagged scar. Hayato had recently learned about swordsmanship.

That wasn’t a sword wound.

“They were wolf bastards. I could have handled one, but there were too many. Running away was my only option.”

The Knight Commander laughed, pointing to the scar he got back then.

The team leader asked him.

“You said you went there twice, right? Did you go back after being attacked by wolves?”

To which the Knight Commander replied.

“The second time was to prove myself. There’s a tradition in this kingdom. To join the Royal Knights, you have to do it.”

“What tradition?”

Hayato spoke as if he had never heard of it before.

“Of course, you wouldn’t know. You’re not part of the kingdom, let alone the Knights.”

“Anyway, I went back to that forest to take the test to join the Royal Knights.”

The Knight Commander stroked his arm.

“This is the scar from that time. Do you know? The Forest of Maesu has a barrier. Thanks to that barrier, the Maesu creatures can’t leave the forest.”

Hayato’s eyes sparkled.

“It must be an optimal place for training.”

The Knight Commander smiled at Hayato’s words.

“We’re still far from that. At least those knights over there are the ones who can say they’ve won.”

Without further ado. The first area you enter is called the Forest of Beginnings. It’s filled with monsters that can be defeated at the level of a regular knight. Next is the Forest of Despair.”

As the knight commander spoke, the surrounding knights tensed up.

“All members of the knight order must capture one type of monster in the Forest of Despair. Depending on the type of monster captured, they are given a numbering. For your information, I captured a tiger that spewed fire. Not only fire, but it had a body that could withstand anything. Thanks to that, I received the number one. And that’s why I’m sitting here as the knight commander.”

Hayato was taken aback when he heard about the tiger spewing fire.

A tiger spewing fire?

“Next is the Forest of Death. I have never been there myself. I tried to go once, but when I approached, it was as if I was deemed unworthy. My body wouldn’t move any further. At that moment, I felt like something was staring at me. It was truly…”

The knight commander’s expression turned pale as he recalled that moment.

“So, I have only read the records left by the former emperor of the empire far away. It is said that there are monsters there that we have only heard of in myths and legends. Creatures like dragons, unicorns, and phoenixes.”

“I haven’t seen it myself, so I don’t know.” the knight commander laughed it off.

While everyone laughed at his words, the two men’s thoughts were different.

Hayato imagined taming mysterious monsters.

On the other hand, the team leader thought, “Surely Seonghyun isn’t there, right?”

The team leader’s imagination was a reality, but imagination and reality were slightly different.

***

A tiger made entirely of rock charged at Seonghyun first.

When Seonghyun raised his sword to block the tiger’s claws, the weight was transmitted throughout his body.

Crack!

Seonghyun’s sword and the rock tiger’s claws collided, creating sparks.

Meanwhile, the other monsters were not just playing around.

The shadow monkey quickly moved behind Seonghyun and attacked his back.

Swish!

Jump!

Fortunately, Seonghyun’s senses caught it.

Leaping high, Seonghyun enveloped himself in a red lightning.

The lightning, which intensified in strength proportionate to his body and magical power, roared more fiercely than during the battle with the Black Tiger.

Crackle!

As Seonghyun’s body gradually faded, he moved behind the shadow monkey.

The shadow monkey moved into another monster’s shadow, but as soon as it emerged from the shadow, Seonghyun’s sword entered its sight. Trying to go back into the shadow, but Seonghyun’s sword was faster.

Swish!

The shadow monkey’s head flew through the air.

“One.”