episode_0293

Jeong Yushin sat on the bench and unfolded the note Jerne had given him, reading it over.

[Thunder Heart]

An engraving that changes the magic in the body to electric properties.

[Overdrive]

An engraving that increases mana consumption to enhance reflexes, speed, and strength.

[Lightning Blade]

An engraving that amplifies the electricity injected into the sword.

[Fastest Hand]

An engraving that helps swing the sword quickly.

[Sword Mastery]

An engraving that teaches the optimal sword paths.

Lastly.

Level 20.

Jeong Yushin closed his eyes.

It’s not like I’m some old man carving engravings.

He’s meticulously refined them.

“It won’t be easy.”

He got up from his seat and went straight to the monster dismantling center to meet Aldean.

Aldean, who was sitting in his office, scratched his head after hearing Jeong Yushin’s story.

“Jerne?”

“Do you know him?”

“I’ve seen him before. He’s the guy who retired right after being promoted to High-Rank, right?”

“I’m going to fight him.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes. First, is this note he gave me accurate?”

Aldean glanced over the note and nodded.

“This is Jerne’s personal information, isn’t it? It’s accurate.”

“What’s his fighting style like? In my opinion, this guy seems like he uses extreme quick-draw sword techniques.”

“That’s right. Most swordsmen who handle electricity-attributed magic fight like that. They don’t drag it out. Usually, they swing their sword once, or twice at most.”

Jeong Yushin stroked his chin.

“He finishes off his opponent with one swing. That’s impossible without self-confidence.”

“That’s right. But, Ska, you shouldn’t participate in this duel. Even if you fight really well by some stroke of luck, you’ll both die.”

“Suddenly?”

“His level is 20. It’s been a while since he retired, but he used to be a High-Rank Explorer. He has at least one hidden card. His engraving linkage seems poor, but if you look closely, it’s organically well-connected. You’re outmatched in both physique and experience.”

Jeong Yushin stroked his forehead.

I’m flustered.

Aldean had never stepped in to stop a fight before.

‘I’m level 10 now, though.’

Of course.

My body is currently undergoing mutation in real time, so it’s not complete.

Leveling up here doesn’t change the body instantly like in a game.

It just means it takes a little time to fully mutate.

“It’s an unavoidable fight. Pantheon, was it? The number two ranked clan is holding my item and openly giving me grief; how can I stand by and do nothing?”

“I have a way.”

“I’ll take care of this myself.”

“…Do you really have to do this duel? I have a better way.”

“Let’s stop here.”

Ska refused stubbornly. Aldean sensed that he couldn’t break this Barbaroi’s stubbornness and quickly gave up.

“Tsk. Alright. When is the duel?”

“In a week.”

“I’m going crazy.”

‘You think you’re going crazy?’

Jeong Yushin avoided Aldean’s gaze and stared at the ceiling.

What method is needed to take down a giant who once established himself in the Labyrinth City?

A grand method?

Or…

Would a small pebble be enough?

Jerne.

The man who came to him and revealed his personal information, not to mention the Pantheon Clan’s plans and inside story.

That would be impossible without self-assurance bordering on arrogance.

Jeong Yushin stroked his chin.

Jerne’s words are straightforward.

His sword path will probably be similar.

Was it not a huge mistake for Jerne to meet him?

His most proud weapon.

‘Self-assurance. This duel might be easier than I thought.’

* * *

Deep within the Eastern District.

A building owned by the Pantheon Clan.

An old man with a disproportionately large head slammed the table.

BANG!!!

“Jerne! What on earth are you talking about?!”

Jerne, who was sitting across from him, shrugged.

“Is that such a big problem? Desmond.”

The old man, called Desmond, fumed.

“All you had to say was, ‘The item is with me! Let’s duel!’ Why would you meet him, tell him all about your abilities, and leak all of our plans?!”

“He looked like some guy between levels 6 and 7? Desmond, aren’t you overreacting?”

“No!!! That guy is…”

“Ah, yes. Well, his reputation is flashy, but if you look at it frankly, isn’t the ‘big deal’ just him joining strong people and lending a hand? From what I ‘roughly’ heard, it doesn’t seem like it’s his own strength, though?”

“Hoo…”

Desmond shook his head, as if he didn’t want to argue.

“Don’t try to find out more about that guy.”

“I’m not really curious anyway.”

“Just stay quiet for a week, swing your sword once, and leave. I’ll give you a generous payment.”

“Let’s do that.”

Jerne left the office.

The executive in charge of the Pantheon Clan, Desmond, grabbed his disproportionately large head.

“It, it can’t be?”

Ska.

A mixed-blood Barbaroi.

Even if not physically.

Mentally, he’s already one foot over the threshold of a superhuman.

And he’s grown this much in just one year.

An eerie growth rate.

Besides, he has a terrible animosity towards the underworld.

It was obvious what would happen later.

‘Now is the time! At least, I need to crush him now!’

As time goes by, his friendship with the higher-ups in the Labyrinth City will deepen.

It would be too late if he rises to a position where we can no longer touch him.

But.

The carefully crafted plan was distorted by that man, Jerne.

‘No. It’s still okay.’

Desmond consoled himself.

He’s a retired High-Rank Explorer. He’s also achieved the engraved connection, Thunder Blade.

Excessive worry.

If Jerne remains calm like this in this duel, it’s a winnable fight.

“Please.”

In the quiet office.

Desmond’s earnest muttering echoed softly.

* * *

Jerne smacked his lips.

‘Why is Desmond overreacting so much about Ska?’

As he said in Desmond’s office.

He heard about Ska ‘roughly.’

‘Is there something I don’t know?’

Wasn’t it supposed to be an easy task of swinging his sword once and being done?

After thinking it over, Jerne moved his feet.

‘Should I find out more details?’

His curiosity about Ska deepened, and he couldn’t resist.

He was thinking of meeting the guys staying in the Eastern District to hear more detailed stories.

‘This is good since I was bored.’

* * *

A monster brothel filled with acrid cigarette smoke.

“Th…that guy is a vicious deceiver.”

A middle-aged man with a bulging belly and haggard complexion said, shaking his hands incessantly.

“Tell me in detail.”

Jerne crossed his arms and nodded his chin.

The middle-aged man chattered his teeth, shook his head madly back and forth, and then looked at Jerne.

“I, I, I’ll just tell you this. Be careful when that guy smiles.”

“…”

“Because when you recall that, that, that guy’s smile, that’s when you’ll be finished.”

“Do you even know who I am?”

“I, I don’t know. I don’t need to know who you are. The moment that guy is at odds with you and has your information in his hands, y, your fate is as good as sealed.”

Bang!

The wooden door opened, and a slime woman entered smiling.

“Darling! Stop talking and come in now.”

“Hee…”

The man’s face twisted miserably.

“Smoking while you’re carrying our child. That’s not good.”

The slime woman tapped the man’s shoulder as if she was angry.

“Hey mister, go away now. Darling is busy♥”

“Hee… Haaaaaaack!!!”

The middle-aged man let out a bizarre scream as he was led away by the slime woman.

Jerne got up from his seat and left the brothel.

‘Was it Gibson?’

He met the guy who was most recently harmed by Ska.

‘He’s not normal?’

Jerne moved his feet to another place.

‘I need to find out more details.’

* * *

One day. Two days. Three days.

Time flowed on.

Jerne used a renowned information guild in the Eastern District to get a document detailing Ska’s movements and clicked his tongue as he read it.

“Tsk.”

Just like the man named Gibson said.

Ska.

His fighting style is so diverse that it’s hard to pin down.

“What’s so complicated about this?”

It was like looking into the endless darkness of a labyrinth.

The noteworthy point is that.

He’s been defeating strong people using those bizarre tactics.

Jerne put down the document and raised his head.

“What is that Ska guy doing right now?”

The clerk from the information guild, who was standing right next to Jerne, replied.

“He’s sitting on a park bench, waving his hands around, passing the time.”

“Hmm…?”

“Yesterday, he went to a dwarf blacksmith and sharpened his sword so sharply that it ‘shined’.”

“What kind of sword does he use?”

“It’s a typical longsword. The blade is wide for easy cutting.”

“What else? What did that guy do yesterday?”

The clerk scratched his head with a troubled expression.

“How about we stop here? Didn’t Desmond tell you? It’s burdensome for us to get information like this…”

“Tell me.”

“He came into the Eastern District.”

Jerne’s eyes widened for a moment.

“…Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“What did he do?”

“…”

“What did he do?”

Jerne’s voice naturally rose.

The cat-like beastkin had no choice but to open his mouth.

“We don’t know either. He looked around here and there in the Eastern District and then looked at the sky.”

“The sky…?”

Incomprehensible behavior.

‘Why?’

Jerne’s expression contorted.

Click.

A crack formed in his solid self-assurance.

But.

Jerne tried to ignore it.

“He’s just a crazy guy, right?”

“…Yes. That’s right. You don’t need to worry about it anymore. But Jerne.”

“Why?”

“Do you sleep well?”

Jerne rubbed the dark circles that went down to his eyes.

“I sleep well. Don’t worry.”

The clerk swallowed a sigh.

‘Hoo.’

His complexion started to become haggard day by day since the day Jerne started investigating Ska.

‘Could this person also be? Ah, it can’t be.’

The clerk shook his head to erase the negative thoughts.

Four more days passed, and the time for the duel arrived.

* * *

Deep in the Eastern District.

A vacant lot owned by the Pantheon Clan.

In the quiet vacant lot, with few people.

Desmond and a few Pantheon Clan subordinates.

And Jerne was standing.

It was a little past midnight.

A few days ago, he had already sent a subordinate to tell Ska the location and time of the duel.

It was time for Ska to have arrived by now.

People crossed their arms and stared into the darkness.

Three hours passed.

Jerne frowned.

“What is this? Desmond, are you sure you set the duel time correctly?”

“Ye, yes. I definitely told him.”

Desmond replied.

Jerne bit his lip.

“This crazy bastard, how hasn’t he shown up until now, even though three hours have passed?!”

“Ca, calm down. Calm down. From what I’ve heard, swordsmen who use quick-draw swords…”

“Desmond, what do you know about swords?”

A sarcasm full of thorns popped out of Jerne’s mouth.

Desmond was silent for a moment and then looked back at his subordinates.

“Go and find out. Ska might have mistaken the duel time.”

“Yes!”

One hour passed.

The subordinate ran up breathlessly.

“He’s coming now. He thought it was tomorrow!”

“Hoo.”

The people gathered in the vacant lot let out a sigh that was almost a lament.

Jerne ground his teeth and then was startled and came to his senses.

‘Wait a minute!’

Get a grip. You have to be calm.

All of this might be that guy’s trick.

Another hour passed.

“What on earth is that guy doing?! Where is he?!”

Desmond, unable to bear it, also shouted in a burst of anger.

Already, more than 5 hours had passed!

It was now just before the dawn sun would rise. It was the same as staying up all night with his eyes open.

Jerne rubbed his bloodshot eyes.

No matter how trivial the duel may be, it’s a one-on-one match.

Nerves were bound to be frayed little by little while waiting.

In addition to the ominous rumors about Ska, he had heard a number of incomprehensible actions over the past week.

The fatigue that came from spending a tense night with his eyes wide open.

A mind confused by bizarre rumors and fighting methods.

Dark thoughts slyly raised their heads in his mind.

Jerne shook his head hastily.

‘Get a grip. He’s nothing.’

Another 30 minutes passed.

Desmond shook his head.

“That’s enough for today…”

“He’s coming!!!”

Someone shouted.

Under the dawning sky.

A black-haired young man walked slowly with a longsword slung over his shoulder.

As if he didn’t even need armor, he was wearing a shirt and pants.

He had his arm around a middle-aged man who looked like a pig.

And he was accompanied by an old wizard behind him.

“Ska!!!”

Desmond shouted.

Ska smiled softly and approached.

“Sorry. Am I a little late?”

“Even if you’re reckless, how can there be a case like this?! The duel is for the next time…”

“‘A little’ late. Why are you so angry? And just cancel the duel? Are you scared, by any chance?”

A little?

Scared?

A vein bulged on Jerne’s forehead.

“Ska, let’s finish this quickly.”

“Alright.”

Ska replied with a ‘smile’.

Jerne’s heart sank eerily.

‘If you saw that guy’s smile, you’re already done!!!’

Gibson’s voice stabbed his heart.

‘Bullshit.’

He’s already achieved engraving linkage.

Even if it’s been a long time since he retired, he even got promoted to a High-Rank Explorer.

‘There’s no possibility of losing.’

Ska raised his hand.

“Wait a minute. Show me the item first before the duel, right?”

“Give it to him.”

At Desmond’s direction, a subordinate took out a small compass and handed it to Ska.

Ska fiddled with the received compass and handed it to the old wizard behind him.

“Matthias, check it out.”

“That’s right. It’s definitely the magical tool we were looking for!”

Jerne grabbed his sword.

“Let’s finish this slowly.”

“Shall we? Oh, right! Here’s a survivor from the Red Storm Clan. Doby. A member of the disbanded Baisis Clan. Take him.”

“Doby?”

Desmond nodded as Jerne turned around and asked.

“That’s right. A hidden mercenary group of the Baisis Clan.”

Jerne just nodded his chin with an awkward expression.

“Come on.”

“Ye…yes!”

The fat middle-aged man ran up in a hurry.

At that moment.

Ska opened his mouth.

“Doby.”

“Yes?”

“Your shoelaces are untied.”

“Oh my!”

Doby stopped near Jerne and bent over to tie his shoelaces.

“…”

Jerne tried to ignore it, but he couldn’t help but be conscious of Doby’s actions.

‘Ska, what’s your plan?’

He tasted the feeling of being increasingly drawn into the man in front of him, but he didn’t take his hand off the scabbard.

Doby tried hard to tie his shoelaces, but his hands were shaking so much that he couldn’t tie the laces properly because he was so nervous.

Jerne, unable to bear it, waved his hand.

“Doby! Get out of here!”

“Yes?”

“Go back and tie your shoelaces!”

Jerne shouted in a burst of anger.

“Ye…yes! Ah, I understand.”

Doby quickly got up from his seat, ran, and fell.

“Oh, ouch!”

Jerne sighed deeply.

“Hoo…”

Not anymore.

I have to finish this quickly.

I don’t want to admit it, but I’ve spent several sleepless nights thinking about Ska.

On top of that.

I’ve heard a number of incomprehensible actions over the past week while staying up all night waiting.

The concentration was starting to hit rock bottom because I had spent the night staying up to wait.

Ska approached, grabbed the longsword with both hands, and raised it.

High stance.

Jerne frowned once again.

A posture that completely looks down on the opponent.

A miserable guy who hasn’t even achieved engraving linkage.

A guy with a low level.

Strength swelled in Jerne’s grasp.

The two men stared at each other in the wide open space.

The moment someone draws their sword, they will surely die.

A suffocating tension dominated the space.

Jerne looked into Ska’s eyes.

‘Different?’

It’s not the same guy I saw a few days ago.

The energy emanating from his body was different from before.

Did he level up in the meantime?

An unbelievable situation.

Click.

The self-assurance that was cracked once again.

‘Concentrate!’

A drop of cold sweat flowed down Jerne’s forehead.

On the other hand.

Ska was looking into Jerne’s eyes with a relaxed smile.

“…”

The very moment the terrible tension was about to reach its climax.

Ska’s pupils narrowed.

And moved somewhere.

Thump.

Right behind him.

Doby.

‘A tr…trap?’

Was there a reason why Doby tied his shoelaces just now?

He quickly lowered his gaze to the ground.

‘It’s not there.’

If so.

Did they give that Doby guy throwing weapons?

But.

Doby, who is standing behind him, is just shaking.

‘What on earth is it?!’

In the midst of his nerves being focused on the back for a moment and then returning to Ska.

Beyond that fortress wall.

The dazzling dawn was ‘reflected’ in Ska’s sword and blinded Jerne’s eyes.

Glare!!!

The moment of realization.

Clang!!!

His self-assurance was shattered.

‘No!’

Jerne let out a silent scream in his heart and drew his sword.

[Lightning Blade]

He’s not aiming for Ska’s arm.

The heart!

I have to kill him!

Jerne’s sword was drawn like lightning.

At the same time.

Jeong Yushin swung down his longsword.

Whooooooosh!!!

The two men’s swords flashed with the dawn.

“…”

A deathly silence flowed.

After a while.

Jeong Yushin staggered and stepped back.

Jerne stood with a stiff face and looked at Jeong Yushin.

“I, I definitely cut his heart. Ah! …He, he achieved engraving linkage.”

Nod.

Jeong Yushin just nodded silently.

A stream of blood flowed from Jerne’s mouth.

“A, a terrifyingly meticulous plan. Yo, you were a man like a labyrinth. Yo, you drive people crazy… Cough!”

Thud.

Jerne knelt down and bowed his head as it was.

Gush!!!

Blood gushed out of Jerne’s chest like a fountain, drenching the floor of the vacant lot.

After exchanging a single sword strike.

He died as it was.

It was a death so absurdly empty for a retired High-Rank Explorer to face.

Jeong Yushin shook his sword to shake off the blood.

‘That was close.’

I died once.

Even though I laid all kinds of traps, he wielded his sword and cut my heart.

‘Fortunately’, my sword was one step late, so Revenger and Death Postponement, and finally Last Stand, activated together, so I was able to survive.

‘This is like a Barbaroi who lives by dying.’

Jeong Yushin swallowed the blood that was rising up his esophagus and looked at Desmond.

Smirk.

A smile without any words.

Desmond fell to his knees with a thud.

“Ho, how? This doesn’t ma, make sense…! A low-level mid-rank e, explorer like you, how…!”

“Are you curious about how I won?”

“Ah, tell me!”

“That’s a difficult thing to do.”

“I, then!!! Ju, just tell me about your engraving linkage! I’ll never touch you again! I swear!!! Please!!!”

Jeong Yushin looked around without answering.

At the moment of death.

When Last Stand was activated to the extreme and his five senses were sharpened.

He was able to recognize the gazes of those who were hiding in the city and watching him.

Aldean.

Astaroth.

Vlad.

And many other ‘Transcendent Ones’.

It felt as if the gazes of the monsters living hidden in the Labyrinth City were stabbing him sharply.

I can tell without looking.

They must be curious.

About the abilities of a person who has one foot over the threshold of a Transcendent One.

‘My engraving linkage, my thorns, my light, my hope.’

A madman’s oath and declaration that dances on the brink of death.

My engraving linkage is like the name of a twisted fate.

“Dance of Death.”

“…!”

Desmond’s mouth dropped open.

Dance of Death?

What kind of ominous engraving linkage is that?

It was impossible to even imagine what kind of ability it would be.

Jeong Yushin slowly approached Desmond and squatted down.

“Anyway. Lately, I’ve been angry and heavy-hearted thinking about you guys. I thought about why and realized.”

“Wh, what?”

“It was because I treated you like people. You’re beast-like bastards.”

“…”

“I was such a fool.”

To now realize the futility of questioning.

Jeong Yushin continued.

“So I asked the former clan leader. In the unlikely event that I go missing or die, please eliminate your Pantheon Clan first.”

“Do you think that’s possible…”

“I handed over the former clan leader’s son’s keepsake. He has to listen.”

“…”

“And tell the Pantheon Clan leader clearly. After seeing the number two trying to scheme, my thoughts have changed. If you want to play dirty, then let’s play that way. Just try to touch me one more time.”

Jeong Yushin gently patted Desmond’s shoulder.

Tap tap.

“Be careful at night. You never know when Grandpa Ragnar will attack you.”

“Hoo eok!!!! Hoo eeeok!!!”

Desmond breathed roughly and trembled.

Jeong Yushin turned around and slowly walked out of the Eastern District.

The dawning spring dawn.

The old Transcendent Ones of the Labyrinth City.

Witnessed the sprout of a newly emerged Transcendent One.