novelraw Chapter 106 : Chapter 106
Chapter 106 : Chapter 106
Chapter 106 - The Tower of the Forgotten Warrior (5)
It was only on the seventeenth attempt that Kim Jeong-rak broke the barrier.
Perhaps because I had relentlessly berated him, he looked completely drained, but in reality, this was an incredibly fast pace.
To have perfectly mastered the basic forms of a great sword family's style in one sitting would be an unprecedented event.
“You’ve worked hard, Family Head. I’m not sure if I made any slips of the tongue while teaching.”
The expression on Kim Jeong-rak’s face as he looked at me was clearly one of discomfort.
Of course, his tone of voice was trying its best to feign composure.
“Thanks to you, I learned well.”
Inside, he must have been grinding his teeth.
I grinned and continued speaking.
“It’s because I’m very serious when it comes to teaching swordsmanship. Sometimes I blurt out harsh words without thinking, but if I did, please understand with a generous heart.”
“I will.”
Seeing as he didn't deny it, it seemed he was indeed hurt by my words.
Kim Jeong-rak answered curtly and avoided my gaze.
It seemed the afterglow of what he had suffered at my hands still lingered strongly.
He must have been confused by the mix of various emotions.
[The Forgotten Warrior provides a special reward.]
As expected, there was a reward on this floor as well.
The soul-bound item, Mana Rune.
A whopping two were given to each person.
I immediately tossed the runes into my mouth.
There was no longer a change that I could feel so tangibly, but the restoration of mana was always a pleasant thing.
If I continued to gather mana like this, speck by speck, I would one day form a great mountain.
Just like a certain proverb I learned on Earth.
***
“Then, shall the Family Head go to the 3rd floor first?”
Seo Ji-han’s suggestion.
A moment ago, it was Kim Jeong-rak who broke the barrier, so it was a natural flow for him to leave first.
But Kim Jeong-rak was momentarily lost in thought.
‘I have to kill him.’
Hatred for Seo Ji-han boiled up in his heart.
It felt like just killing him wouldn't be enough to quell his anger.
It was the first time he had experienced such humiliation since becoming the family head.
He felt that he had to chew Seo Ji-han to pieces to release some of this pent-up feeling in his heart.
To execute this, there was one important condition.
To separate Heo Jeong-ah from Seo Ji-han for a while.
As it happened, now was a good opportunity.
“I plan to be the last one to leave this 2nd floor.”
“Is there a special reason?”
“I want to try breaking the barrier again when I'm all alone. Let’s just call it a spirit of adventure.”
“I see.”
Seo Ji-han reacted as if it was no big deal.
Kim Jeong-rak smiled with satisfaction.
[The barrier is forming again.]
As Kim Jeong-rak refused to pass through the portal, the shattered barrier was slowly taking shape again.
“Since the Family Head is yielding, then, I will go first.”
When Seo Ji-han announced his intention to leave first, Kim Jeong-rak immediately blocked his path.
“Young Master Seo. I would like you to leave after Commander Heo.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I want to have my basic forms of the Taeseong Sword Style checked by you one last time.”
“By me again?”
Seo Ji-han’s tone was one of surprise.
Kim Jeong-rak nodded and asked again.
“Will you grant my request?”
In this atmosphere, it would be difficult to refuse.
As Kim Jeong-rak had expected, Seo Ji-han accepted the proposal with a cool demeanor.
“Well, alright.”
With this, the plan was set.
For the first time since coming to the Abyss, he and Seo Ji-han would be left alone in the same space.
Kim Jeong-rak looked at the spot where Heo Jeong-ah had left and clenched his fists.
He looked at Seo Ji-han’s face.
Those indifferent and arrogant eyes.
Excitement washed over him at the thought that the moment to plunge the blade of his fury into those two eyes was approaching.
He would never forgive him, no matter how much he begged and pleaded, he would punish him cruelly, Kim Jeong-rak vowed.
“Then, let’s start right away.”
That arrogant tone, as if he dared to look down on him, would now come to an end.
Kim Jeong-rak composed his breathing and imbued his sword with mana.
The place the blade would be heading was not the barrier, but Seo Ji-han’s neck.
Kim Jeong-rak focused all his nerves.
He pictured it in his mind.
How he would cut down Seo Ji-han.
A moment of silence followed.
And it was the moment Kim Jeong-rak was about to swing his sword.
“You have a lot on your mind.”
Seo Ji-han broke the silence and murmured.
“What?”
“Should I say it’s all showing on your face?”
“……”
The moment his eyes met Seo Ji-han’s, Kim Jeong-rak felt a chill.
“The momentary flow of your mana is also unstable. What on earth are you thinking about?”
“I wasn't thinking about anything!”
“You are lying.”
“Why would I lie to you?”
“Only you would know that, Family Head. Isn't that right?”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
Kim Jeong-rak took a step back without realizing it.
He had momentarily shrunk back, having been pushed into a corner.
“And you have forgotten one thing.”
“What is it?”
“That when I ask a question, you must answer with ‘Master’ attached.”
“Was that rule still valid?”
“Of course, it is. Then, I'll ask again. The final swordsmanship check of the Taeseong Sword Style that you agreed to do with me, can you focus and do it?”
An unknown sense of pressure was felt in Seo Ji-han’s voice.
“Of course.”
And so, Kim Jeong-rak swallowed once and added a single word.
“...Master.”
Since this would be the last time anyway.
He rationalized it to himself.
“Good. Then, raise your sword again.”
“I will.”
But when Kim Jeong-rak raised his sword again, he felt a sense of unease.
His tension had been released without him realizing it.
In fact, it was an absurd situation.
No matter what Seo Ji-han blabbered on about, all he had to do was plunge his sword into the guy’s body and subdue him.
But at the crucial moment, his body and mind were playing separately.
Because he felt a spirit from Seo Ji-han that was pressing down on him.
He didn't want to admit it, but it was a clear feeling of fear.
‘Did I really get scared?’
It was incomprehensible.
He also became ashamed of himself.
Seo Ji-han was a rookie who had just set foot in the industry.
He was even just a weakling who had been living on borrowed time until recently.
‘I was mesmerized by his atmosphere!’
No matter how outstanding Seo Ji-han’s talent was, it could not surpass the years and experience.
Kim Jeong-rak once again began to sharpen the sword in his heart.
His mana surged.
This was a natural thing.
Because mana is bound to be governed by human emotions.
Seo Ji-han’s words about the flow of mana being this or that were, in a word, bullshit.
Because it was impossible to notice such a thing.
“I am disappointed, Family Head.”
In that moment, the flow of his thoughts was cut short.
“You continue to have a lot on your mind, Family Head. If you keep acting like this, it will be troublesome.”
Seo Ji-han’s cold gaze.
Of course, he could just attack right now without a care in the world.
Once a fountain of blood had been sprayed, that smug mouth would no longer be able to utter a word.
But his reaction was not action, but words.
“You’re finding fault again. I was definitely concentrating!”
And it was just a cowardly excuse.
Craaaaaaaash!!
The one who took action at that moment was Seo Ji-han.
His sword struck down on the barrier.
Before he knew it, the barrier had been shattered without a trace.
Kim Jeong-rak stared at this with a blank face.
“N-No, why!”
“Since you don’t seem to understand what I'm saying, Family Head, I’m a bit disappointed. The promise to check your Taeseong Sword Style is canceled.”
“……”
He couldn't say anything.
His mouth wouldn't open.
And Kim Jeong-rak just stood there, silently listening to what Seo Ji-han was saying.
“Still, I showed you a demonstration at the end, so you can review it well and come up to the 3rd floor on your own.”
And then, Seo Ji-han turned his back towards the portal.
Showing his back defenselessly.
It was an opportunity that would never come again.
Step.
He took a step without even a single glance back.
If he thrust his sword into that back, he would be able to wash away all the anger he had been holding back.
And if he missed this moment, an easier situation would never come.
Simplifying his thoughts like that, his mind cleared and peace came.
Kim Jeong-rak imbued his sword with mana.
Now, only one thing was needed. The final decision.
What he heard at that moment was Seo Ji-han’s voice.
“You’ve gotten a bit better than before.”
Step.
“But you still have a lot on your mind.”
“What?”
“I wish you luck. Well then, I’ll be going.”
Step.
Step.
And just like that, Seo Ji-han passed through the portal and left.
Watching his retreating back, Kim Jeong-rak did nothing.
No. He couldn't do anything.
He could only stare blankly at the empty space he had left behind.
***
Tower of the Forgotten Warrior, 3rd floor.
Heo Jeong-ah, who had come up first, was waiting for me, scratching the floor with her sword.
“Where is Family Head Kim Jeong-rak?”
“Well, he’ll come on his own. He’s not a child.”
It was just my feeling, but it didn't seem like he would come up to the 3rd floor right away.
His mentality was a bit shaken. It would take time to pull himself together.
“By the way, do you have some kind of grudge against him?”
“Why, was I acting a bit prickly?”
“It wasn't just a bit prickly. You were treating someone your father's age like a new recruit in a sword unit.”
“He deserved it.”
“He deserved it?”
Heo Jeong-ah looked at me with a dumbfounded face.
“There are reasons. Things like that.”
When I thought about it, I wasn't the one who should have a real grudge against Kim Jeong-rak.
If there was any ill fate between the Jungwon Sword Family and me, it was just that Kim Jeong-rak's two sons had tried to kill me?
‘Ah, right, there’s one more thing.’
A moment ago, Kim Jeong-rak himself had also intended to murder me.
In any case, the three attempts by the father and his two sons to kill me had all ended in failure, so in reality, I had suffered no harm.
On the contrary, I had gained several things from the Jungwon Sword Family.
I had successfully concluded the Bimu with Jo Cheol-seung, raising Choi Ho-joong’s reputation, and I had also borrowed an interesting item called Stupeo.
And it felt like I might never have to return this borrowed item?
The ones who should really hold a grudge against Kim Jeong-rak were Heo Jeong-ah and the Taeseong Sword Family.
“That person, Kim Jeong-rak, seems like a good person.”
Though Heo Jeong-ah didn't know anything yet.
“Enough about that, what’s the 3rd floor quest?”
“I don’t know either. There haven't been any messages yet.”
The 3rd floor quest would also, with high probability, be related to the Taeseong Sword Family.
At that moment, a message from the Abyss was exquisitely transmitted.
[Annihilate the Skeleton Army.]
Simultaneously with the message, sparks flew in the distant air, and the silhouettes of skeletons began to take form.
“Crazy! Skeletons again?”
“Still, there’s quite a variation.”
The number of skeletons that appeared before us was roughly seventy or eighty.
The two of us had to face an enormous number of skeletons.
Clatter.
Clatter.
But the skeletons did not advance right away, and instead arranged themselves into formation.
The clattering sound continued to echo loudly for a while, and Heo Jeong-ah’s complexion grew increasingly hard.
“Those bastards…”
“It seems the skeletons are up to something interesting.”
“Interesting, my ass!”
When the clattering stopped, the Skeleton Army had formed a rather plausible formation and was looking at us.
‘A well-designed formation.’
It was something that even I, who had been worn down on battlefields, could acknowledge.
There was no need to find out which sword family’s formation it was.
Heo Jeong-ah’s expression said it all.