Chapter 110 : Chapter 110

Chapter 110 - Renewal (4)

“So.”

I passed a cup of cocoa to Mr. Seo Jin-seong and opened my mouth.

“What change of heart made you reveal yourself in person? After being quiet all this time?”

It was true. This person, along with Kim Kang-in, was considered one of the top two climbers in Korean history.

Yet, in the Tower’s Ordeal incident where the whole world’s attention was focused, neither of them lifted a finger.

Well, as for the Mr. Seo Jin-seong I knew. To this question...

“Weren’t there no matters worth stepping up for until now?”

...he would answer like this.

I took a sip of cocoa with a bitter smile.

Kim Kang-in and this man were famous as a legendary duo from way back, and in reality, these two had conquered countless parts of the Tower together.

The Conquest Tokens themselves were mostly held by the Western powers, but that was because this person had transferred ownership through some ‘deal,’ not because he couldn't obtain them.

Originally, this man was someone who could be called a 7th Floor Conqueror along with Kim Kang-in.

If it wasn't about weighing various utilities but about close-quarters combat, he was a man who would unconditionally be in the top-tier line even until the very late game.

“Then, has something worth stepping up for appeared now?”

“Yes. Isn't it right before my eyes now?”

Mr. Seo Jin-seong said with a smile, cupping the cup with both hands.

Just from the feeling, it should have been warm, but his eyes weren't smiling at all.

From this person’s perspective, it was inevitable.

“Wouldn't a father naturally be curious about what kind of man his daughters have fallen head over heels for?”

“...Father. I swear to the heavens, there is no such thing.”

Me seducing someone was out of the question.

It wasn't as if I didn't know his family's situation.

Any man who knew the story related to Mr. Seo Jin-seong’s wife—Ms. Han Si-yeon—would think that.

However, Mr. Seo Jin-seong seemed to be even more displeased after hearing my words. He glared at me with the temperature of his gaze slightly lowered.

“...Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, being unaware is worse. In this regard, you resemble Senior Kim Kang-in.”

“With him?”

“The Senior created a lot of stories in his youth. But do you know why he is still single at his age?”

“Why is that?”

“Because if he married one, he might be killed by the other.”

“...”

Strange.

It was definitely a story that didn’t have much to do with me.

Why was I getting chills?

“Yes. Thank you for the advice. But you didn’t come out to help me with my love life, did you?”

“Well, I had a few things I wanted to test out, simply.”

As he said that, Mr. Seo Jin-seong abruptly drew his sword.

“...”

No.

Let’s be calm.

In the original work, Mr. Seo Jin-seong showed a fairly gentlemanly side.

Considering his personality, he probably wouldn't suddenly try to cut someone’s throat without any signal.

“First, would you like to receive one attack?”

“...”

Or maybe not.

[Bullet Time]

[Observation]

[Cloak of Darkness]

It would be too late if I tried to react after seeing it. Before the slash flew, I prepared for the damage by utilizing all the means I had.

I couldn’t maintain it for long without Gnosis's Heart, but it didn't matter since everything would be decided in a fleeting moment.

Reflexes compressed to their limit. A brain that analyzed and accepted all information caught by the eye. And a barrier that, although only for one use, would definitely defend once.

It was a simple and intuitive combination, but a powerful means to react to almost any attack that existed.

But.

-...

An iron sword, with no special features, that wouldn’t be out of place if used by a bottom-tier Rank F climber, lay quietly.

A simple sword dance with no mana or qi mixed in.

A single slash with a simple motion.

And that single slash, swung with a motion as light as going for a walk.

-Broke through the reflexes compressed to their limit,

-Flew in with a trajectory that twisted all analysis,

-And easily cut through the barrier.

“...”

Yeah. That was probably right.

Seo Ah-in, using her Mind’s Eye, was invincible against almost all enemies in close range.

I, too, using Observation, had the upper hand in information against almost all enemies except for Mind's Eye.

The reason the expression ‘almost’ was attached to both was simply because this person existed.

A person who could cut down anything within the reach of his sword.

Because the word Sword Saint was born for this person.

The saint of the sword. A human who reached the realm of mystery with only his swordsmanship, honed with his bare body.

If you gave this person the right weapon and the right distance, he was a man who could take down an EX-class demonic beast like a dragon in one go.

If I tried to beat a person like that with these specs, I’d be a daylight robber.

But.

[Parry]

I, too, was a bug character armed with all sorts of bugs and cheat keys. Moreover, the pilot was a ‘something’ that had long passed the stages of veteran and top-tier veteran.

-!

The skill, activated at the exact moment the attack touched my body, completely erased the slash.

But even so, the tingling sensation in my hand showed no sign of disappearing.

‘...What in the world.’

What kind of attack did you have to use for damage to remain even after using a skill with a 100% parry judgment?

Moreover, this wasn't even some amazing skill by this person's standards. It was just a normal attack.

As I was trembling at the realization of what kind of monster I was facing, the opponent was smiling faintly and sheathing his sword back at his waist.

“As expected, it’s like this. Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, you are truly amazing. You always exceed my expectations.”

“...Pardon?”

“That attack just now, a climber of Mr. Kim Gyu-sik’s level should have died without even reacting. I wouldn’t have actually killed you, but... I would have been disappointed.”

“...”

Honestly, I wanted to say, ‘So what?’

By your standards, how many people on Earth wouldn’t disappoint you?

“But, you reacted to that single blow and even parried it perfectly. Probably even a mediocre A-class climber would have died from that blow just now?”

“Yes. So what is it that you want to say.”

“That I’m relieved. That the person who is seducing my daughters isn’t someone who can’t take responsibility... so.”

I told you, I’m not seducing them.

As I was sighing inwardly, Mr. Seo Jin-seong stood up from his seat, still with a smile on his face.

“At least I’m now convinced that I can leave Mr. Kim Gyu-sik by their side even if I’m not around.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re not saying you won’t take responsibility, are you? After making those girls like that?”

“...”

Anyone who heard this would think I had presented you with a grandchild, mister.

But I thought I knew why this person was saying this.

It meant that this person was getting ready to make his appearance in the ‘Main Scenario.’

And that... would become tangible in the third ordeal that would open soon.

“Well, I have a conscience too. I won’t make such a request with empty hands. I have prepared a special gift for Mr. Kim Gyu-sik.”

The sentence I had been waiting for all this time followed.

That’s right.

This was the very reason I participated in this event.

It was a gift that the Sword Saint himself would describe as ‘special.’ There was no need to mention its value.

“But there is one condition. You must get first place in the results settlement tomorrow. Understood?”

“...Actually, aren’t I overwhelmingly in first place with what I’ve caught so far?”

“It’s a tradition in our events to give out assignments with a lot of extra points at the end. You might be overtaken if you’re not careful.”

What was that? It wasn’t a school retreat.

As Mr. Seo Jin-seong said that with a chuckle, I also smiled and replied.

“Ah, don’t worry about that.”

Well, I hadn’t even started in earnest yet.

I, too, planned to show the other guys what a true wall was, starting from tomorrow.

***

“...What is all that?”

The next morning, that was what Seo Ah-in and the chicks, who had come out after packing up the tent, said upon seeing me in full gear.

Actually, the expression ‘full gear’ was a bit of a misnomer, because my current appearance was that of an old man who had come out for a jog to a mineral spring.

Training pants. A windbreaker top. A comfortable workout outfit that anyone could see.

But considering the event that would follow from now on, I wouldn't be able to endure it if I wasn't in an outfit like this.

“You all change into clothes that are easy to move in too. It’s going to be a little tough today.”

“Oh, oh...? Is that so...?”

“If Climber Kim Gyu-sik says so, then I guess so...”

The chicks looked at each other and tilted their heads, but among them, only Seo Ah-in, who seemed to have grasped the weight of my words, instantly turned pale.

And that blood-drained face intensified the moment I touched my watch.

“Y-you guys! This is no time to be standing around! We have to move quickly!”

“Y-yes?!”

“Whenever Mr. Kim Gyu-sik looks at his watch, something terrible always happens!”

“...”

No matter how much, I wish they would stop treating me like a walking disaster.

But, for this event, it would be okay to use such an expression.

-!

-!!

-!!!

“...Hey, what is that sound?”

“It feels like an earthquake is happening...?”

“Yeah. It is an earthquake.”

I looked at the center of the uninhabited island with a smirk.

Judging from Ms. Seo Hye-in’s reaction before, Mr. Seo Jin-seong had already placed a special order with Leila before this event even started.

The intention was probably to use it as the ‘boss mob’ for the second day.

And Leila was an alchemist who stood at the pinnacle of the world.

There was no way she would have created something that was just easy to deal with.

And at the same time as I set my watch.

---!!!

From the center of the island, something huge shot up as if an active volcano had erupted.

^GOLEM^

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