Chapter 90 : Chapter 90

Chapter 90 - Party

The opening ceremony was a series of events that seemed to be the very embodiment of empty formalities.

I felt that the principal's address would have been more beneficial.

It was also a spectacle to see them pretending to be friendly with masks on, even though they knew they were all just waiting to bite each other over their interests.

And at the tail end of such a schedule was the social gathering at the party hall where I was currently sitting.

“Not my cup of tea...”

I muttered that and looked up at the chandelier glittering from the ceiling.

This was the first time I had come to a place like this since I went to the party at Daeshinjeon to meet Kim Kang-in, but I still couldn't get anything other than the feeling of oil mixed with water.

I was born a commoner, so just sitting in a place like this made my stomach churn.

“...Hmm.”

The only things that alleviated that feeling were the gazes flying at me from the surroundings.

To put it nicely, it felt like looking at a monkey in a zoo... to be completely honest, it felt like looking at an insect daring to try and match them.

Well, there had been a few rising stars from the Asian bloc before, but each time, they ended up failing to catch up to the West and collapsing. It wasn't incomprehensible that they were dismissive from the very beginning.

“Is that the guy named Kim Gyu-sik?”

“I don't know. He seems even more insignificant than I thought.”

“Well, if he's from that side, they're all probably similar, so it's not a wrong impression, is it.”

Wow.

A cliché line that didn't deviate from my expectations by a single bit.

At least the food was good, which was a relief.

Thinking that, I ignored all the gazes pouring in from the surroundings and diligently cut my meat.

Ah, of course, I set my watch.

-♪

And at the same time I set the alarm on my wristwatch, the attention of the party hall focused on one place.

It was only natural, as guys who were exuding an aura of ‘we are the main characters of this place’ with their whole bodies were entering.

“I-is that the Arklight Guild?”

“I heard they rarely ever show themselves... we're lucky.”

“My goodness... look at Lord Seonghwi, who is walking at the forefront. It's like he's radiating brilliance just by walking... as expected of the blond prince...”

The reaction was so different from when they looked at me that it was on the level of heaven and earth, to the point where it was more comical than infuriating.

Well, I understood it though.

Arklight Guild. A member of a top-10 guild even in the West.

One of the world's leading powerhouses based in Northern Europe.

The guy walking at the forefront was Edgar ‘Starlight’ Richter. The guild master of the Arklight Guild and an all-time genius who had earned the title of the youngest S-class Climber.

Being an S-class by Western standards meant he was unbelievably strong.

In fact, considering the power that guy showed in the game, it was easy to understand.

When he entered a combat phase, he boasted a strength that made even the cringeworthy nickname of the blond prince seem acceptable.

“...”

How could a person's nickname be the blond prince.

The very fact that he walked around with such a nickname without shame seemed to explain a lot about that guy named Edgar.

However, even if he was such a chuunibyou patient, his position in the Climber society could not be ignored.

So, what that meant was.

“...Arklight Guild. Edgar Richter. I have something to say.”

For someone like Jeong Min-woo, who was a member of an Asian guild... meaning someone who normally wouldn't even be able to make eye contact with them, to speak to him with a grim expression.

Was a sign that something was about to happen.

***

“What is that crazy guy? How dare an Eastern bug speak to the Arklight Guild...?”

“Does that guy not value his life?”

The gallery began to mutter like that as if on cue, but Jeong Min-woo ignored them and looked at Edgar at the front.

“...The name Jeong Soo-bin. Do you remember it.”

Jeong Min-woo's younger sister. The person who joined the Arklight Guild and was treated as an ‘accidental death’ in a dungeon.

Jeong Min-woo's voice trembled with anger and passion as he said those words, but nothing appeared on Edgar's face as he listened.

He didn't even need to answer. Before he could open his mouth, another guy popped out from behind him and drew his sword.

“Step back. What rudeness is this towards Lord Edgar.”

“...It's a matter that has already been settled, so I won't say anything about it. But.”

A hint of moisture mixed into Jeong Min-woo's voice.

“I didn't even get her body back. I didn't even hear her last words. I'm begging you. At least that...”

“Hey. I told you to step back. Didn't you hear me.”

Regardless, the guy who had his sword pointed at Jeong Min-woo's neck had no intention of backing down.

What a load of crap. In the first place, Jeong Min-woo hadn't done anything other than approach and speak to him. He was also unarmed.

But for a guy who came into the party hall wearing a sword to be so overbearing was nothing more than bullying. He was telling him to get lost and not bother him since he was weak.

“Aaron. Step back.”

“Lord Edgar...”

“This is a party hall. Ruining the atmosphere is ungentlemanly.”

I almost spat out all the water I was drinking.

No, well.

The atmosphere and lines he had just delivered were almost perfect, meshing with his rather elegant appearance.

But from my perspective, who knew his true nature, it was truly mind-boggling.

“As expected of Lord Edgar...”

“He's a true nobleman...”

As such mind-numbing murmurs flowed from the surroundings, Edgar pushed aside the guy called Aaron and approached Jeong Min-woo.

“Did you say Jeong Soo-bin.”

“...Yes. A 16-year-old girl who joined your guild as an apprentice! You personally took her-”

“I don't know her.”

Jeong Min-woo's expression crumpled horribly.

“...What?”

“Did I not say I don't know her. The Arklight Guild has never been involved with such a Climber. I don't know what your sister went through, but that's enough.”

Jeong Min-woo's breathing quickened.

Well, the one who personally scouted her saying he saw her potential, pushed her into a dungeon unreasonably, and then spouted the crazy talk of settling it with compensation money after she died, was Edgar standing right there.

Even I would have had my blood boil.

“You people... after taking her and killing her. After dragging a kid who hadn't even been properly trained into a dungeon and killing her! You don't know? You're saying that to me now...!”

“Ridiculous.”

However, Edgar's voice that followed was as cold as could be.

“The Arklight Guild is one of the strongest guilds in the world. There's no way one of ours would die in a place like a dungeon.”

“You bastard...!”

“Hmm. Even if everything you say is true.”

Edgar said with a smirk.

“Wouldn't that be because of the incompetence of dying without being able to withstand even that much? No one would think there would be such an inferior human.”

This.

No matter how I thought about it, it was a statement that made me doubt my ears, coming from the person who had let a minor die to Demonic Beasts in a dungeon.

In front of the deceased's bereaved family, no less.

“You... you... you inhuman bastard-!”

So, anyone's eyes would flip at this. Jeong Min-woo, who had explosively released his mana, immediately rushed at Edgar.

However.

-!

A fist that flew like a flash of light buried itself in Jeong Min-woo's chest. It was thrown by the blue-haired woman in full armor who was next to Edgar.

“Keuk...!”

And Jeong Min-woo, who was hit by it, immediately rolled on the floor like an insect.

Well, a rear-line class had been hit square in a vital spot by a front-line class's blow. It was a relief he didn't die or get knocked out.

“Lina. Weren't you a little too soft?”

“...Asian side. Too weak. A little force and they die.”

“Khahahat! That's true!”

The woman called Lina exchanged such a conversation with Aaron and then approached the fallen Jeong Min-woo.

“But. Daring to attack Lord Edgar. Unforgivable.”

And she raised her fist again.

Towards the jaw of Jeong Min-woo, who had lost all ability to resist, a gauntlet descended again with terrifying force.

Jeong Min-woo's jaw turned. Blood splattered. He flailed his arms and legs in vain, but there was nothing a rear-line Climber could do against a front-line class from a top-tier guild.

The blows continued. But no one stepped forward.

Even in the face of unreasonable violence, the Asian guilds in the party hall hung their heads low and pretended not to see. Because they would die if they stepped forward. Because they could be the next target.

The Western guilds passed it off as if it were natural. There were even some who became more arrogant.

The party hall was full of people, but filled with an empty silence, only the sound of fists landing on Jeong Min-woo's face filled the air.

“For life. That mistake. Chew on it. I will carve it into your body.”

Mana gathered in Lina's arm. If it landed as it was, it would be a concussion at the very least. He could die or become a vegetable.

But, this time too, it was full of silence.

-♪

Except for one thing.

The alarm flowing from my wristwatch echoed clearly in the party hall.

It felt even clearer because it was a place filled with an unusual silence.

“...?”

All eyes turned to me at once. Even all the Arklight Guild members, including Lina who was holding up her fist.

“Hmm.”

Perfect timing. As expected of me.

I nodded and stood up from my seat.

I walked, feeling all the gazes on me with my whole body's senses.

I stopped in front of Lina and looked at her.

“Don't you think that's enough. Any more and the kid's going to die.”

“...What? Do you want some attention?”

Lina tilted her head and replied like that.

I wonder. Attention. The point was roughly similar.

“Not knowing your place. Is it a common trait of Eastern Climbers? Disappear from my sight. Before I make you into the same state. I hate weak trash. To death.”

Lina, who said that, raised her fist again. She seemed intent on finishing off Jeong Min-woo, completely ignoring my words.

“No, that's quite something.”

I replied with a smirk.

I scratched the back of my neck and turned my head, then spotted Seo Ah-in in a corner of the party hall. You were here too.

“...”

Yep.

That girl.

Her expression was one of having a premonition. I could tell just by her pale complexion.

She seemed to be slowly remembering what I had said yesterday.

“Hey.”

“...Ha. Annoying. I clearly told you to get lost-”

[ Shadow Secret Arts: Forceful Blow ]

[ Double Pulse ]

-!

The air tore, and a sound almost like a bomb exploding rang out.

Lina's body was sent flying by my kick and slammed into the party hall wall.

Oh. Now that all my physical ability-related stats were around 20, this much power was coming out.

“...”

“...”

A terrible silence descended upon the party hall.

The difference from before was.

It wasn't just the Asian guilds that were quiet, but the Western guilds were also all quiet.

To be precise.

Every single one of them was gaping in astonishment.

It felt like their brains hadn't yet caught up with what I had just done.

“You hate weak trash?”

Well, you can tell just by looking at this situation.

“I agree with that. That's why I hate you people.”

The Western guilds were teeming with trash whose character was busted compared to the power they possessed.

And this event was a garbage dump where such trash gathered.

What should you do when there's trash in a garbage dump.

You have to clean it up.

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