Chapter 104

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 104: The Domain of Talent (1)

"A family feud, huh."

"A family feud indeed."

Lee Yeji and Jieun shook their heads at the same time.

【'The Raven of the Administration Bureau' asks what kind of relationship those two have.】

【'Night Owl of the Audit Bureau' is excited, saying this is exactly how the rich live in District 13.】

【'The Intelligence Bureau’s Brain' comments that a secret birth is essential in wealthy families.】

The observers were watching with interest, as if it were a trashy drama.

"Anyway, seems like he just wanted some attention. We're discussing something important here, so shut up."

"Hah, and begging for a ride is supposed to be an important discussion?"

Myung Seungtae shook his head in disbelief, and the foul-mouthed one immediately shot back.

Watching them, Jieun murmured.

"Now that I think about it, you two do look kind of alike…"

"What are you saying?!"

"Are you crazy?"

The way they both snapped made them seem even more similar.

But anyway.

"Saying I look like a filthy illegitimate child? At least try to make sense."

"You son of a… Say that again!"

"Oh dear, are your ears failing too? And with nothing to inherit, plus a broken body, what will you do?"

Myung Seungtae really had no chance of dying peacefully.

In a world where you never knew who might stab you in the back, he was making enemies left and right.

"You bastard…!"

The foul-mouthed one gritted his teeth and stepped forward.

But as if ignoring him, Myung Seungtae turned away and faced me instead.

"There are too many bystanders here. How about we talk somewhere quieter?"

"What, is it such a grand conversation? Say what you need to say here."

Myung Seungtae’s face twisted in frustration.

And then.

Thud!

"The young master has something to say!"

The men following him stepped forward, blocking my path.

'This is getting suspicious.'

The world had already collapsed, yet there were still people willing to throw themselves at his feet with just a gesture.

Unless they were being blackmailed, this didn't make much sense.

It’s not like his personality was that charming.

'There must be another reason.'

Whatever it was.

"I refuse."

The more they pushed, the less I wanted to comply.

"You bastard, even when I’m asking nicely—"

Click!

Myung Seungtae’s henchmen all drew their weapons.

Spears, swords, axes, and even a massive hammer.

Quite the variety.

'At least there’s no ranged weapons.'

Fighting eight muscular men, each around 90 kilograms, at the same time...

It wouldn’t be easy, but—

"I'll have to break your legs first to get you to talk properly—"

"Go ahead."

"…What?"

"Try and break them."

I couldn't say for certain they wouldn’t succeed.

But I had quite a few cards up my sleeve.

"I’ve been meaning to test something out anyway."

"?!"

[Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.3) has reached maximum proficiency!]

[‘Basic Swordsmanship’ skill level has increased. (Lv.3 → Lv.4)]

My Basic Swordsmanship had finally reached Level 4.

「Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.4): Increases attack power by 25 when wielding any type of longsword.」

「Proficiency: 0%」

It was time to feel the effects of that +25 attack power.

"Come at me."

"You arrogant bastard…!"

* * *

Slash!

I started by securing my footwork.

Turning towards the remaining enemies.

Keeping my expression neutral.

I had to strike before my prey could react.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

My heartbeat quickened, but I kept it steady.

I wouldn't give them any clues about my movements.

The ones in front: one with an axe, two with spears.

That made three.

First,

'Check.'

Swish!

I sprinted across the grass.

The distance closed in an instant.

"This bastard is making the first move…!"

The spear-wielder’s shoulder rotated, his arm rising.

He was about to thrust.

I read the movement.

So—

Swish!

I dodged the incoming spearhead with ease.

Whoosh—!

I quickly tilted my head back to avoid the axe blade plunging down.

Slash—!

In that very posture, I cut through the attacker’s left arm.

“Damn it…!”

Was it the power of proper stance correction?

The arm wielding the sword, the legs supporting the body, and the waist connecting them—all moved freely.

Each part played its role, yet everything felt seamlessly connected, like a flowing river.

「95.1%」

And the attack power, which seemed to almost ignore armor, was an added bonus.

Just a single grazing strike took away 5 percent.

‘At this level…’

There was enough proof.

Proof that I could fight purely with my sword alone.

【‘The Prince of the Investigation Bureau’ remarks that the target ‘Lee Eunho’ has changed his breathing while wielding the sword!】

【New observers are impressed by the rookie target’s momentum!】

“You’re too tame to be an Avenger. Hiding behind the big guys—is that your strategy?”

“!!”

“You bastard…!”

“Get that bastard, now!!”

The louder Myung Seungtae shouted, the faster his thugs moved.

As if his voice was a motor driving them forward.

Tak—!

Eight thugs charged in from all directions.

From the way they formed a circle to surround me, they weren’t complete fools.

They planned to use their overwhelming numbers to their advantage.

8 vs. 1.

“What did my hyung do wrong to deserve an attack?! Face me first!”

“Eunho! I’ll handle this side!”

No, 6 vs. 1.

A numerically inferior situation.

Before, I would have been frozen with tension.

But not anymore.

“Shit, then I’ll also—”

“It’s fine! The rest of you stay put.”

“A-Alright, damn it…!”

My heart pounded, and blood rushed through my entire body.

Excitement, or maybe slight exhilaration.

‘Three.’

Charging in recklessly wasn’t the best move.

Among the ones rushing at me first, I needed to pick my initial targets.

‘Two.’

I had to take down the front-runners first.

“I’m coming first!!”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“Uraaagh!”

I reached them first and went for the most threatening ones.

And then—

‘One.’

Swish!

I slashed through a long spear shaft.

It looked like a valuable artifact, but—

Slash—!

Before the sharp aura of the Skybreaker, it was nothing more than a worthless wooden stick.

“!!”

The thugs’ faces twisted in shock as they watched their weapons cut down like hollow bamboo.

“What the hell…!”

“My weapon…!”

They really shouldn’t have had the time to waste on exclamations.

Because—

Wooong—!

This cursed sword’s true target wasn’t mere sticks.

Thud! Splurt—!

In a single strike, one thug’s abdomen was pierced.

Thud! Splurt—!

Another strike stabbed through another thug’s thigh.

Wooong!

The blade sank in smoothly and then withdrew as if savoring its work.

Like it was spreading the enemy’s blood across its entire length as decoration, the Skybreaker revealed its gleaming form, standing tall like a victorious predator.

At that moment, it looked less like a weapon and more like a snake, completely drenched in blood.

And then—

Srrrrrr—!

The blade absorbed the blood.

It moved on its own, gathering the crimson droplets before making them vanish into its surface.

‘?!’

Ding—!

[The "Ten Thousand Bloodstone" absorbs the enemy’s blood.]

[Resurrection (Lv.-) charging… 1%, 2%]

A foreign system message appeared.

「Resurrection (Lv.-): If all life force is depleted, 10% of total HP will be restored.」

「Once used, sufficient blood must be absorbed to recharge. Be cautious.」

Resurrection.

The same skill I had used in the battle against the chimera last time had started charging on its own.

Using the blood my sword had devoured as its fuel.

‘Only 2 percent.’

The charge was slow.

Which meant…

“There’s still a long way to go.”

Thud!

Kwoom—!

Two thugs lost their balance and collapsed.

Clutching their wounds, blood gushing from their abdomen and thighs.

That left only four.

Jieun and Jaehyuk had taken care of two.

So now, the remaining ones…

"Axe, two swords, and a hammer."

That makes four.

So.

"Are you coming at me one by one, or all at once?"

"You cocky bastard…!"

Alright, then.

All at once.

Ta-at-!

The axe-wielding guy, blood dripping from his left arm, was sent flying.

Kwa-duk!

The ones wielding sharp, blue-edged swords crashed to the ground, rolling.

Skeog-

Lastly, the one swinging a hammer bigger than his head was sent flying as well.

[The Ten Thousand Bloodstone absorbs the enemy's blood.]

[Resurrection (Lv.-) charging... 5%, 6%]

That makes six down.

'Works, 6 versus 1.'

【"The Prince of the Investigation Bureau" chuckles at Lee Eunho’s endless growth.】

【"The Raven of the Administration Bureau" watches with satisfaction, saying this reminds them of their younger days.】

【"The Night Owl of the Audit Bureau" slaps their knee at the exhilarating action!】

【Sponsored 1,000 Welfare Points!】

"Hyung-nim! You're already finished?!"

Jaehyuk and Jieun had also completed their share.

That means the only one left is Myung Seungtae.

"You son of a bitch! You’ve always been an insufferable bastard, even when we were kids!"

"Wouldn't you curse too if your father picked up some beggar and called him family?"

"Hah? And that ‘beggar’ knocked you out with a single punch, remember? You're worse than a piece of trash, yet you’re all talk!"

"Th-That was…!"

Too busy hurling curses at his brother, he didn’t even notice the fight was already over.

At this point, it's just funny.

They seem to be on the same level, yet they're fighting so fiercely.

"You've never bowed your head in your life, have you? Today’s the day."

"Hah, is it a flex to have spent your whole life bowing? Did you kneel and beg to him too? Just like you did to Uncle?"

"You… bastard…!"

Bbadudeuk!

The foul mouthed guy, grinding his teeth in rage, met my eyes.

Then, his furrowed brow instantly relaxed.

"You idiot, look behind you before you run your mouth."

"Behind me is nothing but—Huh?!"

Myung Seungtae, frowning deeply, turned around and froze.

"You're done?!"

I don't know if he was shocked that everyone was finished, or that it was over so quickly.

But one thing’s for sure.

"A m-monster…."

The guy was terrified.

Flinch!

He flinched at his own words.

I stepped closer to him.

He must be panicking.

He brought eight muscleheads, only for it to be over in an instant.

'It was easier than I thought.'

The barrier I took from Iro didn’t even activate.

'Which means they didn’t even land a proper hit.'

Must be thanks to Basic Swordsmanship.

Unlike other skills, this one has no cooldown.

Plus, the internal energy I absorbed last night and the stat bonuses from my outfit made my body feel significantly stronger.

Step.

"T-That’s impossible! You took down eight of the best bodyguards in the country alone… You must’ve used some kind of trick, right?!"

Does he still not get it?

Or is he just refusing to accept reality?

This guy, who used to freak out over a chocolate stain on his pants, was now trembling on the grass.

"That’s how it looks to you, huh? With that tiny brain of yours, all you know how to do is hide behind muscleheads and abuse your power."

"A scrawny bastard like you taking down all those guys?! Y-You must have used magic or something! Or… did you manipulate the fight? That's it, right?!"

As I walked toward him, thinking how pathetic he was—

"Shut the hell up, you dried-up pollack! You’re not even worth chewing on—"

Pause.

"Huh?"

The foul-mouthed guy suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

"A skill…?"

Blurting out something unexpected.

‘…At a time like this?’

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]