Chapter 26

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 26: The Barefoot Superhuman (4)

‘What is this nonsense?’

Yeongwoo glanced briefly at the title still attached to his head.

As confirmed just now, he is currently serving as the Gumi’s Strongest Sword.

‘Could it be that the Strongest Sword can also hold multiple positions?’

Otherwise, why would they give the same type of title to someone who is already the Strongest Sword?

As Yeongwoo finished reading the previous guidance message, completely new information appeared.

《Merge of Similar Titles》

「When acquiring additional titles with similar effects and characteristics, a merger can be performed.」

「Some titles may transform into new ones depending on the number of mergers, and your possession of ‘Gumi Strongest Sword’ also falls under this category.」

Then, new information about the evolution route of Gumi Strongest Sword was displayed below.

[Gumi Strongest Sword] => Merge more than twice.

= [Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword (Advanced)]

‘Advanced, what does that mean? Does it imply promotion?’

As Yeongwoo had this question, an additional explanation followed immediately.

「When possessing three or more Strongest Sword titles in the Gyeongbuk region, you can acquire the title Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword (Advanced).」

「And among the holders of Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword (Advanced), the one with the most Strongest Sword titles in that region will ascend to Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword.」

‘Why is it so complicated? So, the person with the most Strongest Sword titles becomes Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword? But they must have at least three.’

Yeongwoo scratched his chin while repeatedly reading the explanatory text.

Of course, it was understandable because Gyeongsangbuk-do is divided into a whopping 23 regions.

So, how can you determine the unified champion of these regions?

‘Right.’

Even though Yeongwoo looked at it, competing based on the number of Strongest Sword titles each person possesses seemed the most straightforward.

However.

Pat!

There was one more competition method.

「However, all Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword (Advanced) holders can know the real-time location of the current Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword.」

「The title Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword can also be inherited through murder.」

‘…So that’s how it is.’

An event within the expected category.

Becoming Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword will undoubtedly make them stronger, but in return, they will be pursued by Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword (Advanced) holders.

‘Then, Gyeongnam Strongest Sword, Busan Strongest Sword, Jeonbuk Strongest Sword… It’s probably the same for each region.’

In essence, a nationwide battle royale involving all citizens.

Of course, considering the situation in Gimcheon City, there might not be as many Strongest Swords as expected.

Anyway, Yeongwoo already has two Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword titles.

If he acquires just one more, he can become a candidate for Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword.

-Do you want to merge with Gimcheon Strongest Sword?

…The merger authorization will disappear in 5 seconds.

…4.

…3.

Upon this, Yeongwoo silently approved the merger.

Immediately, the Strongest Sword title floating above his head flashed as if struck by lightning, and an alert appeared in front of Yeongwoo.

「Gimcheon Strongest Sword has been merged!」

「The effect of Gumi’s Strongest Sword title becomes stronger.」

Ping!

「Gumi Strongest Sword+」 – Unique Title

【Supremacy of the Strongest Sword】

【Gumi Sword Technique】

‘The title has a plus attached. How exactly has it become more powerful?’

Yeongwoo examined the title tooltip for a while, then realized that a golden orb was still floating in front of him.

He reached out towards it.

Tap.

As the rotation speed of the orb increased, it revealed the rewards for defeating it.

≪Confirmed Reward≫

「Leather Belt of Nol」 – Mutated Belt

【Remote retrieval of weapons.】

≪Optional Reward≫

[3 million Karma]

Or

[Grant 30,000 Karma to all residents in the region]

‘The optional reward is the same as in Gumi. Is it because of the appearance of the mutant yesterday?’

Anyway, unlike last time, there was a clear reason to choose the latter this time.

[Golden Horde]

|Summon the Golden Rain in two or more regions. (1/2)

It was a great opportunity to achieve the Golden Horde achievement.

‘Actually, the Karma distributed to Gimcheon this time won’t be much. There won’t be many people who participated.’

Even so, he wanted to share Karma with the few people there.

For the greater good?

No.

This time, the decision was purely for Yeongwoo’s own benefit.

Poof!

[Grant 30,000 Karma to all residents in the region]

As Yeongwoo chose irony, the orb vibrated again and then soared into the sky.

Swoosh!

A golden beam traversed the airspace of Gimcheon City.

“What?”

“Wow, what is that?”

“W-What the….”

The warriors of Gimcheon City who were standing behind Yeongwoo, like guards, opened their mouths as they watched the orb that had passed through their field of vision in an instant.

Due to their lack of power, they dared not ask Yeongwoo what had just happened, whether it was a disaster or a miracle.

They simply watched as the orb flew up to the edge of the sky.

“….”

Then, finally.

Boom!

The orb exploded like fireworks, coloring the sky in a golden hue.

“Wow.”

“Incredible.”

The eyes of the warriors of Gimcheon City, who were looking up at the sky, were also dyed golden.

Shortly after,

Swoosh!

Now, the Golden Rain, which could be considered Yeongwoo’s signature, began to fall.

Countless golden lights descended from the sky.

The warriors, exhausted from the prolonged battle, received the golden rain without any resistance.

Then, a miraculous agreement appeared before everyone’s eyes.

《Gumi’s Strongest Sword + ‘Jeong Yeongwoo07’ has given up exclusive ownership of 3 million Karma and gifted 30,000 Karma to all residents of Gimcheon.》

《Soon, 30,000 Karma will be provided in the form of commemorative coins. Prepare for it.》

“Commemorative coins?”

“What is this talking about?”

As the warriors were momentarily confused by the unfamiliar words, Yeongwoo felt an unfamiliar sensation at his waist.

‘Ah, the scabbard was on the belt area.’

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Something was different; the makeshift scabbard disappeared, and in its place was an ordinary iron belt.

Apart from the fact that it had two rings to hang weapons, there was nothing particularly special about its appearance.

However.

【Remote retrieval of weapons.】

This belt seemed to have a special function.

‘No way it could be remote retrieval.’

Yeongwoo stared intently at the Early Bird in his hand and, as a test, threw it towards the ground five meters away.

Swoosh, pick!

Then he reached out towards the Early Bird again.

Swoosh.

What happened next was a fresh shock for Yeongwoo.

‘Huh?’

The Early Bird, which had been firmly embedded in the ground where he moved his hand, was now pulled back into his hand.

Pick!

More precisely, it returned to the ring on the scabbard, but since it was possible to catch the sword in the middle…

‘This is like a complete sword technique. Since it can only be retrieved, it should be called semi-sword technique.’

Although he didn’t know the maximum distance for retrieval, it would undoubtedly be handy in various situations, not just in combat.

‘Equipment dropped by mutants seems to be different.’

As the sound of something falling from the air was heard at the right moment, Yeongwoo caught the commemorative coins without batting an eyelid.

Tap, tap, tap.

On the other hand, the warriors of Gimcheon City, surprised that the generated coins were golden, simply fumbled with them without doing anything else.

Just like Yeongwoo and the people did yesterday.

‘It feels like it happened a long time ago already.’

Watching the people searching the ground in a hurry, Yeongwoo felt a sense of camaraderie.

“For all that, invest in strength and durability. After that, start stripping the corpses in Gimcheon City. There will be quite a few dead people who couldn’t use Karma and died.”

Survival tips from the integrated Strongest Swords of the two regions.

Upon hearing this advice, those picking up coins looked up at him.

The people picking up coins looked up at him.

Then, they belatedly realized that the face depicted on the just-fallen coins and the bare-footed man in front of them looked exactly the same.

“Oh…!”

“Hey, wait a minute.”

The warriors of Gimcheon City tried to say something, but Yeongwoo was already driving the ground with the soles of his feet.

Kwaaak!

He needed to hurry and head north.

If Sangju City had failed in mutant hunting just like Gimcheon…

‘By now, there might be no one alive there.’

And if that happened, there was also a chance that mutants would no longer stay in Sangju City.

‘…I’m not in my right mind either.’

Yeongwoo discovered himself thinking like a local in this damn world.

Tap!

Now, his two legs pushed away the road from Gimcheon to Sangju.

And during this, the alarm indicating the waiting achievement continuously flashed in his field of view.

[Achievement Achieved: Golden Treasury]

|Achievement Grade: Legend

|Achievement Rank: First

「The recommended achievement list has been updated.」

「There are two unclaimed achievement rewards.」

‘Rewards? Oh, there was a social worker achievement.’

In that case, two new achievements would likely appear on the recommended achievement list.

Yeongwoo immediately opened the achievement window.

Poof!

【Your achievement tendency is “Stubborn”】

||Completed Achievements: 4

|The Caller of the Golden Rain [Legend] – First

|Forgive Your Enemies [Hero] – #46

|Excellent Social Worker [Legend] – First

|Golden Treasury [Legend] – First

His achievement tendency was still ‘Stubborn,’ and the completed achievements had increased to four.

‘Now, what’s on the recommended achievement list?’

〈Recommended Achievements〉

[Golden Flood]

|Summon the Golden Rain in five or more regions. (2/5)

[Nocturnal]

|Spend a night outside of your residence.

[Jeweller’s Touch]

|Wear two rings of Hero grade or higher on the index and ring fingers each. (2/4)

[Perfect Orphan]

|Find and eliminate both parents. (1/2)

‘That damn Perfect Orphan is not going away.’

Yeongwoo shook his head while scrutinizing the newly appeared achievements.

‘Golden Flood… This seems like the next version after the Golden Horde.’

Yeongwoo’s gaze then landed on ‘Nocturnal’ right below it.

Yeongwoo’s gaze fell directly on the one just below, ‘Nocturnal.’

[Nocturnal]

|Spend a night outside of your residence.

This, too, was the kind of thing only the ‘Stubborn’ individuals would attempt.

Yeongwoo almost confirmed one thing about ‘Nocturnal.’

It suggested that obstacles equivalent to abnormal climate or something similar would appear every night.

Otherwise, why would there be an achievement simply to spend a night outside of the residence?

‘There must be a way to ignore or avoid abnormal climate.’

While Yeongwoo was contemplating achievements, the region he was staying in seemed to have changed, and the area status in the corner of his vision flashed.

‘Already near Sangju?’

Poof.

|The current region you are staying in is ‘Sangju.’

|The Strongest Sword in this region is ‘Dokgo Sehwan01.’ 2nd generation, defense 146 times.

“Huh?”

Surprisingly, the Strongest Sword in Sangju City was ‘Real.’

‘If it’s the 2nd generation Strongest Sword and defense is 146 times…’

The numbers held significant meaning.

Killing the inaugural Sangju Strongest Sword and, after that, 146 more murders.

That was the implication.

Who could this Strongest Sword be in this region?

Although Yeongwoo didn’t know, with this level of cruelty, they would have faced battles with monsters, and there was a high probability that they had also defeated mutants.

‘And probably chose the 3 million monopoly.’

Yeongwoo checked his relatively weak stats.

『Character: Jeong Yeongwoo07』

[Strength] 600 (19+581)

[Stamina] 350 (21+329)

[Durability] 550 (13+537)

[Sensibility] 100 (24+76)

In gaming terms, it was a strange build with a belief in ‘item luck’ and imbalanced investment.

Thanks to this, he had quite a bit of fun in Gimcheon, but the situation in Sangju might be completely different.

Because.

‘The total stats of the Sangju Strongest Sword would probably exceed 3,000.’

On the other hand, Yeongwoo’s total stats were only around 1600.

So, how could he defeat an opponent with stats nearly twice as high?

‘Is there any other way? I can only enhance my item luck.’

Now, only one line of text remained in Yeongwoo’s field of view.

「There are two unclaimed achievement rewards.」

In response, Yeongwoo looked towards the distant landscape of Sangju City and muttered quietly.

“Claim the rewards.”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]