Chapter 69

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 69: Life and Death in Front of the Motel (1)

‘Crazy.’

Upon hearing the gunshot, Yeongwoo felt chills running through his entire body.

The bullet that just fired was not an ordinary one; it was worth a whopping 200,000 karma per shot.

Moreover,

‘They only had two shots combined.’

Current time, 10:07 PM.

Why did the authorities start firing just 7 minutes after the release of the private room service?

“What’s going on downstairs?”

Yeongwoo asked while putting on the last piece of equipment, the artifact helmet called ‘Vanguard.’

Then, Jongsu replied with a gasping tone,

“I, I don’t exactly know. Someone madly came looking for Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword…”

“…What?”

Unexpectedly, Yeongwoo was momentarily speechless at the unexpected culprit.

He suspected an attack from the Women Alliance to secure Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword for their territorial expansion.

It wouldn’t be strange for them to attack right after it entered their area.

‘But seeking Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword so pinpoint?’

Yeongwoo, fully armed, rushed out of the room, suddenly recalling something.

‘Oh, no way.’

He realized that there must be someone who could find Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword without any difficulty.

* * *

‘Fuck… I haven’t even set foot in Seoul yet.’

Icheon’s Strongest Sword, Kim Byungcheol 139, clenched his teeth.

These guys were fast.

Just 5 minutes ago, he was sunbathing in front of the motel, waiting for Jeong Yeongwoo to wake up.

Thanks to that, he was the first to encounter the man who walked out from the other buildings.

“Captain, someone is coming this way.”

“What?”

Until then, he hadn’t even thought that the man might have come here at 10 AM, the time for the end of the private room service.

There were no titles above his head, and his footsteps seemed very leisurely.

Yet, the reason the two guards remained vigilant was…

“What’s that…?”

“A sword… maybe?”

It was because the object in the man’s right hand looked suspicious.

A weapon reminiscent of a giant thorn.

It was difficult to see it as a typical ‘sword’ because the boundary between the blade and the handle was ambiguous.

It was more like a form close to a spear.

Anyway, it wasn’t standard-issue equipment, so the probability of the person being strong was quite high.

And in this world, strong individuals were the majority.

‘…Dangerous.’

When Byungcheol’s face hardened, Taeyoung, who was standing next to him, asked cautiously,

“Should we stop him? That person…”

“No. There’s no need to cause a disturbance.”

Soon, Byungcheol’s head turned sideways.

It wasn’t because he didn’t want to provoke first while wearing a police uniform just because the opponent looked dangerous. It was an unpredictable situation.

Moreover,

“Our side is much stronger. If he attacks, he’ll be the one making a mistake.”

Byungcheol reminded himself that Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword and about 60 Women Alliance combatants were in the 6-story motel right behind him.

In other words, the person entering the danger zone was the man in front of them.

“Oh, there are police officers here.”

Finally approaching within about 10 meters, the man, who had come, seemed surprised when he saw Byungcheol and Taeyoung’s attire.

Then.

“…”

“…”

The man stared intently at the title ‘Icheon’s Strongest Sword’ above Byungcheol’s head.

“Oh my.”

Byungcheol’s expression sank as he met the gaze, recognizing the ruthless look of a relentless plunderer—the same look he had seen when playing the role of Icheon’s guardian.

And even before this, Byungcheol finally realized.

‘Could this guy be a Strongest Sword too?’

Some Strongest Swords could conceal their titles.

Didn’t Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword, Jeong Yeongwoo, possess such an ability?

‘Probably in his mid to late twenties… Ordinary build, featureless face. Can’t tell if he’s a Strongest Sword, though.’

While thinking this, Byungcheol unconsciously moved his right hand closer to his gun.

“What’s happening here?”

When Byungcheol asked with a stern look, the man, after briefly glancing at Taeyoung this time, let out a strange laugh.

“I’m looking for someone. Doesn’t seem like you guys are the ones I’m looking for, though.”

The man’s gaze shifted back to the motel Luso.

Then, he pointed at the motel entrance with his finger, abruptly asking Byungcheol.

“Excuse me, how many people are in there? I thought they would have all come out by now… The lodging service is over, right?”

“…Yes?”

Caught off guard by the irrelevant question, Byungcheol reflexively turned toward the motel, and at that moment, the man lunged at him.

Thunk!

It was a too-obvious ambush, but it seemed sufficient for the man to exploit that momentary gap.

“Ah…!”

“Icheon Swordsmanship!”

Before Byungcheol, warned by Taeyoung, could return his head to its original position, the enormous thorn pierced his throat.

Shwit!

A short whimper escaped through Byungcheol’s clenched teeth.

“Captain!”

While a shocked Taeyoung quickly pulled out his gun, the man’s voice stopped him from firing.

“If you shoot, the captain dies too. Do you want to risk your life unnecessarily?”

In other words, not shooting meant he wouldn’t harm them either.

“…”

Breathing heavily with extreme tension, Taeyoung looked at the man with a complicated expression.

In essence, he indirectly negotiated with this murderer.

“You’re wise. Good.”

Soon, the man pulled the long thorn from Icheon’s Strongest Sword’s throat.

Pfft!

As a result, Byungcheol, with blood oozing out, fell to the ground as if kneeling.

“…Kkurip.”

Until now, he had been holding his breath.

“Captain…!”

However, before Taeyoung could support him, he breathed his last.

Pahat!

The title ‘Icheon’s Strongest Sword’ that had been floating above his head disappeared.

It was evidence that the basic succession mechanism of the Strongest Sword title, ‘murder,’ had been activated.

However, even though Byungcheol had taken his last breath, no title appeared above the man’s head.

“What the…? Seriously.”

A fact that the young officer realized belatedly, just as his superior had long ago—this man was also a Strongest Sword who concealed his title.

“…!”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

At that moment, as Taeyoung was about to call another Strongest Sword in the vicinity, Jeong Yeongwoo,

Kwajak!

A group of people walked out of the motel Luso entrance, stepping on glass shards.

“What’s going on…?”

“Captain?”

They were none other than Jongsu and around ten members of the Women Alliance.

With the lodging service fully expired, everyone had started coming out.

“This bastard…!”

Jongsu was the first to draw his sword, having discovered Byungcheol’s corpse.

Then, one after another.

Swish, swish!

The female combatants, making loud noises, unsheathed their weapons.

Even before the guest’s death, the fact that someone with murderous intent had entered their territory was a significant problem.

“Wow.”

Looking at the people with weapons as sharp as the ones in their hands, the man expressed admiration.

“Almost all women. How is the world turning?”

Then, he added a meaningful remark.

“Could Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword be a woman too?”

“…!”

At this comment, Jongsu felt the hairs on his body stand up, while the Women Alliance members, who still didn’t know Yeongwoo’s true identity, growled and surrounded the man.

“What the hell is this lunatic saying?”

“He found the wrong place on his own.”

Despite the tense atmosphere, the reason for not immediately engaging in a fight was clear:

Icheon’s Strongest Sword was lying dead on the other side.

In other words, this unwelcome guest was powerful enough to single-handedly kill Icheon’s Strongest Sword.

“…Where’s the leader?”

One of the women surrounding the man whispered to her nearby colleague, asking about the leader of this area, Seong Yerin.

Through this, Jongsu sensed that the gathered individuals’ combat power wasn’t very high.

‘We’re in trouble. Hyung needs to come.’

Even though it was well past 10 o’clock…

Could he still be lying on the bed?

“…”

As Jongsu, with a face indicating internal turmoil, glanced at the motel, the man, noticing it, menacingly held a needle and said,

“There are more.”

The seemingly relaxed expression of the man turned icy cold.

The reason was simple – he wanted to clean up the situation before more enemies arrived.

Sensing the danger, Jongsu jumped into the motel first, shouting.

“He’s here!”

“Oh-ho.”

As if understanding the situation, the man turned his body toward the motel entrance.

Then, just as he had done to Icheon’s Strongest Sword, the Women Alliance members surrounded him with their weapons raised.

Motel lobby, Icheon district police officer Kwon Taeyoung finally fired his gun.

Ta-ang!

And with this signal, all the combatants in the audience rushed at the man.

* * *

Thud!

When Yeongwoo arrived on the first floor of the motel, the lobby was already chaotic.

Inside the motel, Women Alliance members who heard gunshots were trying to rush outside.

On the other hand, those who were initially fighting outside were attempting to flee into the motel.

“Hey, make way!”

“Just go outside if you’re not going to fight! What are you doing here?”

The ones outside wanted to enter the motel because there were more allies here.

It was better to run into the motel, filled with dozens of comrades, than risk being stabbed in the back in the open.

“What’s happening right now?”

Soon, Seong Yerin came down to the lobby and furrowed her brows upon seeing the crowd at the narrow entrance.

But was that the only problem?

Beyond the crowded lobby entrance, a man’s voice came through.

“Move!”

With terrifying sounds piercing flesh, people attempting to escape into the motel began falling rapidly.

The man began clearing the way himself.

“Agh!”

“Ugh!”

In an instant, several people fell forward with holes all over their bodies.

Seeing this, Yeongwoo, who threw the early bird to stop him, pulled out his sword to intervene.

Swish!

Although it was at a remarkably fast speed, he threw it expecting the opponent to block it.

If he was truly the Strongest Sword, he wouldn’t fall for such an obvious surprise.

But, inevitably.

Phew!

The man casually deflected the early bird and looked at Yeongwoo.

Then, with an excited expression,

“Who are you looking for?”

As Yeongwoo took a few steps forward and asked, the man wiped the blood on the needle onto the ground.

Shwick!

“Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword.”

“…!”

It was not Yeongwoo but the Women Alliance and Seong Yerin who were surprised at his words.

They had only thought of Icheon’s Strongest Sword as a guest so far; they didn’t know there was another Strongest Sword among the group.

Moreover,

‘Wait. If it’s Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword….’

As Yerin tried to grasp the meaning of the word ‘Gyeongbuk,’ Yeongwoo took another step towards the man.

Now the distance between them was about six meters.

If he wanted, he could start a full-fledged fight.

So Yeongwoo checked the quest message attached to his left field of view in advance.

[Dogo] “Strong Tiger’s Early Appearance”

Engage in 0/2 duels with targets with a total ability score of 3,000 or higher.

5 million karma

You must disclose the fact of Dogo’s support in this duel.

Engage in two duels with targets with a combined power level of over 3,000.

This time, he might be able to complete one of those two duels.

So Yeongwoo, drawing the Black Sword from his waist, cautiously opened his mouth.

“This… the battle will be conducted with the universal weapon brand, Dogo’s support.”

“…What?”

“I am a human from Earth, the strongest in Gyeongbuk, Jeong Yeongwoo 07.”

“What… What the fuck is he saying? Is this guy crazy?”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]