Chapter 81

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 81: Let Them See Gwanak (5)

Kwaaaah!

Negwig’s high-speed driving was truly amazing.

The buildings passing by on both sides looked like lingering scars.

However, there were side effects as well.

That is.

“Kyaaah!”

“It’s, it’s a monster!”

“Has the mutant already…?”

It was highly unsuitable to pass through crowded places.

In various parts of Gwanak-gu, there were crowds of “monster entrepreneurs” police officers waiting for the monsters to appear and their customers gathered together.

However, amidst this, something riding on an iron horse approached, emitting steam, causing a commotion all at once.

“Help me!”

“What are you doing? Stop it quickly!”

Customers urged Gwanak police officers, who were monster entrepreneurs, to act quickly, and some of them ran away without even looking back.

“Damn it.”

With the situation like this, Gwanak police officers couldn’t help but draw their swords.

They naturally didn’t think the opponent would be human.

-Kwiieeek!

Of course, Negwig didn’t go around hitting people.

Kwak!

Just before colliding with people, he leaped high forward.

Shiaaaat!

“Huh?”

“Ugh!”

As the officers who were in combat posture raised their heads, white steam was seen drawing a huge arc all the way to the far distance.

And the unidentified intruder had already disappeared from sight.

* * *

‘He leaves traces everywhere he goes’

In just a few hours in Seoul, at least a thousand witnesses were made.

‘It shouldn’t be that difficult for Gangnam’s Strongest Sword to find me.’

Yeongwoo looked back while hanging on Negwig’s back, but he couldn’t see the scene from earlier.

It was because the distance was too far.

Instead, the red pillar of light, the problem, was now really close.

Kwaaaah……!

The sound of the pillar of light shooting was reaching his ears.

‘He’s already come this far from that distant place…?’

It was amazing, but there was no time to gauge Negwig’s maximum speed.

[00:01:33]

It was supposed to be 1 minute and 33 seconds before the mutant arrived here.

‘Where is the Strongest Sword of Gwanak?’

As he turned his head towards the direction where the sound of the pillar of light was coming from, he saw a sturdy bridge over the river on the other side, dimly lit.

It was because the symbol of Gwanak’s mutant was hanging down at the spacious intersection beyond.

Kwaaaah……!

The red pillar of light swirling fiercely with the momentum to swallow everything.

“……”

Yeongwoo briefly glanced at the pillar of light, then noticed a middle-aged man in a suit sitting in the middle of the bridge over the river.

And above the man’s head was a shining title.

『Gwanak’s Strongest Sword.』

‘That’s him.’

Gwanak Strongest Sword, Jo Sangik 01.

The man was obliviously staring at the red pillar of light without knowing that an outsider had arrived.

Upon this, Yeongwoo subtly pulled Negwig’s reins.

-Kwiiik!

As Negwig lifted his head along with the reins and snorted, the Strongest Sword on the bridge finally turned around.

“……”

The man’s eyes touched the black iron horse, then shifted to a vague point.

[00:01:21]

He was probably checking the mutant timer.

1 minute and 21 seconds.

As the man slowly stood up from his seat, Yeongwoo slowly urged Negwig forward towards the bridge.

“I didn’t expect a guest. It’s not a good time. I am Jo Sangik.”

Gwanak Strongest Sword Jo Sangik 01 greeted while keeping his gaze fixed in the air.

Estimated to be in his early 50s, he looked very neat in a navy suit with a military blue tie.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jeong Yeongwoo.”

In contrast, Yeongwoo, wearing sports attire with various equipment scattered around, looked utterly perplexing.

-Shiit.

Even the Serpent of Greed wrapped around his wrist stared at Jo Sangik with a flickering tongue.

More precisely, it was staring at the huge sword he held in his right hand.

It was the snake’s characteristic to always gaze at rare items.

‘Is that mutant equipment?’

Yeongwoo was also curious about the identity of the sword, but he put off the question for more important matters.

“I’ve come to deal with the mutant.”

“So it seems.”

Both Strongest Swords checked the timer simultaneously.

[00:01:07]

1 minute and 7 seconds.

After checking the time, Jo Sangik was the first to speak.

“It seems to be your first time in Seoul.”

“Yes. But I’ve heard the stories roughly.”

“Then you must know that you are about to violate the regulations.”

All disputes within Seoul could only be resolved within the meeting in Yongsan Park.

And the Strongest Sword of each area had priority over mutants in their respective regions.

So, for Yeongwoo to confront a mutant in Gwanak-gu, he would have to attend the meeting first, claim the position of Gwanak’s Strongest Sword, and then officially engage in combat.

However, Yeongwoo didn’t have the luxury to wait until the meeting at 3 p.m.

“If you concede, I won’t have to violate the regulations.”

As Yeongwoo uttered these words and dismounted from Negwig, his shoes, the unique-grade footwear called “Illusion,” made a clinking sound as they hit the ground.

Clang!

At that moment, Jo Sangik showed signs of hesitation for the first time.

It was common sense in this world that beings of the Strongest Sword level inevitably remained barefoot.

Gwanak Strongest Sword Jo Sangik also exposed his bare feet as much as his body, incongruent with the suit he wore.

Usually, he wore shoes, but since they would inevitably burst when fighting mutants, he deliberately waited barefoot.

“…So what you’re wearing now is also equipment. May I ask where you’re from?”

Finally, Gwanak Strongest Sword showed curiosity about Yeongwoo’s background.

Yeongwoo responded by patting his chest.

Paah!

『Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword』

“…Hmm.”

Jo Sangik, upon seeing Yeongwoo’s title, involuntarily groaned.

It was because he had also agreed to the basis of his opponent’s ongoing confidence.

Gyeongbuk…

As a unified Strongest Sword of a major region, it was natural not to fear a Strongest Sword of a single district in Seoul.

[00:00:48]

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Now, there were 48 seconds left.

Jo Sangik looked at Yeongwoo with a much more anxious expression than before.

Then, for the first time, he uttered a sentence mixed with emotion.

“Why did you come specifically to Gwanak?”

“…?”

“As Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword, you must be stronger than me. Since there’s only one life, I have no choice but to step back.”

“….”

Although Gwanak Strongest Sword was likely mistaken, Yeongwoo pretended to sleep on it for now.

“But ultimately, because of this, the position of Seoul National University will greatly diminish during the meeting.”

“Is it because the Gwanak’s Strongest Sword might become about 3 million karma weaker compared to other Strongest Swords?”

As Yeongwoo asked this, Jo Sangik chuckled.

“Simply put, yes. But it’s not such a simple matter.”

“I understand.”

Yeongwoo vaguely understood what Jo Sangik was trying to say.

The Strongest Swords’ meeting would be a tense atmosphere.

Participants would all be murderers who had spilled blood on their hands, and among them, there would be crazies who transcended common sense.

However, since they didn’t yet know each other’s strengths properly, they were just testing each other under the pretext of regulations.

At least, that’s what Yeongwoo, who had experienced many Strongest Swords in the provinces, thought.

[00:00:21]

21 seconds left.

Now it had become a time where even talking felt like a luxury.

“There’s no other way.”

Swish.

In the end, Jo Sangik stepped aside and opened the way.

Without even exchanging a single blow, he conceded the mutant solely based on the opponent’s title.

“You’re giving up too easily.”

“Isn’t it better than dying? If I die, Gwanak will turn into a lawless zone again within two days. There won’t be anyone trying to maintain order.”

Because he carried such a heavy burden, he couldn’t afford to take risks.

“….”

Yet there were stories heard at the outskirts of Seoul that hinted at great arrogance.

It was said that Seoul University had essentially taken on the role of the government’s leadership.

Perhaps the idea of gathering Strongest Swords in one place also originated from this side.

[00:00:09]

Now there were 9 seconds left.

Clang.

Yeongwoo took a step forward and asked Gwanak Strongest Sword Jo Sangik.

“But what did you do before? You seem too old to be a Seoul University student. Are you perhaps one of the professors?”

At this, Jo Sangik’s expression momentarily went blank.

Then, with a gaze reminiscent of a professor looking at a disciple, he said.

“I was the Deputy Minister of Planning and Finance. I’m also one of the directors at Seoul University.”

“Ah.”

His extensive background explained many things.

Perhaps it was someone from the Ministry of Planning and Finance who came up with the absurd plan of carrying Strongest Swords on their backs and conducting the monster business to make money through reconnaissance quests.

A former Deputy Minister of Planning and Finance.

A current Strongest Sword.

There was a reason why Strongest Swords, akin to monsters, quietly obeyed all sorts of regulations.

*Kwwoooong!*

Eventually, the red pillar of light on the other side of the bridge began to push the surrounding air, swaying.

[00:00:02]

Only 2 seconds left.

*Kwarung!*

A dazzling bolt of lightning struck from the distant sky connected to the red pillar of light.

The mutant assigned to Gwanak-gu was preparing to descend.

‘Luckily, I received the mutant, but… Can I handle it alone?’

Yeongwoo, fixing his gaze above the pillar of light, drew the black sword from his waist.

*Chwaah!*

Of course, he could call his mutant friend Yeongtae again and use “Blue Blood” for strength doping.

But the upcoming fight was not just any ordinary one.

‘Another option is right in front of me.’

*Kwajijik!*

Finally, a sound like the tearing of the sky was heard, and from the top of the pillar of light, a chilling groan echoed.

「Grrraaah…!」

It must be the voice of the mutant.

However, Yeongwoo wasn’t looking at the pillar of light at that moment.

“Deputy Minister, if you’re okay with it, let’s make a deal.”

His gaze was now fixed on Jo Sangik.

“Why are you suddenly talking about a deal? Right, right over there…!”

Jo Sangik, who had been watching Yeongwoo from above, suddenly panicked.

“Ugh!”

At the same time, a tremendous movement was felt from above the pillar of light.

*Swaeaeaeaeak!*

It seemed a mutant was descending from beyond the sky.

“H-Hey!”

While Jo Sangik was screaming, Yeongwoo elaborated on the terms of the deal.

“If you help me eliminate the mutant, I’ll scatter 30,000 karma throughout Gwanak-gu.”

“…?”

“If you can find just 100 Seoul University students, it’ll be 3 million karma.”

“…What?”

A 52-year-old Jo Sangik, who was a former Deputy Minister of Planning and Finance and the current Gwanak’s Strongest Sword with both civil and martial skills, suddenly realized.

Perhaps he had been deceived by the grandiose title of his opponent.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]