NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36
Chapter 36
At the same time, countless system notifications poured in before his eyes like a galaxy of stars.
[ The gate has been conquered. ]
[ The MVP of the gate conquest is ‘Ahn Suho.’ ]
[ Additional experience points are awarded for being selected as MVP. ]
[ A bonus stat is granted for being selected as MVP. ]
[ You have successfully conquered a gate that no one else could. ]
[ The system acknowledges your remarkable achievement and grants you 5 bonus stats. ]
[ Your level has increased. ]
[ All stats have increased by 1. ]
[ You have acquired 1 bonus stat. ]
Additional bonus stats accrued.
Since this was a hard gate that claimed numerous casualties, the system recognized his efforts and regarded the gate conquest as a major accomplishment.
Moreover, the only true monster throughout the entire gate was this one creature, so the experience points were abundant.
Enough to instantly raise a Level 51 player to Level 52.
Suho muttered to himself as he looked at the empty corpse of the creature, once known as the Sword Emperor, now lying split in two.
“Looking back, it’s such an easy opponent, but why was it so hard back then?”
Still, he felt a sense of gratitude toward it.
So much so that he occasionally thought of it on Teachers’ Day.
It was only natural.
After all, it was the first time in his life that he had been so deeply immersed in swordsmanship.
With a sliver of hope, Suho summoned his Ghost Shadow Spear and attempted to stab it into the creature’s body, but regrettably, there were no shadows to absorb.
The same went for blood absorption.
The creature was a specter.
It was just the spirit of an unnamed sword ghost, with neither blood nor shadow.
Rustle—
The creature’s corpse faded away.
And in that spot, only one thing remained.
The old sword it wielded.
Suho picked it up and checked its information.
[ The Nameless Sword of the Nameless Swordsman ]
– Grade: F
# The old sword used by a nameless swordsman.
Its grade was F.
A sword without even a name, with a description as plain as could be.
At first, he thought it was a memento left behind by the Sword Emperor, so he put it in his inventory.
Then, a few years later, while organizing his overflowing inventory, he took it out again and learned its true value from a nearby acquaintance.
After examining the nameless sword for a moment, Suho gripped both the blade and the hilt and applied pressure.
The old sword snapped with a simple click, maintaining its worn appearance.
At that moment, a system notification revealed the true effect of the nameless sword, which had remained hidden for years.
[ You have used the Nameless Sword. ]
[ Sword Understanding has been activated. ]
[ The spirit of the Nameless Sword imbues your swordsmanship. ]
[ The information of the Suho Sword has changed. ]
[ You have mastered the Suho Sword (S+). ]
The information had changed.
The Suho Sword, which had been S-grade, now gained an additional effect and rose to a plus grade.
Suho checked the updated information of the Suho Sword.
[ Suho Sword ]
– Grade: S+
# A unique swordsmanship created by Ahn Suho.
# Stays true to the basics yet excels in balance between offense, defense, and evasion.
# The spirit of the Nameless Sword has imbued the previously fixed grade, elevating it to a plus grade.
# The Suho Sword now carries the will of the Nameless Sword, possessing limitless growth potential.
Satisfied, Suho nodded at the information about the Suho Sword.
The reason he chose the Nameless Sword as the first of the many sealed gates.
There were other reasons, such as the ability to handle it with existing swordsmanship without any special items or preparations, but the main purpose was precisely because of this Nameless Sword.
‘My swordsmanship truly begins now.’
The Suho Sword, after all, was something he had been using instinctively.
Now that it had evolved to a plus grade with the potential for further development, the true power of the Suho Sword could finally emerge.
Only then could he master the ultimate techniques, referred to as Suho’s special moves.
Having absorbed the skill, Suho took a step toward the exit portal that appeared before him.
***
The situation room.
About half an hour after Suho entered, Kim Jongwoo, watching the camera feed, spoke.
“It seems it will take some time, so I’ll go on a quick patrol.”
“Yes, please do.”
Just as Kim Jongwoo was about to leave.
“Huh? Huh?”
Jo Jin-hwi, who was watching the screen, jumped up from his seat.
Simultaneously, Jung Chulmin also sprang to his feet.
“The gate! The gate is—!”
“What?!”
Kim Jongwoo rushed over, and he, too, looked at the screen with an expression of disbelief.
“The gate… is cleared?”
“Go out! Quickly!”
When a gate is cleared, there’s a visible change in the gate line on the outside.
People on the outside can observe it and tell whether the gate has been conquered.
Now, the gate line was beginning to collapse.
In disbelief, Kim Jongwoo ordered the opening of the square entrance, and Jo Jin-hwi took the camera to capture the collapse of the gate line before leaving the situation room.
Eventually, the three stood at the square entrance, their hearts pounding as they waited for Suho.
Not long after, Suho appeared out of the darkness in the square, a faint smile on his face.
“Suho!”
“Hunter!”
Overcome with joy, Jung Chulmin and Jo Jin-hwi shouted Suho’s name as they ran toward him.
Kim Jongwoo, not as close to Suho, simply chuckled in amazement.
Suho calmed the two men rushing toward him, as if ready to throw him in the air.
“Please, calm down, both of you.”
“How can we be calm! It was a sealed gate! Suho, you cleared the Nameless Sword, a gate that claimed over 200 lives!”
“And it’s only been 30 minutes! A conquest? How is that even possible?!”
The two were in a frenzy.
Only then did Kim Jongwoo cautiously approach and add his words.
“Great job, Hunter.”
“It was nothing. It was an easy place, after all.”
“An… easy place?”
“Yes, for me, it was quite easy.”
“Ah… that’s… unbelievable…”
Suho’s response was nonchalant.
But to Kim Jongwoo, it didn’t seem like arrogance.
There was no pride or vanity in his expression, only the look of someone who had done what was expected, as if he’d simply been out for a stroll.
Suho spoke.
“Since I’ve cleared the gate, shall we take a photo now?”
“A photo?”
“Yes, let’s take a picture together as proof. Not for the sake of memories, but just as evidence.”
Just as he said.
A documented photo like this could serve as material for press releases.
That was the reason he brought Jo Jin-hwi.
A photo taken by a PBS reporter had an unmatched level of credibility.
At that moment, Kim Jongwoo spoke with a hint of hesitation.
“As a soldier, I’m not supposed to be photographed…”
Noticing this, Jung Chulmin quickly intervened.
“Oh, Major. This isn’t a commemorative photo; it’s for official records! Besides, the Nameless Sword is no ordinary gate.
From our nation’s perspective, it’s classified as a high-risk zone. Considering the situation, Hunter Ahn Suho has achieved something monumental. If the gate hadn’t been conquered, taxpayer money would’ve kept flowing into it, but thanks to Hunter Ahn Suho…”
“Oh, no, no! I apologize. Let’s hurry up and get the picture taken.”
Prompted by Jung Chulmin’s fervent explanation, Kim Jongwoo quickly admitted his mistake and agreed to participate.
Watching them, Suho chuckled.
‘As expected of Chulmin-hyung.’
Thus, the three of them took part in a historic photo shoot that would soon set Korea ablaze.
***
On the way back to Seoul after the shoot.
Before returning to Seoul, Suho asked Jung Chulmin and Kim Jongwoo to embargo the information about the Nameless Sword gate conquest for half a day.
His priority was to meet with the Nexus Guild.
So, immediately after the photo shoot, Suho headed straight for the Nexus Guild.
Requesting a day-long embargo seemed unrealistic, after all.
‘Truthfully, the government isn’t obligated to heed my request.’
Especially with Kim Jongwoo, it would be most challenging.
In the military, reporting to superiors was always the top priority, no matter what happened.
Upon arriving at Nexus, he was met by executives who had responded to an urgent summons.
Suho showed them the certification photo he brought on his tablet and spoke.
“As I mentioned over the phone, I’ve successfully conquered the sealed gate, ‘Nameless Sword,’ classified as one of Korea’s high-risk zones, earlier this evening. This is the proof, and the people photographed with me include an association official, the square administrator, and Major Kim Jongwoo.”
At this, everyone’s jaws dropped.
Bae Donghyuk, in particular, was the most dumbfounded.
Although he had been informed over the phone, seeing the actual photo left him speechless.
After all, Bae Donghyuk had just heard earlier today that the sealed gate had been assigned.
Who wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the gate was cleared within just a few hours of being assigned?
Especially when he was presenting the certified photo as proof.
Then, Suho introduced Jo Jin-hwi, who had come with him.
“And this is Jo Jin-hwi, my exclusive reporter from PBS. Since he accompanied me for the shoot, there’s no need to worry about any photo manipulation.”
“I’m Jo Jin-hwi.”
He presented his credentials as he handed out his business card.
Seeing this, Bae Donghyuk waved his hand, saying,
“Oh, no, I never suspected any manipulation. But… how did you do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“All of it. How did you receive the assignment for the sealed gate, and how did you conquer it here? In just a few hours, no less. Hunter Ahn Suho, you know that over 200 players have died there.”
Oh, that.
With a casual tone, Suho replied.
“Well, as for the assignment, I met the association president directly and received permission. As for the strategy, I simply went in and killed it.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s true. I don’t have anything to embellish. I’m telling it as it is.”
“Oh….”
It was true.
There was no need to exaggerate or add unnecessary details, nor was it Suho’s nature to do so.
So Suho went straight to the main point.
“Since my abilities are now proven, shall we draft the contract? Set my compensation as you see fit; I only have two conditions.
First, I want full support while I’m with Nexus. Second, if I take the open recruitment test and pass, you’ll release me from the exclusive contract.
By the way, I’ve already informed the association president. Many major guilds have contacted me, but I told them that if a guild agreed to these conditions, I’d join to gain some hands-on experience.”
“……”
Bae Donghyuk wasn’t one to deceive people, but from the perspective of the guild officials, one could never be too cautious.
After a brief pause, Bae Donghyuk quietly spoke.
“Administrator, please bring the documents.”
“Yes, sir.”
Thus marked the moment of Suho’s entry into the Nexus Guild.