The Veteran Player Already Knows

Chapter 140 - Clash (2)

The Knight of the Southern Yellow was gladly feeling the beating of his heart.

There were various reasons for this, but the most important one was probably the fact that he could personally eliminate the bug that dared to get entangled with the Guardian of the Tower.

Of course, as a Knight of the Round Table, he had a calling to help the Conquerors who were climbing the Tower in the normal way.

‘That’s that.’

It was clear that those who received the Guardian of the Tower's attention beyond their station needed a detailed examination of their 'qualifications'.

Of course, most of them were no different from maggots with no such qualifications and all died, but the Knight of the Southern Yellow felt no guilt whatsoever about it, not even a little, not even a fingernail's worth.

"..."

Adelbach, who was in charge of the 'observation' next to him, was looking at him as if he were a madman, but he decided not to pay any attention to her.

He had already received this kind of reaction to the point of being sick of it. In the first place, even the Guardian of the Tower had told him several times to stop doing such things, but his conviction had never once changed.

"..."

Isn't that just insubordination, you crazy bastard?

That emotion once again appeared on the face of Adelbach, who was bad at hiding her expressions, but the Knight of the Southern Yellow did not react this time either.

The ultimate goal of the Round Table was, after all, the 'protection of humanity', and this was a grand plan that all revolved under the arrangement of the Guardian of the Tower.

Therefore, wasn't it true loyalty for him to take the lead in handling matters that would distract her?

In fact, since he had actively carried out such 'clean-up' work, the instances of the Guardian of the Tower showing interest in bug-like humans had decreased dramatically.

"...Hmph."

In that respect.

Even though he had gone through such a process numerous times, the mere thought of that guy, Kim Gyu-sik, to whom the Guardian of the Tower was showing deeper interest than ever before, made the Knight of the Southern Yellow's face frown.

Who the hell did he think he was, to distract the Guardian of the Tower who had only recently been focusing on her main job?

As that emotion took root, the might of the storm he was 'driving' naturally became much more monstrous.

In tune with his steps as he walked in its center, the wave of destruction that was expanding step by step swept through the surroundings.

"Let's see how long you can last, you who acts as if you know everything."

The Knight of the Southern Yellow sneered and muttered.

So far, most of the bugs had all disappeared within a few minutes in his storm, unable to withstand it.

He was truly curious to see how long that guy, Kim Gyu-sik, could struggle—

"..."

The Knight of the Southern Yellow's pleasant thoughts were immediately interrupted by the sight that appeared before his eyes.

***

Seo Jin-seong stood on the rooftop of the base building with his arms crossed, looking down at the ground.

In a situation where a terrifying storm was raging around him, it could be said to be a life-threatening act, but at least in a situation where his benefactor had asked him to 'be sure to watch what I'm doing now', that was a trivial matter.

"Hmm..."

In fact, apart from that, for Seo Jin-seong, the time he was spending like this right now could be said to be a waste.

The 'decisive battle' with Lancester that Kim Gyu-sik had mentioned was right around the corner. He should be sharpening his senses as much as possible to prepare for that time, so why on earth did he call him out, saying he had something to show him?

However, Seo Jin-seong himself knew very well that he was a man who never did anything pointless.

So, if he hadわざわざ called him out even knowing his current situation, there must have been a reason for it.

That thought deepened as soon as he saw Kim Gyu-sik walking out of the building.

"..."

Yes.

No sane person would think of coming out with just a bare body and a wooden sword into a storm that even Seo Jin-seong himself would consider life-threatening. It was better to assume he had some kind of scheme.

And even more so if it was a man who always made it a point to be in control, no matter what situation he was thrown into, and he was dressed like that.

"...Wait."

Next, seeing the form of the sword Kim Gyu-sik took, Seo Jin-seong's eyes widened in astonishment.

At first, he wondered if he had seen it wrong, but that hypothesis soon faded.

Because it was a posture that he could never mistake.

What martial artist in the world could not recognize the form of the swordsmanship he had mastered?

"When on earth did he...?"

That question vaguely escaped Seo Jin-seong's lips.

His swordsmanship was a single-line transmission that had almost been lost, and he had never taught it to anyone except his own children after learning it from his master.

He had only taught it intensively to his older child and only vaguely explained the concept to his younger child.

So, it didn't make sense for that man to suddenly awaken to the essence of martial arts. To do that, he would have to be a genius of martial arts whose depths even he, who was called the Sword Saint, could not fathom.

‘...No, he's not a genius.’

A genius shows glimpses of talent that cannot be hidden in every single one of their actions. However, he didn't feel any of that from that man.

Rather, a dullard below average. Below average when it came to the sword.

That's what he thought, but the man's posture now was somehow strange.

Clearly, very familiar. Comfortable, as if it had been engraved on his body over a lifetime.

It was definitely a posture that had been 'learned' from someone.

"...I'll hear the story later."

Seo Jin-seong sighed and looked down at Kim Gyu-sik.

Come to think of it, he had felt that he was strangely knowledgeable about his school of swordsmanship from the first time they met.

He would have to hear the detailed information later. That's what he was thinking.

Until he saw a sight that was like a thunderbolt striking his mind.

"...!"

Kim Gyu-sik, who was standing in place with his sword drawn, slowly exhaled and slightly flicked it upwards.

It was definitely a movement from his memory.

It wasn't just in his memory, it was a movement that he could never forget.

‘Master, what kind of swordsman is the strongest in the world?’

He remembered asking that question to his master, who was quietly resting against a tree, in his childhood filled with bravado.

His master, who quietly looked at him, smiled faintly and answered as follows.

‘Where would you find such a bastard, you idiot. The one who survives until the end is the strongest.’

‘...’

‘Well, still. When a person becomes a little skilled. They can pull off a trick like this, you see?’

As his master said that, he picked up a 'leaf' that had fallen on the ground.

And swung it at the 'rock' next to him.

And saw it split in two and shatter.

He remembered that the young Seo Jin-seong had just stared blankly, unable to react.

He didn't feel any mana or qi.

Because it was something that had happened with pure skill alone.

‘How on earth...?!’

‘All things have their source, and the one who can reach that source can cut anything with anything they hold. Even with a rotten branch, they can cut the whole world.’

The fastest shortcut to reaching the ultimate did not come from a noble enlightenment, but from the process of struggling to survive.

His master muttered that only someone who had rotted at the bottom of hell could understand that.

‘Jin-seong.’

To his astonished self, his master said that.

‘The day will come when you too will be able to do something like this. A person who can cut their opponent no matter what they hold in their hand. I don’t know if it will happen while I’m alive, but at that time, you can go and learn from someone else.’

‘Is there someone else who can do something like this besides you, Master?’

‘There is. There definitely is. He's probably a guy who has suffered a lot, just like me, and maybe his personality is terribly rotten, but there definitely is.’

His particularly frail master said so with a cough.

‘And if there's a guy who can do something similar, that guy.’

The tip of the wooden sword swung by Kim Gyu-sik reached the edge of the approaching storm.

And a miracle.

Dyed the whole world.

----!

----!....

----....

The storm, was crushed.

The natural disaster that was rampaging as if to swallow the world, collided with the tip of a sword lightly swung by a weak human and was annihilated from the edge.

The surroundings that had been shaking like crazy became deceptively calm, and in its center, still.

There was only one man, peacefully closing his eyes and slowly sheathing his sword, as if nothing had happened.

‘He will surely show you the goal you must reach.’

As he rose to the position of an EX-rank Climber, Seo Jin-seong constantly pushed himself to pursue that enlightenment.

The reason he had crossed so many battlefields with Kim Kang-in was also a process to complete the path of martial arts that he had been taught by his master.

Although he had been frustrated by a huge wall in the middle, and had given up after his family was ruined, he had never once given up on that task. There wasn't even a day he stopped thinking about it.

And, now.

The ultimate 'ideal' that he should have completed and reached was unfolding before his eyes.

"..."

Seo Jin-seong suddenly realized that there were tears in his eyes and sighed.

Yes, this was.

Undoubtedly.

‘Admiration.’

He had never felt this kind of emotion for any other person since his master.

"Thank you, sincerely."

From now on.

He would have much to repay to the man who had shown him the way.

Seo Jin-seong sincerely thought so.

***

"Sweet."

As soon as I confirmed that the storm had been blown away in one go, a satisfied smile formed on my lips.

Hmm.

As expected of a bugged character.

[ Mastery: Sword - Source Slash ]

[ When you strike the exact weak point, you disassemble the target's structure. It is limited to once per target and does not discriminate based on the currently equipped weapon or the opponent's object type. ]

The ruthless balance-breaking power that churned out skills like this. This was the taste of being Kim Gyu-sik.

It could be seen as similar to the projectile nullification upon deflection attached to the Cheonryongpo.

But this one didn't have the restriction of 'only what can be touched is possible,' it was possible even without equipping the Cheonryongpo, and its versatility was on a different level because it could be used against things that weren't 'projectiles.'

On top of that, it could be used not just for defensive purposes, but also for offensive purposes. 'Structure disassembly' meant that, in other words, it was a heinous option that could be used as a one-time instant kill depending on the attacked area.

There was a prerequisite of having to hit a weak point, but from my perspective, who possessed the Observation skill, it was practically the same as not having one.

"Hmm, good."

The reason I had called Mr. Seo Jin-seong to watch this was, in fact, to some extent to present this to him as a kind of 'card'.

Since I have such an amazing skill, let's stay on good terms in the future. Something like that.

Still, since it was a fake swordsmanship learned through a skill, it could be flimsy in the eyes of a real Sword Saint. He wouldn't get angry, right?

If I used that person well, he would be useful even until the final phase of the ending, so it was better to build a good relationship.

But.

[ 3 of the target ‘Seo Jin-seong’'s Skill Share slots will be opened. ]

"..."

It seemed like it had been built too well.

No, what was this?