Chapter 62

Chapter 62. Aftermath of the Battle (2)

"No, that's wrong!"

"Lower your stance more!"

"This feels awkward."

"That's because you're still inexperienced!"

"You need more practice!"

"Isn't there some way I can learn it quickly without practicing?"

"Why do you like doing everything so quickly?!"

Hearing the voices in the distance...

Seok Taejun smiled.

"Kang Yujin is getting scolded by the Representative."

"Of course he is."

Lee Sion sat on a bench beside him, drinking a sports drink.

"If he's being taught martial arts but keeps acting like that, obviously Master will scold him."

Lee Sion had originally ranked fourth in the Hwaseong Sect.

After the recent internal conflict was resolved...

She rose to second place and became the deputy leader.

"Honestly, I'm against Master teaching Kang Yujin."

"What?"

Seok Taejun looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because of Master's health."

"Ah..."

"So it really is that bad?"

Jegal Geum still had not fully recovered.

The wounds he suffered on the train had already healed completely.

But physically...

He still wasn't back to normal.

At first, everyone thought it was because he had taught Kang Yujin a Skill and immediately rushed back to the Hwaseong Sect.

But apparently...

That wasn't the only reason.

"Master..."

Lee Sion bit her lip.

"It feels like he suddenly aged all at once."

"..."

"Even before this, there were moments when I felt he was getting old."

"But never this much."

"Because of his Constellation's betrayal..."

"And Han Sewon's betrayal?"

"Probably."

"He doesn't show it openly, though."

Lee Sion lowered her gaze.

"He finally drove Han Sewon's faction out and took his position back..."

"But..."

"Retirement might not be far away."

"If he retires..."

Seok Taejun hesitated.

"Would you become the leader of the Hwaseong Sect?"

"The new Eight Guardian?"

"Me?"

Lee Sion snorted.

"Don't say ridiculous things."

"I can manage the Hwaseong Sect members to some extent."

"But becoming one of the Eight Guardians isn't something just anyone can do."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"First..."

"You need to be a top-class Contractor."

"And you need achievements good enough that the other Eight Guardians will recognize you."

Hearing that...

Seok Taejun briefly remembered Cheon Muhyeok.

Cheon Muhyeok, the mage who rode Pegasus, had once been one of the Eight Guardians.

Seok Taejun didn't know what achievements he had built in the Capital Region.

But judging from what he had done in Seok Taejun's hometown...

He had probably accumulated achievements without caring about the methods.

"I participated in many battles for the Hwaseong Sect."

Lee Sion continued.

"But honestly, I don't have any truly representative achievement worth boasting about."

"I see..."

"If anything..."

Lee Sion glanced toward Kang Yujin.

"Your companion has more impressive achievements than I do."

"Kang Yujin..."

Seok Taejun also looked toward him.

"Well."

Lee Sion stretched.

"Master isn't retiring immediately."

"So until then..."

"We need to strengthen the Hwaseong Sect as much as possible."

"Yes."

"That's probably best."

"My guess is that Won Pilso might target the Hwaseong Sect."

"Won Pilso..."

"The Eight Guardian who controls a huge territory from old Bucheon to Seongnam?"

"Yes."

"His headquarters are in Anyang."

"He's extremely ambitious."

"We've clashed with him several times before."

From what Seok Taejun had heard...

Won Pilso's faction was larger than the Hwaseong Sect.

"The weakened Hwaseong Sect can't deal with him."

Lee Sion lightly tapped Seok Taejun's shoulder.

"That's why we need your strength."

"I'm counting on you."

"Haha..."

Seok Taejun scratched his head.

"Since things turned out this way, we'll be relying on you for a while."

At the moment...

Joo Minha was meeting with the Hwaseong Sect officers to discuss the organization's reconstruction.

It seemed she intended to use the Hwaseong Sect as a foundation to help Kang Yujin stand out in the Capital Region.

As for Lee Jukheon...

He was undergoing martial arts training just like Kang Yujin.

In Lee Jukheon's case...

Several members skilled in swordsmanship had been brought in to spar with him.

"All right."

Lee Sion stood.

"Break time's over."

"...Ah."

Seok Taejun made an awkward expression.

Lee Sion grinned.

"What's with that face?"

"Don't want to learn spearmanship?"

"No."

"That's not it..."

"You need to learn from the absolute basics."

"That means you have to work harder than everyone else."

"I know."

When Seok Taejun said he wanted to learn spearmanship...

Lee Sion had volunteered to teach him.

She usually used axes.

But apparently she was also highly skilled with a spear.

"Still, you're learning pretty well."

"Some people have absolutely no talent."

"Those types need to be beaten while they're taught."

"Haha..."

She wasn't as brutal as when influenced heavily by the "Murderer with Two Axes" during battle.

But even normally...

Lee Sion had a fiery personality.

"Haa..."

"Tired?"

Jegal Geum smiled as Kang Yujin sat on the ground and sighed.

"I suppose you would be."

"Thank you for understanding."

Kang Yujin had spent the entire day learning martial arts from Jegal Geum.

Unlike when he learned [Fa Jin]...

He wasn't acquiring a Skill.

He was simply learning martial arts itself.

"You're an excellent student."

"Am I?"

"I've taught many people in the Hwaseong Sect."

"But it's difficult to find anyone who learns as quickly as you."

"Who else learned quickly?"

"Han Sewon was the fastest."

"..."

Jegal Geum's expression turned bitter as he mentioned the subordinate who had betrayed him.

"Still..."

"Your physical condition is far superior to his."

"If you train properly..."

"You could become an exceptional martial artist."

"I see."

"If it were up to me..."

Jegal Geum smiled.

"I'd keep you here for several years and teach you everything I know."

"That would be a little..."

"Haha."

"Yes."

"You have somewhere you need to go."

Jegal Geum nodded.

"I don't know how long you'll remain here..."

"But while you're here..."

"I'll teach you as much of my martial arts as possible."

"Thank you."

"However..."

His voice became serious.

"Even after learning martial arts from me..."

"Don't become too confident."

"What do you mean?"

"There are many Contractors in the Capital Region whom even you cannot recklessly challenge."

"The Eight Guardians?"

"Not only the Eight Guardians."

Jegal Geum stroked his chin.

"Hmm..."

"Do you know Contractors in the Capital Region are evaluated by rank?"

"Rank?"

"Yes."

"It's originally an evaluation system used overseas."

"It isn't very common in Korea."

"But it's widely used in the Capital Region."

This was Kang Yujin's first time hearing about it.

"According to that standard..."

"I was rated S-rank."

"Lee Sion and Han Sewon were A-rank."

"I see."

"If I rated your companions..."

Jegal Geum thought for a moment.

"Lee Jukheon is slightly below A-rank, so I'd give him B-rank."

"Seok Taejun is C-rank on his own."

"But including the Chimera, B-rank."

"Joo Minha would barely qualify as A-rank."

"What about me?"

"You're S-rank."

"The same as you."

"You did defeat me."

Jegal Geum chuckled.

"But I wouldn't say you're clearly above me."

"I agree."

"Lee Jukheon and I fought you together back then anyway."

Even Kang Yujin himself didn't believe he was stronger than Jegal Geum.

In terms of experience and technique...

Jegal Geum was clearly superior.

"The problem..."

Jegal Geum continued.

"Is that S-rank isn't the end."

"..."

"Honestly..."

"If you ranked all Contractors in the Capital Region..."

"I wouldn't even enter the top ten."

"Weren't you one of the Eight Guardians?"

"I thought you'd at least be top eight."

Jegal Geum laughed.

"Didn't anyone tell you?"

"The Eight Guardians aren't chosen purely by combat strength."

Then...

Who stood above S-rank Contractors like Jegal Geum?

Jegal Geum slowly explained.

"Above S-rank..."

"There is SS-rank."

"SS-rank..."

"Most of them are contracted with S-rank Constellations."

"And every single one possesses exceptional individual ability."

"Who's SS-rank?"

"For a representative example..."

Jegal Geum's expression became serious.

"There's a Contractor named Cheon Sangwoon."

"Cheon Sangwoon?"

"One of the Eight Guardians."

Jegal Geum nodded.

"The man called the strongest Contractor in the Capital Region."

The strongest in the Capital Region.

Someone actually carried that title?

"Is he much stronger than you?"

"Haha."

Jegal Geum laughed.

"There's no comparison."

"I'm no match for Cheon Sangwoon."

"Can't martial arts help?"

"Couldn't you create some kind of opening?"

"SS-rank Contractors all possess Skills that raise their abilities, just like martial arts."

"That's almost a requirement."

"..."

"If Cheon Sangwoon wanted..."

Jegal Geum looked toward the Hwaseong Sect buildings.

"He could storm this place alone and slaughter every Contractor here."

"Even including us?"

"And you?"

"Probably."

Jegal Geum wouldn't speak like that without good reason.

Cheon Sangwoon must really be an incredible Contractor.

"I'd like to see him."

"Cheon Sangwoon?"

"More specifically..."

"I'd like to see him fight."

"Watching skilled people fight helps me a lot."

Kang Yujin had learned many things from Sama Yun.

And from Jegal Geum on the train.

"Why don't you just be honest?"

"What?"

Jegal Geum smiled.

"You want to fight him yourself."

"..."

"Haha."

"It seems you have a strong fighting spirit."

Jegal Geum looked down at him.

"But with your current strength..."

"You're far from ready."

"Is SS-rank really that special?"

"Yes."

"How do I reach SS-rank?"

"You want to become SS-rank?"

"If possible."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Hmm..."

Jegal Geum stroked his beard.

"To be recognized as SS-rank..."

"You basically need to surpass humanity."

"Surpass humanity?"

"Kang Yujin."

"What you and I can do right now is still fundamentally within the limits of what humans can do."

"We simply hit harder."

"Move faster."

"That's all."

"That's..."

"True."

His Awakening Skill [Shatter Everything] was a slightly questionable case.

But other than that...

Kang Yujin fought by punching, kicking, and using physical force.

Anyone could technically do those things.

The difference was only the power and speed.

"But what about magic-type Contractors?"

Kang Yujin asked.

"They're already doing things normal humans can't."

"Is magic treated separately?"

"Correct."

"However..."

Jegal Geum smiled.

"Even physical-type SS-rank Contractors can use powers that look almost like magic."

"Magic-like power?"

"Like firing a shockwave with martial arts?"

"Haha."

"You can understand it roughly like that."

Jegal Geum nodded.

"Either way..."

"I can't teach you how to become SS-rank."

"The most I can do..."

"Is train you until, even while remaining S-rank, you can approach the level of SS-rank."

"..."

"For now..."

"That should be your goal."

After saying that...

Jegal Geum suddenly coughed.

"Cough, cough."

"I should head inside."

"Are you all right?"

"I've been outside too long."

"I need to rest."

Kang Yujin already knew Jegal Geum's health had worsened.

But Jegal Geum seemed to hate being treated like a frail old man.

So Kang Yujin didn't mention it.

"Rest well."

"What will you do?"

"I'll practice a little longer before going inside."

"Lee Sion left some rice balls over there earlier."

"Eat those while you train."

"All right."

"Then I'll be going."

Jegal Geum left while coughing.

Now alone...

Kang Yujin ate the rice balls Jegal Geum mentioned.

Then he stretched lightly...

And resumed training.

Before he realized it...

The surroundings had become dark.

It was so late that nobody was passing nearby.

Seok Taejun had stopped by once.

But after seeing Kang Yujin focused on training...

He quietly left again.

Under the light of a single streetlamp...

Kang Yujin continued practicing alone.

"Haa..."

He briefly stopped to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Then...

He sensed someone approaching.

Hm?

Was Seok Taejun coming to tell him it was time to sleep?

Or perhaps it was a Hwaseong Sect Contractor on night patrol.

Kang Yujin didn't think much of it.

He turned toward the direction where he had sensed someone.

Then...

"I'd appreciate it if you stayed quiet."

"I don't intend to harm you."

The voice came from the opposite direction.

From behind him.

At the same time...

Kang Yujin felt something cold against his neck.

"What is this?"

"I simply want to have a quiet conversation."

"Without the Hwaseong Sect Contractors knowing."

"I need to know who you are before I decide whether to talk."

"You won't be speaking with me."

"What?"

While Kang Yujin spoke with the attacker behind him...

Someone slowly approached from the front.

A handsome young man.

"Somun Gwang."

The young man smiled.

"Why don't you lower the blade now?"

"From what I can see..."

"He doesn't seem like the type to scream for help in this situation."

"Understood."

At the young man's order...

The cold feeling disappeared from Kang Yujin's neck.

When he turned his head...

A sharp-looking man was putting a dagger back inside his clothes.

"Sorry about that."

The young man spoke casually.

"If I openly visited the Hwaseong Sect right now, it might create all kinds of complications."

"So I wanted to quietly handle my business."

"Who are you?"

Kang Yujin remained cautious as he looked at the relaxed young man.

"My name is Cheon Sangwoon."

"Cheon Sangwoon?"

That was the name Jegal Geum had mentioned earlier.

One of the Eight Guardians.

The strongest Contractor in the Capital Region.

Why was that man here?

Cheon Sangwoon smiled softly.

"There's something I'd like to discuss with you privately."

"Could you spare me some time?"