Chapter 64. Cheon Sangwoon (2)
An S-rank Contractor...
And stronger than Jegal Geum?
Earlier, Jegal Geum had explained the ranking system commonly used in the Capital Region.
He himself was S-rank.
Lee Sion and Han Sewon were A-rank.
Among Kang Yujin's group...
Kang Yujin was S-rank.
Lee Jukheon was B-rank, slightly short of A-rank.
Seok Taejun was C-rank alone, but B-rank when including the Chimera.
Joo Minha barely qualified as A-rank.
And now...
The man standing before Kang Yujin, Somun Gwang...
Was S-rank.
On top of that...
Cheon Sangwoon claimed he was stronger than Jegal Geum.
He's only a subordinate of one Eight Guardian...
Yet he's stronger than another Eight Guardian?
Kang Yujin didn't know how trustworthy Cheon Sangwoon's evaluation was.
Still...
Somun Gwang was clearly not an easy opponent.
"I don't want to cause a commotion."
Somun Gwang's expression was cold.
"So let's finish this quietly and as quickly as possible."
"I usually prefer using a spear."
"I occasionally use the dagger I placed against your neck earlier too."
"But here..."
"I'll fight barehanded."
"You can use the dagger if you want."
"You don't have a weapon."
"That wouldn't be fair."
"Do you often fight barehanded?"
"No."
"Not at all."
Somun Gwang took a stance.
"But bare hands are more than enough for you."
"..."
That was confidence.
But Kang Yujin wasn't the type to become nervous because of it.
"Then..."
Cheon Sangwoon's relaxed voice came from the side.
"Begin."
Somun Gwang moved immediately.
Fast!
Kang Yujin thought Somun Gwang moved right.
But in the next instant...
He was already on the left.
Somun Gwang approached in a zigzag pattern.
"Someone like you will never get the chance to fight Cheon Sangwoon."
"...!"
A powerful roundhouse kick flew from Kang Yujin's right.
Kang Yujin raised his arm to block it.
Somun Gwang continued attacking without pause.
"Know your place."
"Second-rate Contractor from the countryside."
"The person who came asking that countryside Contractor for help..."
Kang Yujin answered.
"Was your boss."
"Cheon Sangwoon would reach out even to a D-rank Contractor if they had a use."
Kang Yujin tried to counterattack when he spotted an opening.
But Somun Gwang instantly changed position.
Before Kang Yujin knew it...
Somun Gwang had moved behind him.
His voice whispered from close by.
"Don't become arrogant just because Cheon Sangwoon chose you."
"Ridiculous...!"
Kang Yujin barely avoided Somun Gwang's kick.
Then he turned and tried to strike with the back of his hand.
But once again...
Somun Gwang was already gone.
In terms of speed...
He's the fastest Contractor I've ever met.
And that wasn't all.
Each movement carried almost no presence.
Kang Yujin couldn't predict when or where Somun Gwang would move.
How was he doing it?
"It's a Skill."
As if reading Kang Yujin's thoughts...
Somun Gwang spoke.
"It's called [Instant Step]."
"An A-rank Skill."
"A-rank?"
"Yes."
Somun Gwang briefly stopped moving.
Then...
In the literal blink of an eye...
He appeared five meters away.
It looked exactly like teleportation.
"It's a type of footwork."
"With your current ability..."
"You won't be able to keep up."
After demonstrating it...
Somun Gwang attacked again.
He moved freely in every direction...
Unleashing attack after attack on Kang Yujin.
I can't even disrupt him with Zhenjiao.
Kang Yujin was genuinely impressed.
Cheon Sangwoon's evaluation that Somun Gwang was stronger than Jegal Geum did not seem exaggerated.
And Somun Gwang had already said he never fought barehanded normally.
If he were holding his main weapon...
A spear...
He's impressive.
But Kang Yujin didn't feel intimidated.
Instead...
He felt excited.
Are there really this many powerful Contractors in the Capital Region?
Jegal Geum had said he didn't even rank within the top ten.
Somun Gwang was probably inside that top ten.
Thinking there were many Contractors equal to or stronger than him...
Kang Yujin was already looking forward to meeting them.
"You're losing focus."
Somun Gwang twisted his body sharply.
"Too many openings."
Three kicks came in succession.
The first...
A feint.
The second...
Another feint.
The third...
The real attack.
The third kick struck Kang Yujin's shoulder directly.
"Ugh...!"
Kang Yujin grimaced.
But...
He had already grabbed Somun Gwang's ankle tightly.
"If I can't catch up..."
Kang Yujin tightened his grip.
"Then I just need to grab you."
"...!"
Give flesh...
Take bone.
One of Kang Yujin's favorite strategies.
He pulled Somun Gwang's ankle toward himself...
And threw a punch.
BOOM!
Using what Jegal Geum had taught him that day...
Kang Yujin pushed force through his rear leg.
Twisted his waist.
And transferred his body weight into the punch.
As a result...
Even without using Zhenjiao...
The strike carried considerable force.
"Urgh!"
For the first time...
Somun Gwang's cold expression twisted.
"You bastard...!"
"One more."
Because Somun Gwang was struggling to free his leg...
His defenses opened further.
Kang Yujin struck again.
Harder than before.
BOOM!
"Ugh...!"
A louder groan escaped Somun Gwang.
But eventually...
Kang Yujin lost his grip on his leg.
Somun Gwang immediately tried to retreat.
Kang Yujin didn't let him.
What did Jegal Geum call it?
Kao Fa.
Remembering Jegal Geum's teaching...
Kang Yujin stomped forward and charged into Somun Gwang's space.
Twist the body...
Draw out power from the entire body...
Not a punch.
A strike using the upper body itself.
Essentially...
A body check.
Normally, it was a technique used to catch an opponent off guard and destroy their posture.
But what happened when Kang Yujin's physical ability...
Combined with [Fa Jin]?
Strike with the shoulder.
A technique originally drawn from Chinese martial arts...
Modified by Jegal Geum.
Hwaseong Sect Style...
[Mountain-Crushing Shoulder].
BOOM!
The sound resembled a large vehicle slamming into a human body.
Somun Gwang remained on the ground for quite some time.
Still...
He didn't appear seriously injured.
"Urgh..."
After a while...
He staggered upright.
"You bastard!"
"That's enough."
Just as Somun Gwang prepared to charge Kang Yujin again...
Cheon Sangwoon raised his hand.
"Somun Gwang."
"You lost."
"But Cheon Sangwoon..."
"I said enough."
Cheon Sangwoon smiled.
"Are you planning to embarrass me?"
"...!"
"We never agreed to fight until someone died."
"You were unable to stand for quite some time."
"That means you lost."
"...Understood."
Humiliation filled Somun Gwang's face.
"Kang Yujin."
Cheon Sangwoon looked toward him.
"As promised..."
"I'll fight you once."
"Of course, doing it here would be difficult."
"We can choose a suitable date and..."
"No."
Kang Yujin wiped sweat from his forehead.
"That wasn't my victory."
"What?"
"There's no point calling it a real victory when I defeated someone who isn't used to barehanded fighting."
If Somun Gwang had been even slightly more skilled at fighting with his fists...
Kang Yujin might not have landed a single proper hit.
Being declared the winner like this didn't feel satisfying.
"Anyway..."
Kang Yujin looked at Somun Gwang.
"Somun Gwang."
"Kang Yujin..."
"I want to fight you again later."
"What do you think?"
Somun Gwang looked surprised.
Kang Yujin spoke calmly.
"Next time, use your spear."
"...!"
Kang Yujin had already confirmed Somun Gwang's fundamentals were excellent.
Now...
He wanted to see his true ability with his main weapon.
"And Cheon Sangwoon."
Kang Yujin turned away from the surprised Somun Gwang.
"Take back what you said earlier."
"What?"
"The part about Somun Gwang being stronger than Jegal Geum."
"..."
"The technique I used to knock him down..."
Kang Yujin pointed toward the ground.
"Jegal Geum taught it to me."
The logic was admittedly a little forced.
But Kang Yujin wanted to protect Jegal Geum's honor, even if only a little.
"All right."
Cheon Sangwoon nodded.
"I take it back."
"Thanks."
"It seems I underestimated you."
Cheon Sangwoon smiled again.
"Not only your combat ability..."
"Your capacity as a hero is greater than I expected too."
"I don't like being called a hero or savior."
Kang Yujin frowned.
"I just do what I want."
"Haha."
"Fair enough."
Cheon Sangwoon nodded.
"Either way..."
"I like you even more now."
"I'd like us to maintain a good relationship in the future."
"When the Scenario begins..."
Kang Yujin replied.
"I'll help you."
Then he added one thing.
"If the situation allows it."
"Haha."
"Then I'll pray nothing unexpected happens."
Honestly...
From Kang Yujin's perspective...
Joining Cheon Sangwoon's party wasn't a bad thing.
Even if they didn't spar directly...
Just watching Cheon Sangwoon fight from nearby would be useful.
He wasn't being asked to work under Cheon Sangwoon permanently.
Joining a temporary party during the Scenario would also benefit Kang Yujin.
"Then are we done?"
Kang Yujin yawned.
"I'm getting sleepy."
"I should probably go to bed."
"Wait."
Cheon Sangwoon smiled.
"Since things turned out this way..."
"I'd like to give you a gift as a sign of friendship."
"I don't know what it is..."
"But if you're giving it to me, I won't refuse."
"Good."
"Somun Gwang."
"Yes, Cheon Sangwoon."
Somun Gwang had already regained his cold expression.
"What should I take out?"
"That sword."
"What?"
"Don't make me say it twice."
"...Understood."
Somun Gwang nodded and reached into empty air.
Then...
His hand disappeared into some kind of invisible "hole."
He rummaged around inside.
"What are you doing?"
"It's like an inventory from a game."
Cheon Sangwoon explained.
"You can store objects in a separate space."
"That sounds more useful than the sword."
Kang Yujin immediately thought about storing bulky weapons like his iron mace.
"Here it is."
"Good."
Somun Gwang pulled out...
A longsword.
"A sword?"
Kang Yujin frowned.
"I've never used one."
"Take it anyway."
"It's the most valuable item I can give you right now."
Kang Yujin wasn't especially interested.
But he accepted it.
"Have you ever heard of Durandal?"
"Durandal?"
Kang Yujin frowned.
"I feel like I've heard the name somewhere..."
"It's the sword of Roland."
"The leader of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins."
"And according to some traditions..."
Cheon Sangwoon smiled.
"It was also once wielded by Hector."
"My Constellation, the 'Shining Guardian.'"
"Wait."
Kang Yujin looked at the sword again.
"Then isn't this an incredibly important sword?"
Wasn't it possibly even greater than the Azure Steel Sword Lee Jukheon once used as a Constellation Armament?
"Haha."
Cheon Sangwoon smiled.
"It's not genuine."
"It's a replica made by craftsmen under my command."
"A replica..."
Was it similar to the Saint's Iron Fist Kang Yujin had obtained from the Ghost Train?
"Don't misunderstand, Kang Yujin."
Somun Gwang spoke.
"This Durandal Replica isn't something just anyone receives."
"Only a tiny number of Contractors personally recognized by Cheon Sangwoon have been granted one."
"That shows how highly Cheon Sangwoon evaluates you."
"..."
"For reference..."
Somun Gwang added proudly.
"I was the first Contractor to receive a Durandal Replica."
"Long before you."
"I didn't ask."
Kang Yujin examined the replica.
It was a beautiful sword with a golden hilt.
"Kang Yujin."
Cheon Sangwoon continued.
"Don't think it's only imitating the appearance because it's a replica."
"It has powerful abilities."
"Really?"
It looked like nothing more than a stylish medieval sword.
What special ability did it possess?
"What do you think Durandal is famous for?"
"Sorry."
"I don't know much about that kind of thing."
"Haha."
"Neither did I originally."
Cheon Sangwoon smiled.
"I used to know someone who knew a lot about this stuff."
"He told me."
Watching Cheon Sangwoon talk...
I muttered to myself.
"Durandal's characteristics..."
"First, it's an incredibly sharp sword with excellent offensive power."
"And it's extremely durable."
"A sword that never breaks."
But...
Many legendary swords shared those characteristics.
In ancient times, before technology developed...
Simply being incredibly sharp and durable was enough for a sword to become legendary.
"And most importantly..."
The Song of Roland described exactly what was contained inside the sword's golden hilt.
"A tooth of Saint Peter."
"Blood of Saint Basil."
"Hair of Saint Denis."
"And a piece of the Virgin Mary's clothing."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Durandal is a holy sword among holy swords, filled with the power of sacred relics."
Many swords were called holy swords.
But few deserved the title more than Durandal.
It was rare to find a sword containing actual sacred relics.
"If it still has the specifications I remember..."
"That thing is an incredible weapon."
Of course...
Just as Cheon Sangwoon said...
It wasn't the real Durandal.
However...
Cheon Sangwoon had researched Durandal for a long time.
He had successfully reproduced a considerable portion of its characteristics.
The completed Durandal Replica...
Granted tremendous Divine Power to its owner.
"Simply carrying it on your back gives you an overwhelming advantage when fighting demons from Pandemonium."
Its manufacturing cost alone reached several billion Coins.
And Cheon Sangwoon...
Had casually gifted such an incredible weapon to Kang Yujin as a sign of friendship.
