Novel Bin Chapter 256: Scout (3)
Yoon-seok put down the New Testament book.
’Yeah, let’s just leave…’
He was avoiding them out of instinct. His desire to read the book disappeared, and Yoon-seok decided to leave this place quietly like he had seen nothing.
’It just feels like something very annoying is going to happen if I run into them…’
Of course, he did feel proud and reassured. One Muscle wouldn’t have already reached the second stage if it weren’t for them. However, tens of thousands of people emitted light as Ashton gathered, so he was scared of what would come next.
’Who am I to deserve this…?’
Honestly, he was feeling bitter. Guwon-gyo spread widely on Earth as anxiety reached its peak. They needed someone to trust and rely on. Then, for what reason did these people start to follow him? He couldn’t figure out the reason.
’Well, it’s not bad for me anyway…’
Yoon-seok turned his eyes to the ground at the cheer that erupted. Would it be appropriate to describe this as madness? It certainly went beyond passion.
“I will increase the weight and continue the training again. Everyone, get ready!”
“Readyyyyyyy!”
Even though the second stage was achieved and their strength improved, it ended with a moment of joy. As if it were natural, they continued to exercise again. The weight was increased in proportion to their increased strength.
“…”
Watching them, Yoon-seok decided. He would leave quietly, but before that, he’d leave a gift for them.
Boom-!
Yoon-seok took out a dumbbell with the increased fatigue option and carefully put it next to the New Testament. After giving one to Earth, this was the only one left, but he didn’t think it was a waste at all.
‘It would be more efficient for them to use it.’
Both Yoon-seok and Earth’s challengers became stronger when they exercised. In addition, if handing over the dumbbell to Earth’s challengers was an emotional decision, this was a thoroughly rational decision. When he finished organizing his thoughts-
Dashhhh.
He could feel a presence from beyond the only door connected to this room. When he spread magic and checked, three people with magic equivalent to 15th-floor duel challengers were approaching at high speed.
“…”
Yoon-seok quickly disappeared through the window so as not to bump into them. He couldn’t see their faces, but with his sensitive hearing, he could dimly hear their conversation.
“This… did the Blood Lord stop by…?”
“Sacred item! It’s a sacred item…!”
“…”
A 45T high-weight dumbbell with a 12x option is a sacred object? He was worried they would go astray. But surprisingly…
“Where is Elder Jang? Hurry up and let him know so he can make a new routine…!”
Were they a healthier group than he expected?
Traveling a few days by horse and sailing a few days. These normal traveling times didn’t work on Yoon-seok About twelve hours after he started running in the sky while looking at the map-
‘So it’s here.’
Yoon-seok arrived at the Sword Nation Bernille. However, rather than going straight to the royal palace, Yoon-seok snuck into the city’s outskirts and slowly strolled to the city center. Although he did meet the King of Steel, he wanted to walk around this city beforehand. Wasn’t this place called the holy land of swords in Seheranbad?
As a fellow swordsman, of course, he was curious.
’There are a lot of people carrying swords.’
He only for a few minutes, but he could see dozens carrying swords here and there. Even the city guards were wielding swords instead of spears. The citizens doing business casually on the street didn’t wear armor, but most had short swords at their waist.
’This place is interesting.’
That alone was interesting enough, but something even Yoon-seok would find mind-blowing was taking place at the Central Fountain Square he passed by.
“A duel!”
“The innkeeper Ramos and the fruit seller Jellion are fighting!”
As soon as the shouts echoed, the crowds quickly surrounded them. When he dug through to look, two men who seemed small business owners were pointing swords at each other in the center.
’…Both of them have quite the posture.’
Even before they collided, Yoon-seok knew as soon as he saw it. These two had been holding swords for decades. They’d even gone through a few battles.
’What? A place like this exists?’
From the sound of it, this was a small quarrel. But how could a country where one draws a sword and duel like it was normal exist? Feeling it absurd and being amazed at the same time, Yoon-seok spectated. It wasn’t a life-or-death battle focused on killing each other, but it was still savage.
Slash-!
The duel ended after a fierce, bloody battle when the innkeeper cut off the fruit seller’s right arm. Their skills seemed similar, but the factor that determined the outcome was calmness. Even in unfavorable situations, the innkeeper watched his opponent’s sword until the end, gently pushing it to the side.
“…I acknowledge defeat. I promise you that I will never call your father a coward ever again.”
The loser, who had his arm treated by the priest on standby, lowered his head. Accepting the outcome without hesitation…
“…”
It was a little ironic. It was natural even for fruit sellers to fight with swords, and the king of this country was the King of Steel, who fought with his fists. Not to mention the King of Steel hated swordsmen.
‘Well, Aston said he was very discriminated against. If all the royal family hadn’t died during the war, he wouldn’t be named king.’
Walking around the street aimlessly, Yoon-seok began to turn toward the royal castle. Since he had looked around to see what country Bernille was in, he was thinking of meeting the King of Steel now.
‘He’s still there, isn’t he?’
Yoon-seok, who reached the front of the palace where hundreds of swordsmen were standing guard, spread his magic subtly to cover the entire palace. He had to make sure the King of Steel was here. Of course, although the King of Steel didn’t have magic, that was why he stood out. There wouldn’t be many in the royal palace with such a large build, either.
’Found him.’
Yoon-seok smiled. He could feel the existence of the King of Steel in the center of the royal palace. However, there was one strange thing.
’But what’s in the front?’
There was a large space that looked like the main hall. He couldn’t sense anyone else other than the King of Steel. However, a strange phenomenon was happening in front of him.
’Why is magic only dissipated from there?’
Yoon-seok’s magic couldn’t cross that threshold. No, to be exact, the moment he crossed a point, it dissipated.
’I’ve experienced something similar…’
He felt a strange déjà vu, but he couldn’t remember when or where.
’…Anyway, it’s a relief that he seems to be alone.’
Yoon-seok moved secretly, gently crossing the palace’s fence to where the King of Steel was. Numerous swordsmen patrolled the grounds, but Yoon-seok couldn’t be found. However…
“…?”
Yoon-seok stopped.
「All skills and powers are sealed by Unique Skill b Cultivator}.」
「Unique Skill b Divine Ultimatum} is available.」
「Unique Skill b Transcendental Muscle} is available.」
{Cultivator}
It was an ordinary skill.
He was the first swordsman who used Upper Qigong he met while ascending the Tower, Lavan Vargas. Yoon-seok met with him at the 18th-floor duel. Because his skills and power were sealed, he was at a disadvantage in dealing with him. He learned Natural Energy from his opponent and fought against him somehow, but…
‘In the end, I was the one who lost.’
If it weren’t for the Extinction effect of equipment Purity, Yoon-seok would’ve lost then. Of course, he had another chance to fight with the vintage pocket watch, but it was still a gamble. That was how strong he was.
’Why is that man here…?’
Sometimes Yoon-seok thought of him. The man he met that day was a duplicate. He would’ve become a ranker, so what rating would the Tower have given him? Well, there was no way to know since Yoon-seok didn’t know his nickname.
’That’s great.’
Yoon-seok smiled. Although he didn’t know why he was here with King of Steel… well, it wasn’t that important. They were probably close.
—You are the second most swordsman-like swordsman I, Kerixis, the King of Steel, has ever met.
Maybe the first was him.
’If I do well today, I can fill up two seats.’
A total of twelve people could use tickets to the Queen’s Palace. Except for Cheon-ma, Lee Su-yeon, and himself, nine seats were left. He had a hunch that these two would be enough to fulfill the basic criteria, although it was unclear if they would join him on the journey.
Slideeeee.
Yoon-seok slid the main hall door open. Unlike normal royal palaces, no guards were deployed here. Indeed, having those guards here would be useless. There were very few people who could threaten the King of Steel, and if someone could, ordinary security wouldn’t be of much help.
“You’re finally here.”
Did he know Yoon-seok was coming? When the door opened, a voice greeted him. However, perhaps he didn’t expect it to be Yoon-seok…
“Oh…”
As soon as he saw Yoon-seok’s mask, the King of Steel, sitting on his huge throne, exclaimed. Lavan Vargas turned.
“Do you know him?”
“On and off, he’s the first person to teach me to defeat.”
“…That swordsman?”
Lavan looked slightly surprised at the King of Steel’s answer. Yoon-seok smiled. Since they met when he was a replica, it was natural for him not to remember.
“Swordsman, did you come to finish the duel that you couldn’t that day?”
Sitting arrogantly, the King of Steel rose from his seat. At the same time, Yoon-seok felt as if the entire hall was being filled.
’He might die, and yet he’s still enjoying this…’
Come to think of it; it was the same in the last duel. Although it was suspended due to the Tower’s interference, the moment when his death was certain, he laughed joyfully as if even his death was a kind of play.
Thud.
Yoon-seok shook his head as he approached.
“It’s not about the duel. I’m here to ask for a favor.”
“Favor?”
Perhaps it was unexpected as the King of Steel tilted his head and smiled.
“I refuse.”
“…?”
Yoon-seok was a little flustered. He didn’t expect him to move as he thought he would, but… to be honest, he never thought about this happening.
“You don’t want to listen to what it is about?”
“Yeah, it’s no fun to listen.”
Then what was interesting to him? Yoon-seok didn’t ask such a question out loud. When he realized the unexpected guest was him, the King of Steel had been warming up as if he was impatient.
‘Is that the only thing he has in mind…?’
It was a little late, but Yoon-seok admitted it.
“What do you think? Since you’re here, why don’t you finish what you couldn’t that day?”
Persuading him to become a teammate wasn’t enough in the first place.
“If there’s anything you want, you should just beat me and take it!”
The King of Steel was more of a beast. Decisions were made not based on rational judgment but only on instinct and the mood he was feeling at that moment. Even if his life was at stake, he didn’t care at all.
’I got it wrong.’
Even if he managed to get a man like this to join the Queen’s Match, he might do something impulsive. No matter how skilled such a person was, he wasn’t suitable to join as a colleague.
’I should’ve done it like this from the beginning.’
Crack. Crackkk.
Yoon-seok moved his neck and loosened the Dimensional Muscles clumped together on his shoulders. Amusement began to circulate in the King of Steel’s eyes.
“Oh, so you’re finally willing to do it?”
Rather than being willing to do it, Yoon-seok just realized.
’If he doesn’t intend to listen, I have no choice but to make him listen.’
It was faster to tame than persuade a beast.
「Magic stats drop to F- due to the effect of triggering Compressed Muscle.」
「Actual stat of strength has reached MAX.」
「Due to power Transcendence, the limitation disappears.」
All this required was overwhelming power.
「Your current strength stat is three levels higher than the opponent’s strength stat.」
「Due to the King Muscle effect, muscle efficiency increases by 1.5x.」
Soothing his compressed muscles that wriggled as if they would burst right away, Yoon-seok quietly regarded Kerixis Jagun Alzbehiyan Bernille.
“…”
“Be my colleague.”
Of course, they needed to sort out the rankings before that.