Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Fate - (4)

“It’s been a while since I slept properly.”

When Sanghyun opened his eyes, it was already morning, and warm sunlight was streaming through the window.

After finishing training with Ham Jiyeon last night, he had been so exhausted that he fell asleep right away.

Because of that, he hadn’t even been able to check the two new skills that had been created in his skill window.

His last memory was hearing Ham Jiyeon briefly explain the skill she had gained, just before he had nearly passed out.

“Wasn’t it called Short Blink?”

Ham Jiyeon had gained a skill that allowed her to teleport a short distance of 1 meter. It was a dodge-specialized skill.

Honestly, it wasn’t common for skills to form this quickly.

Unless she was exceptionally fast at skill synthesis, it was likely a skill she had been preparing for a long time.

This intense training session must have been a good opportunity to amplify the synthesis rate.

“I achieved my goal well enough, too.”

With a satisfied expression, Sanghyun scanned the two skills he had obtained. Skills that scratched an itch had been created.

“Unless it’s a complete freezing, this should let me endure most freezing effects as mere slowing.”

It was certainly a decent passive skill. The intense training with Ham Jiyeon that nearly froze him solid had paid off.

She had even shouted several times during the training that he’d freeze to death at this rate.

The Passion skill could be considered a recovery skill specific to frozen status. A 20-second cooldown was quite short.

It can freeze the opponent at a certain probability, and by consuming 500 mana, induces a ‘complete freeze’.

The duration of the induced frozen state is 2 seconds, though it may vary depending on the opponent’s resistance.

“Mana just melts away, seriously.”

The more attractive the skill, the more mana the system demanded.

Fortunately, Sanghyun had been raising his stats to some extent by consuming Artifacts, so it was manageable.

For an average swordsman player, a skill that consumed 500 mana would be completely out of reach.

Because investing stat points in mana as a swordsman player was nearly impossible unless you were absurdly wealthy.

“For ultra-short training, the skills came out really well. I’m satisfied. Ham Jiyeon really gave it her all.”

He genuinely felt grateful to her. She had always been sincere and passionate in every training scenario.

Moreover, her high level of understanding had made it possible to guide the training in the direction Sanghyun wanted.

“I should go say goodbye.”

Sanghyun pulled down the cap he had packed in advance.

Getting cleaned up and turning into a new person was something to be done not at her orphanage, but back at his own home.

Tomorrow would be the day of the large-scale raid with Do Kyungsoo’s Sword Demon–Sword God team.

It could become a land of opportunity.

Or it could become a land of death—the beginning of the raid. Sanghyun couldn’t help but be tense.

* * *

That evening.

Ahead of the large-scale raid, Do Kyungsoo summoned one of his most trusted aides.

His name was Choi Sihu.

A man who always handled the dirty work at Do Kyungsoo’s side, and today he was doing the final check-up as usual.

The result of the inspection.

The Sword Demon–Sword God team’s preparations were perfect, and naturally, Do Kyungsoo shifted the topic to the external members.

“Are we ready to support Shin Sanghyun?”

“All preparations are complete. It’s Team 16, isn’t it? Igah Hee and Jung Junhyuk have also been assigned.”

“They’ve been clearly notified, right?”

“We’ve made them share contact info, and if there are no points of conflict, they’ll be operating independently.”

“Good job, Sihu.”

“But Master. Pardon my forwardness, but may I ask you just one question? It’s something I’ve really wanted to ask.”

“Why are you bringing it up so carefully? Have we ever been the type to tiptoe around each other?”

“I’ve always fully supported your recruitment of talent and team expansion, Master.”

“Yeah.”

“I understand that you’ve taken quite a liking to Shin Sanghyun. But is there really a need to go this far for him?”

For the first time, Choi Sihu revealed a hint of hostility as he mentioned Sanghyun.

It was a natural reaction from someone like Choi Sihu, who took immense pride in the Sword Demon–Sword God team.

After all, three outsiders had been added to what was supposed to be a pure elite team.

Igah Hee from the Player Union.

Jung Junhyuk, a lightning-type player.

And Shin Sanghyun.

“You’ve been holding it in for a while, huh?”

“Sorry?”

“I mean you’ve been suppressing it, and now you’re finally bringing it up, struggling like this. You’re always too considerate of me— that’s your problem.”

“Master. That’s not the point. I want to hear your answer.”

“I know that Shin Sanghyun needs to be verified. That’s why we’re verifying him this time. It’s an opportunity.”

“Does it really have to be in our raid? We could get the data and results externally.”

“I don’t trust anything I haven’t seen with my own eyes. That goes for the three people in Team 16 too.”

Team 16. The external member team.

It would consist of Shin Sanghyun, Jung Junhyuk, and Igah Hee.

A swordsman, mage, and healer. A decent combination, aside from the fact that the three had barely met before.

“They won’t be going along the main raid route anyway. They won’t get in our way, so don’t worry.”

“I’m just concerned that you seem to be too fond of outsiders.”

“There you go nagging again! Even if I’m curious about an outsider, do you think I’d abandon my comrades?”

“I don’t mean it like that.”

“You’re the only one who talks to me this bluntly! Don’t worry. I’m well aware of what you’re concerned about.”

“I apologize, Master.”

“Let’s just watch and see how much Shin Sanghyun can do. Personally, I predict he’ll get wrecked.”

“You see it negatively?”

“This isn’t some easy dungeon. Even we’re on edge. Do you think he can clear it that easily?”

Despite his worried prediction, Do Kyungsoo’s lips were still curled upward.

He was very curious about Sanghyun.

It felt like scratching off a lottery ticket with a high chance of winning.

So rather than expecting a dud, he was more focused on the possibility of a big hit.

He secretly hoped Sanghyun would deliver a surprise.

The domestic swordsman scene had become too stagnant, dominated by the same names. He hoped it would be shaken up.

Do Kyungsoo, the Sword Demon.

So Hyeongjun, the Sword God.

Jeong Heeseon, the Sword Saint.

Kang Boah, the Conductor of Blades.

Dokgo Yoon, the Sword Devil.

Do Kyungsoo sincerely hoped Sanghyun would become the sixth to fracture this established structure.

‘We’ll know by tomorrow.’

Time would fly.

As he looked at the sun still hanging in the middle of the sky, Do Kyungsoo found himself wishing time would pass faster for once.

That’s how much he was looking forward to tomorrow.

Later that afternoon.

Sanghyun met with two people in a VIP conference room—prepared just for him on Do Kyungsoo’s orders through Choi Sihu.

Igah Hee and Jung Junhyuk.

Both were familiar faces to Sanghyun.

‘Igah Hee is a high-level healer, probably in the high 200s. Jung Junhyuk is a mage in the low 300s.’

He had already gathered a decent amount of information on both of them.

In particular, he knew quite a bit about Jung Junhyuk, who was once called the “Perfect Storm” in his past life.

He had even briefly seen him once at Hyunjung Market. Though it seemed Jung Junhyuk didn’t remember.

Anyway, if Lee Sehwa specialized in fire and Ham Jiyeon in ice, then Jung Junhyuk was a lightning-specialized player.

Their fields were different, but each had achieved notable success in their specialties.

“Today, just treat me as a teammate. Not a staff member of the Union, just another player!”

Igah Hee was the first to speak. Unlike her usual self, she had no makeup on, and her eyes were smaller than expected.

It was clear why she usually wore heavy smoky makeup. Still, this natural look suited her just fine too.

“It’s an honor to work with you, Shin Sanghyun. You’re quite famous, you know? Oh right, I look forward to working with you too, Jung Junhyuk. Nice to meet you.”

Though she greeted both of them, her gaze stayed fixed on Sanghyun.

Given the Union’s continued interest in him, she couldn’t be an exception.

‘I didn’t expect him to already be over level 165.’

Seeing the level information Sanghyun had revealed, Igah Hee was surprised.

His growth was too fast—shockingly fast.

If players could grow this quickly, then everyone would have already reached high levels long ago.

Compared to the growth curves of other so-called name-brand players, Sanghyun’s rise was steeper by far.

Unless someone was monopolizing dungeons and gates and reaping all the bonuses, this kind of growth was impossible.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Igah Hee. I’ve heard the rumors about Mr. Shin Sanghyun. I’m already nervous.”

‘Is this… normal?’

Sanghyun tilted his head in confusion.

What most players loved more than anything was lining people up by level.

It was the most intuitive data and the most unarguable hierarchy.

Igah Hee, being part of the Union, might be acting cautiously due to her position and connections.

But it was unexpected to see someone like Jung Junhyuk—whose level was clearly at least double his—showing such humility. Was this the power of the media?

“I’m the one who’s nervous. It’s an honor to work with two skilled players. By the way, the team was kind of rushed, huh?”

As Sanghyun opened the conversation, Igah Hee nodded.

“Yeah. I figured they’d create a separate team for the outsiders, but it’s smaller than I thought.”

“Doesn’t that make it less burdensome, though?”

Jung Junhyuk added his opinion.

Sanghyun felt similarly. Though the team had come together suddenly, it meant there was less pressure too.

Sanghyun shifted the topic.

“They said as long as we don’t interfere with the main route, we’re good. So let’s go all in on a side path?”

He had finished piecing things together.

From the info Do Kyungsoo had given him before, and what he had just confirmed now, he had all the details.

It was a dungeon he already knew.

The dungeon’s concept was a conflict between humans (players) and beasts (undead).

The setting was a medieval fantasy-style city—once the capital of an empire, now fully overtaken by the undead.

‘Do Kyungsoo talked about this dungeon on a TV program in my past life. Wasn’t it called “The Forgotten Dead’s World”?’

The memory was vivid.

In his past life, Sanghyun had been a huge fan of Do Kyungsoo, always watching every show he appeared on live.

Of course, he had heard about this place too.

He hadn’t expected to actually raid it this time, but Do Kyungsoo had chosen it at the perfect moment.

“This isn’t your first time, is it?”

“Right? Based on the current public info, there’s nothing that clearly looks like a side route.”

Igah Hee and Jung Junhyuk reacted with confusion to Sanghyun’s suggestion.

He couldn’t be suggesting they stray off the path without any info… so what was he thinking?

“Adventure or safety. Choose one. I can plan the route based on what you pick.”

Sanghyun was confident.

The raid might be complicated and difficult, but he had a crystal-clear grasp of the layout.

Twenty years spent as a die-hard fan o