Chapter 2

Chapter 2

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

Chapter 2

‘How did this happen?’

Woojin, or rather, Kim Minwoo now, let out a sigh.

〈(Tip) Stage 6 is ‘Reality’. Keep in mind that you only have one life.〉

The opening message felt strangely eerie.

[Your consciousness begins to merge with Kim Minwoo’s body!]

[Your mental attributes are undergoing significant changes!]

The messages floated up.

And just like that, three days had already passed since he had been trapped in this damned world.

Words appeared through the memo app on his phone.

[Day 1]

―All of Kim Minwoo’s 23 years of memories have been transferred. This technology is insane! Could it be true that the game company tortured aliens?

―The sensations feel so real. Increasing the sensory implementation rate by more than 50% is definitely illegal, right?

―Something is strange. I can’t log out. The broadcast has been dead for a long time too.

―I’m starting to get confused whether this is a game or reality.

―Could it be... that I’ve been kidnapped into the game?

―I had 300,000 viewers on my last broadcast! But they kidnapped me? Did the game company go bankrupt?

―I can’t leave the room. The guards are blocking me.

―They say I still have two days left of the house arrest I received from the chairman. Fortunately, they do bring me food.......

[Day 2]

―No hydration, nutrition, or urination/defecation warning messages. No forced logout function for extended game use.

―It’s like... my body isn’t in the capsule. It’s cold.

―One day left until Kim Minwoo’s house arrest ends.

[Day 3]

―If my body is in the capsule, the rescue team should have arrived by now. I’m supposedly in the middle of a 72-hour continuous game play!

―It seems like things are going according to the worst-case scenario I had in mind.

―Hunt foreign creatures within 7 years. If I fail to achieve this goal, will I be stuck here forever?

‘There is no rescue team.’

He had waited as long as he could.

Now that his house arrest was over, it was time to make a move.

This wasn’t Stage 5, but Stage 6 difficulty.

One wrong step could lead to death.

“......Fortunately, it’s not the worst.”

He had dedicated half his life to Gate Hunter.

“I’ve faced countless dangers in the game.”

He had survived countless life-or-death situations.

“I can do this.”

Kim Minwoo clenched his fists.

“I will get out of here alive.”

His eyes burned with determination.

“And I’ll make those bastards pay for what they’ve done.”

He would make them regret the day they messed with him.

“Starting with that damn chairman.”

A smirk formed on his lips.

“It’s time to start playing.”

This time, for real.

No one knew this world better than he did.

An overwhelming information advantage.

‘And my mental state has changed significantly, too.’

He thought back over the past three days.

He hadn’t been particularly lethargic, irritable, arrogant, or easily offended.

He had dreamed of becoming a freeloader, but that was only natural for a gamer.

He definitely felt like his mental state had improved.

‘Talentless. It seems like this terrible physical talent is still here, though.......’

Still, it was better than his mental state getting worse.

The advantages didn’t stop there.

‘Status window.’

[Name: Kim Minwoo (23)]

[Occupation: UnAwakened State.]

To think that Kim Minwoo was in an UnAwakened State!

‘At least he’s not a cancer-ridden examiner.’

Kim Minwoo’s physical abilities were close to the worst.

Even putting aside the fact that he had never trained.

‘He just has no talent for it.’

He was terribly talentless.

He had taken countless potions and undergone high-intensity training.

Even so, his growth had stopped at the level of a mid-level Awakener.

He turned his attention to the artifacts, but the limitations were clear.

Even though the best player in virtual reality was the pilot in the battle against the Dragon Lord.

‘He only managed to draw half of its blood.’

And now his target was an Otherworlder. It would be much stronger than the Dragon Lord, at least.

Conclusion.

There was no answer as a melee class.

But was ranged combat the answer?

‘Not really.’

Kim Minwoo’s lack of talent would not be limited by distance.

However, even he had some advantages.

‘The Titanium Spoon.’

Ilsung Group Group.

The number 1 conglomerate in Korea.

The 20th largest conglomerate in the world.

At least in Gate Hunter’s Korea, there was no conglomerate that could match Ilsung Group.

If he could revive himself after reaching the bottom of the family and even hacking into it.......

Show Me the Money.

Because he would incur the wrath of the Ilsung Group.

The one who beat Kim Minwoo to a pulp was his father, the chairman, Kim Kangchul.

“I can overlook everything else. But you dare touch drugs? Director Im, bring it!”

The anger of Kim Kangchul, a C-rank Awakened and the group chairman!

Kim Minwoo was beaten to death with a golf club that day, and the result of not being able to put up a decent fight was:

Achievement grade E.

In other words, trash.

He even said that the swordsman he saw in a drama that year looked cool, so he chose the swordsman as his pre-Awakening skill book...

[Spinning Slash (E)]

[Effect 1. Deals 120% sword damage to up to two enemies.]

‘...Ugh, the more I think about it, the angrier I get.’

Thanks to that, the memory of using Spinning Slash to death for the past 1,832 days was still vivid.

But now it was different.

This was before Kim Minwoo had even Awakened.

The only chance to undo everything that went wrong!

‘Fortunately, the Awakening condition isn’t bad.’

It’s not a condition that’s difficult to modify, even as simple as breathing.

The Awakening achievement will vary depending on who, where, and how you are hit.

‘First, I need to get hit by a strong person.’

But at the same time, I can’t just let myself be beaten up.

The higher the achievement grade, the more I have to struggle.

In that sense, the Sword Saint was perfect. There was no stronger Awakened in Korea than him.

And on top of that, he had been swinging his sword like crazy for the past six years.

That feeling was still fresh in his mind. That it was easier to deal with than other classes.

‘S-rank, it’s worth a try.’

“Master, we have arrived at the Sword Sect.”

The guards got out first, looked around, and opened the door for the back seat.

A magnificent wooden building appeared, as if out of a martial arts novel.

Then a middle-aged man standing at the front gate approached Kim Minwoo.

“...I am Kim Un, an instructor at the Sword Sect. You said you wanted to look around?”

His attitude was polite, but his eyes were cold as he looked at Kim Minwoo. Perhaps it was only natural.

Kim Minwoo’s public reputation was close to the worst, being a chaebol heir and a playboy.

The only reason he didn’t refuse the visit was probably because of the Ilsung Group’s influence.

After all, it was the company that donated the most money when the Sword Sect was built.

“I’d appreciate it if you could.”

“...Very well. I will show you around. However, the trainees are in the middle of training, so please be quiet.”

“I’m telling you not to cause trouble.”

“Yes.”

He nodded and entered the building with the guards.

“This is the training ground where the third-class disciples train. Recently, swordsmen from overseas have also been entering the Sword Sect.”

Perhaps their eyes were drawn to the sight of the guards in suits. The trainees who were training while sweating profusely glanced at the group of guards.

“Isn’t that... Kim Minwoo?”

“It looks like him, judging by the guards. What is that jerk doing here...?”

The trainees started to murmur. Seeing this, Kim Un’s eyes furrowed slightly.

“You can’t even focus on your swords, where are your minds?”

At his shout, the trainees turned their eyes around, startled.

Minwoo clapped his hands and said.

“As expected of the Sword Sect. Haha, even the third-class disciples are so impressive!”

“...Ahem, they’re still far from it.”

No one in the world hates compliments. Although he spoke curtly, Kim Un’s eyes were full of unconcealable pride.

The training ground for the second-class disciples.

And then, the training ground for the first-class disciples, which is not easily open to outsiders.

By the time he entered the heart of the Sword Sect, praising it all the way.

“Did you enjoy the tour?”

Kim Un stopped as if to say this was it and spoke.

“Can’t I see more?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, but outsiders are not allowed to enter beyond this point.”

“That’s a shame. I wanted to see the Sword Saint once.”

“He is currently in closed-door training. Even if he were not in closed-door training...”

Kim Un looked at Minwoo with cold eyes. He could guess the rest of the unspoken words.

He’s not someone you can just tell to come and go.

‘That’s probably what he means.’

Minwoo nodded.

He already knew that the Sword Saint was in closed-door training.

That’s why he had approached as close as he could.

He took a deep breath.

Now all he had to do was.

“Sword Saint! I, Kim Minwoo, challenge you to a duel!”

Although it was a voice without a single trace of mana, the volume of an adult shouting at full strength was by no means small.

Kim Un’s eyes widened at the voice that shook the interior.

“What, what are you doing!”

Leaving the flustered Kim Un behind, he continued to speak.

“I’ll bet a 100 billion won on this duel! Whether I win or lose, I’ll donate all this money to the Sword Sect!”

It wasn’t just Kim Un who was flustered.

The guards were also looking at Kim Minwoo with dumbfounded expressions.

“I’ll use that sword! I guarantee it will be a fun duel! Are you not coming out even after this? Are you scared?”

“T, that’s enough! Are you crazy!”

Kim Un hurriedly grabbed Minwoo’s shoulder. What the hell is this crazy guy doing!

Just then...

Hehehe.

Along with the laughter that echoed through the Sword Sect, a terrifying sense of oppression was felt. Soon, an old man with a majestic physique appeared in front of Kim Minwoo.

All that could be seen were his dark eyes that seemed to draw everything in.

“So, you’ve come looking for me?”

“Yes. I have. Let’s have a go. Like a man.”

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]