Chapter 97
Meeting (1)
After finishing the raid on the Panath jungle, Kang Hyeon was carried to the guild office in a half-unconscious state.
“Ugh, I’m dying.”
Shin Seong-a approached Kang Hyeon, who was lying on the sofa after taking a shower.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“The wounds have all healed, but strangely I don’t want to move a finger.”
“You’ve worked hard, so that’s understandable.”
“Phew, did you send the cleanup team?”
“Yes. We sent two cleanup teams and assigned the raid team 3 led by Jo Dong-won to escort them.”
“Well done.”
In the meantime, the now larger Badass Guild was officially operating cleanup teams to handle dungeon byproducts.
Until now, they had just thrown them away or outsourced to external companies, but now that they can handle it internally, it will generate considerable profit.
“You must be tired too, get some rest.”
“Yes.”
After a brief report, Kang Hyeon opened his status window.
▫Name: Kang Hyeon
▫Title: Tutorial Graduate and 3 others
▫Level: 69
▫Detailed Stats:
Strength 31 (+4)(+5)
Agility 31 (+3)
Stamina 32 (+3)(+13)
Magic Power 35 (+3)(+4)
Additional Stats: –
▫Unique Ability: Resurrection
▫Abilities: Veil’s Swordsmanship(D), Lower-grade Shield Technique(E), Lowest-grade Crossbow Technique(F), Kang Hyeon-style Brawling(B), Lower-grade Blunt Weapon Technique(E), Magic Detection(C), Poison Resistance(E), Magic Manipulation(D), Heat Resistance(D)
▫Skills: Roar of the Enraged Lion (B), High-grade Bodily Regeneration(A), Bisection(C), Giant’s Strength(A), Magic Explosion(B), Wayne’s Secret Technique(B), Entria’s Outer Shell(B)
The changes were so immense that even calling them tremendous would be an understatement.
Especially the abilities and skills had greatly improved.
Looking at them in order, first, heat resistance had risen by two whole levels to become D-rank.
This was unprecedented, but in a way, it was also natural.
“I almost died becoming a real roast...”
Besides that, the skills Roar of the Enraged Lion, Giant’s Strength, Bisection, and Wayne’s Secret Technique each rose by one rank.
Kang Hyeon smiled with satisfaction, feeling as if the growth that had been blocked until now had burst through explosively.
“It’s all good, but... Why is this one rising so fast?”
Kang Hyeon glared at ‘Kang Hyeon-style Brawling’, an ability he had acquired relatively recently.
“Already B-rank...”
Considering the hardships he went through to raise other skills and abilities to B-rank, this was an abnormally fast growth rate.
“It’s strangely unpleasant...”
Kang Hyeon wasn’t entirely happy with the feeling that it seemed to grow faster the more dirty he fought.
“Tsk. Whatever.”
There’s nothing bad about abilities improving.
After organizing his thoughts, Kang Hyeon gulped down his beer.
“Ahh! That’s refreshing.”
The sensation of crisp carbonation and alcohol seemed to tingle all the way to his brain.
While exclaiming like a middle-aged man, Kang Hyeon suddenly remembered something and looked around the office.
“Han Jae-moon. Where are you? Did you go home?”
“Yes. Guild Master, I’m right here...”
“Why are you stuck in a corner like that? It’s hard to find you.”
“I’m sorry...”
For reference, Han Jae-moon had never moved his seat since the office relocated recently.
“Nevermind. The video from this time should be good, so edit it well!”
“Um... I’m not the video editor though...?”
“Tsk!”
When Han Jae-moon spoke in a frustrated tone, Kang Hyeon frowned.
“You think I don’t know that? I’m telling you because I’m too lazy to say do it myself!”
“...”
Faced with Kang Hyeon’s confident attitude, Han Jae-moon’s lips protruded significantly.
‘Kang Hyeon, you old fart...’
***
Ippotranslation
***
On the way to the laboratory.
A van with ‘Badass’ inscribed on its hood in fiery lettering was speeding down the highway.
“Shall we check it out?”
Kang Hyeon, sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, accessed YouTube.
“This one will definitely get a good reaction.”
Honestly, even he thought this raid was extraordinary.
Nowhere in the world had he heard news of hunting such a massive boss monster.
“And we moved with a small elite team.”
Unlike guilds that typically raid with dozens of members, their raid consisted of only four people, which would surely make it even more sensational.
“Oh... They really filmed it well.”
In just one day, the editor had created a video that felt like watching a movie.
They must have poured their soul into it.
-Crazy! I told you to bring just one!
-You think I want to be doing this?!
-Shut up!
As the video reached its midpoint, when the ogres suddenly appeared en masse, even Kang Hyeon burst into laughter.
“Ah, Yoon Na-rae! I should have made her come to her senses.”
Come to think of it, he hadn’t scolded Yoon Na-rae, the culprit behind this incident.
He had forgotten because he was too tired after the raid.
Jeong Seo-bin took out the longsword from the inventory.
“Oho...”
Originally, it was a simple red longsword, but now there was a strange energy flowing through the sword.
Kang Hyeon marveled at the sight, as if a faint red light was flowing down.
“First of all, the appearance is perfect, isn’t it?”
“The performance will be beyond perfect.”
At Jeong Seo-bin’s confident words, Kang Hyeon hurried to check the sword.
“Wow, the weight is pleasantly heavy.”
“Because you specifically asked me to pay attention to that.”
“And the durability has increased tremendously, wait a minute, what’s this?”
Name: Bilgein’s Soul Longsword
Grade: B+
Durability: 799/800
Description: Bilgein’s longsword has been excellently processed using Dark Knight Vile’s magic stone. While preserving and enhancing its existing abilities, Dark Knight Vile’s soul has successfully settled into the sword.
Abilities: Berserker, Durability Enhancement, Self-Repair
“Dark Knight Vile’s soul has settled into the sword.”
“Successfully settled, yes.”
“What does that...”
Kang Hyeon’s expression suddenly contorted.
“So, you’re saying that Dark Knight’s soul is in here?”
“Yes. Isn’t it amazing? An ego sword. It was actually a completely unexpected result, but fortunately, it was successful. If we do research based on this, a completely new world will surely open up!”
Jeong Seo-bin spoke excitedly, pouring out her enthusiasm.
“Hmm...”
Kang Hyeon was quite uneasy, but he had no choice.
Kang Hyeon had to use Bilgein’s longsword.
-I cannot acknowledge you.
That’s when it happened.
Suddenly, Kang Hyeon’s head was ringing.
“Huh? What’s this sound?”
“Oh. Can you hear it too, Kang Hyeon? The soul of the sword is even speaking directly. Isn’t it amazing?!”
“Please, shut up.”
After calming Jeong Seo-bin down, Kang Hyeon concentrated again.
-A knight’s honor. Do you, a vulgar fighter without even a speck of manners, intend to be with me?
“Sigh... What nonsense is this now?”
“What’s wrong? What did the sword say?”
“Right now, this piece of metal is blabbering about whether it acknowledges me or not. Isn’t this problematic?”
“Acknowledgment... Honestly, I’m not sure. I think there shouldn’t be any problem using the sword’s existing abilities, but it’s a completely new case, so I can’t be certain.”
“So you don’t know, right?”
“...”
Kang Hyeon roughly ran his hand through his hair and looked at the sword.
“You. Can you hear me?”
-I can hear you, vulgar human.
“Acknowledgment or whatever, this was originally my sword, you know?”
-But it’s also my body now.
“Damn. So what? You’re just a sword anyway. You’re just a piece of metal, are you planning to walk around on your own?”
-That might be difficult, but... I can do this.
Suddenly, an enormous magical power burst out from the sword.
-Bang!
Hit by that pressure, Kang Hyeon flew and crashed into the research institute wall.
“Cough! You bastard...”
“Kang Hyeon! Are you okay?”
“Can’t you just remove that from the sword? I can’t fight like this!”
“Well... It’s impossible right now. As I said, it’s the first case, and the soul settling into the sword was completely accidental...”
“Sigh...”
Kang Hyeon let out a deep sigh and grabbed the sword again.
-Give up, you vulgar and cowardly human. I have no intention of being with you.
“Stop adding adjectives.”
-You’re not only vulgar and cowardly, but also stupid. How long will you...
“I said stop adding adjectives, damn it!”
Unable to contain his anger, Kang Hyeon struck Bilgein’s longsword with all his might.
-Clang!
As he struck the floor with the sword’s surface, the sword resonated with the impact.
-Urgh! What are you doing? How dare a vulgar, cowardly, and stupid human like you...!
“Wait a minute. Are you in pain right now?”
-Wh-what are you talking about? I am a Dark knight. I’ve long forgotten about pain.
“Really? Then let’s try one more time.”
-Wait!
Ignoring the cry, Kang Hyeon struck the sword even harder this time.
-Clang!
-Argh! Stop! Are you out of your mind?
-Clang.
-I told you to stop! Do you really want to regret this?
-Clang.
-Stop, I said stop!
-Clang, clang, clang!
-Argghhh!
The newly repaired sword was starting to crack.
Kang Hyeon even took out Ogre’s giant hammer, seemingly determined to finish it off.
-You! Are you trying to destroy the sword?
“It’s okay. I saw it got a self-repair option this time.”
-Please, you can’t. You mustn’t!
“I can!”
Kang Hyeon grinned wickedly and swung the hammer with all his might.