Chapter 105 – The Tower of the Forgotten Warrior (4)

“Don’t be too surprised. I was only able to follow it because it was just the basic forms.”

Of course, succeeding in a single attempt was, even in my opinion, a bit much.

“You’re saying it’s possible to immediately imitate the basic forms on the spot? Do you think that makes sense?”

“It would have been impossible if it were the profound techniques of the later stages.”

“That’s a given!”

Heo Jeong-ah’s voice was quite agitated.

She wasn’t this upset even when the Skeleton Soldiers were constantly using the Taeseong Sword Style, but this time, it seemed she had received a big shock.

“Seo Ji-han, did you perhaps…”

“Perhaps what.”

“Didn’t you know everything before coming to the Abyss?”

“What are you talking about now.”

“If it’s not that you already knew everything, these situations are simply inexplicable. There are too many strange things!”

“For instance?”

“The fact that all the quests are related to our Taeseong Sword Style!”

Actually, this was a part I hadn’t expected either.

“So you’re saying that I deliberately brought you here for that reason. Is that it?”

“Yes. You already knew everything. That’s why you learned the Taeseong Sword Style in advance!”

“You’re writing a novel.”

“I’m right, aren’t I! You’re flustered now because I hit the mark, aren’t you?”

“Then, what did I gain from bringing you here?”

“Gain? Of course you gained a lot! For example… um… huh? Did you just say gain? What that gain is, well, um…”

Heo Jeong-ah rambled and eventually couldn’t continue her words.

Because I had gained absolutely nothing from bringing her here.

If I had to find one thing, it was being able to see the basic forms of the Taeseong Sword Style one more time?

But that wasn’t a very big gain.

Even without it, I would have cleared the 2nd floor quest easily.

“You can’t say.”

“W-Well, but!”

“And one more thing. Do you think it’s possible to know the quests of the Abyss in advance?”

That was something that had never happened since the Abyss opened.

And it would be the same in the future.

“Argh! I really don’t know!”

“Of course you wouldn’t. Because your basic premise is wrong.”

“Still, I don’t think it makes sense that you immediately copied our Taeseong Sword Style. No matter how much of a genius you are, that should be impossible!”

“What if it was your grand-uncle?”

“What?”

“Heo Gyeong-woo. Did they say he was the greatest genius in the history of the Taeseong Sword Family? What do you think it would have been like if it were him?”

It was a question I asked on the fly because the topic of geniuses came up.

The master of this tower and the forgotten warrior, Heo Gyeong-woo. At the mention of his name, Heo Jeong-ah’s eyes wavered.

It was the same for Kim Jeong-rak, who had been listening silently on the side, as ripples appeared on his face.

In the end, after some thought, Heo Jeong-ah came to a conclusion.

“It might have been possible if it were him. I heard he was a genius beyond measure.”

“That’s absurd.”

It meant that someone else could do it, but I couldn’t.

I felt that I really had to see the face of whatever kind of person he was to make her say that.

“Anyway, this Abyss is something strange. And you, Seo Ji-han, are even stranger.”

At that moment, a message from the Abyss was transmitted.

[Do you wish to pass through the portal?]

[If you refuse, the barrier will be created again.]

The same choice was given to me as to Heo Jeong-ah.

I immediately expressed my intention to refuse.

“Why?”

“Let’s call it loyalty.”

“Loyalty?”

“There’s someone who failed to break the barrier.”

I smiled as I looked at Kim Jeong-rak.

***

Kim Jeong-rak. He once again ground his teeth in anger towards Seo Ji-han.

How dare a kid so young give him such a hard time.

He wanted to kill him right away in a fit of rage, but he once again composed himself and feigned calmness.

‘It’s not time yet.’

It was a given that he would kill him eventually, but if he drew his sword here, his opponent wouldn’t just be Seo Ji-han alone.

Heo Jeong-ah. He couldn’t guarantee that he could win against both of them at the same time.

Moreover, to clear this quest, he needed to swallow his pride for now.

The basic forms of the Taeseong Sword Style. It would take too much time to learn these forms by watching the Skeleton Soldier’s demonstration once every 24 hours.

“Commander Heo. Then, I’ll shamelessly ask you for a favor. Could you show me your family’s basic forms one more time?”

“Alright. But you must make one thing clear.”

“What is it.”

“It is the rule of our family that when transmitting swordsmanship, one must always show the courtesy of a disciple to a master.”

“…Don’t tell me?”

“Yes. You must bow to me once. Things like age or status cannot be exceptions, so please understand.”

“Haha!”

For Kim Jeong-rak, it was an unexpected obstacle.

When Heo Jeong-ah had demanded a bow from Seo Ji-han, he had thought it was half a joke, but this was the actual rule of the Taeseong Sword Family.

“I know. That I’m being stubborn. But a rule is a rule.”

Faced with her airtight rigidness, Kim Jeong-rak was simply at a loss for words.

His mind became complicated due to this chaotic situation.

‘If I wait 24 hours…’

A Skeleton Soldier would appear and show another demonstration.

But the problem was that he wouldn’t be able to learn the basic forms of the Taeseong Sword Style with just that one time.

The skeleton would only show it, without giving any explanation.

At this rate, he would have to repeat it at least 100 times, every 24 hours.

Moreover, that was a very optimistic outlook.

Without the luck of having already learned the basic forms of the Taeseong Sword Style like Seo Ji-han, it was clearly a very difficult quest.

“Family Head. If bowing to me is difficult, there is one other way.”

“Another way?”

“Yes.”

“Hurry up and tell me.”

“You can learn from Seo Ji-han.”

“What did you say?”

“I don’t know the reason, but Seo Ji-han knows our family’s basic forms. Of course, his understanding of it will be very lacking and I don’t know if it can be transmitted well enough, but I think it’s a method worth trying.”

“Haha. Well, I’ll be.”

“The basic forms of the Taeseong Sword Style can be learned by outsiders without any special restrictions, so I won’t mind even if Seo Ji-han teaches it.”

Kim Jeong-rak’s eyes met Seo Ji-han’s for a moment.

Seeing those arrogant eyes that seemed to look down on him, anger welled up once again.

But he composed himself once more.

What was important now was to clear all the quests and rescue his two sons as soon as possible.

He could vent his anger later, so for now, he decided to lower his stance.

He had endured it until now, so there was no reason he couldn’t endure it one more time.

“Young Master Seo. Then, I will ask you.”

“Yes. I also think that would be better.”

“Thank you.”

“However, I also have a very minor condition.”

“A condition?”

“Yes. I also believe that a minimum level of etiquette must be observed in teaching and learning. Even if the subject is the Taeseong Sword Style. Of course, I will not make an excessive demand like asking you to bow like Heo Jeong-ah.”

“…Then, what on earth?”

“While you are receiving my instruction, you will refer to me with the title Master. I’m not asking you to use honorifics, so I don’t think it’s a very difficult request.”

This son of a bitch.

Kim Jeong-rak almost cursed out loud, but he immediately regained his senses.

Considering it coolly, it was a much more comfortable condition than bowing.

He decided to accept it for now.

“Alright.”

“And there is one more thing I need to tell you.”

“What is it now?”

“When I teach someone, I have a habit of my words becoming a bit aggressive. I will try my best to be careful, but I would like to ask for your understanding in advance that I might make a mistake.”

“Hah!”

“Of course, I believe you, Family Head, will follow well, so I don’t think that will happen. Well then, shall we start right away?”

“Well, what can I do! It’s not like I can take back my words now.”

“Then, from now on, when I ask a question, you will always answer using the title Master. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“You did not understand.”

Kim Jeong-rak answered, gritting his teeth.

“I understand. Master.”

“Well done.”

Kim Jeong-rak vowed once again.

That he would tear this bastard Seo Ji-han to shreds and kill him.

***

Craaaaaaaash!!

The barrier shook with a roar.

And cracks began to form.

Kim Jeong-rak cheered inwardly.

It was the moment he finally escaped from this tedious quest.

But a moment later, what he heard was not a message from the Abyss.

“Family Head?”

Seo Ji-han’s cold voice.

And the cracking barrier began to freeze solid again.

In that moment, a cold sweat formed on Kim Jeong-rak’s back.

“Family Head Kim Jeong-rak?”

“…Is it a failure.”

“Pull yourself together.”

“I-It was definitely perfect.”

“What on earth are you talking about. If your swordsmanship was perfect, would the barrier be intact? Answer me.”

“That’s not it, there must have been a mistake I wasn’t aware of somewhere…”

“A mistake, you say. A mistake is something that happens once in a while.”

“My apologies.”

“And are you aware that you keep forgetting the title Master in the middle?”

Kim Jeong-rak’s chest felt tight.

His mind went blank, and he couldn’t think of anything to say back to Seo Ji-han.

“I seem to have forgotten. Master.”

“We are losing a lot of time because of you, Family Head. Try imbuing your sword with mana once more.”

He couldn’t say anything.

One deep breath. Then he just obediently followed Seo Ji-han’s words.

“I’ll say it again, but this barrier won’t break with movements that just imitate the form. You must perfectly understand the basic forms of the Taeseong Sword Style.”

“Hoo.”

“If you know you are lacking, you should pay attention to every single breath like the one just now. You are the head of a family, you should know at least that much, shouldn’t you?”

“I will be careful. Master.”

Kim Jeong-rak was bitterly regretting his choice.

He would have rather closed his eyes and bowed once to Heo Jeong-ah.

He had never imagined he would face such a humiliating situation.

“And I’ve become curious about you, Family Head.”

“About what?”

“Surely you’re not looking down on them just because they’re basic forms, are you?”

At first, it was true that he had felt that way.

His plan was to master it as quickly as possible and break through the 2nd floor.

He didn’t think it would be impossible.

Although it was his first time encountering the Taeseong Sword Style, all sword styles ultimately connect at the beginning and the end.

But this was a clear miscalculation.

He was able to learn it up to a certain level in an instant, but that didn’t mean perfection.

As Seo Ji-han had said, the quest on this 2nd floor required perfection, so he couldn’t clear it as easily as he thought.

“You’re not answering again.”

“I am not looking down on them.”

“I think you forgot something.”

“…Master.”

He had been gritting his teeth so hard that Kim Jeong-rak was now on the verge of tasting blood in his mouth.

“Then, perhaps you look down on me?”

“That is absolutely not the case!”

“The thought suddenly occurred to me.”

“It’s a misunderstanding. Master.”

Surprisingly, this was sincere.

In fact, during the moment he was learning the Taeseong Sword Style, the thought of wanting to kill Seo Ji-han didn’t even cross his mind once.

It was an absurd thought, but he just couldn’t picture himself winning against Seo Ji-han.

To be honest, he was even scared.

‘I have to finish this quickly.’

To escape from this pit, he had to get to the 3rd floor as quickly as possible.

“If you are ready, please follow me once more.”

“Ah, alright.”

At Seo Ji-han’s stern voice, only an indescribable sense of intimidation washed over him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep