abcnovels
Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Chapter 69 – Fencing Master Kergo (1)
The government’s operation had failed.
The military’s special forces unit, composed of only the elite, was helplessly annihilated.
This fact spread secretly among high-ranking officials in the political and business circles, and those who heard the news were stunned.
The Ability Users.
Their power and growth rate far exceeded everyone’s expectations.
“What should we do now?”
President Han Seung-hoon had been advocating for a pro-Ability User policy, raising his voice that Ability Users should be actively fostered.
Those who had mocked the President and criticized him for having an incorrect fantasy about Ability Users were now all sitting with their mouths shut.
“There are only 2 months left until the World Dungeon Summit in Seoul.”
“Hmm…”
The second World Dungeon Summit.
At this point, with only 2 months left until the event, South Korea was still under martial law.
“We’ve been notified that if we can’t resolve this quickly, we’ll have no choice but to move the summit location.”
At President Han Seung-hoon’s words, all the ministers and generals bowed their heads.
“This is a disgrace to South Korea. The reason our country was designated as the summit location is because it’s currently safer and has better public order than any other country in the world.”
“…”
“If the summit location is moved because of this situation, isn’t that a shameful thing!?”
“Then… How about lifting the martial law now?”
“What are you saying?”
“At this point, the Monster Power that was destabilizing society has been almost completely recovered. Public order has been restored, and the dungeons are under perfect control.”
President Han Seung-hoon’s expression hardened as he listened to the explanation.
“So?”
“Since there doesn’t seem to be any external problems, wouldn’t it be better to lift the martial law first and then catch those guys slowly…”
“You call that a suggestion?!”
Han Seung-hoon finally exploded and slammed the table.
“The key figures of the terrorists are still running rampant, and the drug they were developing is nearing completion! Do you think it makes sense to handle things by turning a blind eye like this?!”
“…”
“If we start the event like this and those guys carry out a terrorist attack, can you take responsibility?”
It was a completely different demeanor from Han Seung-hoon’s usual calm and composed manner.
But because his words were clearly right, even the person who had made the suggestion quietly closed their mouth.
“Then how about we do this?”
At that moment, Park Ha-ran, the head of the Korean branch of the Dungeon Management Organization, raised her hand.
“Go ahead.”
“For the next 2 months, we thoroughly manage all dungeons near Seoul and conduct a complete clear.”
“…”
“We cut off the source of potential terrorist acts, and on the day of the conference, we mobilize all military, police, and Ability Users to thoroughly protect the conference venue.”
“…”
“Even if we find the terrorists in the meantime, there won’t be any national loss.”
The core of Park Ha-ran’s suggestion was the same as what the general had said earlier.
However, it swayed Han Seung-hoon in that it presented specific alternatives.
“Is it possible?”
At President Han Seung-hoon’s question, Park Ha-ran nodded.
“It’s difficult in the current state. But if the President can lend a little strength, it’s possible.”
“What do you need?”
“As you all know, guilds are currently occupying dungeons by force. To clear the dungeons, we need to drive them out first.”
“If that’s resolved, is it possible?”
“If we temporarily increase the rewards for dungeon clearing and move together with the Ability User Union, I think we can clear and control at least 80% of them.”
At Park Ha-ran’s words, Han Seung-hoon stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“Alright. Then we’ll temporarily control the guilds’ dungeon occupation. You can use somewhat forceful methods against guilds that oppose this.”
“Understood.”
“And on the day of the conference, we should mobilize all special ability management teams as well. Is that possible?”
“I’ll make it possible.”
At Shin Tae-gil’s straightforward answer, a smile appeared on Han Seung-hoon’s face for the first time.
“Then let’s get started.”
***
Ippotranslation
***
It was humiliating.
So humiliating that he didn’t even have the strength to walk.
– Trudge, trudge…
Since that day, Kang Hyeon couldn’t bring himself to enter the guild office.
– I’m going to solo dungeons for a while, so don’t look for me.
– Bro, are you upset?
– Shut up, you bastard!
He left the guild saying only that he would tackle dungeons alone.
“I can’t go back until I find a solution.”
He had to flatten An Yu-seong’s nose.
“If I don’t smash that face that looks like a parasite’s brother, I’ll suffer from insomnia for the rest of my life.”
Kang Hyeon, walking in a half-dazed state, finally reached his destination.
C-rank dungeon ‘Knight Training Ground’.
“This is the last place I wanted to come to.”
‘Knight Training Ground’ was a dungeon that became famous among Ability Users as soon as it appeared.
This was because the monsters appearing there possessed excellent swordsmanship skills.
In other words, it was a perfect dungeon for raising Kang Hyeon’s current goal of ‘Intermediate Swordsmanship (D)’.
“Haa…”
Nevertheless, there was one reason why Kang Hyeon was so disheartened.
“Keruk!”
It was because the knights appearing in the dungeon were goblins.
“Damn. Later on, they might even have a goblin Sword Master appear.”
A goblin being a Sword Master, it was preposterous.
“Keeek!”
The goblin that appeared before Kang Hyeon was about the same height as him and was fully armed in armor.
Moreover, unlike other monsters, it didn’t immediately rush at Kang Hyeon, but instead surveyed him.
“Whew, right. The goal is to sweep through here without using buff skills.”
Despite being mere goblins, they moved in small elite groups.
One to a maximum of three.
Even though it was a C-rank dungeon.
This meant that each one possessed powerful combat abilities.
“I’m ready, so come on. Don’t put on airs!”
“Keruruk!”
As Kang Hyeon took a stance with his sword, only then did the goblin knight swing its sword at him.
– Clang!
As soon as the swords clashed, Kang Hyeon could feel it.
‘Even without using skills, my strength overwhelmingly surpasses it.’
No matter how trained it was, a goblin was still a goblin. Kang Hyeon, who had already reached level 60, possessed physical specs of a different dimension.
‘But I shouldn’t just overpower it with strength.’
That would defeat the purpose of coming here.
He had to subdue it with swordsmanship skills alone.
– Clang, clang!
Kang Hyeon and the goblin’s swords intertwined.
Block, slash, dodge, thrust.
These simple actions repeated at tremendous speed, clawing at each other.
– Swish!
In an instant, a sword aiming for a gap flew in.
Kang Hyeon couldn’t dodge in time and allowed the attack.
His tough skin was cut, and blood flowed out.
“Keruk!”
The goblin, thinking it had gained the upper hand, swung its sword again, but was surprised by Kang Hyeon’s quick response and retreated.
“What are you imagining with this little scratch?”
Kang Hyeon grinned.
Normally, this wound would have healed in a matter of seconds, but Kang Hyeon didn’t use ‘Advanced Bodiy Regeneration (A)’.
‘Relying solely on physical recovery ability can lead to big trouble.’
Right now, he needed to raise his awareness of injuries like other Ability Users.
“Alright, here I come again!”
With a spirited shout, Kang Hyeon swung his sword again.
***
Ippotranslation
***
“Kehek… Kehek…”
The goblin knight ‘Kergo’ was at his wit’s end.
“Keheeeek!”
“Tired? Come on, hang in there a bit more.”
In his 15 years of goblin life, this human was by far the craziest.
“I need to recover once too.”
“Keeeek!”
Here it goes again.
That human’s body started to recover again.
“Whew, done. You’ve rested enough too, right?”
He didn’t know how many hours, how many times they had repeated this.
Just when he thought he had completely defeated the human, he would recover in the blink of an eye.
Then when he would exert all his strength to make him bloody again, he would recover instantly once more.
It was truly maddening.
– Clang, clang!
“Keheuk!”
And his strength was so ridiculously powerful that every time their swords met, Kergo’s wrist would ache.
Even though he deflected the sword as technically as possible.
“Keheeeek! Kehek!”
Feeling wronged, Kergo screamed with his hoarse voice.
If translated, it meant, “Why are you only tormenting me?”
“What are you saying?”
Kergo was certain.
Clearly, this human could have killed him long ago. But he didn’t.
He just kept fighting endlessly as if Kergo was some kind of practice dummy.
“Are you hungry? Well, I’m feeling it too. Shall we call it a day?”
“Keheheheek!”
He didn’t know what the human was saying, but he needed to make him talk more. That way, he could buy some time to recover his strength.
“Right. We should stop here for today.”
“Kehek, kehek!”
“I like you. Let’s meet again tomorrow.”
The human suddenly turned around and started walking away.
“Keruk..? Kehek! Kehek!”
“I got it. You rest well too!”
He tried to shout threateningly, but the human didn’t seem interested in fighting anymore.
“Kehelhel, kehel-kelock, kelock!”
Goblin knight Kergo finally laughed, thinking he had escaped from the clutches of the devil.
***
Ippotranslation
***
The next day.
“Today I’ll practice with that guy again.”
Kang Hyeon entered the dungeon with a light heart.
“I brought plenty of food too. Great!”
Yesterday, he had to return quickly because he entered the dungeon without thinking. But today, he brought enough food to practice for a few days.
“Where are you”
Kang Hyeon, who entered the dungeon, looked for yesterday’s goblin.
“It must be somewhere…”
He didn’t think it would have been hunted by other ability users in just a day.
This place was unpopular because the rewards were too small compared to the hardship.
Although it was exceptionally designated by the government as a C-grade dungeon for educational protection, it was a place where no one visited.
“Found it!”
Finally, he spotted a goblin wandering nearby.
It was bandaged as if it had been injured in several places.
“Looking at the wound on its cheek, it’s definitely that one.”
It was the wound caused by Kang- Hyeon’s decisive blow yesterday.
“Hehe…”
Somehow, he felt like laughing when he saw it.
The fruits of his efforts poured out over a day were contained in its body.
“Hey!”
The goblin turned its head at Kang hyeon’s call.
Kang Hyeon, making eye contact with it, grinned and waved his hand.
“Ke, kehek!?”
“What? Why are you reacting like that?”
The goblin’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s, and its pupils shook as if there was an earthquake.
“Alright, shall we start again today?”
Ignoring such a reaction, Kang Hyeon was unpacking his things when…
“Huh, what? Where are you going!?”
The goblin was running away in a hurry with its back turned.
***
Ippotranslation
***
Goblin Knight Kergo!
He, who had always been dignified, was now running away screaming loud enough to shake the dungeon.
“Keheeeek!”
A knight’s honor? It was better to throw it away than to be toyed with and die like this.
As Kergo screamed and rampaged, other goblins began to gather.
“Kehuk, kehehek!”
To those who gathered, Kergo desperately tried to explain the current situation.
“Keruruk!”
“Keruk, keruk!”
However, the other goblins only laughed at his words.
“Kehuk, kehehuk!”
“Keruk! Keruru…”
If we were to translate, it would go something like this:
‘Please, help me!’
‘Shut up! You shame of a goblin knight! I won’t forgive you if you keep blabbing.’
Kergo was on the verge of going crazy.
“Kehehek…”
Just as Kergo, having failed to persuade his comrades, was about to return to his area…
“Hey! I’ve been looking for you for a while!”
“Kehuk, kehehek!”
The human appeared at just the right timing!
“What? Why are there so many?”
The human seemed flustered at seeing the number exceeding twenty.
“Were there this many in this dungeon before?”
“Keruruk…”
The other goblins also showed hostility towards the human that appeared before them.
“Hmm… Too many might interfere with practice, should I reduce the numbers a bit?”
The human’s words increased.
He must have been gripped by fear.
Kergo looked at his comrades with a triumphant smile.
“Kehehek!”
“Kruruk! Keruk!”
Kergo said to tear the human apart immediately, but a problem arose.
His comrades were too rigid.
They were insisting on a one-on-one duel, seeking knightly principles even in this urgent situation.
“Kehehek! Kehuk!”
Kergo tried his best to persuade them, but he seemed to be failing.
“Why are these things talking so much?”
Kang Hyeon, looking at the goblins, activated all his skills.
“I guess I’ll have to deal with all of them except for one sword instructor.”
A full power surging through his entire body.
Kang Hyeon, who sprang from his place, rushed towards the goblins.
“Teacher, please step aside for a moment!”
-Thwack!
Kang Hyeon delivered a side kick to Kergo, who was at the front. Kergo flew dozens of meters at once and crashed into the wall.
“Keeeek!”
The massacre that unfolded afterwards.
The goblin knights, who numbered as many as twenty, had all turned into lumps of meat in less than 10 minutes.
“Keru…”
Kergo, who was blankly watching the scene, made eye contact with Kang Hyeon.
“Now that we’ve warmed up, shall we start training? Looking forward to working with you today too.”
Seeing Kang Hyeon speaking with a smile, Kergo closed his eyes.
And he smiled.
“Keruk, keruru…”
If we were to translate, it would mean, ‘This must be a dream…’
“Kehelhel…”
Now, if he closed his eyes and opened them again, that human would disappear, and he would wake up from this dream.
“What are you doing?”
It wasn’t a dream.
It was reality.
Tears streamed down from Kergo’s eyes.
“Kehuhuhuk…”