After dinner, Kang Hye-in went separate ways from Yoon-Seok. Once she reached her home, she told her father the story and the copy of the recording she got.
Then what happened next, you wonder?
There wasn't much to say at least.
Her father was furious and seized Kang Hyung-woo like a mouse, while Kang Hye-in messaged Yoon-Seok of the process in real-time.
-Kang Hye-in: Kang Hyung-woo kneels and confesses his wrongness. He said that if he told the truth dad would forgive him. Did he really think dad would let this matter slide?
-Kang Hye-in: Oh gosh, I was explaining why he set the fire and my dad can't hold his anger any more, so he smashed the TV…on top of that, it was expensive…
-Kang Hye-in: Kang Hyung-woo, that bastard was totally in big trouble. I've never seen my dad this angry before. It is terrifying even for me.
-Kang Hye-in: He begged not to erase his name from the family register and kick him out while tears ran down with a runny nose.
-Kang Hye-in: Wow, he was kicked out. He also won't get financial support in the future. How is that pathetic man going to survive?
-Kang Hye-in: My dad wants me to convey this to you. He was really sorry and you don't have to worry about if my older brother will get revenge or not. You don't have to pay the debts, instead, you'll get compensation multiplied from the debts.
-Kang Hye-in: I know the stuff like this can't make up the pain you have but… I am really sorry. I had no idea that Yoon-Seok Oppa would get through something like that. You must be tired today, so leave the rest behind and sleep well.
Yoon-Seok turned off his smartphone and sent a text message saying, "You don't have to apologize." This time, Kang Hyung-woo was the one who got a bad ending. Neither he felt good nor had empathy for. Punitive justice, "you reap what you sow", nothing more and nothing less. "It's really over…" This is the end of this toxic relationship that he thought would last forever.
Even though it does not look like that, Hyung-woo's father, the head of a conglomerate, was actually sided with commoners and stood for fairness between human beings. 'I've always wondered how a jerk like him is a child of such a wonderful man.' Now that he's out of radar, all the benefits Kang Hyung-woo enjoys as a son will disappear. Kang Hyung-woo would no longer dare to take revenge on Yoon-Seok.
'Why can't I push myself to do this earlier?'
The truth is, he has thought about this a lot. He just couldn't gather the courage. He ignored objective possibilities and rationalized himself that no matter if a father has a good heart, he would not give up on his blood-related child. 'I thought it was a worthless endeavour.' In the end, he was the one who came up with the solution, not Kang Hyung-woo. If he had the courage to reach out, he could have broken free from hell easily… But why was it so scary back then?
'It must be because I didn't believe in myself.'
Yoon-Seok's eyes looking at the empty air. He has been sitting on the sofa in a hotel room for a while.
「Return in 00:00:31.」
Time flies and it's already 3 a.m. It was time to go back there. However, it felt like he's not forced to be dragged there, but rather feels like returning to where he should be. "I feel lighthearted. Thanks. For giving me a chance to change myself. Otherwise, I would have lived like that for the rest of my life." A sentence appeared in response to Yoon-Seok's murmur.
「The Re-ticket (Rank F) has expired.」
「Transfer to the waiting room on the 3rd floors.」
His lips twisted upwards to form a smile. It's finally time to go back.
To the place that made him who he is now.
* * *
「Next Duel in 22:33:50.」
As soon as he returned to the waiting room, Yoon-Seok checked the timer first. The remaining time was almost identical before the ticket was torn. Yoon-Seok began to do things immediately, not wasting more time. 'Let's start with spec-ups.' He has 8700 AP left after purchasing the Re-ticket Rank F. He carefully examined the skills that were available in store. His main focus was on finding skills that might help deal with the opponent who has bizarre superpowers. He wanted to make up for the inadequacy that he had seen through his last duel. There was a skill that was just right for it.
*Anti-Magic (Rank F-) — Dispel a magic or physic attack.
Price: 1500 AP
Once learned the Anti-Magic, some supernatural-user would lose their standing since they'll have a hard time to attack their opponent, especially if the opponent has skills like
-Bloody-red Madosa: "It's hard to survive by using magic", so what am I supposed to do with your whine…
-Elastic: Ah, some magic was inherited from the original state. It's going to be hell from here on.
There are a small number of Mages in this place. If many people buy anti-magic, the magic-user will fall far behind especially from the melee fighting duelist. That's why the efficacy of the anti-magic spread widely. If everyone learned anti-magic, the duel would become fair. Although the Mage and the supernatural-user that most likely dying in the end… Well, only the really talented one will survive.
'Sigh, If I had bought it earlier, I wouldn't have had that much trouble…'
Only regret was left. But what's done is done. Now that he has reflected and is more careful to prepare than before, he will not make the same mistake in the future. Then he covered up his newfound weakness which consumed 6000 AP to upgrade rapidly four capability rank.
「Stamina (F-) ranked-up.」
「Stamina (F) ranked-up.」
「Mana (F-) ranked-up.」
「Agility (F+) ranked-up.」
With all the upgrades, the Agility rank has reached E- rank. He already felt the effects. Just like before, the changes in his body were really fast and can be seen. '1200 AP isn't worth using. I'll just save it.' After he finished all the things he could do with the AP, Yoon-Seok immediately started training. He has some time to master the new unique skill he obtained,
"Argh–akhh!!"
He undergoes serious training. Yoon-Seok screamed constantly. But it was for his own good. The training that Yoon-Seok is doing now was bizarre and cruel enough not to be called training.
Psshh–!
Yoon-Seok groaned painfully as he saw the blood fountain coming out of his body. However, he didn't stop to hurt his body. He has set a goal to use this blood drip from the body to heal his wounds and to practice bursting. 'The rate of losing stamina is too high for real use in the arena right now.' Yoon-Seok recalled the Devil's demeanour. The Devil only showed signs of fatigue, even though he exploded blood hundreds of times during the duel. The Devil had good control and merely lost a little stamina.
'I still have a long way to get a hold on this skill. I have to adjust until I am fully used to it.'
Even if he was born as a predator, Yoon-Seok grew up as an underdog. Such experiences push Yoon-Seok from behind to not be arrogant but humble. But he felt not satisfied. Having tasted the victory, Yoon-Seok wanted something bigger. And what is needed to achieve it is self-discipline.
「Next Duel in 20:50:00.」
As he checked the time, right at 10 minutes his half of the battered body had healed. Yoon-Seok straightened up after waiting and repeated the same thing countless times. He never felt fed up in those 20 hours.
「Next Duel in 00:50:00.」
At least, effort never betrays. He succeeds to trim the time needed to heal his wound and lessen the time of falling into the ground because of exhaustion. The effect of training reduced the loss of stamina. Now, he could enjoy the healing process in the waiting room while standing by.
This might be his guess, but perhaps this waiting room has been the witness of hundreds of litres of blood gushing out from before. That's why Yoon-Seok was still not satisfied and continued his training for the rest of his time. Technically, it was his only doctrine that training is never enough but, there'll be an extra benefit if he kept on.
Slash!
Yoon-Seok cut his arm with his sword. He was not only scratched into his skin but cut through his bone too. His snapped left arm was left on the floor. The recovery skill does not reduce the pain, so the terrible pain stimulus was sent to Yoon-Seok's brain. But… "Ugh." Yoon-Seok groaned briefly, stopping it quickly. His behaviour was the opposing side from the previous one when he cut his arm and went into panic mode. 'I'm getting used to this thing, too.' Gradually, he became accustomed to the pain. This is killing two birds with one stone. It's not because of training
Pain shaped a soft-hearted person.
So if you are afraid of pain, you can't think with a cool head in a fierce battle. Like he did in several battles before.
"...."
While in pain because of broken bones and torn up skin, a theory struck his mind. If only the skills' system here had a mechanism where the duelist got skills under some kind of conditions, he would have got a pop which would say 'Pain tolerance skill has been developed.' by now. He would smile when it did. Because at this moment, he was one step stronger.
「Get ready. The duel will begin soon.」
* * *
"So it's a snob child who's thinking that his opponent wasn't good." As soon as the duel began, his opponent spoke. There is an arrogant tone in the words as if it's clear the one who'll win. After confirming his opponent's appearance, he was not sure what emotion he should feel.
'Is there no age limit to being dragged as a challenger?' This time, his opponent was a grey-haired old lady who already passed her glory days. However, her appearance was completely different from the elder he usually saw. She has a lot of wrinkles, yet somewhat he felt a refined aura being emitted from her. When she was young, she would have been gorgeous. Her posture is straight, not bent like the usual one he saw, and her height is around 170 cm.
And above all…
'Why I can't see an opening to attack?'
The image of an old lady holding a sword with a slender arm yelled insurmountable stamina.
"Are you from Moorim?"
"I am."
He quickly dismissed his preconception after hearing her affirmation. Regardless of age, everyone here started from the same line. None of the opponents he met here couldn't be small fries, and that's why he shouldn't lower his guard.
"What's your nickname?" he asked her nickname. He thought that maybe he could get a piece of information about her from her nickname. However, the old lady just eyed him, insulting him by ridiculing him gleaming in her eyes. "I'll let you know if you survive my strike at least once." So that meant she implied he won't be able to stand on his knee after one blow? How can she be so confident? They met on this floor so their level was more or less the same… But, Yoon-Seok didn't find her comment offensive. The more the opponent lowered the guard, the more advantageous he was.
"Shall we begin?"
Yoon-Seok quietly readied his pose, raised his sword and shield. And…
Whoosh!
She streaked her sword. It wasn't a skill that can interfere with strength, it was simply a stab without a supporting factor. However, Yoon-Seok could not block the sword. He was confident that he had swung the sword away, but when he came to his senses, her sword bent like a snake was penetrating his chest.
Thump!
Only then did Yoon-Seok realize. It was himself who was off guard and arrogant. "I was aiming at your heart, but I hit the off-mark. Did you see my sword?" The old lady, who had her sword seeping through Yoon-Seok's chest, smiled and opened her mouth with a chilly smile.
"Cheonma." (*)
"...?"
"You were asking my nickname, am I wrong? Cheonma is my nickname in this place."
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T/N: 'Cheonma' means a religious sect leader/founder. They're the strongest martial artist in Moorim.