Episode 14
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Freddy remained calm.
This was because a monster had appeared out of nowhere.
A smile was etched on his face. His jet black hair and brown eyes stood out as he wore a sleek black suit that showed off his big muscles.
He was, of course, the leader of the Abyss Management Department. He was not the strongest, but at this moment he was so intimidating that it was hard to hold his gaze.
He had suddenly appeared after the licensing exam.
Freddy held in his hands the awakened license, which would allow him to enter the future creative abysses that would soon appear.
However, as he was walking out, there was a commotion at the entrance, and suddenly he saw the leader of the Abyss Management Department in front of him.
Isabella, slightly confused, looked at the leader with an expression that seemed natural.
As if she knew him, she spoke casually.
"Grandfather, what are you doing here, shouldn't you be in your office right now?"
"....."
Freddy opened his eyes, confused.
He had never heard anything like this before in the past.
Isabella was said to be from a big family, but he never knew exactly which one. According to rumors, she was from a high-ranking family close to the Verdance family. However...
This was unexpected, totally out of Freddy's wildest dreams.
Freddy remained calm.
The guy in front of him was extremely strong.
That meant he could do whatever he wanted. If he decided to kill someone, no one would dare question him, especially since he was the leader of the Abyss Management Department in this country.
If Freddy disliked him, he would kill him. If he did something stupid or spoke casually to him, the situation would be catastrophic. He sighed and relaxed his thoughts for a moment.
He looked at the leader when he spoke.
"Why should I be in my office when my darling granddaughter is here?"
"I came for the awakened license."
"So you decided to get the license. After mastering the sword, you're here now."
"Yes, well, I need to level up in the creative abysses. Now I must surpass one person."
"....."
The leader looked briefly at Isabella and then at Freddy.
His gaze was intense for a moment, but then relaxed as if it was no big deal.
Hansoo spoke casually.
"Leveling up to outsmart someone?"
"That's right. My sword skills are still insufficient. Leveling up will help me achieve a breakthrough."
It wasn't a lie.
If your level is low, even if you possess the best sword skill, the result will be the same as before.
It is different to train than to level up. Although humans have the level 99 limit, many are so strong thanks to their innate skills, such as swordplay.
Stats also represent a great advancement in power.
You should become stronger by leveling up.
Because it was obvious.
Once the event of a creative abyss ends, there are three types of common rewards:
The first is items, weaponry or personal equipment to protect the awakened.
The second is skills. Although it is said to be almost impossible to get an ability as a reward in a creative abyss, it is possible to get one, and they are usually considerably powerful.
The last one is the experience to level up and improve stats.
However, Freddy only got stats, but not experience, in the previous creative abyss of Creator Andariel.
"So, my dear granddaughter, is the man next to you your.... boyfriend or friend?"
"....."
"Grandfather."
"Hahaha, sorry, I was just kidding."
"He's just a friend. And please don't bother, you must have a lot of work to do."
"Eh... Ah... Well, about that..."
Isabella's gaze shifted to the secretary.
This was because Isabella knew Hansoo's secretary very well, a man who loved his job so much that he considered it his second home. In his personal life he had no relatives, but in the Abyss Management Department he had formed friendships, and one of them was Isabella.
Hansoo looked at Freddy again.
He hadn't spoken all this time because he didn't know what to say.
"What is your name?"
Although it was a simple question, the fear in the face of someone so powerful lingered.
Before he died, Freddy remembered Arhat. Every time he looked at someone so strong that it made him feel like an ant, it was hard to remain calm, because he knew they could kill him in an instant.
Freddy slowly opened his mouth and spoke.
"Freddy..."
"I don't know if you know me, but my name is Hansoo."
"It's a pleasure, Mr. Hansoo."
Hansoo was silent for a few seconds.
"Freddy... Your name sounds familiar, but..."
Hansoo rubbed his chin, showing a surprised face.
"Ah, I remember."
Freddy looked at Hansoo in surprise. Although he belonged to the Verdance family, very few knew about him.
"You are a member of the Verdance family. You're Freddy Verdance, next in line to be patriarch, aren't you?"
"No."
He shook his head.
Although the president of the Abyss Management Department commanded a lot of respect and fear, Freddy wasn't about to lower himself to be recognized as a member of the Verdance family.
The mere memory of it was repugnant to him.
"No... The Verdance family is known for their hair color, but you say you're not a Verdance."
"Well... I was."
Freddy didn't go into details.
Talking about the Verdance family was the last thing he wanted to do; it wasn't the right time.
He remembered what happened two days ago, before he went back in time. He saw Gustang behind Arhat just before his return.
Freddy got angry just remembering it.
Because, literally, he was a bastard.
"Well, never mind. However, I came here because I was curious about something."
He swallowed nervously.
He didn't know what Hansoo wanted to talk about, but, looking at his expression, it seemed clear that the conversation was about Freddy.
He had seen something interesting and came as quickly as possible to confirm it.
Then, Hansoo asked, looking at Isabella at the same time.
"You defeated my granddaughter easily having a level 1, while she is level 36. How did you do it?"
Freddy didn't question anything.
It was a complicated question.
Would anyone believe him if he said it was purely thanks to his sword skill, honed in the past?
Because, this time, he didn't use skills from his awakening. The combat was a pure demonstration of sword technique and knowledge acquired through experience.
She had fought countless times against much stronger beings, and her skill with the sword had surpassed unimaginable limits.
At that moment, Isabella stepped forward and answered for Freddy.
"I reduced my strength. That's why he defeated me."
However, Hansoo was not stupid.
As the leader of the Abyss Management Department, he could perceive lies easily.
"Why are you lying? No one in the world can surpass your sword skill. Even an experienced high-level awakened isn't comparable."
This time it wasn't a matter of having a high level.
It was a matter of imagining a world where level or awakening didn't exist.
In that case, Isabella was the best swordswoman in the world. In a fight, a high level awakened would have to reduce their stats to engage only with sword skills.
Not using awakening to defeat a master swordsman.
Isabella could only imagine what would happen if she didn't think of something quickly.
This was because she had been impulsive in saying those words.
She knew her grandmother and completely forgot that she could detect lies, something she deeply detested.
"I..."
"I'm just better."
Isabella stopped when Freddy interjected.
She had no choice, but if things went on like this, she couldn't even imagine Hansoo's anger.
So they solved it with an intervention, making him the target.
Anyway, he would be dead for a few minutes before reviving thanks to the title of the god of death.
Second life meant being dead for a few minutes, and then the title would activate to instantly revive.
Therefore, Freddy was not afraid and looked confidently at Hansoo without saying anything else.
Hansoo spoke.
"You're better than my granddaughter."
"Yes..."
Muffled sound!
Hansoo disappeared and reappeared in front of Freddy. His huge hand caught Freddy's neck.
Standing nearly six feet tall, Freddy stopped touching the ground as Hansoo lifted him two feet off the ground, holding him by the neck.
"Wait, Grandpa..."
"Hush. You dare to say you're better than my granddaughter? A miserable level 1 wretch that no one knows dares to speak with such arrogance!"
Freddy knew her personality in the past, and that was why this situation was so discouraging.
The leader of the abyss management department had an arrogant personality.
If anyone claimed to be better than a member of his family, he would kill them.
If you did something bold or said the wrong word to his family, your fate was sealed.
Anything could cause him to kill you.
Freddy didn't really understand why the strong were like that.
They all seemed the same.
"It's... true."
"You little bastard, you still dare to say stupid things in front of me?"
But Isabella held Hansoo's arm.
The situation had gone too far, so she intervened.
"Grandfather, if you keep saying that or try to kill this person, I'll tell my mother."
For a moment, Hansoo's face broke down at those words.
Freddy didn't know what was going on or why that change in his expression, but clearly he could get out of this situation if Isabella insisted a little longer.
She looked briefly at Freddy.
"Now, let him go."
"....."
There was silence, but Hansoo sighed.
He let go of Freddy and turned away.
"I'll leave, but if I see you again, I'll definitely kill you for saying that word."
His gaze was incredibly intimidating.
Freddy rubbed his neck, trying to ease the pain, as he caught his breath.
The grip had been so tight that his airway had been obstructed for several seconds, leaving him without oxygen.
"I'm so sorry. My grandfather is very sensitive if someone says they are stronger than someone in my family."
"Don't worry, I expected it from the moment I saw him."
"Really...for the last time, I'm sorry."
"No problem. You can apologize for him another time. Now, I have to go."
Freddy walked out of the building.
He walked slowly, rubbing his neck, but Isabella's voice reached his ears.
"Wait, I can walk you out."
"Uh..."
He said nothing, but she was already at his side.
"To compensate for my grandfather's behavior, I can..."