Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin
[1]
‘You say you want to play chess with me?’
It was an abrupt condition.
Actually, the fact that Baek Ho-gun was said to play chess and that he requested a match was unexpected.
‘Did he hear that I won the school chess tournament and ended up wanting to try to play against me?
Even so, somehow it wasn’t like Baek Ho-gun.
‘I still have a long way to go, huh!’
Unbelievable, I who praised myself as PMH’s rotten and stagnant water, and oil[2], couldn’t understand the actions of my main Playable Character!
I promised myself that I have to devote myself more in the future while sending a message ‘Got it’.
Ding.
Baek Ho-gun’s reply arrived straight away.
The message included coordinates.
‘Shall I go?’
***
Eungwang School landscape zone.
More than half of the lake walk trails around Clear Blue Lake were in the central zone, but part of them belonged to the landscape zone.
This place’s accessibility was bad, and it was far away from convenient facilities.
Seen from the airboard, the landscape zone did not even have one person in it.
Prrash.
After the airboard stopped, someone appeared as if he was waiting.
Baek Ho-gun with black hair and an oxford shirt.
Suddenly, he had an appearance that looked nothing but human.
“Follow me.”
Saying only that, Baek Ho-gun started to walk ahead of me.
The lake walk trail of the quiet landscape zone.
The lake fog parted before me and Baek Ho-gun, as the sound of footsteps rang.
‘This is the lake fog which appears in the Clear Blue Lake ghost stories, huh?’
A part of Clear Blue Lake’s area was always covered by the fog, regardless of the season, weather or air temperature.
Because of that, various ghost stories were prevalent, but the identity of the lake fog was the ‘Byeoksa barrier’ made by Baek Ho-gun.
‘But I have no idea why from among numerous barriers, it’s the byeoksa barrier which exterminates ghosts.’
Byeoksa means to block bad energy and exterminate evil[3].
If Baek-ho, who together with Cheongryong were considered the divine creatures of byeoksa since the old days, had personally made a barrier, this likely has some other meaning.
‘Is it related to Clear Blue Lake ghost stories?’
As I fell into trivial thoughts while walking, the fog grew denser.
When even Baek Ho-gun’s back became faint.
Paaat!
White Fang of Thunder Clouds Breaker was summoned into Baek Ho-gun’s hands.
As if he opened his power while using his Gwangrim, his hair was gradually dyed white.
Sekek.
After Baek Ho-gun swung the White Fang of Thunder Clouds Breaker, from within the fog the door came into view.
Except for the door, almost nothing was visible as the fog covered the entire space, but the plate above the door caught my eye.
Silver Training Hall.
It was Baek Ho-gun’s exclusive space within the Eungwang School.
‘We really came to the Silver Training Hall?’
Even in the game, it was a place Baek Ho-gun only appeared when he was training alone, so I didn’t think we would come here.
Kiiik.
After passing through the excessively white corridor of Silver Training Hall, the innermost door opened.
On the dome-like ceiling, a starry sky unfolded, embodied with supernatural powers.
‘Seven Constellations of West Mansion, huh?’
East Asia constellations, Twenty-Eight Mansions.
Among them, there were seven constellations, which belong to 7 stars of West Mansion Baek-ho.
Kuí, Lóu, Wèi, Mǎo, Bì, Zī and Shēn. [4]
The appearance of Baek-ho, painted by those seven constellations, had wings and his shape was different from the tiger.
‘In the game, he had that appearance precisely once only.’
Just before the ending.
Seven constellations and the meteor shower I saw beyond the smartphone screen.
I could still clearly recall Baek Ho-gun’s true form when he turned his back to the sky[5] and flew up.
“Jo Uisin, take out your weapon.”
Paaa—!
While I was looking up at the ceiling, Baek Ho-gun took a place directly across from me.
‘He increased the output, you know!’
The light of Baek Ho-gun’s favorite White Fang grew.
White Fang displayed sharper energy than when it cut the byeoksa barrier when we entered the Silver Training Hall.
The end of White Fang was directed at me.
“Don’t borrow the power of someone else.”
Baek Ho-gun spoke as if he saw through the identity of ‘Player’s Trajectory’.
Following Baek Ho-gun’s words, I didn’t activate Gwangrim and took out Nine Iron Teeth Rake from the item window.
‹Skill ‘Use of Everything’ activated.›
Swoosh!
At the same time, I grabbed the Nine Iron Teeth Rake, a shiver went down my spine.
Before I could follow that thought, I unknowingly moved my hand.
Claaang–!
The White Fang and Nine Iron Teeth Rake’s blades collided with each other.
Both of my hands which were holding the Nine Iron Teeth Rake went numb.
Baek Ho-gun was holding the White Fang with one hand.
‘This was a hit made with one hand?!’
Thanks to my overall stats level rising smoothly, I was currently at level 20.
Use of Everything level was 4.
On the other hand, Baek Ho-gun’s overall stats level was 55.
Swordsmanship level was 10.
Baek Ho-gun was holding a great sword with one hand as a method of handicapping himself, but even so, there was no way I could be his match.
“Concentrate.”
Baek Ho-gun stared at me with chilly eyes.
“There are many things you want to do, and many things that you will have to do, right?”
Clang!
Baek Ho-gun swung his arm very lightly, but I was blown away together with my weapon.
I almost lost my grip on the Nine Iron Teeth Rake and rolled back.
‘The level gap is too big. I’m not your match!’
I tried to come up with what move I could play, but as we excluded Gwangrim usage, there were almost no cards I could use.
I even recalled the ‘Unknown Fate’ that I didn’t use even once, but it didn’t seem to have any particular meaning in the current situation.
‘Gwangrim’s daily usage is limited. Such a situation may come up one day. If I meet a formidable enemy when my Gwangrim is sealed, I would be powerless like this, huh?’
My Playable Character is so strong.
I was filled with pride, but currently, my mind felt more frustrated than prideful.
Baek Ho-gun added a word as if to instigate me.
“You seem to lack the power to achieve all those things, eh?”
Baek Ho-gun swung the White Fang again.
My vision was dyed white and a metallic cry burst out from the Nine Iron Teeth Rake.
Claaang!
My fingers burned as if they were set ablaze.
Before my body could recover from the echoing metallic ‘jing’ noise, Baek Ho-gun’s White Fang headed towards me again.
Once, twice.
Because of the soaring wind pressure from the White Fang, my vision was distorted.
‘How is this sparring we are doing right now supposed to help me hear the weapon’s voice?’
Before I could consider it, the sword slashes poured down again.
If I wasn’t confident that Baek Ho-gun wouldn’t hurt me, I would use either Gwangrim or an item to escape.
Clang! Claaang—!
My speed of reading Baek Ho-gun’s attack pattern and my reaction speed increased more or less, but the one-sided battle situation didn’t improve.
‘Should I ask for a hint?’
But no words come out.
My mouth was strangely sealed[6].
I asked for help to hear the weapon’s voice, but to seek help during a spar felt like losing.
‘Except for chess, I was never particularly obsessed with losing or winning in a win-or-lose fight.’
When I blocked Baek Ho-gun’s White Fang while contemplating like that.
‘Uh?’
It seemed like the face of Baek Ho-gun, which was chilly before, gained some warmth.
Papat!
Baek Ho-gun took back the White Fang first and retreated a few steps.
Aiming the White Fang like before, Baek Ho-gun opened his mouth.
“Recall the moment for which you received your ‘alias’.”
My alias?
He wouldn’t be talking about ‘that word’, so it should be ‘Unknown Supernova’.
‘The moment I gained the name ‘Unknown Supernova’…’
Practical entrance exam group 13.
Dark gym.
Ung’s family Enemy.
Team play executed together with Jang Namuk and Yu Sang-hun.
Fear I felt when faced against the Enemy up close.
A weapon with worthless rarity which ended the entire situation.
When I recalled up to this point, one thought flashed like lightning.
‘Proficiency!’
In this world, items which existed as weapons had a concept of ‘proficiency’.
When proficiency is raised to 100%, the rarity will rise and special effects will be added.
‘If a weapon’s owner changes, the proficiency resets. Zhu Ganglie’s piled-up proficiency would be considerably high, but mine would be no different from 0!’
And the fastest way to raise the proficiency was to fight against an opponent with a level gap.
The risk was high, but gain proficiency was bigger.
“Seems like you found the answer, eh?”
I seemed to understand why Baek Ho-gun was wildly swinging the White Fang like this.
It was because if we did it moderately, the proficiency would rise very slowly.
‘I couldn’t even come up with the thought of proficiency. The Use of Everything skill and proficiency were separate problems.’
If the problem of proficiency could be resolved with just the Use of Everything skill, I wouldn’t be in so much trouble on the day of the practical exam.
‘If it was like that, there would be no need to be prepared to die or be seriously injured and run away from the Enemy that day.’
That day my Gwangrim was sealed, but wasn’t I able to use the Use of Everything skill?
As I obtained the answer, the hand holding the Nine Iron Teeth Rake felt much lighter.
With my enthusiasm aroused, I flashed an attack towards Baek Ho-gun.
Claaang!
For the first time, Baek Ho-gun entered a defence posture.
“Okay, thanks.”
Worthy of Baek Ho-gun, even when pushing me like this without a word, he finally gave a hint.
But I still didn’t understand what it had to do with chess.
Dormitory room, which I returned to after finishing a spar with Baek Ho-gun.
As I opened the updated data of the Nine Iron Teeth Rake, my proficiency had raised considerably.
It was thanks to Baek Ho-gun not withdrawing the White Fang until I reached my physical limits.
‘But those words made me a bit furious.’
As we finished sparring, I offered to play chess.
But Baek Ho-gun refused resolutely.
– There is no meaning in playing against the current you.
‘My physical strength fell, but I was more than a decent chess player.’
And I experienced a one-sided spar.
Frustrating.
I was thankful to him for helping me improve my abilities with the Nine Iron Teeth Rake, and accepting my request for help with the weapon’s voice, but it was frustrating.
‘Should I practice chess before sparring with Baek Ho-gun?’
Like this, I recalled the names of people who requested a match with me and fell asleep.
***
Next day, morning.
First day of going to school in summer clothes.
‘Is it because Ju Su-hyeok and An Dain were wearing summer clothes yesterday? The number of people wearing summer uniforms increased quite a bit.’
The scenery of the road leading to school changed a lot.
There were many who were secret fans or had a sense of rivalry towards Ju Su-hyeok and An Dain, so my guess wasn’t wrong probably.
I headed towards the classroom while I activated the device to read the main newspaper articles.
As I came closer to the central building of the 1st year zone, I heard a loud murmuring noise.
‘What?’
Entrance towards the 1st year class 0.
There were more people gathered than usual.
‘What is happening?’
As I approached closer, I heard a voice from the middle of the crowd.
“That to say, the student’s energy is clear and clean, and a pure[7] superpower wave is flowing, so…”
It was a voice I heard somewhere before.
It was Tak ascetic, a friend of Master Gwak, Ju Su-hyeok’s master.
Even though class will start in a few minutes, Tak ascetic was talking about the theory of superpower wave utilization.
However, from the outside that talk was closer to pseudo-religion propagation.
“Vice president told me to answer something…”
It was a voice I knew well.
Small stone master Maeng Hyodon.
It looked like he was swept into a strange commotion first thing in the morning.
“Ah, right!”
Maeng Hyodon who was listening to Tak ascetic’s words with soulless expression, said a word:
“I don’t believe in Dao.”
Maeng Hyodon remembered my advice well.
***
Crack-crack!
This person emitted a superpower wave after hearing Nabiryeong’s report.
“Where and what are you doing you damn pig bastard!”
Assassination plan which failed for unknown reasons.
Zhu Ganglie, who disappeared before identifying the cause and effect relationship.
His anger and confusion reached a boiling point.
“He failed the mission given to him by Them and hid himself!”
On the other hand, Nabiryeong withdrew her body from the boundaries of reality to avoid the superpower waves and furniture pieces.
After his runaway stopped, Nabiryeong materialized again and asked him with a sweet voice:
“There were traces of him contacting his subordinates before he hid. Strange.”
“Humph! That pig bastard mastered the method of shirking his responsibility. He might have hidden himself after realizing that his subordinate was in your hands, eh?”
Nabiryeong covered her lips with the hem of her clothes as she looked at his anxious appearance.
The part of Nabiryeong’s face which wasn’t concealed, showed worry, but behind the cloth, the corners of her lips curved up.
“I shall investigate once more. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help.”
Thanks to Nabiryeong’s polite attitude and voice, his mood softened more or less, and he asked:
“What about the orders ‘They’ gave you?”
Nabiryeong replied with a very happy voice, while smiling beautifully.
“It’s progressing without a problem. Thank you for worrying. It will turn out well. What about the ‘sacrifice’? Do you need help?”
“There are no problems on my side. You find the pig.”
He, who spoke like this, rose and headed out of the room.
Nabiryeong, who was quietly watching his back with a smile on her lips, dropped that smile and her eyes turned downcast.
“Huhu, a sacrifice[8] you say…”
Nabiryeong mumbled like this, and then sat alone in the darkness for some time, falling into thoughts.
*~*~*
[1] No title – Title of the chapter is ‘Weapon’s voice (5)’ =-=
[2] rotten and stagnant water, and oil – all of those refer to game addicts of different intensities, with oil being basically those completely lost in the game.
[3] bad energy and evil – bad energy in the meaning of energy that leads people to commit wrongdoings and evil could also mean demons, evil spirits.
[4] Kuí, Lóu, Wèi, Mǎo, Bì, Zī and Shēn. – for this once I’m using chinese names, but if they appear in the future, I may use korean names, so here how they would be romanized from korean: Gyu-su, Ru-su, Wi-su, Myo-su, Pil-su, Ja-su, Sam-su. ‘Su’ stands for constellation.
[5] turned his back – in the meaning of having something behind one’s back or to cut a relationship with someone.
[6] My mouth was strangely sealed – ‘became unable to open’ in raws.
[7] pure – of an upright and honest mind.
[8] sacrifice – similar to English, sacrifice mentioned in this scene can refer to an offering made to gods, or a scapegoat – a person harmed for someone else’s interests.
Translator’s note: Baek-ho… You really stab where it hurts, don’t you?
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
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