Chapter 138: Teacher of the Sword (2)
Hunt had the ability to recognize the talents of others. It wasn't magic, nor was it a divine gift. If anything, it resembled a Skill used by Hunters on Earth, a kind of superpower.
"You know, I can intuitively identify people's talents. My ability works even if the other person is more skilled or powerful than I am. But for some reason, it doesn't work on you."
"I might not have any talents for you to sense," Kim Ki-Rok responded.
"Everyone has talent. The only difference is whether they've realized it or not. In any case, that's why I observed you so closely, and I finally managed to uncover yours."
"Hmm? Didn't you say earlier that I was talentless?"
"I couldn't sense any talent you were born with. But talents gained through effort count too, even if they're usually weaker than innate ones. But here's the thing."
Hunt stared at Kim Ki-Rok. Though he'd been born without any natural gifts, he had acquired talents through sheer effort, and that was the real issue.
"You've got too many."
"You mean the talents I acquired?"
"Yes. Swordsmanship, Axemanship, Spearmanship, martial arts, cooking, crafting, manufacturing, business, leadership, strategy, internal affairs, politics—you name it."
It takes years to develop even a single talent. Yet Kim Ki-Rok possessed dozens, each of which should have taken years to master.
"It's too much for someone with a human lifespan," Hunt said with skepticism.
"Hm. Well, I am human."
"Is that all you have to say for yourself?"
"Yep."
"Not going to explain in detail?"
"Nope."
"Hm... A secret you can't share? Is it a curse?" Hunt ruminated.
"You could call it a curse."
"Then maybe... a blessing?"
"You could call it a blessing, if that's what you want to believe."
Hunt frowned at Kim Ki-Rok's ambiguous answer, though there was nothing he could do.
"Let me just say this," Kim Ki-Rok said.
"What is it?"
“I’m human. A human who’ll die when my time comes.” Of course, that was only his own claim, so he offered, “I have the spellbook Mana’s Promise. Should I prove it to you by using it?"
Hunt had no choice but to relent at Kim Ki-Rok's offer. "Hoo... No. I'll just think of you as someone with a big secret. I assume you're keeping this from the others, too?"
"Yes. I'd appreciate it if you did the same."
As Hunt walked away, clearly dissatisfied, Kim Ki-Rok turned his gaze back to the campfire and sighed. "I am human."
Although, he had yet to reach the end of his natural lifespan.
***
A week had passed since Han Hae began training in Swordsmanship under Hunt.
"Well then, I'll be on my way," he declared, equipped with two swords on each side of his waist.
Just as he was about to head out for his daily chores, however, Kim Ki-Rok stopped him. "No. We're going together today."
"Sorry?"
"We've gained all we can. It's time to clear the boss, don't you think?"
"Oh..."
The first day had been a complete mess. Han Hae began his practical training on the second day, luring out a Skeleton Knight and engaging it in one-on-one combat under Hunt's supervision.
On the third day, he increased the number of enemies. That morning, he fought two skeletons. In the afternoon, he faced three.
By the fourth day, he was battling a Black Bone Skeleton Knight, a mid-level boss monster.
On the fifth day, with Kim Ji-Hee's help, he searched for magical and renowned swords. They explored the Gate, following various leads provided by the spirits.
On the sixth day, he hunted for Black Bone Skeleton Knights. By the time he returned to camp, he had taken down six of them.
And today, the seventh day, his Guildmaster had decided to clear the Gate.
"So that's why you were packing up the campsite," Han Hae remarked.
He had noticed Lim Yun-Ju and Cha Min-Ji retreating to their tent after breakfast instead of heading to their usual stations to brew potions or create spell scrolls.
"Yes. They need to get ready to leave," Kim Ki-Rok replied.
"Get ready?" Han Hae questioned, a bit confused on what else needed to be done.
"Put on makeup."
"Ah!"
"It'll take about thirty minutes to break down the tents and clean up the workstations. Rest until then."
"Okay." Han Hae sat down where he stood and began checking the edge of his blade and the condition of his armor.
Kim Ki-Rok gave a satisfied nod and started tidying up the campsite. He cleared the work area, unpacked the chests, and stored the empty bottles in his subspace pocket. Kang Seh-Hyuk efficiently dismantled his own tent. Before long, every tent was down except one: the women's tent.
"Sister Yoon-Joo, Min-Ji, how much longer?" Kang Seh-Hyuk called out.
From inside, Cha Min-Ji's voice replied, "Ten more minutes."
"Still?"
"It takes time, you know? You've worked with Seh-Eun Unnie and Ji-Ah Unnie, so you should know this by now."
"Huh? They don't wear makeup."
"Even on the day of the Gate clear?"
"Nope."
"Wow! Damn... I can't believe that's their bare face..."
Hearing the disappointment in Cha Min-Ji's voice, Kang Seh-Hyuk decided to show a bit of mercy.
"Just come out as soon as you're done."
"Okay!"
Kang Seh-Hyuk glanced around. "Hmm... what to do now?"
Han Hae was focused on his gear, thoroughly inspecting each piece of equipment. Best not to bother him. Kim Ki-Rok was finishing up the cleanup at the workbench and clearly didn't need help. That left only one person.
Kim Ji-Hee was seated in a camping chair, staring blankly up at the sky. Kang Seh-Hyuk strolled over, crouched down beside her, and looked up as well.
"Ji-Hee."
"Yeeess."
"Is there something up there?"
"Nope."
"Then why are you looking at the sky?"
Kim Ji-Hee blinked and tilted her head, as if searching for a reason. She blinked again. "Because I'm bored?"
"Oh dear. Our Ji-Hee is bored. Want to play with oppa?"
Kim Ji-Hee tilted her head and studied him. "Oppa."
"Hmm?"
"What should we do?"
"I haven't thought about that."
"Then let's just watch the sky together."
There wasn't much else to do. Kim Ki-Rok had gathered up all the portable game consoles and board games the night before. So, Kang Seh-Hyuk followed Kim Ji-Hee's lead, tilting his head back to stare at the sky filled with heavy, dark clouds.
***
"The Gate boss is a Black Bone Skeleton Knight, though it's on a completely different level from the ones you've faced so far."
"Yes. I'll be careful."
Even without Kim Ki-Rok's warning, Han Hae could feel it. The atmosphere was different. Unlike the Skeleton Knights that wandered aimlessly, this one stood perfectly still in front of a tomb, staring straight ahead. Black mana radiated from its body in such thick waves that even from a distance, it sent chills down his spine.
Han Hae drew a deep breath, unsheathed the two swords at his waist, and began walking toward the Gate boss.
"I have more information about the sword style the Gate boss uses," a spirit said. "Would you like to hear it?"
"Please, go ahead."
"It's Sir Hunt's."
"Hunt, as in my teacher Hunt?" Han Hae said, stopping in his tracks.
"Yes. The skeleton uses Sir Hunt's sword style, who reached the level of Aura Knight during his living days."
"So, you're telling me that Skeleton Knight is the body of my teacher?"
"That's correct."
Han Hae stepped back, putting some distance between himself and the Gate boss, then turned to look at Hunt.
"Hmm? What seems to be the problem?" Hunt asked.
"Well, it's just that..."
"Ho ho ho! Are you flustered because that's my physical body? Or are you nervous about my skills?"
"Both."
"I see. Well, there's no need to be nervous. The monster retains only about 30% of my memories from when I was alive. And no need to be flustered, either. As my disciple, putting that Skeleton Knight to rest would be the right thing to do."
"Is... that so?"
"Of course, since the Black Wizards are controlling my body as they please."
After a brief silence, Han Hae began walking forward again. If the Black Wizards were controlling his teacher's body, he couldn't afford to hesitate. He had to summon his anger, enough to destroy the dark mana stone and finally grant his teacher peace.
As he drew closer, the Skeleton Knight pulled an old, dull longsword from the ground and took a stance. Han Hae halted and mirrored it without hesitation. Two figures stood in perfect symmetry, locked in a silent duel before the first blow.
The skeleton moved first. Iron struck iron with a sharp, sudden clash. Their blades met head-on, each swing mirroring the other in perfect arcs.
"Uh, Guildmaster."
"Yes, Miss Min-Ji."
"Is he going to be okay?"
Though the monster retained only 30% of its former memories, those were the memories of an extraordinary swordsman who had reached the realm of Aura Knight. Han Hae hadn't reached that level since he'd only had a week of training. Slowly, he was being pushed back.
"If this were a pure test of swordsmanship, Mister Han Hae wouldn't stand a chance against the Skeleton Knight," Kim Ki-Rok said. "But there are a few variables."
"Ah! Magical swords and his skill?"
"We've sealed his use of his skill."
"Then... is it the various magical swords?"
"He's also prohibited from using those."
"Then he has no advantage."
"He does," Kim Ki-Rok insisted.
The battle resembled a duel between swordsmen more than a fight between a Hunter and a monster. Kim Ki-Rok and the spirits watched with odd expressions, like instructors observing a final exam rather than spectators at a battle.
"What will he choose?" Kim Ki-Rok murmured. "Will he fall back on his skill or the magical sword? Life is a series of choices. Depending on the outcome today, many things could change. This is turning out to be very interesting."
Cha Min-Ji tilted her head in curiosity. "Change? What kind of changes?"
"The intensity of Mister Han Hae's training."
Cha Min-Ji's expression twisted in horror.
"I made it very clear from the beginning," Kim Ki-Rok continued. "I told him not to use his skill. I said the same thing even after he obtained magical and famous swords. Those weapons are off-limits, but what if he uses them anyway? What if he pits his skill and a magical weapon's power against an opponent he could beat with swordsmanship alone?"
He let out a low, grim chuckle. Several spirits also murmured among themselves with grave expressions.
"If he uses either, he's in for the time of his life."
"Yup. That's right."
"We've already set the intensity to three times his normal training..."
Cha Min-Ji's face soured. Ah, I think I've seen this in a movie. Was it Sergeant Hurt?
She looked at Han Hae with pity. He was still being pushed back.
"But, but..." Cha Min-Ji said, secretly activating the radio for poor Han Hae. "The advantage Mister Han Hae has over the Skeleton Knight is—"
A sudden flash of light erupted in the distance. Startled, Cha Min-Ji snapped her head toward it. The Skeleton Knight had been pushed back for the first time, and Han Hae had taken the chance to regain his stance.
The problem, however, was that white mana now enveloped his blade. He had used the magic imbued in his magical sword.
"Ah..."
It was too late. Cha Min-Ji silently turned off the radio, then asked Kim Ki-Rok and the spirits, "But what was Han Hae's advantage?"
"Conscious thought," Kim Ki-Rok answered.
"Thought?"
"Yes. The Skeleton Knight moves on instinct. Think of it this way. It can't adapt to sudden changes, only follow its pre-programmed patterns. The simplest strategy would probably be... to use the terrain, like he did when he took down those two Skeleton Knights on his first day."
"Ah!" She understood immediately.
"Hmm. Using the magical sword already..."
"Has he learned nothing so far?"
"We'll need to raise the training intensity to fivefold."
As the spirits clicked their tongues in disappointment, Cha Min-Ji gazed at Han Hae with a mournful expression.