Chapter 27

Chapter 26: New Combat Style (1)

Half a day had passed since Seohwi arrived at the underground warehouse, and during that time, he had been researching the Great Sword technique.

For him, the current challenge was how quickly and efficiently he could deploy this technique.

“What a pity.”

After discovering the method to use the Great Sword, the initial surge of excitement gradually faded over time.

This was because, despite the Great Sword's advantage of immense power, it had a fatal weakness.

Namely, the activation time and the use of the left hand.

Seohwi, who usually used his right hand, had to hold the sword with his left hand to activate it.

Moving the sword to his left hand in a critical moment was no small feat.

“The activation process is even more problematic...”

No matter how he changed the position of the sword, the method of releasing the sword energy was the real issue.

Great Sword (大舶劍): ↓↘ → ←, B

One bowing motion as indicated.

One movement to the lower right.

One forward motion.

Then, quickly move backward while swinging the sword.

Thinking about it, the time intervals were too long.

During this process, the enemy wouldn't just wait around.

“Maybe I can link it with the Sohye Martial Art’s techniques...”

Recalling the head movement, one technique came to mind.

Six Techniques (六招式) Sojang Gibyeon (素狀奇變).

Sojang means the form of ice, and Gibyeon means transformation.

The most aggressive technique of the Sohye Martial Art, which involves a forward rush.

By using this technique to perform a low attack and move forward, he could change the position of the sword to his left hand.

Finally, the ‘←’ shaped direction.

By retreating and swinging the sword in this direction, the Great Sword could be released.

“Let me practice more...”

Creak.

Suddenly, the sound of the door opening made Seohwi stop his movements.

Soon, an old man with a familiar face descended the stairs.

“Why is it so noisy?”

The administrative officer of Cheonilguan, Duhong, appeared.

This was strange.

He had never shown up in any of Seohwi’s previous lives, yet he was here now.

‘Is it because of this?’

Seohwi finally noticed the surroundings.

The broken walls and ceiling.

Scattered books and damaged floors and ceilings.

All the results of his research on the Great Sword.

Only then did Seohwi remember that Duhong had mentioned not only organizing the books but also repairing the damage.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Duhong, with a head squished like a pumpkin, was scanning the surroundings with his small, fungus-covered eyes.

In one hand, he held half an apple.

In the other, a small knife, suggesting he had come while eating fruit.

“Damn...”

His face trembled slightly as he surveyed the broken surroundings.

But to Seohwi, none of that mattered.

His eyes were drawn to the words above Duhong’s head: <Life + 1>.

[State, 상태]

Duhong (頭紅) [Administrative Officer of Cheonilguan]

Body Normal

Coin 1

Request: Become Duhong’s Dog (0/8) (New, 신규)

→ Upgrade Combat Style

[Value, 수치]

Health 3,500/3,500

Internal Energy 3,200/3,200

Combat Power 10,000

‘One life. I almost missed this. But a request? What’s this...’

Thud.

Seohwi’s head reflexively tilted.

Duhong had suddenly spat out the food he was chewing.

“This guy. No manners at all...”

His voice, which cracked and rose like a woman’s, grated on Seohwi’s nerves.

Thud.

As Duhong spat out more food, Seohwi’s fists clenched.

‘No. I can’t kill him now...’

But he thought again, holding onto his sanity.

It would be easy to break this guy’s neck now.

But he needed to think carefully.

The consequences of killing this guy.

If anything disrupts the plan, it could be disastrous.

This life’s primary goal is to kill Geun, isn’t it?

“S-Sorry. I’ll put everything back to normal... Ugh.”

Seohwi’s head was yanked back.

Duhong had spat out something again.

This time, it wasn’t food but a sticky mixture of saliva and yellow phlegm.

“You really got yourself into this.”

“...”

“Lately, I’ve been so bored. The people coming and going keep annoying me.”

He took a step closer.

Then, he leaned in close to Seohwi’s ear, where saliva was dripping.

“Why don’t we get closer? Hehehe.”

‘Should I just kill him?’

Seohwi’s eyes filled with murderous intent.

But a phrase held him back.

Request: Become Duhong’s Dog (0/8)

→ Upgrade Combat Style

This was too intriguing, so he had no choice but to bow his head.

* * *

The Stronger’s Law.

A deep-rooted rule within the Evil Sect, which everyone must follow.

However, this law has a hierarchy.

Unlike the upper echelons, the lower echelons typically have the power of life and death over their subordinates.

But there are organizations that don’t fit into this category.

Those classified as common miscellaneous groups without a specific unit.

Seohwi’s organization.

The Biakjo is one such place.

In theory, they follow the orders of their respective leaders, but in practice, any commander in the lower echelons can command them.

Thus, even if Duhong tormented him, there was no reason or justification to stop him.

“This guy needs to be killed as cruelly as possible, so that anyone who sees it will say it was terrifying.”

Seohwi had been cleaning the latrine since morning.

Duhong.

This guy is truly insane.

He called Seohwi out last night and made him clean the latrine until dawn, and this morning, he ordered him to empty the latrine.

“Ha. No matter how many times I reincarnate, I can’t escape this shit life...”

Seohwi, wrapped in cloth, was diligently scooping out the feces from the latrine.

The distance between the foothold and the latrine was deep, and it took about ten scoops before the bottom was visible.

Become Duhong’s Dog (1/8)

Fortunately, he had completed one request while cleaning the latrine yesterday.

And once he finished scooping out this batch, the cleaning would be complete.

He had six more to go, but it was easier said than done.

“What kind of combat style is it? It must be something incredible, right?”

No matter how difficult it was, his eyes kept being drawn to the reward.

So far, the windows in front of him had always brought him great fortune in some form.

So this time, it would likely grant him some special ability.

“...Did I eat too quickly this morning?”

Creak.

The sound of the wooden door creaking made Seohwi look up.

While scooping out the latrine, he saw someone enter through the open door.

[State, 상태]

Eibip (易劈) [Manager of the 3rd Floor of Cheonilguan]

Body Normal

[Value, 수치]

Health 2,400/2,400

Internal Energy 2,890/2,890

Combat Power 8,000

His face was not visible.

Only his stats were shown.

“S-Someone is here!”

Seohwi shouted quickly.

This latrine was the only one used by the Cheonilguan staff.

There was no place to hide or escape.

“...Oh. So you’re the one Duhong mentioned, who just arrived at Cheonilguan.”

Eibip’s face appeared above the ceiling.

His dirty, mustache in the shape of a ‘ba’ (八) was noticeable.

“Ha ha. Yes, I’m on a mission.”

“You’re working hard. Good. I’m in a hurry...”

Swoosh.

He gestured and reached for his waist.

‘Damn it.’

The curse came naturally.

The damn manager pulled down his pants, and his grotesque lower body was revealed.

Gush.

This guy was also insane.

As soon as two crescent shapes appeared in the hole above his head, resembling a mouth, something spurted out like a waterfall.

Squish!

‘Shit! Diarrhea!’

It was a stream of water.

Not solid feces, but sticky, watery diarrhea.

A chunk of it splattered on Seohwi’s mouth.

‘I’ll kill him! I have to kill him! I have to kill him!’

Seohwi’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.

But the aftermath, the most important consideration, held him back.

The death of the Cheonilguan staff.

Naturally, an investigation from the Taehwang Pavilion would follow, and it would be revealed that he was the culprit.

Even if not immediately, it would be discovered later.

He needed to overthrow and capture Geun, and gain the trust of Gonma.

Drip.

The stream of water fell.

It was the end.

After Eibip finished his diarrhea, he finished with urine.

“Ahh. Refreshing.”

Swoosh.

He roughly wiped his buttocks and stood up.

At that moment, a crumpled yellow paper fell onto Seohwi’s head, drenched in feces.

Thud!

Eibip closed the door and left.

“I’ll beat him to death.”

The feces on the floor.

The sticky liquid.

And a piece of undigested spinach from Eibip’s body was wrapped around Seohwi’s neck.

“I’ll dunk his head in the feces and stomp on it. Until he dies. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.”

The scene of brutally killing two people was vivid in his mind.

But it wasn’t enough.

The stench was a stark reminder of his current reality.

“Ahhhh!”

His anger, rising to the top of his head, echoed loudly in the empty latrine.

* * *

Seohwi went to the lake and washed himself like a madman.

He scrubbed himself so hard that his skin felt like it was being torn.

“Ah. Is everything cleaned up?”

As he entered Cheonilguan, Duhong greeted him.

But his gaze didn’t go to Duhong.

It was drawn to the dog-like figure beside him.

“Of course. Hehehe.”

Eibip.

He was sitting next to Duhong.

They had conspired to humiliate him, just like Simagui and Tang Chao from the Taehwang Pavilion.

“It’s all taken care of.”

The urge to punch him in the face was overwhelming, but he had to hold back.

Because of this.

Become Duhong’s Dog (2/8)

The number increased with his response.

He had completed two out of eight.

“Good. Then get some water. Take a bath. And get some for the person next to you.”

“Of course. I’ll get it right away.”

Seohwi bowed quickly.

As he turned to leave