Chapter 18

Chapter 17: Awakening Test (2)

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Name: Park Haejin

Gender: Male

Age: 26

Level: 8

Strength 16 Agility 15 Vitality 16 Magic 12

Available Stat Points: 0

Available Coins: 1,580

Occupation: None

Unique Ability: Critical Ambush

Skills: Lv3 'Acceleration', Lv2 'Stealth', Lv2 'Shallow Breathing'

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I had already checked Park Haejin's status window using the 'Eye of Truth.'

He was evaluated as strong in one-on-one combat, particularly in the assassin category.

Especially 'Shallow Breathing' was a highly desirable ability.

'A passive skill that can improve long-term battles.'

It was definitely useful.

That's why I provoked him.

[Copy Condition: You can copy the 'Unique Ability' when the target's friendliness reaches the maximum, and you can copy 'one desired skill' when the target's hostility reaches the maximum.]

To meet this condition.

'Raising hostility isn't that difficult.'

Jinhyuk's lips curled upward.

In contrast, Park Haejin's face twisted into a fierce expression.

"This little punk... laughing in this situation?"

Swish!

But just as he was about to draw his sword.

Jinhyuk moved half a beat faster.

He extended the water bottle he was holding forward.

Whoosh!

The sprayed water covered Park Haejin's face.

"Ugh?"

Park Haejin involuntarily closed his eyes.

It was less than a second.

But in battle, that short moment was fatal.

The sword, drawn too late, slashed through the air.

Of course, the target who should have been spouting blood and screaming had long disappeared.

There was no sensation of impact.

Something was wrong.

At that moment.

Thud!

A sharp pain was felt in Park Haejin's thigh.

He staggered.

"Ah!"

His body collapsed.

Park Haejin clutched his thigh and rolled on the ground.

A quick and precise strike.

For a while, he wouldn't be able to stand up, let alone fight.

"What, what's going on?"

"Attacking alone and falling alone?"

"Did he trip?"

To the onlookers, it looked like a ridiculous mistake.

An unexpected stroke of luck.

Among the hundreds of people, only three had properly grasped the recent movements.

Lee Taemin and Yoo Yeon-hwa, who had followed Jinhyuk, and Kim Gi-tae of the Fight Dad guild.

'Brother is definitely higher level than us, but this is insane.'

Lee Taemin swallowed hard.

The timing to catch him off guard with a surprise attack.

The timing to exploit the gap and move in was perfect.

Though he looked fine on the surface, it was clear.

Park Haejin's leg was not normal.

Of course, he himself wouldn't know how serious the injury was.

"Ugh..."

A sympathetic sigh escaped Yoo Yeon-hwa's lips.

Seeing him completely toyed with reminded her of her past sparring sessions with her grandfather.

'No, it's even worse.'

Back then, there was at least the purpose of training.

But now.

There was nothing to learn from being on the receiving end.

It was just a one-sided crushing.

***

'What, what is this?'

Park Haejin couldn't understand the current situation at all.

Clearly, the one who should be rolling on the ground was that kid.

But why...

Why did he feel the cold touch of marble on his cheek?

"Damn it!"

A curse slipped out of his mouth.

To be making such a spectacle in front of Kim Gi-tae.

No matter how careless he was, it was an irreparable mistake.

"This little punk is really going to die."

Park Haejin tried to get up from his crouched position.

But right then, a strong pressure pressed down on his neck.

Crack!

"Ugh?"

"Your neck will break. Stay down."

Jinhyuk looked down at Park Haejin from above.

"Keh! Keh! Foot... foot! Take it away?"

Park Haejin struggled.

He tried to shake it off immediately, but for some reason, the other's foot didn't budge.

"Brother!"

Park Hana's voice was heard at that moment.

She had run to the front, hearing the commotion.

"Who the hell is it!"

Park Hana glared at the one who had attacked her blood relative with a murderous look.

But the moment their eyes met.

Shiver.

Her whole body began to tremble like a leaf.

"What, what?"

A person she never wanted to see.

A demon she couldn't even look at was right in front of her.

"Wow. I didn't expect to see you so soon. Intern."

Jinhyuk smiled.

"Why, why are you here...?"

"I came for the test. My mood was ruined by a loudmouth who cut in line."

Jinhyuk put more weight on his foot.

"Ugh!"

The struggling Park Haejin became docile.

Finally, it's a bit quieter.

'But, the copy condition hasn't been completed yet, has it?'

I thought this was enough to max out the hostility.

It seems the system's requirements are more stringent than I thought.

'No choice. I have to push harder.'

Just as he was thinking that.

"Stop it."

A heavy pressure was felt on Jinhyuk's shoulder.

It was Kim Gi-tae.

['Eye of Truth' is activated!]

[The skill activation is canceled because the level difference exceeds a certain level!]

I can't see the status window with my eyes.

That means.

'His level must be at least 20.'

The advantage of monopolizing hunting grounds and providing guided hunts.

This is why everyone wants to join large guilds.

Jinhyuk glanced at the hand gripping his shoulder.

And muttered to himself.

"...I didn't know."

"What didn't you know?"

"I didn't know this kid had a nanny."

Though it was a provocative statement, Kim Gi-tae's expression didn't change.

"He's a handful, but there's no choice. This kid has his uses."

"Uses...?"

Jinhyuk chuckled.

"Is it because he has a supply route for 'Korean Ginseng' to China?"

"What?"

This time, Kim Gi-tae's demeanor visibly changed.

His pupils dilated.

Even the hand gripping his shoulder trembled.

"How do you know that?"

"The question is wrong. It's not about how I know, but—"

If I know that much.

If I know that much information.

Maybe.

"Can you solve the side effects of Korean Ginseng?"

As soon as Jinhyuk finished speaking.

Rumble!

[Kim Gi-tae activates Lv3 'Dark Curtain'!]

A transparent barrier unfolded.

Park Haejin, Park Hana, and everyone around them disappeared.

In a world cut off from the outside, Kim Gi-tae looked directly at Jinhyuk.

"You... what are you? How do you know all this?"

At first, it was interesting.

A newbie who was just taking the test was toying with Park Haejin.

I was even slightly impressed by his efficient movements.

But as Jinhyuk's words continued, interest turned into uncomfortable curiosity.

And eventually, it turned into strong animosity.

It couldn't be helped.

This guy...

Knows too much.

Too much.

"This question is also wrong."

Jinhyuk shrugged.

"It's not about what I know. It's about what I can exchange my information for."

This isn't a hearing.

Only the results matter.

Motives and processes are irrelevant.

"Do you want to exchange?"

"Sure. You guys must be desperate to reduce those side effects, right?"

Struck a nerve, Kim Gi-tae pursed his lips.

But only for a moment.

"Your tone sounds like you prepared this deal in advance."

Too many things don't add up for it to be spontaneous.

A stage prepared in advance, knowing the target.

That's the only way it makes sense.

Jinhyuk shrugged instead of confirming.

"Right. I knew you would come here."

As soon as I heard about the test from Lee Taemin yesterday, I formed a hypothesis.

The best position to showcase myself.

Park Hana, who had risen to the Hall of Fame, wouldn't miss this opportunity.

She would come as soon as it was light.

Of course, with Park Haejin, who was eager for the guild's growth.

But it doesn't end there.

Would Park Haejin, who wanted connections, come alone?

No way.

He would try to bring in the higher-ups somehow.

Of course, the other side wouldn't want to miss the chance for a major media promotion.

A convergence of interests.

That's why I was confident.

Dangun or Fight Dad.

At least one of the two would send a high-ranking member.

'While I expected the probability to be higher for Fight Dad, aiming for the top spot from second place.'

That prediction turned out to be accurate.

"Even if what you say is true. Do you have any proof? Anyone can talk."

Proof?

Of course, I have it.

"Taking Korean Ginseng raw will cause magic poisoning. Of course, you can alleviate the symptoms by adjusting the dosage or using the 'Purifying Water' on the second floor, but that's not a fundamental solution."

"So?"

"The items needed are three."

Jinhyuk held up three fingers.

"Carashian's Juice, Moonstone, and Mandrake Root. The first two can be obtained from the second and third floors of the tower, so they're not a problem, but the issue is that you don't know where the Mandrake Root is, right?"

...It matches.

The combination formula obtained by the research team and explorers of the Fight Dad guild and what this man is saying.

They got two of the three ingredients easily.

But one.

They couldn't find the Mandrake Root at all.

They couldn't even determine which floor of the tower it was on.

'Given that he knows the combination formula and the types of ingredients... his words are true.'

It means he meets the minimum requirements for a deal.

The deliberation wasn't long.

"Fine. I'll go along with your story. But—"

At that moment, the sword on Kim Gi-tae's waist was unsheathed.

Swish!

A speed incomparable to Park Haejin.

The tip of the sword, extended to Jinhyuk's nose, glowed.

"If you're playing a clumsy trick, be prepared."

"Be prepared if I'm playing a trick?"

"Right. When that happens, you won't get away with just your smooth talk."

This...

It seems there was a slight misunderstanding.

Jinhyuk scratched his head.

At the same time, his slowly moving hand gripped the blade.

"I don't plan to kill, so you don't need to hold it with your hand."

Kim Gi-tae chuckled.

Right then.

Whoosh!

[Lv2 'Element of Fire' is activated!]

[Due to the level difference, the stat 'Gap' is activated!]

Flames flickered.

The blade turned red.

Heat so intense it was hard to bear.

The moisture in the air began to evaporate rapidly.

"Wh-what?"

Kim Gi-tae tried to pull the sword out urgently, but it was too late.

Click!

A dagger with a red glow was already in Jinhyuk's other hand.

A horizontal slash.

A thin crack appeared on Kim Gi-tae's blade.

Too weak to call a crack.

But a perfectly straight line without any waver.

At that moment.

Snap!

The blade split in half and fell to the ground.

'He... cut through a reinforced weapon with one strike?'

In one strike?

'That's... impossible!'

Kim Gi-tae alternated his gaze between the blade and the hilt.

Clearly, the opponent was a player only one level higher.

But what was this?

The ominous pressure squeezing his entire body.

As if the level difference meant nothing.

His instincts sent the highest warning.

Jinhyuk spoke.

"Don't misunderstand. I'm the one making the proposal. I'm the one giving the opportunity."

A colder voice than ever before.

"I'm doing this annoying task because it's a waste of time to play tug-of-war with you guys."

I need to go to the 'ruins' on the first floor.

I spent a month in the labyrinth for that.

But if a guy who doesn't understand his place starts barking, I'm willing to spare some time.

"You, remember this."

Right here.

"If you play a clumsy trick—"

I'm drawing the line.

"The entire Fight Dad guild could be destroyed."

This is a one-time warning.