Episode 74
There is probably no one among the hunters who does not know that face.
Kang Jin-hyeok, who confirmed the other person’s face, asked the association president a question to confirm.
“Is that Cheon Sang-ho?”
“Yeah. I thought you knew that.”
“There’s no way I wouldn’t know. I’m not another human… … .”
‘Cheon Sang-ho’ was considered to be a person of a different class even among S-class hunters.
Not only was he a world-class powerhouse, he had no rivals in the country.
It was fortunate for the Association that he did not create a guild because he did not prefer to associate with people.
The association president tried hard to recruit Cheon Sang-ho by offering numerous benefits, and eventually achieved results.
After the association president put Cheon Sang-ho as his right-hand man, those who rebelled against the association disappeared as if it were a lie.
With even the large guilds backing down, there were no longer any obstacles to the growth of the association.
Given these circumstances, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was Cheon Sang-ho’s power that created the current association.
“But that person wanted to see me?”
It was widely known that Cheon Sang-ho had no interest in people and focused only on hunting and training.
Unless that image was intentionally fake, there was no reason for Cheon Sang-ho to meet Kang Jin-hyeok in person.
“This is my first time receiving such a request. I guess I was greatly impressed by your video.”
“Maybe you called me because you were suspicious.”
Everyone who has seen Kang Jin-hyeok’s combat footage so far has been suspicious of him.
Kang Jin-hyeok thought that Cheon Sang-hoon was just another human being.
“No, that can’t be true. I can be sure of that, since we’ve been working together for a long time.”
When the association president showed the video, Cheon Sang-ho’s eyes were filled with anticipation like a child’s.
That was definitely not a look of suspicion towards Kang Jin-hyeok.
Although the association president answered confidently, Kang Jin-hyeok still looked dissatisfied.
“Yes. Let’s say that guy wanted to see me. But what good would that do for me?”
“Are there any hunters who are moved by the opportunity to face Cheon Sang-hoon?”
“Do I look like the kind of person who would do that?”
The association president shook his head from side to side in denial.
When he saw it, Kang Jin-hyeok was different from other hunters who admired Cheon Sang-hoon.
Kang Jin-hyeok has an efficient sensibility that determines whether something is beneficial or not.
The association president knew what kind of excuse he would need to move Kang Jin-hyeok’s heart.
‘Hunters with this personality will need a realistic reason.’
The association president tried to persuade Kang Jin-hyeok somehow for the sake of Cheon Sang-ho, who had served the association for a long time.
“This is your chance too.”
“Opportunity? Surely you’re not saying something like ‘the experience of fighting a strong person.’ Or something like that?”
“Of course not.”
The association president turned his head slightly and looked at the executives in the audience.
“The gentlemen over there have absolute faith in Cheon Sang-ho.”
“So?”
“If you can stand up well against the Cheon Sang-ho they trust, wouldn’t those suspicious gentlemen trust you?”
“… … .”
“I’m not asking you to fight and take turns, I’m just asking you to split the sum. It’s not a losing proposition.”
The president’s words sounded quite plausible.
Kang Jin-hyeok was also well aware of Cheon Sang-ho’s fame.
It was clear that if I showed an impressive performance in dealing with such a person, the executives of the association would no longer be able to raise objections.
Kang Jin-hyeok thought about it for a moment, then accepted the association president’s offer.
“Okay. It’s just a matter of bumping into each other once.”
“Good idea.”
The association president turned his gaze to Cheon Sang-ho in the distance and nodded.
Cheon Sang-ho realized that this meant things had gone well.
A subtle hint of joy appeared on his previously expressionless face.
“But there’s something bothering me in what you said.”
Kang Jin-hyeok opened his mouth naturally as he walked back to the stadium.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to hold out like this.”
After hearing Kang Jin-hyeok’s words, the association president thought that his explanation had been inadequate.
“Of course, it is acceptable to fly and dodge.”
Kang Jin-hyeok smiled mischievously at the additional explanation he added to avoid any confusion.
“Then who will strike first?”
The association president looked blank for a moment and said nothing.
The association president was silent for three seconds before he finally understood what Kang Jin-hyeok was trying to say.
“Haha, if you can, give it a try.”
The president of the association saw off Kang Jin-hyeok as he headed to the Colosseum with a big smile.
“You want to hit Cheon Sang-ho with one punch… … Heh heh heh.”
It was a very presumptuous statement, but if Kang Jin-hyeok’s skills shown in the video were real, it wasn’t impossible.
The president of the association was secretly hoping that Kang Jin-hyeok would show results that exceeded their expectations.
If a hunter comparable to or even superior to Cheon Sang-ho appears in Korea, it would be an unquestionable stroke of luck.
“Ugh.”
Kang Jin-hyeok climbed onto the field, lamenting his situation.
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I couldn’t understand at all how he, who wasn’t a Roman gladiator, ended up participating in a show like this.
I really wanted to throw away all the trust and everything from the association.
But now, he is no longer the leader of an individual, but the head of a guild.
Since it was unclear what would happen if I completely cut ties with the association, it was better to follow the association president’s requests for now.
‘But I pretend to be angry, so he lowers his head.’
Kang Jin-hyeok decided to be satisfied with that for now and stood facing Cheon Sang-ho at a distance of 50 meters.
Cheon Sang-ho greeted Kang Jin-hyeok by nodding his head with his mouth tightly shut.
The weapon that Cheon Sang-ho uses is a single sword that he carries on his waist.
He was almost the only normal class holder among the S-class hunters who were dominated by hidden classes.
He is an oddball among oddballs who skipped the 2nd and 3rd job advancements and only maintained the status of the 1st job advancement ‘Swordsman’.
Since he had not done any additional job changes, Cheon Sang-ho only had three skills to use.
Slash, cross cut, spinning cut.
Because the number of skills is so small, all the information has been revealed and is floating around the Internet.
He was the one who took on all the penalties.
“I was curious as to how they were able to maintain their number one position in the country despite having such a ridiculous concept.”
Even if all information about Cheon Sang-ho is revealed, he still possesses strength that other S-class hunters cannot match.
Many hunters respected his honesty and outstanding skills.
There are people who tried to follow Cheon Sang-ho’s style, saying they wanted to make him a role model, but ended up ruining their careers as hunters. That said, I have nothing to say.
“Thank you for your favor.”
Cheon Sang-ho expressed his gratitude and pulled out his sword.
“I will end this in one blow so as not to take up any more of your busy time.”
“You’re so confident. You can catch me with one blow, right?”
“No way. I don’t think we’ll win.”
Kang Jin-hyeok was quite taken aback by the unexpected answer.
It was surprising that a gentleman who was said to have no rivals in the country spoke so politely and without any conceit.
“I asked you to share just one sum with each other so that we could gauge each other’s skills.”
“Haha, I don’t know if you’re a hunter or a warrior.”
Kang Jin-hyeok never thought he would hear lines like those you would hear in Romance of the Three Kingdoms in real life.
It felt like someone who was supposed to be born 1000 years ago had chosen the wrong era.
“Okay, well. Since we’re going to make it short, let’s finish it quickly.”
Kang Jin-hyeok took out a baseball bat from his inventory, held it, and walked towards Cheon Sang-ho.
Cheon Sang-ho also took steps forward and closed the distance with Kang Jin-hyeok.
As the 50m distance gradually decreased to half, Kang Jin-hyeok and Cheon Sang-ho ran forward at the same time without regard for who would go first.
And it happened at exactly the same time, without a single second of error, until the attack was attempted.
As Kang Jin-hyeok swung his baseball bat with his aura, Cheon Sang-ho quickly swung his sword twice to form a cross shape.
When other hunters used it, there was a gap between each swing, leaving an opening, but Cheon Sang-ho was different.
Cheon Sang-ho swung his sword twice almost simultaneously, making it impossible to tell when he swung the additional strike.
The huge impact from the collision between Kang Jin-hyeok’s baseball bat and his sword turned into a strong wind that swept all the way to the stands.
“Eww!”
“Huh!”
The association executives who were watching the fight between the two were blown backwards by the wind.
Among the hunters who came out as escorts, there was not one who stood firm.
The hunters, barely maintaining their balance, could not close their gaping mouths.
‘You’re holding on to the aura?’
Kang Jin-hyeok was also shocked.
Cheon Sang-ho was easily able to withstand attacks that Jo Won-cheol and Kang Jun-tae could never withstand.
The golden aura that had been destroying everything was unable to move forward this time, unable to do anything to the sword it was facing.
“Ugh!”
As Kang Jin-hyeok emitted an even darker aura, Cheon Sang-ho held on while letting out a short shout.
The aura spread without being able to penetrate the sword, slashing the stadium like a blade.
The hunters in charge of the escort pulled out shields larger than their bodies to protect the officers from the blades.
‘It wasn’t for nothing that the hunter got first place.’
Kang Jin-hyeok realized that it was no exaggeration to say that he was on a different level from other S-class hunters.
If he hadn’t gained strength from the temple, Kang Jin-hyeok would have been beheaded by Cheon Sang-ho without even being able to react.
Kang Jin-hyeok, whose desire to win was boiling, wanted to focus all of his remaining MP on Aura.
But then Cheon Sang-ho showed a completely unexpected reaction.
“… … I lost.”
Cheon Sang-ho declared his defeat by putting away his sword during a struggle with Kang Jin-hyeok.
Kang Jin-hyeok didn’t like it at all, as he felt like he was about to sneeze.
“Why the sudden surrender?”
When Kang Jin-hyeok asked the reason, Cheon Sang-ho lightly tapped the back of the sword with his finger.
Then the sword broke with a sharp sound.
“If it hadn’t been a one-hit victory, I wouldn’t have been able to withstand Kang Jin-hyeok’s subsequent attacks with my sword.”
Cheon Sang-ho admitted it cleanly and stepped back.
He had no qualms about losing despite being the number one hunter in the country.
Cheon Sang-ho left with a refreshed expression, as if his illness had disappeared.
The one who was left with an uneasy feeling was Kang Jin-hyeok.
Kang Jin-hyeok wasn’t happy at all even though he was the winner.
What’s the use of winning because of the difference in items rather than skill?
This was something I couldn’t go out and brag about.
“Is that what it means to say ‘I won.’”
Despite the difficult match result, Kang Jin-hyeok was able to obtain meaningful results.
As the association president said, after the match with Cheon Sang-ho, the association executives’ perspectives changed significantly.
They used to look at him with distrust no matter what evidence he presented, but now they were trying to please Kang Jin-hyeok as if he were some kind of treasure chest.
Kang Jin-hyeok was able to realize what position Cheon Sang-ho had in the association.
It’s surprising that a person in that position doesn’t have any regrets about defeat.
Kang Jin-hyeok wondered if he could do that too, but soon denied it in his mind.
Even if I could surpass him in skill, I didn’t think I could possibly match that kind of personality.
