Event Participation
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The cheerful chirping of a sparrow family announcing a refreshing morning.
Warm sunlight filtering through the curtains brushed across Jinhyeok's face.
"Ugh..."
It should have been a refreshing morning, without a doubt.
But Jinhyeok, his face twisted in a scowl, pulled the blanket over his head.
It hurt too much!
His arms, legs, shoulders, stomach—everything ached without exception.
It felt like his whole body had been thoroughly pummeled.
'Ah, because it really was.'
He recalled the wooden sword that had flown at him relentlessly right before his eyes.
Each hit had hurt so damn much.
The tears he'd shed in pinpricks would be enough to fill the kitchen sink and then some.
-Today, we'll increase the intensity.
Seira, who had been ramping up the training intensity to match Jinhyeok's growth rate.
Thanks to her, there hadn't been a single day his body was left unscathed.
Even as his durability rose and his muscles bulked up, the training grew even more grueling beyond that.
"Commander, are you okay?"
Kancho approached and checked on Jinhyeok.
"Shouldn't we ask Seira to go a bit easier on you?"
Jinhyeok shook his head.
No way.
It was brutal, sure, but the results were outstanding.
Not only did his stats rise without fail after every session, but the level of his trait, Black Knight Order Swordsmanship Basics, had already reached 9.
The requirement to learn the beginner stage was reaching level 10 in basics.
Just one step away from the next stage, so he needed to push even harder.
Heh heh!
Jinhyeok, who had been grimacing, broke into a smile.
Once he learned beginner swordsmanship, he could acquire the techniques Seira used.
Not Black Moon Night, maybe, but it would let him engrave a powerful single-strike technique onto a blank card if one came up.
Just imagining it made him grin.
"By the way, Kancho, did you eat the pig's feet?"
Kancho's lips were unusually glossy.
"I ate the leftover pig's feet with Seira and Dark yesterday."
"Oh, the two of you together?"
"Dark was picking out only the tasty parts, so Seira grumbled about that, but otherwise, they ate amicably."
"Nice."
As he sat up, he patted Kancho's head.
Pig's feet for breakfast—no, they really were hearty eaters.
'Huh?'
Jinhyeok glanced at the clock and furrowed his brow.
02:00 PM.
It wasn't morning.
He roughly massaged the back of his head and stepped outside.
Dark was tearing into the pig's feet with gusto.
-What the hell is this ridiculously delicious thing?
That had been Dark's first words after taking a bite of the pig's feet from last night.
Seeing him dig in again the moment morning broke, it seemed he'd taken a real liking to it.
"Hey."
Dark spotted Jinhyeok and waved a piece of pig's feet.
"Master, you're up."
Seira was sipping tea at another table.
She was pretending not to, but like Kancho, her lips were shining.
Jinhyeok, who had hastily thrown on some clothes, spoke up.
"I'm heading out. It'll be a bit late."
Having overslept spectacularly, he was a little rushed now.
He had to stop by the weapon shop before meeting Cheon Se-yeon, so if he didn't leave now, he'd be late.
Seira, who had finished her tea and stood, firmly donned her hat and mask.
She had said the current sword was too light and insisted he buy something heavier.
She had agreed to go sword shopping with him today.
"Kancho, I showed you how to order delivery, right? If you're hungry, order whatever you and Dark want to eat."
"Got it!"
"Once the delivery guy leaves, go pick it up. Got it? Absolutely. You have to."
He wanted to avoid the delivery guy running into the yodeler.
"No worries! I'll place the order, and Dark can go get it!"
"Was that the plan?"
Dark scratched his head, as if hearing it for the first time.
Either way, it was a proper division of roles, so he gave a thumbs-up.
"Let's go, Seira."
As he walked, he checked his substantial bank balance.
130 million.
After subtracting living expenses, he planned to use about 120 million for weapons and gear.
'A new weapon.'
He smiled as he stepped out the door.
He was already starting to look forward to what weapon he'd end up with.
The large department store Pelid in Yongsan.
He'd come here because it was newly opened and said to be hot for weapons and armor like gear.
'Huh?'
But the prices were hot as hell.
"So many zeros."
"That's what makes it so expensive."
Jinhyeok whispered softly as he scanned the displayed weapons.
Each one gleamed dazzlingly—they all looked top-notch at a glance.
The problem was that it was hard to find anything under 100 million.
He'd wanted to buy a mix of weapons and armor with 130 million, but that was a pipe dream.
'That's weird. The Tower site said there were good value options here.'
He pulled up the site and checked the recommended store list again.
He wasn't misremembering.
Multiple posts had introduced this place as the best for cost-performance.
"Did you come based on a Tower site post?"
The approaching clerk made an awkward face.
"What do we do? The opening event ended early due to stock depletion. The posts were probably written by players who bought during the event."
'No wonder it was ridiculously expensive.'
He couldn't exactly take out a loan just to buy a sword.
He'd have to browse a bit and then head to the outlet.
"Thanks for letting me know. But why is that area so crowded?"
Jinhyeok pointed to the back corner.
It was the largest store on the floor.
Dozens of people were lined up there.
"Oh, that? You know Genex, Korea's largest steel company? They opened a store there, and there's an event going on right now."
"Oh, an event?"
"It's not your typical discount event. One of Genex's players got this sword from the Tower a week ago."
The clerk showed him a news article on the internet.
Steel Giant Genex Acquires Unique Greatsword from the Tower of Despair.
He read down the article.
The greatsword's name was Ganjangmakya.
True to its name, the blade mixed white and black.
Details on specs not disclosed by Genex. Known to have a solid attack power of around 100, but with an extremely low level restriction of 20.
The greatsword he was using now was one bought from the everything store, with 40 attack power.
This surpassed it by leaps and bounds—more than double.
"Is this sword the event prize?"
"It's a bit iffy to call it a prize. Right now, inside that tented space, the Genex chairman is there. He calls out prices based on the participants. It's such a unique event that people are flocking to it. A lot of famous NewTubers came too."
The Genex chairman alone was impressive, but with a unique greatsword and that kind of format.
For content-hungry folks, it was prime hunting ground.
"By the way, two days ago, that famous ranker Cheon Se-yeon participated."
The clerk glanced around and lowered his voice.
"The chairman called a trillion for her."
Jinhyeok's jaw dropped.
A trillion? He couldn't even fathom how much money that was.
Maybe because he could tell Jinhyeok was thinking of participating.
"Well, good luck then. Fighting!"
The clerk cheered him on.
He hadn't even bought anything, and here was this kindness.
Pelid department store—everything great except the prices.
"Fighting!"
Jinhyeok pumped himself up too and joined the event waiting line.
Among the people waiting was that NewTuber he'd seen at Inwangsan.
"Aigoo, brothers and sisters, you've arrived? This is NewTuber Kim Kwang-seon, always striving to deliver the most entertaining content—bowing in greeting!"
Kim Kwang-seon bobbed his head with exaggerated gestures.
"I'm at Pelid department store right now. What am I going to smash here? It's the event hosted by Genex! It's been over a week since it started, and they still haven't found an owner for the sword! So, the man who cleared the 50th floor, Kim Kwang-seon, has come to end this event once and for all! Wahahaha! What? Didn't you boast the same at Inwangsan last time and fail to find that blood-eyed sister? Eheh, brother! How do you find someone who isn't there? You gotta have 'em to find 'em. Today'll be different, so look forward to it!"
Jinhyeok flinched and glanced at Seira standing beside him.
She had pulled her hat low, even wearing tinted glasses.
No chance of getting caught.
'Just a bit more waiting, and it'll be our turn.'
The line shrank faster than expected.
What the hell were they doing inside?
"Master."
He turned at Seira's call.
Kim Kwang-seon approaching, camera pointed this way.
"Oh dear, what a pickle. Looks like I won't make it past the people in front after all! It's not too late even now! Take a lap around the department store and grab something tasty—that's the time-saver!"
Had he judged there was no winning against a 50th-floor player?
The people in front of Jinhyeok started dropping out in droves.
Thanks to that, Jinhyeok ended up right behind Kim Kwang-seon.
"Huh? There's still someone who hasn't left? You came with your girlfriend? Are you a player by any chance?"
"Yeah."
"Out of courtesy, I won't ask your floor! I only ask people who seem higher than me. Hahaha!"
The chat exploded.
@ Don't bully the newbie, you jerk!
@ You've got your girlfriend right there—put on a show!
"Aigoo, what do you mean bully? It was a joke. Alright, newbie! Let's pump each other up! Fighting!"
"Fighting."
@ Whoa, Kim Kwang-seon is such a jerk, but look how coolly the newbie takes it. No wonder he has a girlfriend.
@ The girlfriend looks super pretty too. Such a handsome couple. A wild boar like him doesn't fit in the picture anyway.
'Tch.'
Kim Kwang-seon clicked his tongue at the incoming chat.
Whether it was the viewers or that skinny guy's girlfriend, they had no eye for real men.
As a true alpha male, it was utterly regrettable.
"Next participant, please enter."
"Brothers! It's finally my turn! Time to crush this event!"
He swept a disdainful glance over Jinhyeok and entered the tent.
Once Kim Kwang-seon was a bit farther away, Seira spoke.
"If you'll permit it, I'll go slit his throat quietly."
"Slit what? It's not like bullying the weak."
Seira gazed at Jinhyeok, serene as ever.
"Master has a broad mind."
Then she fixed her eyes on the tent Kim Kwang-seon had entered.
'20 seconds? No, 10 would suffice.'
A human who couldn't even gauge if his opponent was stronger or weaker than himself.
If Kim Kwang-seon had crossed paths with Jinhyeok in the middle of a battlefield, his head would be rolling on the ground by now.
"Seira, if I fail, you participate. Two people ups the odds better than one."
"Understood. But Master will finish it."
"We don't even know what they do inside?"
Seira placed a hand on Jinhyeok's shoulder.
"Doesn't matter. Master can do anything."
Jinhyeok let out a soft chuckle.
Having someone who trusted him infinitely without question or doubt.
It was truly a mood-lifting, reassuring thing.
At that moment.
"Hraaaaaah!!"
An enormous shout of spirit echoed from inside.
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T/N:
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