Chapter 110. So This Is It

What the...?

What just happened?

Just moments ago, Isaac stood before Kim Do-Joon. Now, he was lying unconscious, buried amongst the other members of the Mercenaries Guild. The entire crowd had failed to grasp what had just occurred—except for two people.

Wait... That person is...

One of them was Yeon Hong-Ahh. She stared at Kim Do-Joon, wide-eyed, clearly recognizing his face. She had fought alongside him during the raid on the A-rank dungeon, Sky Bridge. She had even invited him to join the Rune Mage shortly after, only to be mercilessly turned down, which stung her pride.

Later, she’d heard more about him from the Association President, and realized that he was the one she’d been looking for all along—the one who had the equipment of the Elves. Yet, he refused to meet her, claiming he no longer had the items.

He was the first to ever build such an unapproachable wall despite knowing that she was an S-rank Hunter. It left her baffled and intrigued.

The other person was Walter Harris.

That man... He’s no ordinary A-rank, is he?

He made his way to Kim Do-Joon voluntarily, observing him keenly. The move Kim Do-Joon had just pulled off couldn’t possibly have come from an average A-rank Hunter.

Isaac attacked first, and yet he dodged it effortlessly and even countered with a punch.

Isaac’s specialty was his unpredictable attack pattern. His strikes always took erratic paths that even Walter had trouble keeping up if he wasn’t careful. Moreover, his initial blow this time had been a bewildering strike, fast enough to confuse even Walter.

Normally, his opponent would’ve been hit or forced to block, like all the Korean Hunters before Kim Do-Joon. Yet, Kim Do-Joon had perfectly read Isaac’s wild attack and landed a flawless counter.

Well, he could have observed Isaac a few times from the stands.

However, even with prior observation, this was no small feat. Kim Do-Joon had pinpointed the core of Isaac’s unpredictable attacks just from a few glimpses.

No wonder the Korean Association President keeps an eye on him.

Walter waved his finger, gesturing for Kim Do-Joon to make the first move.

“Come on. I’ll give you the first shot,” said Walter.

As an S-rank fighting an A-rank, he should give his opponent at least this much.

How would Kim Do-Joon approach the fight? Would he go all out from the start, or lay down a strategic foundation for later moves? It had been ages since Walter felt this kind of anticipation in a sparring match, especially against an A-rank.

Whatever he tries, I’ll crush him head-on.

A cocky grin spread across Walter’s face. No matter how interesting the opponent, he was still just an A-rank. He didn’t even think that Kim Do-Joon would pose a threat.

He wants me to go first?

When the interpreter relayed Walter’s words, Kim Do-Joon didn’t see any reason to refuse. It was his first time sparring against an S-rank, after all. So far, the only S-rank Hunters he had encountered were Shin Yoo-Sung and, more recently, Yeon Hong-Ahh.

Knowing this, he wasn’t planning on letting his guard down. He was curious to know if his skills would hold up against a top-tier Hunter.

Rather than probing him, I’ll give it my all.

Gathering the massive mana energy of Ice Crystal he’d cultivated, Kim Do-Joon enveloped himself in its freezing aura.

And then, in the blink of an eye, the ground caved in, and Kim Do-Joon vanished.

Boom!

Walter flinched at the sudden disappearance. In an instant, he jumped to the side, like a startled cat sensing danger right next to him.

Walter reflexively put several meters between himself and Kim Do-Joon, who had reappeared. His heart was pounding, albeit for a very different reason this time.

What the hell was that?

It felt as if he had been standing in front of an avalanche, bare and exposed, about to be swallowed whole by the freezing snow.

No, it was actually even more terrifying. Walter knew that even if it had been a real avalanche, he’d have survived it with ease. Just now, his instincts had screamed at him to dodge.

Are you kidding me?

Kim Do-Joon slowly lowered the fist he had raised with a disappointed look. He had already predicted that his opponent might dodge and counter, planning several moves ahead. After sparring numerous times with Jecheon Seong, a far superior fighter, this had become a habit to him. What he hadn’t expected was for the S-rank Hunter to retreat that far, completely avoiding the exchange.

"Damn, the Mercenaries Guild’s S-rank is such a coward.” Kim Do-Joon threw out the remark, remembering the ridicule from when he first arrived, mostly toward Yeon Hong-Ah. It was squarely aimed at provoking Walter, and it hit the mark perfectly.

The translator enthusiastically relayed the comment, and everyone in the vicinity heard it. Murmurs and whispers spread through the crowd, eventually reaching Walter’s ears. Some of the Korean Hunters snickered, while his own guild members gasped in shock.

Walter’s face flushed red with anger.

"It looks like you’ve got a trick up your sleeve, but that won’t work again.," Walter growled, barely able to control his emotions with deep breaths.

With that, he leapt toward Kim Do-Joon. He didn’t need to hesitate after giving up the first move. His fists and feet, powerful enough to shatter boulders, rushed at Kim Do-Joon in rapid succession.

Wham! Wham! Wham!

However, not a single strike hit its mark. Almost every blow was dodged, blocked, or deflected. The few hits that landed barely grazed Kim Do-Joon. Any ordinary person would’ve died from that.

"Who the hell is this guy?"

"There's another Hunter like Mr. Ko in Korea?"

"Holy shit!"

The crowd’s murmurs grew louder and more frantic. At first, they had chalked up Walter’s initial failure to carelessly underestimating his opponent. But no, this was something else entirely.

It was obvious to anyone watching that Walter was no longer holding back. Every attack was calculated, reading two or three moves ahead. And yet, all of them were effortlessly parried, making Walter look like a flailing child instead of an S-rank Hunter.

Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon didn’t even register the crowd’s reactions. His attention was fixed solely on the sparring match and his opponent. As the exchange continued, a realization hit Kim Do-Joon like a lightning bolt.

So, this is it.

It wasn’t about Walter, but himself. He had grown far stronger than he had ever thought.

For a long time, Kim Do-Joon had been training relentlessly with Jecheon Seong. Sometimes, they’d spar with bare hands; other times, they used weapons. Thanks to those brutal training sessions, his skills had advanced far beyond what he initially imagined.

Walter probably had more experience sparring with various opponents, but the quality of those matches was entirely different. Sparring a hundred times against ordinary Hunters couldn’t compare to one duel against an elite.

Walter would be shocked to hear such thoughts. After all, most of his sparring partners were either S-rank or the highest A-ranks—Hunters who could hardly be called "ordinary."

Nevertheless, Kim Do-Joon had benefited from his harsh training with Jecheon Seong. His mana energy was nothing to scoff at either. In fact, after acquiring the Flame Heart’s Fragment, his stored energy far exceeded that of Walter’s. Even without using that power, it ensured he was never at a disadvantage during the duel.

Damn it!

As a result, Walter was growing more and more desperate. The man in front of him was beginning to look like an insurmountable wall—a towering, endless obstacle. If it had been another S-rank, Walter would’ve accepted defeat and backed off. Heck, if not for the crowd watching, he would’ve admitted his loss outright.

That realization clouded his mind, turning it blank. In a moment of panic, he made a decision.

Inventory!

The air around Walter rippled as space warped, and a sword appeared in his hand. It was a strange weapon, made entirely of dark red metal from the blade to the hilt.

"Stop!" Yeon Hong-Ah's voice rang out from below the platform.

However, Walter was beyond hearing her. He was in a trance, mindlessly swinging his sword with full force.

Clink—

However, the blade came to a sudden halt, caught firmly at Kim Do-Joon’s neck. He had grabbed the sword mid-swing, and it didn’t budge, as if it struck solid rock. His gaze, cold enough to make summer feel like winter, locked onto Walter.

How come there’s someone like him in Korea...?

Walter’s eyes widened as he finally realized the enormity of his mistake. By drawing a weapon, he had broken the unspoken rule of a hand-to-hand sparring match. It was a severe breach of conduct, and could even be considered as an assassination attempt. No one would blame Kim Do-Joon for taking offense.

However, Kim Do-Joon’s icy gaze was not out of anger. His mind was on something entirely different.

This will be counted as self-defense, right?

[One of the effects of the Blood Chaser can be copied and pasted onto Kim Do-Joon.]

A system notification popped up in front of him.

Walter drew his weapon first, so even if it gets destroyed, he has no right to complain.

Before Walter could react, Kim Do-Joon quickly activated the copy-pasting ability, scanning the sword's effects and selecting one that looked useful.

[The item effect has been successfully copied and pasted.]

[The Blood Chaser has been destroyed.]

Crack!

The sword fully crumbled in his grasp, shattering into tiny fragments that fell to the ground. Walter, and even Yeon Hong-Ah, who had rushed to intervene, froze in place.

Did he just crush an S-rank Hunter’s sword with just a touch?

Both of them stood in shock, processing what had just happened. Between them, Kim Do-Joon struggled to keep a straight face, his lips twitching with the urge to grin.

I better not laugh... it might cause trouble.

Kim Do-Joon tried so hard to hold back the unexpected sense of satisfaction.

***

Unsurprisingly, Walter didn’t demand compensation for his destroyed weapon. In fact, he was the one who ended up offering a formal apology to Kim Do-Joon. Some probably felt sorry for Walter—not only did he lose his precious sword, he also had to bow his head to his opponent. Still, it was his own doing. He had brought it upon himself.

Kim Do-Joon, on the other hand, returned home without any issues. By that time, the duel was already a distant memory for him. It was over, and there were more pressing matters ahead.

Two weeks left, huh?

Kim Do-Joon thought, recalling the Giant Woodland subjugation mission briefed by Son Chang-Il. The mission was set to begin in about two weeks, so there was still time for preparation.

The involvement of the government, various guilds, and the Mercenaries Guild; along with logistical arrangements, meant that the timeline was tight. The news of the Mercenaries Guild’s participation in the subjugation had already made headlines, which explained Walter and his subordinates’ presence at the Association.

As he scrolled through the articles on his phone, Kim Do-Joon nodded to himself.

So that's why the Mercenaries Guild Hunters were at the Association.

Amid the news, another article caught his attention. The real hot topic was the rumor that the Mercenaries Guild was involved because of Ko Cheong-Cheon’s defection.

Without a doubt, the story turned into a nationwide controversy.

└ Is this for real? Is he leaving Korea to immigrate to the US? └ They probably offered him a sweet deal over there. └ I don’t care! We can't just let him go. Our country’s power is about to weaken because of this! └ How are we supposed to stop him if he wants to leave? What is this, North Korea?

The comment section had turned into a battlefield, with people either condemning or defending Ko Cheong-Cheon’s decision. Kim Do-Joon scrolled down absentmindedly, but as the comments grew more toxic and out of hand, he furrowed his brow and turned off his phone, slipping it into his pocket.

Ugh, two weeks is a long time to wait...

While Kim Do-Joon was stretching with a sigh, an idea came to him all of the sudden.

[Skill: Labyrinth Entry – Frozen Harbor. Cooldown remaining: 126:42:59]

There were just over five days left until the cooldown ended. With plenty of time before the Giant Woodland subjugation, Kim Do-Joon figured he could take a quick trip inside.

Also, if he managed to clear the labyrinth, he could get something useful for the subjugation.

Besides, I’m a little concerned with that fellow.

Therefore, he thought checking in on her wouldn’t hurt.

Then, five days later, Kim Do-Joon stepped back into the labyrinth.

[You have entered the Frozen Harbor.]

***

Two days after Kim Do-Joon entered the labyrinth, with one week remaining before the Giant Woodland subjugation...

Son Chang-Il rubbed his tired eyes in his office. After spending the entire day making phone calls and signing off on documents, his eyes were tired.

“Aren’t you going to head home?” Shin Yoo-Sung, who’d been sipping tea at the table, asked.

Since the Hwaseong incident, the two had grown somewhat close.

“How could I go home when there’s so much work?” Son Chang-Il replied.

“Fair enough,” Shin Yoo-Sung shrugged.

If it were just ordinary tasks, Shin Yoo-Sung would’ve told him to leave it for tomorrow. However, this was far from ordinary. They were preparing for the subjugation of the S-rank dungeon, Giant Woodland—a mission that required absolute vigilance. Son Chang-Il had volunteered to stay late, feeling the weight of the operation on his shoulders.

“You seem worried,” Shin Yoo-Sung said.

“Of course I am. The preparations are going smoothly, but...”

Son Chang-Il couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. It wasn’t just about the subjugation itself, but what would come afterward.

“Is it because of Ko Cheong-Cheon?” Shin Yoo-Sung asked.

“... Yeah.”

After all, there was also Ko Cheong-Cheon’s impending departure. What would become of the country once he left? Everyone was so focused on the immediate issue of the Giant Woodland that they hadn’t stopped to think about the future. However, Son Chang-Il did not have that luxury.

When Ko Cheong-Cheon leaves, Korea will only have two S-ranks left.

The presence of an S-rank Hunter was monumental, not just in terms of military strength, but also as a symbol. Shin Yoo-Sung, sitting before him, and Yeon Hong-Ah, who was gathering Rune Mage’s forces for the upcoming mission, were both reliable talents.

However, no matter how much faith he had in them, it still felt like something was missing. Up until now, Ko Cheong-Cheon had been a towering figure above them, providing stability.

“A new S-rank...” Son Chang-Il muttered, almost to himself.

That was what the country needed—someone to fill the void Ko Cheong-Cheon would leave behind. And in that moment, a face flashed through Son Chang-Il’s mind.

He expected it to be Oh Tae-Jin, the most promising candidate. However, his eyes widened in surprise when the image of someone else popped into his head. It was Kim Do-Joon.

Quickly shaking his head, Son Chang-Il dismissed the thought.

“No, not yet,” he whispered to himself.

Of course, he had high hopes for Kim Do-Joon. He believed that Kim Do-Joon would reach S-rank one day. However, now wasn’t the time, as he wasn’t at that level in terms of skill or symbolic importance.

For now, Oh Tae-Jin seemed the most likely candidate. Just then, Shin Yoo-Sung spoke up.

“Who do you think will be the next S-rank? Honestly, I think it’ll be Hunter Kim Do-Joon.”

The pen in Son Chang-Il’s hand froze mid-air. He turned to Shin Yoo-Sung, astonished.

Shin Yoo-Sung looked back at him, puzzled by his reaction.

“Why? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Son Chang-Il couldn’t believe that Shin Yoo-Sung was thinking of the same person.

“... Well, I don’t know,” Son Chang-Il replied, shaking off the complex thoughts swirling in his head.

He picked up the pen again, returning to his work. Just then, an urgent voice came through the direct line connected to the branch in Haenam.

— President! We have an emergency!

Both Shin Yoo-Sung and Son Chang-Il’s expressions stiffened immediately. Son Chang-Il grabbed the phone.

“What happened?!”