Creak!
Fetch firmly grasped the greatsword in both hands.
“I am not arrogant.”
“No, no. With that level of skill, you can afford to be arrogant.”
“…You can see my ability?”
Park Jinsung concentrated his gaze to discern the hidden abilities of Caladbolg.
“I wonder how incredible the martial arts techniques embedded in Fetch’s body are. And.”
‘There was something abbreviated with a question mark earlier.’
[Caladbolg, Absolute Talent]
It engulfs the target’s Edeya and modifies and develops it as its own.
It can only engulf one at a time, and if it engulfs another Edeya while already having one, the previous ability disappears.
The scale of the Edeya it can engulf is proportional to the owner’s mental strength.
*Current engulfed Edeya: none
“…….”
Park Jinsung swallowed hard.
The noble in front of him possessed the ability to rightfully spout about noblesse oblige. At least, he was not a fool whose actions did not match his words.
A deadly combination of power and Edeya.
Moreover, Fetch barely frowned at Park Jinsung’s deadly aura, appearing unaffected.
‘Come to think of it, was Fetch my age too?’
A high school sophomore exuding dark murderous intent and the one who just mildly feels bad about it.
Park Jinsung might be one thing, but Fetch also seemed to have experienced numerous life-threatening situations. Normally, the fear of one person killing another is something even grown adults should avoid at all costs.
“Csik.”
Yet, there is no retreat, nor regret, or even a future consideration.
Using murderous intent as offensive power means committing the act right then and there.
The moment one looks forward to the next, the essential nature of murderous intent fades.
He does not kill, but he never backs down either.
“Ahaha.”
Only attack, and again attack, continuously attacking.
At the moment Park Jinsung charged again at Fetch, Fetch laid the tip of Caladbolg towards the ground.
“Nebenhut: Tail.”
A lower stance in Western longsword fencing.
Fetch smoothly swung his sword just as Park Jinsung entered his range.
Clang!
Park Jinsung was slightly slowed down by the recoil from blocking the sword.
Although Park Jinsung initiated the attack, he ended up needing to defend first.
“Ahaha…!”
Still, Park Jinsung quickly corrected his stance and pushed off the ground, determined to penetrate the range of the greatsword with his dagger.
“I’ll show you something interesting. Schlussel (Schlüssel): Key.”
Fetch cradled the hilt against his chest and aimed the tip of his sword at Park Jinsung. By only exposing his side profile, he reduced the area vulnerable to the dagger’s thrust.
“No matter the stance, it doesn’t matter. Only attack… Huh?!”
The bright red dagger swooped down on Fetch like a viper.
Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!
However, the tip of the greatsword precisely collided with the end of the dagger, neutralizing the attack.
“Is that all you have?”
‘…The routes are also tricky.’
Three potential murder routes were exposed on Fetch.
All led only backward, meaningless if Fetch’s rear was not secured.
Blink blink blink… Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Even the route circling to his left thigh blinked several times before disappearing.
It seemed the routes had decreased to two after the recent thrust. Fetch slightly bent his left knee, and no gaps remained.
Eventually, Park Jinsung halted his charge and a standoff ensued.
“Is that it already, Mr. Jinsung?”
“Csik, just Csik.”
“…….”
Fetch remained silent at Park Jinsung’s relaxed demeanor.
‘What’s this? Mr. Jinsung’s limits should have been exposed by now.’
Fetch realized he was severely tense only after a bead of sweat rolled down his spine.
Certainly, Mr. Jinsung’s offensive power had increased noticeably since he began exuding a messy aura.
But that was it.
He hadn’t even grazed Fetch’s clothes, let alone reached the range of his dagger, and even suffered the humiliation of having all his thrusts blocked.
Though the Edeya of discerning abilities was somewhat surprising, it was clear that Mr. Jinsung was several levels below him.
‘But what’s with this chill…?’
Fetch shook his head.
A mouse in a frenzy does not scare a tiger.
To shake off the slight unease, Fetch initiated an attack for the first time.
“Hehe. What is it? Copying the same move again?”
Regardless of Fetch’s attack, Park Jinsung successively detonated his thigh. After all, there was only one thing he had to do.
Chaeng!
A brief spark flew the moment the dagger and the greatsword met.
Fetch, having copied the movements, attacked Park Jinsung in an exact mirroring form.
[Caladbolg]
It fully embodies the movements of the opponent the owner has dueled, making it their own.
As the greatsword adopted a viper-like thrusting stance, it gave off a feeling as if it had expanded into an anaconda.
A perfect superior upgrade.
Park Jinsung’s dagger skills, enhanced by a physical prowess superior to his own, manifested in a more advanced form than the skills he possessed.
The greatsword not only overpowered the dagger in strength and range, but even in accuracy.
Kaaaang!
Barely deflecting the thrusts, Park Jinsung couldn’t withstand the last one and was sent flying. It was a heavy blow that forced him to regather his posture while groggily.
“Ahaha. Truly an incredible talent. It’s the first time I see someone superior to me in every aspect.”
“…But why can you still smile? What about that unpleasant laughter!”
“I suppose it looks a bit unfortunate.”
Park Jinsung readjusted his grip on the dagger to a reverse hold.
“You don’t mean…!”
“Ahaha! Let’s see if you can keep up with this!”
Park Jinsung, filled with joy, attacked Fetch.
Pabat!
His charging speed remained unchanged.
Due to the anaconda-like thrust, there was an undeniable slow down. But,
“Mr. Jinsung! Have you been holding back your strength and skills until now?!”
“Ahahaha!! Try to copy this reverse grip too, Fetch!!”
The dagger, intended for a reverse thrust, spun and slashed horizontally.
Kkaang!
Fetch barely defended with the side of his greatsword, but his knees slightly bent.
[Complete Murderous Intent]
The physical capacity increases to three times the original amount.
[Partial Murderous Intent]
Only some of the combat power possessed by [Complete Murderous Intent] is manifested.
Exposed parts replicate the movements of [Complete Murderous Intent] regardless of the owner’s will. However, this does not apply to parts fully acquired.
Wooddudeuk!
Park Jinsung’s right arm, holding the dagger, became extremely swollen compared to his loose left arm.
A threefold increase in physical capacity.
“Ahahahahahaha!”
Having recognized Fetch’s Edeya, Park Jinsung was slowly and steadily increasing his strength. He had been restricting even the techniques involving a reverse grip from the beginning.
“Csik! Ah! The endorphins won’t stop, Fetch!!”
Even Park Jinsung himself thought it sounded somewhat childish.
He had always been proud to be a member of HT and the Zombie Squad. His efforts were not so fragile that they could be shattered by mere talent.
Initially, he attacked conventionally but couldn’t win, and reached a point where he could not compete without relying on his enhanced right arm.
He had never seen someone so tightly packed with talent.
“But… that’s what makes it good… Right? Right right right??”
“Wha, what.”
“That incredible talent, honestly, relies a bit on the Edeya, doesn’t it? Then this time, I’ll also use an Edeya and shatter that talent along with it.”
“What nonsensical talk!! Then what about the energy and the dagger you’ve been using from the start, Mr. Jinsung!!”
As Park Jinsung began to wield his dagger in reverse grip, his attacks became two or three times more varied.
The murderous routes that had vanished earlier returned, and gradually, new paths faintly began to emerge.
Kaaang!
Above all, the power of Fetch’s downward strike with the greatsword and Park Jinsung’s one-handed slash with the dagger became nearly equal.
“Csik.”
“Argh!”
For the first time, Fetch was pushed back.
“Aha. Now, I’ll show you something interesting.”
“What is that!”
“Nebenhut: Tail.”
A lower stance in Western longsword fencing.
Park Jinsung stretched his right arm downward. Apart from the dagger aimed at the ground, it was the same stance Fetch had taken.
Sasak!
As the dagger was drawn upwards, Park Jinsung’s form surged forward.
The dagger, colorless and odorless like the greatsword, flicked it away, erasing its presence as if it truly was non-existent.
“Schlussel (Schlüssel): Key.”
In an instant, Park Jinsung reached up to Fetch’s chin, cradling the dagger while only exposing his side profile. It was the moment Fetch’s vital points on the upper body were exposed to the glaring red trajectories.
Sssssssssssssssssss!
A fierce wind blew enough to flutter Fetch’s blond hair.
“…….”
“Heavy, center, chest sky, solar plexus, lower peace, cooperative shadow, forward light, everywhere.”
Countless thrusts halted just before touching Fetch’s body. The murderous intent that had cloaked Park Jinsung’s face scattered in all directions.
“…Mr. Jinsung. You are more than I imagined. Impressive.”
“Hehe. I can also mimic with a dagger. Well, not as insanely perfect as Fetch, though.”
“Was that monstrous right arm the identity of the Edeya you possess? Such techniques unfolded by that arm, I dare not even attempt to replicate. I had no idea you could mimic my techniques.”
Swoosh!
Fetch deactivated the colorless Caladbolg.
“Why stop here? Is my Edeya too messy for you to consume?”
“You caught that too. To explain, I only consume what is delicious.”
Fetch curved his lips in a Csik similar to Park Jinsung’s.
“Csik. My Edeya would give you a stomachache.”
“Csik. That might be true. But sadly, I have a specific Edeya I plan to consume. I need to keep my stomach empty for that time.”
“Do not meddle with deputy.”
“Ha. Do you mind?”
“…Ha. Do you wish to die?”
Chill!
A frosty blade-like smile was directed solely at Fetch.
Fetch, not to be overwhelmed by Park Jinsung, tensed his entire body in resistance.
Fetch reminded himself that he had not yet used his final move as he desperately resisted the fear.
‘Wait. Did I just think “fear”?’
Although surprised by Park Jinsung’s strength, if he gave it his all, it wasn’t something he couldn’t handle.
Fetch had internalized numerous techniques, many of which Jinsung could not even begin to mimic.
Moreover, he was currently in a ‘fasting’ state, not fully utilizing Caladbolg in the fight.
‘Until just now, the aura wasn’t this heavy…’
Yet, Fetch found himself evading responsibility with his response.
“…It’s the head of the family’s choice.”
“The head of the family?”
“My being in Korea, and my need to be connected with Miss Seyun, all reflect the will of the entire White Goblin Kim family.”
“Ugh. It’s not the entire family’s will. After all, Deputy also belongs to the White Goblin Kim family.”
“Mr. Jinsung, that is…”
Park Jinsung sighed shortly, and the murderous aura that had enveloped the rooftop disappeared.
“Ha. I can’t get involved in a family fight. It’s incredibly annoying.”
“The head of the family wants to see you, Mr. Jinsung. Actually, I was ordered to bring you tonight.”
“Eh? All of a sudden?”
“I just wanted to see Mr. Jinsung’s real skills before taking you. I apologize for that.”
“Do you really need to go through all this hassle?”
“I am a man, so I hate to admit defeat… But since Mr. Jinsung won, I will give you a piece of advice.”
“What is it?”
“Never underestimate the head of the family. He is much more significant than you can imagine, Mr. Jinsung.”
“I wouldn’t disrespect a member of deputy’s family.”
“No, Mr. Jinsung. You won’t be able to comprehend the head of the family. He is even worse than me.”
“Tch.”
That damned elite mentality.
“Then let’s go have a meal, Mr. Jinsung.”
“Don’t talk to me like we’re friends after fighting to the death just now.”
“Shall I spread the word that Mr. Jinsung’s Edeya is more than just a dagger?”
“Tch. Are all elites so petty?”
“If we fight again, I will win. So please remember what I said earlier.”
“What kind of sophistry is that!”
Fetch left through the rooftop door with a smile.
However, despite his smile, he could not forgive himself for the fear he had just felt.
‘Why did I…’
Why did I evade responsibility by invoking the head of the family even when faced with death?
Was it not because I liked Miss Seyun and wanted to consume her Edeya?
“But Fetch, why do you, a foreigner, listen to a place like the White Goblin Kim family?”
Thanks to Park Jinsung’s question shot at his own back, Fetch managed to pull himself together.
‘Was the fear I just felt real… Damn it.’
“Fetch?”
“…Perhaps the head of the family will teach you personally.”
Despite the newfound fear shivering through his body, Fetch maintained his smile towards Park Jinsung until the end.
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