Chapter 42

The Strange World (6)

"What… what happened?"

Even as Myungho asked the question, he was already shifting the car into reverse.

To someone who was nothing more than prey in this world, every unexplained phenomenon was something to avoid at all costs.

That was why he didn't even want to know why a Mutant and the Mungyeong First Sword had formed an alliance.

It might have been valuable information, but it wouldn't help his immediate survival. If anything, it would only make things more dangerous.

Risking your life for curiosity? That's insane.

Just as Myungho was about to slam on the accelerator—

"Wait. I need to get out."

"…Huh?"

Myungho looked at Yeongwoo in confusion, but instead of answering, Yeongwoo opened the passenger door.

Immediately, the sounds of battle rushed into the vehicle.

"GRAAAAH!"

"KREEEK!"

Most of what they heard were the dying screams of the monsters collapsing one after another, and the battle itself was overwhelmingly favoring the mysterious duo.

Which wasn't surprising.

One of them was a second-day Mutant.

The other...

...was a First Sword who had successfully defended his title 96 times.

Click.

As for Yeongwoo—

Current Gyeongbok First Sword: Jung Myungwoo07
1st Generation – Defense Count: 0

Since becoming the Gyeongbok First Sword, he had never killed another person, so his defense count remained zero.

Even counting every defense battle from his days as the Gumi First Sword, it wasn't remotely comparable to ninety-six victories.

But what truly caught Yeongwoo's attention wasn't the difference in strength.

It was why those two were working together.

Someone who's defended the First Sword title ninety-six times surely didn't become First Sword by accident... So why is he cooperating with a Mutant?

Yeongwoo watched the two figures charging through the monsters.

The blue Mutant—apparently on his second day after mutation—stood nearly five meters tall.

Every swing of his arm sent monsters flying like sheets of paper.

His raw physical strength was monstrous.

Meanwhile, the Mungyeong First Sword moved nearby with lightning speed.

Slash!

Even from a glance, his swordsmanship and perfectly optimized movements showed that he was completely accustomed to fighting inside this hologram game.

Neither side appeared weaker than the other.

Did they simply agree to eliminate the monsters first?

...No. That still doesn't make sense.

For the First Sword, maybe. But what benefit does a Mutant gain from that?

Of course, Mutants were still human at their core.

Some could make unexpected choices.

Maybe his rage had disappeared after returning.

Maybe he'd always been an eccentric.

...Or maybe he simply cared about his family.

If it's the last one... I'll probably have to fight both of them at once.

This could easily become another one-versus-two battle.

Yeongwoo touched the whistle hanging around his neck.

A status window appeared.

Amber Whistle — Legendary Necklace
Calls a friend.
Companion: Myungtae

But another message immediately appeared.

Today's remaining friend summons: 0

The whistle could normally be used twice.

Yeongwoo had already exhausted both uses.

Once when he first obtained it.

Once during the battle against the Sangju First Sword.

And the reason he'd used it back then had been to face both a First Sword and a Mutant simultaneously.

Yet now, in the very next city...

...he had encountered an even stranger situation.

Back then they fought separately.

This time, there's a high chance I'll have to fight both together.

If battle was inevitable—

This was the perfect opportunity for an ambush.

"Attack from behind!"

"GRAAAAH!"

The monsters were still distracting both of them.

If he struck now, he could catch one off guard, inflict the pain effect from Golden Punishment, and gain the upper hand immediately.

Yet Yeongwoo...

...didn't interfere.

Even though the monsters had already been reduced to single digits.

Because the moment he launched a surprise attack—

...any other possible option would disappear.

For example...

Talking.

Is this why the system diagnosed me as a blockhead?

Step.

Step.

Without drawing his sword, Yeongwoo simply walked forward at a steady pace.

"P-Please spare me!"

"Wait!"

Thanks to that, the Mutant and the First Sword were able to finish off even the fleeing monsters without interruption.

Only afterward did they finally notice the unexpected visitor.

"Hm?"

"Huh?"

The blue Mutant and the white-haired old man widened their eyes simultaneously.

At that exact moment, the monster corpses began dissolving into Karma.

Scarlet coins scattered everywhere.

Several even rolled to Yeongwoo's feet.

As expected...

The white eyebrows of the Mungyeong First Sword twitched.

The message was obvious.

Don't touch the spoils.

Mungyeong First Sword

The old man's title shone just as fiercely as his piercing gaze.

Looking directly at it, Yeongwoo slowly spread both arms.

It was partly a gesture showing he had no immediate intention of fighting.

But it also prevented the old man from collecting the coins.

If they ended up fighting anyway...

Yeongwoo intended to claim them afterward.

"Is there some story behind this? I've never seen anything like it."

As he spoke, Yeongwoo glanced toward the Mutant standing behind the old man.

Then...

A familiar name appeared.

Actor — Jang Daemyung

...Ah.

So Jang Daemyung was from Mungyeong.

Jang Daemyung.

Male.

Forty-nine years old.

For fifteen years he had built a successful career as a film actor.

But two years ago...

Everything ended.

After causing a fatal hit-and-run accident, he was expelled from the film industry.

To make matters worse, it became known that he had been heavily intoxicated at the time.

There were even reports suggesting the victim might have survived had he provided immediate first aid.

Public outrage exploded.

Although he received a prison sentence...

People never forgave him.

His name continued circulating online, which was why Yeongwoo remembered him so clearly.

So he became one of the purge targets...

Many hated celebrities had been purged during the first filtering process.

But Jang Daemyung's case was different.

He might not have intentionally set out to murder someone.

But he had struck a person.

Then abandoned them.

That neglect had ultimately resulted in death.

To Yeongwoo—

Drunk driving was reckless homicide.

Hit-and-run...

...was simply murder.

The moment he learned the Mutant of Mungyeong was Jang Daemyung—

His curiosity disappeared.

So did any desire to resolve things peacefully.

At least in this case...

He deserves to die.

Damn it...

I should've attacked immediately.

Only now did he regret letting the perfect opportunity slip away.

That thought was plainly reflected in his eyes.

Or rather...

The veteran instincts of Jang Chunyong16, the Mungyeong First Sword, immediately perceived it.

"You seem to recognize my son," the old man said.

"So I'll answer your earlier question as well."

"I'm Daemyung's father."

"…I thought as much."

Seeing they shared the same surname, Yeongwoo had already guessed.

He nodded silently.

Those two simple sentences told him many things.

Jang Chunyong looked well over eighty years old.

Before receiving his title and identification number, he had merely been an ordinary elderly man.

Then the Reset began.

He was forced to watch society judge his imprisoned son all over again in real time.

Did he know his son would return here?

Or was he simply taking revenge against the world...?

Whatever the truth...

The old man had ultimately become the Mungyeong First Sword.

Looking at his 96 successful defenses now...

They carried a completely different weight.

"You came all the way here to see my son?"

The old man lifted the sword resting on the ground in a threatening posture.

"I..."

Yeongwoo slowly moved his hand toward his waist.

"I didn't know your son was here."

"I simply..."

His gaze shifted toward Jang Daemyung.

The giant who had crushed monsters moments earlier now looked completely different.

Fear filled his face as he looked back and forth between his father and the outsider.

At the very least—

He clearly didn't want to fight another human.

...What?

They know they'd have a huge advantage if a fight breaks out.

Then why...?

As Yeongwoo stood there in confusion—

Jang Daemyung finally spoke.

"If you didn't come here to kill me..."

"Then continue on your way."

"We don't want to fight people either."

"…!"

Yeongwoo was genuinely shocked.

Having met countless Mutants already...

This response was unlike any he'd ever heard.

"Then... why did you come back?"

Still stunned, he managed to ask.

Jang Daemyung pointed toward his father.

"To see him."

"And..."

"I wanted to know what had happened to the world."

His expression wasn't filled with rage.

Nor did he look mentally broken.

He really came back... just because he was worried about his father?

Is this what filial piety looks like?

Yeongwoo, who had never known a father himself, could only understand the concept in theory.

"If you're hesitating..."

"Then leave."

"Don't throw your life away."

Jang Chunyong warned him once more.

Simply appearing here meant Yeongwoo had come searching for the Mutant's mark.

Naturally...

The old man already knew this outsider was far from ordinary.

And indeed—

Yeongwoo wasn't just any First Sword.

He was the Gyeongbok First Sword.

He possessed the Amber Whistle, meaning he needed to recruit Mutants.

He also had to continue collecting First Sword titles to maintain his position.

And above all—

If I let Jang Daemyung live...

The Golden Ratio achievement will move even farther away.

Golden Flood
Summon the Golden Ratio in 15 unknown regions.
Progress: 3/5

Since Yeongwoo had chosen not to monopolize Karma, his overall stats lagged behind other First Swords.

Completing the Golden Ratio achievement was extremely important.

"If I simply walk away today..."

"Someone else will eventually come after your son."

Yeongwoo spoke calmly.

Jang Chunyong snorted.

"Hah."

"Isn't that just an excuse?"

"It sounds to me like you're here to harm my son as well."

"…I won't deny it."

"I have been searching for Mutants."

"But..."

"I don't want to harm your son."

"Then what exactly are you trying to do?"

"This conversation is becoming tiresome."

The old man's irritation seemed genuine.

A terrifying killing intent had been radiating from him for quite some time.

Seeing this, Yeongwoo immediately stretched out his hand toward Jang Daemyung.

"Mr. Jang Daemyung!"

"Before coming here..."

"Didn't anyone explain the Return ability to you?"

"…?"

Jang Daemyung froze.

Then slowly looked down at his own palm.

Even Jang Chunyong took several cautious steps backward, staring anxiously at his five-meter-tall son.

"What are you talking about?"

"Return?"

Then...

Something clicked in Jang Daemyung's memory.

"Ah..."

He opened his hand halfway.

Blue light burst forth.

Flash!

A door-shaped Return Mark formed in his palm.

Just as I thought...!

Yeongwoo's eyes widened.

Just like everyone else—

Before arriving here...

Jang Daemyung had also been taught about the Return system.

However—

Fwoosh...

He slowly closed his hand again.

The mark disappeared.

Then he looked directly at Yeongwoo.

And in a noticeably different tone than before...

He asked,

"But... why should I go back?"