Chapter 15
At that time, deep in the quiet night of the Empire.
In contrast to the peaceful night, cries of suffering could be heard from a training ground that had been completely messed up.
“Haaah, haaah! I, I can't do anymore...!! Even if you beat me to death, I can't do it!”
Bong Taesu collapsed onto the ground, his entire body drenched in sweat.
He desperately gasped for breath.
And it was not only Bong Taesu.
Lee Yumi and Kim Hyuna also looked completely exhausted.
Mikhail carefully watched the three of them before resting his wooden sword on his shoulder and shaking his head.
“All three of you are quite disappointing. Since you are his companions, I expected a slightly higher level. Perhaps I expected too much.”
Kim Hyuna struggled to shake Lee Yumi's shoulder as she lay collapsed beside her.
“U, Unnie! You're okay, right...?”
Lee Yumi barely managed to lift her head.
She seemed too exhausted to even speak and answered only with a lifeless expression.
“Uuugh....”
“U, Unnie...!!”
This was how the whole situation had begun.
After separating from Suhyeok, the three left the tavern and headed straight toward the inn.
An awkward silence hung between them.
The first person to break it was none other than Bong Taesu.
“If Brother already had something planned, I wish he'd at least told us beforehand. I understand why he didn't, but I still feel a little disappointed.”
Bong Taesu walked with his head lowered, his face filled with worry.
Seeing him like that, Lee Yumi gave him a pathetic look.
“Oppa must have his own plans. If you're really that unhappy, Mister, then just travel by yourself. Hyuna and I are going to train.”
“W, when did I say I was unhappy?! I'm merely worried about Brother....”
“Yes, yes. I'm sure that's what it is. Let's go, Hyuna.”
“Haha....”
Bong Taesu stood there and watched the two women walk away.
Feeling slightly hurt inside, he deliberately shouted loudly enough for them to hear.
“Isn't this too cruel?! What kind of people leave their comrade behind like this?! I won't tolerate this anymore either, so you two can do whatever you want!”
Bong Taesu shouted confidently, expecting them to turn around.
Instead, he only attracted the attention of the people around him.
“Mom, why is that Mister so angry?”
“Shh...! Don't look at him. We might get dragged into trouble....”
To everyone else, he simply looked like a madman shouting by himself in the middle of the street.
As more people gathered and stared at him, his face turned red with embarrassment.
He awkwardly cleared his throat.
“...Ahem, hmm! The party probably won't function properly without me. Ha, I suppose I'll have to be the bigger man here. W, wait for me!”
After many twists and turns, the three finally reached the inn and immediately headed toward the training ground behind the building.
They became so focused on training that the sun eventually set and night arrived.
Step. Step.
The sound of someone approaching came from outside the training ground.
“It seems all of you have been training diligently.”
At first, everyone became cautious when Mikhail suddenly appeared.
But after hearing the full explanation, they were able to lower their guard somewhat.
“...So, basically, you're saying you're going to train us?”
“You understand quickly. Good. Then take your positions. We do not have much time.”
When Mikhail released a heavy pressure and pointed his wooden sword at them, everyone became flustered.
Bong Taesu, however, raised his shield with a confident smile.
“Since things have turned out like this, I suppose we'll just have to work hard. Even this won't be enough if we want to catch up with Brother. Don't you agree?”
“Well, I'm in the same situation, so I can't argue with that. You're surprisingly dependable for once.”
Behind the two, Kim Hyuna silently took her stance.
The reason was simple.
If she wanted to continue traveling with Suhyeok, she had no choice but to become stronger herself.
“Good determination. I look forward to seeing how long it lasts.”
As the sparring continued, that determination slowly began to crumble.
Naturally.
The intensity had gone far beyond harsh training.
It was closer to outright abuse.
And the result was the overwhelming defeat now lying before Mikhail.
While the three looked like they were on the verge of death, Mikhail was not even breathing heavily.
Throughout the entire spar, he had not taken a single step from his original position.
Instead, as if he had not even finished warming up, he casually tapped the floor with his wooden sword.
“To think you're all this weak. Back in my day, I could train for four days straight. All of you lack perseverance.”
Bong Taesu became furious at those words and squeezed out every last bit of strength he had left to shout.
“Uaaaaagh! Isn't that going too far...?! Sir Knight, you're the monster here!”
At the word monster, Mikhail fell into thought for a moment.
Then he gave a bitter smile.
“A monster, huh.... Well, at your current level, I suppose I may look that way. You haven't met a real monster yet.”
Time passed equally for everyone.
That was true even for something as insignificant as an ant.
Mikhail had worked harder than anyone else.
Every day, he pushed himself through training so harsh that it felt as if he were shaving away his own bones.
Those efforts eventually earned him the title of the Empire's Strongest and made him a Sword Master.
“...But it seems the monster you spoke of isn't me.”
At his quiet words, everyone's expressions stiffened.
They could vaguely tell that the person he meant was Suhyeok.
“I've talked for long enough. I believe I've given you plenty of rest. Are all of you planning to give up here? Sometimes, giving up is also a good choice.”
They had already repeated the same cycle many times.
Fall.
Get back up.
Attack again.
All three had reached the point where they did not even have enough strength left to stand.
Giving up sounded like a sweet temptation.
Even so, they forced their trembling knees to rise once again.
This time, however, they were different.
Instead of blindly charging forward, they formed a proper formation.
“...Hooh, so you've finally realized it. Unless you fight together, you will never defeat me.”
Bong Taesu staggered as he raised his half-broken shield.
His determined eyes showed that he intended to endure somehow.
“Hoo, haa... I'll block as much as I can, so Little Sister Hyuna, create an opening. I'll leave the rest to Miss Yumi.”
He breathed heavily.
Seeing Bong Taesu's hand trembling around his shield, Lee Yumi also forced herself to squeeze out what little Mana she had left.
“I hate to admit it, but you actually seem a little like an adult this time, Mister.”
“Pfft, you're right.”
“I always tell you, I'm not a Mister... Haah, forget it. Just get ready already. Don't we need to hit that knight at least once? If we lose like this, I'll be frustrated all night.”
Mikhail raised his wooden sword with a wide smile.
“That's a good attitude.”
The moment I entered the workshop, intense heat covered my entire body.
There was a furnace filled with flowing molten metal, along with charcoal, hammers, and blocks of iron.
It had been a long time since I felt such intense heat.
It was slightly painful, but I quickly adjusted.
There was something else that mattered more.
, Hooh, where are we this time? The atmosphere is rather gloomy.
, It appears to be a blacksmith's workshop. Was there always a dwarf living on the tenth floor?
, He's obviously a Climber. Was his name Dolkin? Anyway, it's that guy.
, Hehehe, this really is entertaining. I wonder what he'll do next?
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Sponsorships poured in like flowing water from Constellations whose titles seemed related to blacksmithing.
They were showing curiosity toward this unusual development.
[ I, it's too hot, nya.... Lee Suhyeok, let's hurry and get out of here, nya.... ]
I slightly turned my head and looked at Leon.
His face had gone pale as though he were already half dead.
He weakly pulled at my clothes as if he might dry up at any moment.
[ I, I want to go outside, nya...! Please...! I, I'm begging you, nya.... ]
“......”
