With Han Seonga's help, Yoo Baekjun's training grew even more intense.
"Young master! That's not how you use the mobility technique. Faster! More force in your steps!"
"Huff, huff!"
Lately, he hadn't even been sleeping properly. What was scary was that, despite that, he didn't feel tired.
"Does he not get exhausted?"
"Is he not going to collapse on the day of the duel?"
"Was master Han Seonga always the type to push people this hard…?"
Even the onlookers were clicking their tongues now.
But Yoo Baekjun was perfectly fine. It was thanks to the effect of the elixir.
'The elixir lasts about a week. Today makes six days, so it'll wear off tomorrow.'
He planned to go back to his room and rest thoroughly once he met his training goal for the day. He needed to manage his condition.
"Young master, take this while you're at it."
"Oh. Thank you, master."
Joo Joongwon visited every day, bringing him things like tonics. They were made from ingredients good for his health, and eating them revitalized his energy.
So even on the sixth and final day, Yoo Baekjun remained immersed in training, and the result—
[Yoo Baekjun]
Strength: B (1/100) Agility: B (1/100)
Stamina: B (1/100) Mana: B (25/100)
[Innate Ability: Martial God's Book (EX, 1★)]
[Trait: Heavenly Martial Physique (S)]
[Skills: Oriental Medicine Formulation (B), Mobility Technique (C, 1★), Tri-Fist Technique (C, 1★), Tri-Sword Technique (C, 1★), Heaven-Surging Mind Technique (B, 2★), Strike (C, 1★), Attribute Manifestation (A, 1★)]
He had succeeded in raising all his stats to Grade B.
His skill mastery also surpassed 5 stars and ranked up one level each.
This was due to the system in Heroes' Road, where a skill's rank goes up once its proficiency hits a certain threshold, and then resets to level 1.
Even the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique and Mobility Technique had advanced.
[Heaven-Surging Mind Technique (B, 2★)]
– A cultivation technique once used by the Martial God, adapted for use by trainees and masters. Specializes in accumulating mana and activating the body.
– With Han Seonga's improvements, mana accumulation increased, and using the technique dispels fatigue and improves physical condition.
[Mobility Technique (C, 1★)]
– A technique that lightens the body. Uses mana to move quickly, maintain balance, or leap higher.
Swift Steps: Uses a large amount of mana to instantly leap a certain distance.
Thanks to Han Seonga, he had learned a skill called Swift Steps as part of the Mobility Technique.
And thanks to her improvements on the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique, training had become significantly easier.
'master Han Seonga… just like in the game, she really trains you like it's boot camp…'
Yoo Baekjun sighed.
She was truly pushing his body to the limit. Right now, he was only able to endure because of the elixir and the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique. Without them…
'I would've collapsed ages ago.'
Even though she was pushing him Spartan-style, she seemed even more impressed that he wasn't falling behind.
"Young master, you are truly amazing. I never imagined you would follow along without a single complaint."
"Huff, huu… You designed this curriculum with me in mind, master Han Seonga. I can't really complain…"
"Even your mindset is admirable."
Han Seonga was even more impressed.
The cold demeanor from when they first met had vanished, replaced with praise so excessive it was almost burdensome.
'Well, that's just how her character is.'
A successor who shares her philosophy, overflowing with talent, and satisfying to teach.
It was only natural her attitude changed.
'Hmm, learning the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique made the Tri-Sword Technique kind of redundant. I needed it, but still.'
To quickly learn the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique, he needed to first learn how to move mana using another technique.
That's why he learned it, but now that he had the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique, it was useless.
'Maybe when the Martial God's Book mastery hits around 4 stars, I'll find a way to utilize it again.'
Each time the Martial God's Book leveled up in mastery, it unlocked a special function.
He'd probably hit 2 stars soon, but 4 stars would still take some time.
'I'll just leave it alone. By that time, I won't need the Tri-Sword Technique anyway.'
Yoo Baekjun stood up. He had something to do back in his room. But then—
Bang!
The training hall door burst open with a loud crash.
Everyone inside turned toward the door. The one who stormed in was—
"Elder brother Kangho."
It was Yoo Kangho and his attendants.
He scanned the area with a face full of contempt, then locked eyes on Yoo Baekjun.
"Yoo Baekjun…!"
Thud, thud!
His footsteps were so heavy it felt like the floor shook.
Yoo Baekjun waited for him calmly.
"Did I look that pathetic to you?!"
"It's been a while, elder brother. But pathetic? I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"Why haven't you told Father you're backing out of the duel?!"
"Backing out of the duel?"
Yoo Baekjun widened his eyes. As if he'd never heard of such a thing, as if it made no sense why he should.
Yoo Kangho gritted his teeth.
"Go tell Father that you were wrong, and beg him to cancel the duel!"
"And why should I do that?"
"Because there's no chance you can beat me!"
A perfectly logical answer.
Yoo Baekjun couldn't help but be impressed and clapped.
The gesture made Yoo Kangho's expression twist further, and curses spilled from his lips.
"Do I look like I'm joking?!"
"No, you look quite serious. Saying it all out of concern for your younger brother, I'm sure…"
Yoo Baekjun smirked.
"But that can't be it, can it? You and I aren't exactly on affectionate terms."
"You arrogant bastard!"
Yoo Kangho grabbed Yoo Baekjun by the collar. Whoosh! Yoo Baekjun's body was lifted off the ground.
"Just the fact that I have to duel someone like you is a disgrace to me…!"
Yoo Kangho growled low.
"Did you think you could beat me? Thought I was the easiest among all the siblings?!"
"Well, who knows?"
"You weakling! A talentless cripple who couldn't even learn martial arts thinks I'm something to scoff at?!"
His eyes were fierce.
He looked ready to tear Yoo Baekjun apart right then and there.
The watching trainees buzzed with murmurs. Han Seonga, who had been silent, looked ready to intervene.
'Don't interfere.'
A direct member of the family wasn't someone an master could casually confront.
Yoo Baekjun sighed.
"Elder Brother…"
Yoo Kangho growled again.
Yoo Baekjun grabbed the hand holding his collar and twisted it with all his might.
Crack! With the pain of his wrist twisting, Yoo Kangho let go.
"Gah!"
He stepped back, holding his right hand. Yoo Baekjun glanced at his right elbow.
At the large scar left there.
"…Why are you acting like a dog that needs to take a dump?"
"What?!"
Now standing on the ground again, Yoo Baekjun clicked his tongue.
"This duel was approved by Father. You know full well that it's beyond just the two of us now."
Indeed.
It was a duel authorized by the clan head. If one side backed out on a whim, the clan head wouldn't let them off easy.
"We've already burned our bridges. Unless one of us loses…"
Yoo Baekjun straightened his disheveled clothes and gave a soft laugh.
"It won't end. Do you understand?"
"You bastard, why the hell would you…!"
"Unless…"
Yoo Baekjun cut him off. His emotionless eyes stared into Yoo Kangho.
Yoo Kangho involuntarily swallowed.
"Are you perhaps afraid you might lose to me?"
Silence filled the training hall.
The watching trainees were stunned at the bold words—this wasn't the Yoo Baekjun they knew.
The masters were shocked by his brazenness.
And Yoo Kangho—
"......."
His earlier rage vanished, and his face went cold.
As if his anger had boiled over and left him icy calm.
"Fine."
Yoo Kangho spoke slowly.
"I'll see you tomorrow, little brother. In front of Father, I'll shatter you."
"I hope you do, brother."
Yoo Kangho stared daggers at Yoo Baekjun until the end, then left the training hall with his attendants.
The training hall was quiet, like a storm had passed.
Yoo Baekjun walked out, feeling all the eyes on him.
'I've stirred up his temper real good.'
Right now, Yoo Kangho must be so angry he's losing his mind. He must be dying to crush him by any means.
Yoo Baekjun returned to his residence.
"Hmph, I'm sure my elder brother knows I use the Tri-Fist Technique."
"Yes, since you've been training in such a public place… word's definitely gotten around."
That's why he showed it off.
So they'd ignore him, look down on him. Realistically, if they fought in their current state, his odds of winning weren't high.
'Not that I plan to fight in this condition anyway.'
Yoo Baekjun told Han Seonga that training would end there for today, then returned to his room ahead of time.
"Now then."
Back in his room, Yoo Baekjun opened the Martial God's Book.
Over the past few days, he'd accumulated 400P from completing quests. Not enough to learn an incredibly powerful skill, but enough to pick up something useful.
'What should I learn?'
There was no need to hesitate.
There was a skill he had always relied on while playing the game. It was a skill every opponent called cowardly, but so what?
– Ground Kick (C, 1★)
– Joint Strike (C, 1★)
– Gale Step (C, 1★)
In this damned game, if you wanted to win, you had to use any means necessary.
Winning was all that mattered.
Yoo Baekjun checked the descriptions of the skills.
[Ground Kick (C, 1★)]
– Instantly kicks the ground to fling dirt, sand, or debris toward the opponent.
[Joint Strike (C, 1★)]
– (Passive) Enhances any action that targets the opponent's joints. With sufficient strength, it can even shatter joints.
[Gale Step (C, 1★)]
– A dazzling flurry of footwork to attack the opponent.
A sinister grin crept onto his lips.
Ground Kick—combined with Attribute Manifestation, could become a fun, and deadly, attack.
Then there was the combination of Strike and Joint Strike.
'This is another fun part of Heroes' Road.'
By combining skills, you could create effects no one expected.
"Can't wait for tomorrow."
Yoo Baekjun stepped into the shower.
To prepare for tomorrow, even a bath would help.
***
And so, the day of the duel arrived.
Exactly the seventh day. The duel location chosen by the clan head, Yoo Moohak, was the outdoor training ground.
Standing there were Yoo Jungyeon and Yoo Min.
"Hmm, this dust is no joke. Yoo Min, who suggested holding the duel here?"
"…No idea. Wasn't it Yoo Baekjun?"
"Really? So cold, so cold."
The two of them stepped onto the stage in the outdoor training ground and sat down on the chairs that had been set up.
Yoo Jungyeon smiled as she looked up at the sky.
Today was a snowy day. But strangely enough, no snow had accumulated within the family house.
"We should be thankful for the barrier today."
"…It'd be even better if it got rid of the cold too. It's unnecessarily freezing here."
"Want me to give you a hot pack?"
"No need."
It was thanks to the magic that surrounded the family grounds.
It served to block out intruders, and at the same time, shielded from snow and rain—a very useful barrier.
"Hmm, and the grand masters…"
Yoo Jungyeon looked behind her.
Seated a little farther away were several people. A middle-aged woman and man, and two elderly men.
"There they are."
"…Old geezers."
They were the Grand Masters of the Sword Saint Clan.
The middle-aged woman was Jayeon. The middle-aged man, Chon Jongwon.
The two elderly men, Jeon Daegwon and Lee Kunmo.
'Jeon Daegwon, Lee Kunmo.'
The two elders were chatting warmly with each other. In contrast, Jayeon and Chon Jongwon stared silently ahead.
'Hmph, a bunch of old folks supporting Yoo Taerang…'
The Sword Saint Clan was structured with the Clan Head, Grand Masters, Masters, and Trainees. Among Masters and Trainees, further distinctions existed by skill or years of training.
Into high, mid, and low tiers.
– The Grand Masters were the pillars of the Sword Saint Clan.
They were selected as the most exceptional four among all masters.
They were incredibly skilled and passed on their teachings only to those with outstanding potential.
Like the masters and trainees, they also supported their preferred successor.
'Jayeon… I need to win her over.'
Yoo Jungyeon let out a sigh.
Jeon Daegwon and Lee Kunmo supported Yoo Taerang, while Chon Jongwon supported Yoo Jungyeon.
Lastly, Jayeon remained neutral.
'The most skilled among the Grand Masters, and a close aide to the Clan Head who has served him the longest.'
She was such a tireless worker that she had mastered countless martial arts in pursuit of improving her swordsmanship.
If Yoo Jungyeon could win her over, she could stand on equal footing with Yoo Taerang in the fight for succession.
"Elder sister, over there."
"Hmm?"
Yoo Min tugged on Yoo Jungyeon's arm.
Looking where she pointed, Yoo Kangho could be seen warming up at one corner of the stage.
His expression was relaxed, as if defeat never even crossed his mind. Seeing that made her curious.
"Yoo Min, who do you think will win today?"
"…Probably Yoo Kangho."
"Hasn't he been slacking on training lately? Running around with girls and all?"
"Even so, the foundation he built is different."
She wasn't wrong.
As far as Yoo Jungyeon knew, Yoo Baekjun had only been training for about a week. And while Yoo Kangho had been acting like a delinquent lately, he had been training for a long time.
There was no way someone like that would lose.
'If he does… it would mean Yoo Baekjun beat Yoo Kangho with only a week of training.'
If he had that kind of talent, their father would've noticed long ago.
Yoo Baekjun wouldn't have lived being ignored by everyone in the family like he did now.
But—
'The fact that Father approved this duel in the first place, that's what bothers me.'
He was the kind of man who wouldn't give even the smallest opportunity to someone he'd already cast aside. So why—
Yoo Jungyeon sank deeper into her chair. And not long after—
"The Clan Head is arriving!"
Yoo Moohak stepped onto the stage.
The start of the duel was drawing near.