Surviving Restructuring

Chapter 104. The Realm of Talent (1)

Ye-Ji and Ji-Eun shook their heads at the same time.

“So it’s just a family squabble.”

“A family squabble indeed.”

Meanwhile, the observers watched with the same interest one’d reserve for a trashy drama.

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management asks what exactly their relationship is.]

[The Night-Shift Fairy from the Bureau of Audit says this must be what the conglomerates of sector 13 are like, utterly fascinated.]

[The Brain from the Bureau of Investigation comments that every wealthy family needs a secret birth scandal.]

Seung-Tae shook his head. “Anyway, looks like you were just trying to grab my attention. As you can see, we’re having an important conversation here, so keep your mouth shut,” Seung-Tae

Swear-Master immediately snapped back at him, sneering. “Important conversation? You mean whining to get a free ride?”

Watching the exchange, Ji-Eun murmured quietly, “Now that I look closer, you two do seem a bit alike.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Are you out of your mind?”

The way both of them flared up at once only made the resemblance stronger.

“How dare you say that I look like a filthy illegitimate child? At least make some sense,” Seung-Tae scoffed.

“You bastard... Say that again!” Swear-Master roared.

“Oh dear. You couldn’t hear me the first time? How pathetic is that? You’ve got no inheritance waiting for you, your body’s already weak, and now your ears don’t work either?” Seung-Tae sneered.

Clearly, Seung-Tae wasn’t destined for a long life. In a world where anyone could stab you in the back at any moment, going out of the way to make enemies was practically suicide.

Grinding his teeth, the Swear-Master stepped forward. “You son of a—”

However, Seung-Tae turned his back on him as if he didn’t matter and walked toward Eun-Ho instead.

“There are too many bystanders here. Why don’t we move somewhere quiet to talk?” Seung-Tae suggested.

“And what could be so important? If you’ve got something to say, say it here,” Eun-Ho replied.

Seung-Tae’s face twisted with frustration. Then, the burly men who followed Seung-Tae stepped out one by one, blocking Eun-Ho’s path.

Thump!

“Hey! The young master said he has something to say!”

This is suspicious... Eun-Ho thought.

Even though the world had ended, these men still jumped to put their lives on the line at a single gesture from him. Unless they were being blackmailed, it was hard to understand why. His character hardly inspired loyalty.

So could there be another reason?

Whatever it was, it didn’t matter for now.

“I said no.”

The more they pressed, the less Eun-Ho wanted to comply.

“You bastard, you better comply when we’re being civil—”

Clink!

Seung-Tae’s men drew their weapons—including spears, swords, axes, and even a massive war hammer.

At least none of them have ranged weapons, Eun-Ho noted.

There were a total of eight grown men, each weighing close to ninety kilos, advancing at once. It didn’t seem easy to handle, but he was Lee Eun-Ho.

“Break his legs first. Then maybe he’ll—”

“Go ahead,” Eun-Ho interrupted.

“... What?”

“Break them. Try it.”

It wasn’t arrogance. It was simply that he had too many cards to play to bother denying it.

“Actually, I’ve been meaning to test something.”

[The proficiency of the skill Basic Swordsmanship(Lv. 3) has reached its max!]

[The level of the skill Basic Swordsmanship has increased (Lv. 3 to Lv. 4).]

His Basic Swordsmanship had finally reached level 4.

[Basic Swordsmanship(Lv. 4)]

- When wielding any type of longsword, Attack Power increases by 25.

- Proficiency: 0%.

It was time to experience what that increase by 25 really meant.

“Go on. Come at me,” Eun-Ho said coldly.

“You arrogant little punk!”

***

Clack!

He set his step toward the remaining enemies. His expression never changed as he had to strike before his prey grew uneasy.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

His heartbeat was quickening, but he kept it steady. He would give neither hint nor piece of information that could let them predict his next move.

In total, there were three up front. One man with an axe and two with spears.

Confirmed.

Swoosh—!

Eun-Ho ran across the grass, closing the distance in an instant.

“This son of a bitch! He’s trying to get the jump on us!” one of the spearmen shouted.

Seeing the spearman’s arm rotate and weapon rising, Eun-Ho quickly read his motion and made an appropriate move.

Snap!

He easily dodged the spearhead arcing in from a distance.

Whooom!

He snapped his head back to avoid the downward swing of an axe.

Shing!

Then, from that posture, he sliced through the attacker’s left arm as the man followed through.

“Damn!” the man cursed.

Perhaps due to posture correction, his arm, leg, and waist were all free and coordinated. Each part performed its role, flowing into the next like a running stream.

[95.1%]

Moreover, the attack had effectively ignored armor. One grazing strike was worth five percent.

This should be enough, Eun-Ho thought.

It was enough proof that he could deal with them using only his blade.

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation points out that even your swordplay’s rhythm has changed!]

[The new observers marvel at your momentum!]

“You’re too restrained to call yourself a superhero squad. Hiding behind those big guys must be your strategy,” Eun-Ho remarked.

“Ugh!”

“That bastard!”

“Get him! Now!” Seung-Tae screamed.

The big men’s movements accelerated, as if his volume increase were the engine driving them.

Swoosh—!

Eight hulks charged in from every direction. They formed a ring as they closed. They were clever enough not to be stupid, intending to exploit absolute numerical superiority. Therefore, it became eight against one.

“Why are you attacking Hyungnim? What did he do to you! Start with me!” Jae-Hyuk shouted.

“Eun-Ho! I’ve got this side!” Ji-Eun shouted as well.

That made six against one, but it still didn’t look too great. In an earlier life, Eun-Ho would’ve tensed up and froze, but it was different now.

“Ugh, fine! Then I’ll also—”

“No, that’s enough! The rest of you, stay put,” Eun-Ho ordered.

“Ah, fine, damn it...” Swear-Master replied.

His heart raced, blood flowing faster. Excitement, or something close to it, bubbled under his skin.

Three.

A blind, headlong rush wasn’t the answer. He would pick his targets among those who surged forward first.

Two.

He would take out the leading men first.

“I’m going first!” Eun‑Ho shouted.

“Aaaah!”

One.

He arrived before them and struck first at the most threatening men, then moved on.

Swoosh—!

A long spear shaft sliced through the air, which was an artifact that had seemed valuable.

Swish—!

However, against the Flame Sky-Shattering Blade, it was nothing more than a splinter.

The big men’s faces contorted as the shaft split apart like hollow bamboo.

“What the?!”

“My weapon!”

They had no time for lines like that, because the strange sword Eun-Ho wielded wasn’t interested in a mere wooden pole.

Vwoom!

In a single pass the blade drove into one man’s abdomen.

Swoosh—! Splat!

In the next, it pierced another’s thigh and withdrew.

Vwoom! Splat!

It slid cleanly in and out, savoring each cut as it withdrew. Eun‑Ho spread their blood along the full length of the blade like a victor displaying a gleaming trophy. His sword shone with wet luster, briefly appearing like a blood‑slicked serpent.

Ssssss—

Then, the steel drew the blood, pooling briefly at spots before beading and vanishing into the metal.

Ding!

The unfamiliar message sounded in his head.

[The Ten Thousand People’s Bloodstone is absorbing the enemy’s blood.]

[The skill Revive (Lv. -) is charging... 1%, 2%]

The skill had started charging on its own, feeding on the blood his sword had taken.

[Revive (Lv. -)]

- When your HP is fully depleted, it automatically restores 10% of the total HP.

- It consumes the Bloodstone’s stored energy and it requires sufficient blood absorption to recharge.

Two percent, Eun-Ho thought. That’s nothing much yet. Just evidence that it works.

“Still a long way to go,” Eun-Ho muttered.

Thud! Baaam!

Two men crashed down, clutching at their bleeding bellies and thighs. Excluding the two Ji‑Eun and Jae‑Hyuk had held off, the remaining foes were now four in total.

One with an axe, two with swords, and another one with a hammer, Eun-Ho thought.

“Do you want to come at me one by one, or all at once?” Eun‑Ho asked.

“You arrogant bastard!”

Alright then. Come all at once, Eun-Ho thought.

The axe‑wielder, blood dripping from his left arm, fell first.

Crack!

The men wielding steel longswords were sent tumbling into the dirt.

Swoosh—!

Finally, the one who had swung a hammer larger than his head was blasted away.

[The Ten Thousand People’s Bloodstone is absorbing the enemy’s blood.]

[The skill Revive (Lv. -) is charging... 5%, 6%]

Eun-Ho cleared six of them in an instant. He successfully managed six against one.

It worked, Eun-Ho thought.

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation snorts at your relentless growth.]

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management beams, saying it reminded them of their younger days.]

[The Night-Shift Fairy from the Bureau of Audit applauds your moves.]

[A donation of 1,000 Welfare Points has been made!]

“Hyungnim! Is it already over?!”

Jae‑Hyuk and Ji‑Eun had finished their parts too. That left only Myung Seung‑Tae.

“You son of a bitch! You’ve been saying the most annoying crap since you were a kid! How are you still exactly the same now that you’re grown up?”

“If it were you, wouldn’t you have cursed too? Some damn beggar shows up and they tell you he’s your cousin. How could you not lose it?”

“What?! Looks like you forgot how that damn beggar knocked you out with one punch? You penniless bastard!”

“T-that’s...!”

They were too busy hurling insults at each other to notice anything else. It probably didn’t even cross their minds that the fight could be over.

At this point, it was almost laughable. They seemed to be on the same level, yet they were going at each other like it’s a life-or-death battle.

“You son of a bitch! You’ve never bowed your head to anyone in your life, huh? Well, today’s the day!”

“Ha! And you think that’s something to brag about? You’ve been bowing your head your whole damn life. What, did you get on your knees and beg that guy too? Like you did before Uncle?”

“Fuck.”

Eun‑Ho locked eyes with Swear-Master, who was grinding his teeth. At that glance, the man’s scowl dissolved into a look of shock.

“Look behind your dumb ass before you run your mouth.”

“Behind?” Myung Seung‑Tae, who had been frowning hard, turned and froze. He blurted, “It’s over?!”

Whether he was shocked that it was all finished, or shocked that it had finished so fast, was unclear. What was clear was that fear had taken hold of him.

“Y-you’re a fucking monster,” he stammered.

He flinched, then again as Eun‑Ho approached. The man was bewildered. Despite having led eight bodyguards, everything had been over in an instant.

That was easier than I expected. Besides, I doubt I took much damage. My shield never even activated, Eun-Ho thought.

Realizing the advantage came from Basic Swordsmanship itself calmed him. Unlike other skills, this one had no cooldown. On top of that, the Core he took last night and the stat boosts from the gear were kicking in. He felt stronger overall.

Thump. Thump.

“T‑that’s impossible! Eight of the country’s best bodyguards, taken down by one man? There must be trickery!” Seung-Tae insisted.

Either the man was unable to read the situation, or he’d simply refused to accept reality. The same man who’d been horrified by a chocolate stain now sat on the grass trembling. It was so ridiculous in the moment that Eun‑Ho almost smiled.

“Sure, if all you can do with that big head of yours is hide behind muscle and bully people, it’ll look like that!”

“How could that scrawny-looking guy have taken them all down? Y-you used magic or something, right? Or maybe it was rigged! That’s it, isn’t it?!”

“Will you shut up already? You’re worse than a dried pollack with no taste. Even if I chewed you up and swallowed—” Swear-Master’s curse broke off mid‑spit.

“Huh? A skill?” Swear-Master blurted unexpectedly.

Eun-Ho, who was about to walk past him, also stopped.

Again? At a time like this? Eun-Ho thought.