Chapter 44: Chapter 44

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Chapter 44

Two horns were dropped next to the dead Uradon.

Jeong-Hoon took one horn.

“Hey, take it.”

Ha-Jin, who took the other horn, made a trade and handed it to Jeong-Hoon.

“Thank you.”

With this, he met the requirements of the quest.

“You’re welcome. But it ended too soon, didn’t it?”

The time spent on the subjugation was 27 minutes.

It was a bland battle considering the difficulty level had increased.

“Right. It’s bland considering we waited for over ten days.”

Contrary to his words, Jeong-Hoon’s face was full of smiles.

During the waiting time, he focused on leveling up and reached 51, so he met the conditions to reach the opportunity at the same time as completing the quest.

A plan after entering the magic tower was already being drawn up in his head.

But that plan went awry before it even started.

A woman in her early 20s was smiling at Jeong-Hoon in front of the dungeon.

* * *

Yeo Min-Ji had a new habit.

It was to check World Com posts every hour.

‘I will find you.’

The reason she was looking at World Com with fire in her eyes was all because of that one martial artist.

She was on the verge of finding him just in time for the job change quest, but she missed him because he immediately left using the portal.

Is that why?

Not only martial arts, but she felt completely drenched, so a pointless sense of defiance was triggered.

If she didn’t find him, she won’t be able to shake off this uneasy feeling.

“Huh?”

At that time, a post caught her eye.

[I saw the martial artist who defeated the instructor.]

Yes! There he is!

Yeo Min-Ji hurriedly touched the post.

-He was really awesome. Shit

The content was short, but the important thing was that he found the martial artist.

She hurriedly commented.

└Where did you see the martial artist?

Please answer.

Did her wish reach the author of the post?

Fortunately, the reply came quickly.

└Author here. I saw him in the eastern part of Idenharc. Believe me, it’s not a lie.

└Eastern Idenharc?

└Yeah, it looks like he’s trying to do the Uradon quest.

└Is it a lie?

└No, I swear on my parents.

└Look at his rudeness? Yeah, it’s not a lie.

So he went to Idenharc.

If he was going to hunt Uradon, it meant that he had raised his level considerably.

If he swore on his parents, it would at least not be a lie.

Yeo Min-Ji hurriedly logged into the capsule.

Her avatar appeared in the guild building.

“Huh? Miss, didn’t you say you were going to rest today?”

Park In-Tae, who was reporting his work, approached her.

“I found him!”

“Yes? The martial artist?”

Even without a subject, Park In-Tae noticed right away.

That’s because after returning from the Hall of Martial Arts, she seemed to have a sense of defiance and searched like crazy for traces of the martial artist.

“Yes. I have to go right now.”

Yeo Min-Ji hurriedly left.

Her destination was in the eastern part of Idenharc.

Fortunately, when she arrived, the dungeon raid was underway.

“Yeo Min-Ji…?”

Users who recognized her opened their eyes wide.

Korea’s No. 1 martial artist and an executive of the Ho-Yeong Guild.

Another named user appeared not long after Lee Hwa-Rang and other named users returned.

“Wow… it’s awesome.”

“But why is she in front of the dungeon? Did she make a reservation?”

“Huh? The next reservation is ours?”

The users, who had visited the dungeon entrance for the next subjugation, tilted their heads.

“I’m sorry. There’s someone I’m waiting for.”

She hurriedly apologized and waited near the entrance.

“Who are you waiting for?”

“Who is it?”

The users’ curiosity grew.

As if to prove that the subjugation was over, the entrance to the dungeon opened.

And the lower martial artist Yeo Min-Ji was waiting for appeared.

===

[Player Information]

-Nickname: Hoon

-Level: 51

-Occupation: Lower Martial Artist (1st class)

===

The Low-level martial artist, was finally found.

* * *

“Huh? Isn’t that Yeo Min-Ji?”

Ha-Jin, who checked her information, whispered to Jeong-Hoon.

“Right.”

Jeong-Hoon nodded nonchalantly.

At the same time, he was curious.

He knew that Yeo Min-Ji was looking for him, but how could he meet her in front of the dungeon at the right time?

‘Could it be those guys?’

Four figures flashed through Jeong-Hoon’s mind.

The gang who picked a fight with him before entering the dungeon.

Of course, he beat them up with the Underworld King’s Fist Technique and sent them on a forced 24-hour logout train.

If those guys posted on World Com, it wouldn’t be impossible for Yeo Min-ji to find this place.

“Um, hello there?”

Yeo Min-ji approached Jeong-Hoon.

===

[Player Information]

-Nickname: Minzi

-Level: 352

-Class: Martial Arts Master (4th Class)

===

Martial Arts Master, 4th Class.

Known for her rare class advancement in her first Class, Yeo Min-ji was now a unique grade player.

As expected of the top-ranked martial artist in South Korea.

“What brings you here?”

Jeong-Hoon wasn’t entirely uninterested in her.

The Ho-Yeong Guild, which had been closely chasing the Myth Guild established by Sword King Jae-Hyeok Sa, suddenly collapsed.

The main members of the Ho-Yeong Guild, who had become the core after New World became reality, all went missing.

The missing members never showed up again.

What in the world happened?

“I’m so sorry for the sudden visit. Please be assured that I absolutely did not stalk you.”

“….”

‘No, if this isn’t stalking, what is?’

When Jeong-Hoon made an openly dumbfounded expression, Yeo Min-ji coughed awkwardly and averted her gaze.

“Um… you’re the martial artist from the video on World Com, right? The one who won the spar against Instructor Altio.”

It seems she’s decided to put on a brave face.

“What if I said no?”

“Excuse me. Let me just check for a moment.”

She suddenly apologized and then took a step, extending her fist towards Jeong-Hoon’s face.

“Huh?!”

It was a sharp punch that even Ha-jin, who was watching from the side, couldn’t react to.

However, Jeong-Hoon twisted his body and easily dodged the punch.

Even though he couldn’t see it, he had predicted the attack through her step path.

It was a sense honed through countless real battles.

“As expected…”

0.1%

There was a chance he might not be the one, so she threw a punch to be sure.

Of course, she intended to stop if he didn’t react, but she clearly saw Jeong-Hoon’s eyes.

Jeong-Hoon had accurately read her steps.

So she threw a punch with the intention of logging him out, but the result was a clean miss.

“Hey! How can you suddenly attack like that?!”

When Ha-jin shouted with a flustered face, she quickly bowed.

“I apologize! I thought you would keep denying it…”

She knew it was rude.

But she felt it wouldn’t progress with just words, so she had no choice.

No other good method came to mind…

“It’s fine. So, what’s the reason you came to find me?”

Jeong-Hoon asked with an indifferent face.

Since he didn’t have any particular feelings for Yeo Min-ji, he could let this slide.

“…Please be my master!”

“What?”

Jeong-Hoon furrowed his brow at the unexpected request.

He naturally thought she would offer to join Ho-Yeong.

“I fell in love with your martial arts. I won’t ask how you obtained it. I just wish you would teach it to me.”

Yeo Min-ji was completely obsessed with martial arts.

The reason she visited the Hall of Martial Arts, the reason she searched World Com countless times, and the reason she came here so recklessly and caused a disturbance was all because of that martial art.

“…I’m only level 51 now.”

“If you can perform like that at level 51, you’re a monster.”

Ha-jin muttered unconsciously.

“Do levels even matter?”

Yeo Min-ji tilted her head.

Jeong-Hoon smiled faintly at her reaction that level didn’t matter.

‘It’s like seeing my past self.’

Before his regression, Jeong-Hoon also became a martial artist and tried to learn anything he could.

Of course, it wasn’t for a pure purpose like hers, but to end this damn game.

Anyway, it seemed like he was seeing a bit of his past self in her.

‘But she won’t be able to learn the Underworld Kings Fist Technique.’

Even if her Steadfast Will reacted, it would only create a derivative of the Underworld Kings Fist Technique.

It’s not a legendary grade martial art for nothing.

To replicate the Underworld Kings Fist Technique, one’s Steadfast Will would need to be at least legendary grade.

“I refuse.”

So the answer was set.

There was no reason to invest time in Yeo Min-ji.

“I, I’ll give you a proper reward!”

“As you may have noticed, the martial art I learned was obtained through a fortuitous encounter. This means there’s a clear limit to learning it with Steadfast Will.”

“….”

“So I will politely decline your offer. Let’s go.”

Leaving her standing there blankly, Jeong-Hoon left the field with Ha-jin.

* * *

Yeo Min-ji was persistent.

She quickly regained her senses and followed Jeong-Hoon.

‘Wait a minute! Then can I at least add you as a friend?’

‘…If it’s just that.’

Only after Jeong-Hoon accepted her friend request did she leave with a relieved heart.

“Did she really give up?”

Ha-jin tilted his head.

He couldn’t believe that Yeo Min-ji, who had been following them so persistently, would back down with just a friend request.

“No, she’ll be back soon.”

Jeong-Hoon knew a thing or two about this type of person.

When someone obsessed with one field becomes curious about something in that field, they have to find a way to satisfy it.

She’ll definitely try to approach him using a different method.

“…Anyway, I’m leaving.”

“Okay.”

Ha-jin logged out, and Jeong-Hoon headed towards his destination, the magic tower.

“Huh? You’re back already?”

Rune, who was guarding the magic tower, widened his eyes at the sight of Jeong-Hoon.

Did he already obtain the materials requested by Jaco, a senior mage of the tower?

“Yes.”

“J-Just a moment.”

Rune took out a crystal ball and sent a signal somewhere.

Soon after, Jaco appeared.

An exclamation mark was blinking above his head.

“You’ve brought them already?”

Jaco also seemed surprised by the earlier-than-expected return.

“Yes.”

Jeong-Hoon handed over the two Uradon horns he had in his inventory to Jaco.

After checking the horns, Jaco nodded.

“Correct. I will mark you here. With this mark, you can freely enter and exit the magic tower.”

With those words, a tiny diamond mark was engraved on the back of Jeong-Hoon’s hand.

[Quest Completed.]

[Magic Tower Access Restriction Lifted.]

Done.

With this, he could enter the magic tower.

For now, he could only access the beginner mage’s tower, including the Martial Artist’s Tower, but with this mark, it would be much easier to receive quests from other magic towers in the future.

“Thank you.”

“Yes. Then would you like to enter now?”

[Would you like to start the NPC Jaco’s guidance?]

No.

He wasn’t interested in the inside of the magic tower.

His goal was to find the hidden opportunity within this magic tower.

Jeong-Hoon refused without hesitation.

“I’ll look around on my own.”

“Hmm…”

Jaco pondered for a moment.

Should he leave a foreigner entering the tower for the first time alone?

‘Allow maximum freedom to foreigners who meet the conditions.’

If it weren’t for the words of the Tower Master, he would have easily dismissed it.

“Alright. Then feel free to look around.”

With those words, Jaco’s figure scattered and disappeared.

“Y-You may pass.”

With Jaco’s permission granted, Rune had no reason to stop him any longer.

“Yes.”

Jeong-Hoon entered the magic tower with leisurely steps.

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