Chapter 102: Repaying a Favor (3)

This exchange occurred immediately after I left the Face-to-Face Chat room to prepare Biyeong’s second meal and returned to the real world.

“Yes. Attack with full force, but don’t use the Holy King’s Aura. It could drag me into the conflict too.”

“Why?”

Ruthlessness?

I’m just an ordinary citizen who doesn’t want to be a pushover.

As I wrapped the pork belly in foil, I subtly gave Iratu a warning glance.

Iratu, who had been muttering behind me, suddenly trembled as if an earthquake had struck his eyes.

He cleared his throat and quickly continued, “Still, even so, I never imagined you would stoop to taking the life of an unguarded opponent by striking from behind.”

I chuckled softly.

Iratu was wrong.

If that opponent were a mortal enemy who had inflicted great harm on me or those around me, or a villain who committed unspeakable atrocities, I would strike from behind, stab them in the side, kidnap them—I would use any means necessary without hesitation.

Of course, this wasn’t such a case.

I had no intention of taking Biyeong’s life.

The reason I had just ordered Iratu to “seize the opportune moment and strike Biyeong from behind” was:

“I need to verify something.”

“Verify, you say?”

“Yes.”

I needed to confirm it.

I needed to verify whether the stats displayed in Biyeong’s Status Window, accessed via QR Code, were accurate.

Had all the tiger’s fangs been extracted, or had it never possessed any to begin with?

Or perhaps it had once bared its fangs but now kept them meticulously concealed?

“But there’s no way for me to confirm this alone.”

If Biyeong was meticulously playing the part of a toothless tiger, he would never reveal his fangs unless forced into an extreme situation.

A truly unexpected one.

One where his life was genuinely threatened.

And with my own strength alone, I lacked the means to push Biyeong into such a corner.

If I challenged him to a duel, he might accept.

But Biyeong would likely feign weakness, collapsing after a single exchange to “prove” his frailty once more.

This would deny me any chance to assess his true capabilities.

Therefore, to confirm even a fragment of Biyeong’s power, I needed to provoke him into instinctively revealing his fangs through a surprise attack.

“The problem is Manner Mode.”

Biyeong had designated me as a “Manner Mode target.”

As long as we were in the Face-to-Face Chat, no contact between us was permitted.

Thus, I needed a third party:

Someone free from the restrictions of Manner Mode.

Someone with stats far exceeding what Biyeong’s Status Window displayed.

Someone he wouldn’t feel the need to guard against or pay attention to.

Normally, my Summoned Beast, Iratu, would automatically be subject to Manner Mode’s restrictions as well.

However, due to his unique trait, “Recognized as a Separate Entity,” he would be recognized as another user who had entered the Face-to-Face Chat.

In other words, Iratu could harm Biyeong’s body.

“Hmm, is that so?”

Iratu nodded after hearing my explanation.

Then, suddenly, a flicker of the inherent malice within him flashed through his eyes.

“But Master, what if an emergency arises?”

“An emergency?”

“As you know, Master, I’m no longer just an ordinary Skeleton Iratu. I didn’t want to evolve this way, but here I am—Iratu, the warrior who learned to wield a sword by your side.”

“And?”

“In other words, I could strike down Biyeong before he even reacts.”

The Iratu before me was no longer the D-Rank Skeleton Soldier he had been when first summoned. Through countless battles and training sessions, all his stats had risen to the level of a mid-tier Summoned Beast.

His Durability alone had become so formidable that he could shrug off a blow from Jo Yongtae’s Death Knight, a creature drenched in buffs, as if it were nothing—making him as resilient as an S-Class monster.

Moreover, thanks to his passive skill “Weapon Mastery,” he could wield any weapon with skill rivaling that of a B-Rank Hunter.

It was no wonder he spoke with such confidence.

Yes.

If Biyeong truly possessed the abilities shown in my Status Window—if he were merely a weak beast without fangs—he would fall with a single strike from Iratu.

But deep down, I was certain that wouldn’t happen.

On the contrary, if anyone were to fall with a single strike, it would likely be Iratu himself.

Clack, clatter, clatter.

Iratu’s skull rolled through the undergrowth several times before coming to a stop.

A wind thick with the stench of oil and meat brushed past my face.

”…I asked what you think you’re doing,” Biyeong’s icy voice pierced my face.

I didn’t answer.

I was too preoccupied replaying the recent events in my mind, focusing every ounce of my concentration on understanding what had just happened.

I turned my gaze forward.

Biyeong remained seated in his spot.

Behind him, Iratu stood frozen, his sword still raised as if poised to cleave Biyeong’s skull in two.

A second—no, less than that.

Before my eyes could even register it, in a fraction of a moment, only Iratu’s headless body remained.

And just then…

That damned brat! How dare he insult me in front of my Master!

A chilling voice drifted from the other side.

Turning my gaze, I saw Iratu’s skull rolling across the floor, coming to rest beside a stone.

Blue light flashed in its eye sockets as it glared at Biyeong.

His true nature.

That twisted malice had manifested as a misguided loyalty.

”…”

Biyeong had clearly heard Iratu’s words.

Yet he remained silent, his gaze fixed on me.

Clatter, clatter.

With the sound of bones, Iratu’s headless body leaped backward, creating distance between them.

Wait… even without its skull, it can still move now?

It was hard to believe this was the same Iratu who, just a few months ago, had shattered into pieces from stepping on a single trap.

But there was no time to marvel at his growth.

Crack!

Iratu, now standing about five meters away, suddenly turned gray.

Rough, bark-like thorns erupted from his bones, as if they were growing from his skeleton.

Insignificant Hardening.

A buff skill that further enhanced Iratu’s durability.

From our tests in the S-2 Training Room, we knew that with Insignificant Hardening activated, Iratu could withstand being trampled by most calamity-class monsters without damage.

The only drawback was its extremely short duration—barely three minutes.

Let’s see you block this too.

At that very moment…

KWAHAAAAA!

A brilliant light began to gather in the golden sword held by Iratu.

He was even preparing to use his secret technique, the Holy King’s Aura.

Instantly, a powerful gale shook the surroundings.

The force of the blast sent stream water and fallen leaves swirling together in a chaotic vortex.

Manager Mi finally sent a frantic message.

Iratu was indeed going berserk.

I could have dismissed him immediately and ended this situation.

But I quietly observed the scene.

Not yet.

I wanted to see more.

I needed to confirm a few more things.

Unintentionally, I bared my fangs, revealing the beast within.

“I’ll ask you later,” Biyeong said, his voice cutting through the raging storm as he fixed his unwavering gaze on me.

“What grudge could have arisen in such a short time that you would resort to using a familiar to harm me?”

He slowly rose to his feet.

I was struggling to maintain my balance against the tempestuous winds, but Biyeong stood with effortless composure, his eyes locked on Iratu.

I will cleanse this body’s disgrace with your blood!

Far from his body, Iratu’s skull, perched on a rock, roared with burning fury.

KWAHHHHHHHH!

The Holy Power coalescing within the Star Cluster of the Holy King was on the verge of manifesting.

Click.

Like an immortal casting a fishing rod into calm waters, I lightly placed my hand on the sword hilt at my waist.

Then—

Clang! A brilliant flash erupted.

A streak of light sliced across the ground, piercing through the storm of swirling leaves and water droplets.

Like a bolt of lightning striking the earth, it struck Iratu’s body.

”…Huh?”

A deflating sound escaped Iratu’s skull.

His blue gaze fixed on the body lying just a short distance from his head—the body frozen mid-motion, sword raised to unleash the Holy King’s Aura.

In that fleeting moment, an anomaly occurred.

The Star Cluster of the Holy King, which had been radiating an energy that seemed ready to explode at any moment, gradually lost its brilliance.

As the radiant constellation dimmed completely, as if swallowed by a black hole,

Crackle.

The sound of brittle rock shattering.

Crumble.

Iratu’s body, which had withstood the trampling of a mountain-sized behemoth without budging,

shattered into fragments like a glass mirror struck by a warhammer, collapsing into pieces.

Clang. The golden sword, its support gone, tumbled to the ground.

Iratu’s bewildered murmur was immediately followed by:

The Growing Skeleton has been unsummoned.

※ This is an injury that threatens the very foundation of your Being. Resummoning will require one week.

I dismissed the Status Window hovering before my eyes.

Then, I met the gaze that had been fixed intently on me.

The tempest of Holy Power that had raged around us had subsided.

The stream flowed peacefully once more, as if nothing had happened, and the violently swaying foliage had surrendered itself to the gentle breeze.

With everything returned to its place, only one thing remained out of place:

The beast that still bared its fangs.

”…Still nothing to say?” Biyeong asked, his eyes burning with fierce intensity.

Though his face was that of a delicate youth, the volcanic fury blazing in his eyes rivaled even Jigukcheonwang, the Guardian King of the East from Shinwa mythology.

Words to say?

Of course I had them.

“I’m sorry.”

What I did was wrong.

I struck the back of someone who had no intention of harming me, someone who had even shown me kindness.

Therefore, it was right to admit my mistake first.

“I never intended to harm Lord Biyeong, but it’s true that I took advantage of his unguarded moment to strike him from behind. This is clearly an unforgivable act.”

Given the circumstances, even prostrating myself in repentance would hardly be enough.

But I had no intention of begging for forgiveness to that extent.

“However, if you had been honest with me from the beginning, I wouldn’t have resorted to such measures.”

After all, Biyeong had deceived me first.

At my words, Biyeong’s eyes flickered.

“So, you decided to harm me because I deceived you?”

“I never intended to harm Lord Biyeong from the start. I simply wanted to verify whether your words were true—whether you really were just an ordinary person with such mediocre skills, as the Heavenly Gate described.”

“Even after clearly reading my Heavenly Gate, you still doubted me?”

“I’ve never doubted the information displayed in my Status Window. I’ve accessed countless pieces of information through it, and it has never once lied to me.”

His gaze drifted sideways, toward the head of the bed where Biyeong’s Status Window floated.

“But this time, it was hard to believe. I can extract slightly different information from the Heavenly Gate compared to others. According to that information, Lord Biyeong should never have such low External Energy and Internal Energy stats. You should be far stronger than this.”

”…”

“And as I suspected, Lord Biyeong possessed a power completely different from the Heavenly Gate’s shame.”

Biyeong stared at me silently for a moment before nodding slowly.

“Very well, I’ll concede that you’re right.”

But he didn’t stop there, pressing further as if to shut down the conversation.

“So, what changes?”

What changes?

“Even if I possess a power different from the Heavenly Gate’s, as you claim. Even if I possess External Energy and Internal Energy comparable to the Ten Great Masters of the World, as you believe. What difference does confirming that make?”

What changes?

Of course there’s a difference.

I replied with unwavering conviction.

“The Minor River Divine Art has been proven to be a supreme technique worthy of being passed down.”

”…”

This time, Biyeong was speechless.

He had previously dismissed the Minor River Divine Art and refused to teach it, citing the values in his Status Window as justification.

But now, that flimsy excuse no longer held water.

“Lord Biyeong clearly promised to repay me with anything within his power.”

”…”

“Though I tested Lord Biyeong’s trust through disrespectful means, I have yet to receive my due repayment, and the promise remains valid. And Lord Biyeong himself said he never speaks with a forked tongue.”

With a serious expression, he continued.

“Teach me the Minor River Divine Art. That is the ‘reciprocal communication’ I desire.”

Biyeong stared at me silently.

The volcanic rage that had burned in his eyes had vanished.

In its place was an unfathomable emptiness.

Or something akin to it.

But with a single blink,

the emptiness that had consumed his pupils vanished, replaced by the slightly intrigued gaze of a young boy.

“I’ll ask you just one thing,” the beast, having once again concealed its fangs, inquired.

“Is your desperate desire to learn the Minor River Divine Art connected to the ‘other inscription of the Heavenly Gate’ that only you can see?”

“Yes, it is.”

I had no intention of concealing this.

A simple answer sufficed.

Biyeong, who had been staring intently down at me, quietly opened his mouth.