Ch. 4 — Chapter

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

Chapter 4: Above Everyone

Kim Minwoo’s eyes fluttered shut as he lost consciousness. His mind swirled, everything becoming hazy like a dream.

‘Did I faint?’

It wasn’t surprising. He had been on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.

At that moment, a message appeared before his eyes.

[Calculating Achievements]

[The body possesses the worst possible talent. All achievement calculations will be adjusted accordingly.]

[Achievement ‘The Duel of One Hundred Billion’ Achieved!]

[Truly an extravagant display of wealth!]

[Rank: B]

[Achievement ‘What the Hell Are You?’ Achieved!]

[One of the main characters in the game is now closely observing you!]

[Rank: B+]

[Achievement ‘Overpowering Battle Continuation’ Achieved!]

[You’ve demonstrated extraordinary fighting spirit despite your pitiful body!]

[Rank: A]

[Achievement ‘Swordsmanship Prodigy from the Start’ Achieved!]

[You’ve brought great enlightenment to over a hundred outstanding swordsmen!]

[Rank: A+]

[Achievement ‘Crazed Ordinary Person’ Achieved!]

[You’ve engaged in a fierce duel with an S-Rank Awakened!]

[Rank: S]

[Achievement ‘Master of the Sword Saint’ Achieved!]

[The Sword Saint has begun to face the wall that was blocking his path!]

[Rank: S+]

[Achievement ‘Founder of a Swordsmanship Style’ Achieved!]

[You’ve created a swordsmanship style of astonishing caliber during your Awakening!]

[Rank: ??]

[Calculating total achievement value]

[Calculating… ]

[This is an unprecedented achievement that defies all categorization]

[The existing ranking system is incapable of expressing its value]

[A new achievement rank must be created]

Kim Minwoo’s eyes widened as more messages appeared before him.

The highest achievement rank he had received so far was S.

But now, he was seeing phrases that he had never seen before.

‘Could it be… higher than S?’

His heart pounded.

If he could achieve achievements above S rank from the start!

He would be able to far surpass the previous E-rank Kim Minwoo who had learned the Spinning Slash.

‘But what’s this meeting about?’

Just then, Minwoo tilted his head.

Unlike before, blue messages began to appear.

‘This is… .’

He had only seen it once while playing the game.

It was the message that had appeared before he moved to the 6th stage!

It was the same.

<1. Incredible. To think that a being who has surpassed the limits of his species would appear. >

<1. He has shown us the potential. Should we raise the growth limit of humanity? >

Soon, messages of various colors began to appear alongside the blue ones.

[2. Is there really a need for that? That human is just a special exception.]

[3. 0 and 1 are different. The fact that one has appeared means that there could be two, three, and more. The possibility is important.]

[4. If we intervene, ??? will start to exert his power as well. It’s dangerous.]

<1. Shouldn’t there be a price for taking risks? >

[3. I agree with her. We’ve been stagnant. It’s time for a bold decision.]

‘What the hell?’

The messages were conversing as if they were alive. It was a sight he had never seen before in his life.

Just then…

[2. But I still object… Wait. Is that human… eavesdropping on our conversation right now?]

[Warning!]

[The beings inside the barrier have become aware of the anomaly!]

Minwoo shivered at the sudden chill.

<1. There’s no time for small talk. We need to resolve this issue before the author wakes up. I’m in favor. >

[3. I’ll put my faith in humanity. I agree.]

[4. …They’ll probably find out about us. Fine. I suppose we can push them a little. I agree.]

2. Do you guys have the confidence to back this up? Are you crazy…

Votes: 3 in favor, 1 against.

Motion passed.

The world line is changing!

Transcendence of the Species!

The potential of all ‘humans’ is greatly increased!

Achievement: ‘He Who Opened the Horizon’ Achieved! This achievement will be added to the existing achievements!

Warning! Warning! Warning!

??? senses the anomaly!

??? begins to search for the cause!

Be careful. ??? will not take this situation lightly!

* * *

Minwoo opened his eyes to the fragrant smell of herbs. He was inside a vat filled with a warm, brown liquid.

‘This is… .’

It was the Tears of the Sword, a legendary healing potion passed down through the generations of the Sword Sect.

Its main effects were to relax muscles, improve blood circulation, and cleanse the blood vessels.

‘This must be a pretty expensive potion.’

The potion was made by mixing the byproducts of monsters, herbs, and magic stones.

Seeing how much they had used, it seemed that he had definitely made a good impression on the Sword Saint.

“Feels light.”

His muscle pain was gone, as if it had been washed away.

It had been a long time since he had felt so refreshed. As he stretched his arms, a message appeared before Minwoo’s eyes.

[All achievement calculations have been completed.]

[Calculation result: EX]

[You will be given a Job Skillbook (EX)!]

[Choose your desired job.]

‘EX rank!’

His eyes lit up.

It was the same rank that had been attached to the skills used by the Dragon Lord.

‘He turned all the top-tier artifacts into scrap metal with just one breath of the dragon.’

It was a rank that was overwhelmingly better than S. This was the best possible start he could have hoped for.

Knock knock.

There was a knock on the door of the bathhouse.

“Who is it?”

“If you’re awake, get dressed and come out.”

A trembling voice came through.

It was a voice that sounded strangely familiar. Soon, a few memories surfaced in Kim Minwoo’s mind.

Seo Yerim, the granddaughter of the Sword Saint.

Even the way he had been leering at her shamelessly.

‘Ugh.’

Fine.

It wasn’t like he had done anything wrong anyway. It was all that bastard Kim Minwoo’s fault.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

There was no need to feel intimidated. He just had to make sure not to do it again, right?

He dressed in the clothes hanging in the bathhouse and stepped outside.

“What do you want?”

“Grandpa told me to bring you over once you woke up.”

“Let’s go then.”

Seo Yerim’s heart felt complicated as she watched Kim Minwoo walk ahead of her with an air of nonchalance.

Something was different.

Just a while ago, he couldn’t even meet her gaze, but now he was suddenly talking to her casually, as if it were nothing.

‘His eyes are different.’

There was not a hint of malice in the dark pupils that were staring at her. Had he polished them up somehow in the meantime?

As they walked in silence, Seo Yerim spoke up.

“…Where did you learn that swordsmanship from?”

“I never learned it.”

“You’re lying!”

The graceful and perfect distribution of power.

Even the consecutive combination of basic moves.

Even though he had no mana and his body was in poor condition, there was no doubt that the swordsmanship Kim Minwoo had displayed was a sophisticated one.

It was even a high-level swordsmanship that surpassed her grandfather’s Wind Sword Technique!

If he had never learned it, then could it be…

“Are you saying you created that swordsmanship on the spot?”

“I just swung it however I wanted, so what kind of swordsmanship is that…”

Seo Yerim, who had mustered up the courage to ask the question, was utterly dumbfounded.

Just swinging it however he wanted resulted in something more excellent than her grandfather’s swordsmanship.

Did that even make sense?

Her pupils trembled wildly.

“How, how is that… possible?”

Even she couldn’t do it.

She swallowed the rest of her words with superhuman patience and spoke.

“You can’t do it?”

Kim Minwoo’s question, followed by him tilting his head in genuine puzzlement, made her feel an overwhelming sense of despair.

“…Let’s go.”

She didn’t think she could have a conversation with him any longer.

Just like that, they arrived at the inner room where the Sword Saint was waiting.

“You’re here.”

“Yes. Thank you for treating me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The Sword Saint laughed hollowly and said.

“Congratulations on your Awakening. Your brilliant talent will finally be able to take flight.”

Seo Yerim gritted her teeth secretly as she listened to the Sword Saint’s words.

She had been swinging the sword every day without fail from the age of seven to twenty-two.

Despite the praise and admiration she received from those around her, her grandfather was different.

She had never heard the Sword Saint say that she was talented.

She hadn’t thought much of it before, since no one her age had ever heard the Sword Saint say such a thing to them.

But now…

“Take this.”

The Sword Saint handed him a small box. Minwoo took the box and opened it.

A fragrant aroma wafted out.

Inside was a small, red pill.

It was a Sword Shadow Pill.

It was one of the best pills made by the Sword Sect. A treasure that was difficult to obtain even with money.

“It seems to be a precious elixir…”

He slipped the box containing the elixir into his arms.

There was no reason to refuse.

He had done enough to deserve this much, in return for the enlightenment he had given to his friends in the Sword Sect.

“I will use it well.”

“Good. Oh, right. Minwoo, have you ever thought about becoming my disciple…”

“No.”

“Well, of course not…”

The Sword Saint’s words trailed off.

“Do you not plan to become a swordsman?”

“Yes.”

“Why not?”

Why not…

The Sword Saint was making a grave mistake.

He only seemed like a genius because he was using the swordsmanship created by the future Sword Saint.

With the best expert in the world controlling his body, of course he would look like a genius.

‘But the shelf life is short.’

What about after he became an Awakened?

A swordsman was a profession that relied heavily on the physical body. His growth would eventually hit a wall.

After all, Kim Minwoo’s physical talent was the worst.

Conclusion.

Kim Minwoo, you’re better off as a Necromancer than a swordsman.

That was the conclusion reached by a pilot who had experienced countless battles in the air and on the ground.

He didn’t have to explain all that to the Sword Saint…

“I have seen my limits.”

“You have seen your… limits?”

The Sword Saint’s eyes narrowed.

“What did you see?”

“The illusion and the boundary between it. The realm of ‘no-self’ that exists between them.”

What was he talking about?

To be honest, he didn’t know either.

After he created the Wind-Lightning Sword Technique.

He was only repeating the words that the Sword Saint had uttered after breaking through the wall.

‘This old man did talk a lot about catching clouds.’

An excruciating silence followed.

“Illusion, boundary, no-self…”

The Sword Saint closed his eyes as if he had sensed something and muttered quietly to himself.

“I realized it instinctively. That I can’t go any further than this. But I don’t want to set limits on myself just yet. If it’s in a different field other than the sword, maybe I can.”

The Sword Saint closed his eyes quietly.

As expected…

At times like this, catching clouds was the best.

“I’ll be going now. The donation will be sent over soon.”

Kim Minwoo left the inner chamber, leaving the silent Sword Saint behind.

Ye-rim, who had been unable to do anything as she watched her grandfather with his eyes closed, plopped down on the spot.

‘Illusion? Boundary? No-self? What on earth is he talking about?’

She didn’t understand a thing.

Just then, the Sword Saint opened his eyes wide.

“…It’s too far away.”

“…What?”

“He’s not just a brilliant talent, Kim Minwoo is a genius!”

“Is he… really?”

Seo Yerim’s voice dropped as she asked back.

“Yes. He’s a genius you’d only see once in ten thousand years! A monster has appeared at Ilsung Group. This is not the time for this. Bring me my phone! Quick!”

A moment ago, even the Sword Saint didn’t know exactly what Kim Minwoo’s words meant.

However, he was able to grasp a few subtle clues.

It was an enlightenment of the heart.

If he could just flesh out this itchy feeling a little more!

He might even be able to see the next and the next level.

That’s why the Sword Saint made a decision.

To build a stronger relationship with Ilsung Group, which had been kept neutral until now.

If he did that, wouldn’t he have more contact with Kim Minwoo?

He had long since abandoned the ridiculous desire to take him as a disciple.

After all, Kim Minwoo was already a complete swordsman who had seen the end.

‘He doesn’t have to be a swordsman.’

Now, the Sword Saint just wanted to talk to him a little more. No, if possible, a lot more.

“Hehehe, Chairman Kim? It’s Seo Jinchul. I’m calling because…”

* * *

On his way out of the Sword Sect.

The guards’ gazes were drawn to him. Their eyes were filled with countless questions.

‘Please bear with me, friends.’

Now it was time for the most important and sacred task.

He didn’t have the time to spare on private conversations.

Fortunately, the guards seemed to have noticed his mood and were professionally holding back their questions.

Once he got into the back seat of the car.

“Take me to the main house.”

He closed all the windows with the curtains. The interior turned into a darkroom.

Now it was time to create the EX-rank skill book.

[Using the Job Skillbook (EX)!]

[You have selected the job, Necromancer!]

[Warning: Once you choose a job, you cannot go back!]

[Would you like to create your first EX-rank skill as a Necromancer?]

‘Of course!’

A light burst out and…

[You are transferring to Necromancer.]

[Stats are being generated.]

[Inventory is being opened.]

[You are being granted an EX-rank skill.]

A message appeared before Minwoo’s eyes.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]