My Skillbook My Way: Chapter 43
Chapter 43
"The Tyrant Guild has absolute faith in their power—enough to use such roughshod methods. If we shatter that faith before everyone's eyes, both the government and the other guilds will think twice."
The Guild Leader said that the Anti-Tyrant Guild Alliance had proposed selecting representatives to face their representatives.
"But wouldn't the Tyrant Guild have no reason to accept such a match?"
I asked the Guild Leader.
With the government backing them, the Tyrant Guild could swallow up the other guilds even if they just sat still.
I thought there was no need for them to take on unnecessary risk.
"No, they will definitely accept. The condition is that if the Anti-Tyrant Guild Alliance loses, we will unconditionally enter under the Tyrant Guild's banner."
'I see.'
In other words, the Anti-Tyrant Alliance had burned their bridges.
"Even if we combine the three first-rate guilds and our Guild Leader, there are only six SS-rank Hunters. We desperately need your strength, Hwajin, since you've defeated SS-rank Hunters from the Tyrant Guild."
The Vice Guild Leader looked at me with eyes full of desperation.
"Six..."
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. I had heard that on the opposing side, the Tyrant Guild alone had twelve SS-rank Hunters.
"Do you know where Jeong Cheonyeol stands among the Tyrant Guild's SS-rank Hunters?"
When I asked, the Vice Guild Leader said that Jeong Cheonyeol had just become an SS-rank Hunter, so he would be on the weaker side.
"The Tyrant Guild's SS-rank Hunters are famous, so their stats and skills are roughly known. But we can't rule out the possibility that that's not all they have."
In other words, they could be hiding their true strength or important skills.
'I'll need some kind of means to win for sure.'
At a numerical disadvantage and lacking information.
I pondered for a moment, then asked what the exact rules of the match would be.
The Guild Leader said that since we had requested a match between representatives, the Tyrant Guild would decide the specific method.
***
A few days later, the Tyrant Guild sent over the specific rules for the match.
Each side would select a team of seven. No restrictions on roles such as dealers, tankers, or healers.
The victory condition was rendering all members of the opposing team incapacitated, or the opposing team captain conceding.
I was surprised that the rules were fairer than I expected. I had thought they would definitely set rules favorable to them—such as making the team size twelve.
"We've agreed to announce our representatives on the day of the match, but they'll surely send all seven as SS-rank Hunters from the Tyrant Guild."
The Guild Leader said that on our side, it would be five SS-rank Hunters sent by the three first-rate guilds, the Guild Leader himself, and me—seven in total.
"The match is in ten days, on Sunday."
That was the last thing the Guild Leader said.
Two days after the Tyrant Guild sent over the match rules.
"I never thought it would come to this."
I sat on the sofa in the Guild Leader's room and listened to him speak. The Vice Guild Leader was sitting next to the Guild Leader. Both of them looked extremely grave.
The Guild Leader said that two first-rate guilds in the Anti-Tyrant Alliance had abandoned the match and joined under the Tyrant Guild's banner.
He said both guilds had been leading the Anti-Tyrant Alliance from the very beginning.
"For them to suddenly switch sides after the match was decided... there's a high possibility this match was the Tyrant Guild's scheme from the very beginning."
The Guild Leader spoke in a subdued voice.
His intention was to root out forces opposing the Tyrant Guild and make sure they could never attempt such a thing again.
The remaining first-rate guild had been opposed to the Tyrant Guild for a long time, but they only had two SS-rank Hunters in total.
'Even with me and the Guild Leader, we're short three people.'
I pondered for a moment, then opened my mouth.
"Guild Leader, Vice Guild Leader. I have an idea."
I summarized my abilities and told them.
Upon hearing my story, the Guild Leader made an expression as if he couldn't believe it.
"If what you say is true, there might be hope... but it's too far beyond common sense..."
The Guild Leader muttered, stroking his beard.
"So that's the true nature of the power that took down a field boss alone and defeated an SS-rank hunter. Now it finally makes some sense."
On the other hand, the Vice Guild Leader, who had gone on missions with me several times, nodded his head.
"Aside from you two, only those two know the truth."
"...Understood. Let's do as you say, Hwajin."
The Guild Leader said so and took out his smartphone.
About two hours later, Mister Gangil and Hyeri entered the Guild Leader's room together.
Seeing me with the Guild Leader and Vice Guild Leader, the two looked puzzled. The Guild Leader invited them to sit beside me.
"Mister Gangil, Hyeri. As the Guild Leader, I have a request to make of you."
At the Guild Leader's words, I could see the two of them blinking their eyes.
***
Evergreen, a first-rate guild of Korea.
It was Korea's 4th-ranked guild with about thirty S-rank Hunters affiliated.
At the top of the ten-story building owned by Evergreen Guild was the Guild Leader's room.
A long spear made of green metal adorned one wall of the spacious room.
"Hmm..."
A man's groan echoed in the room.
Sitting before a large desk was Hong Jigwang, the master of that room and the guild.
The SS-rank Hunter in his mid-thirties was glaring at the tablet on his desk with his brows deeply furrowed.
Just then, a knock was heard.
"Come in."
A woman who looked to be in her late twenties entered. The woman, wearing light armor, had gauntlets made of red metal equipped on both arms.
"Guild Leader, is it true that Atlas is participating in the match as scheduled?"
Yu Chohui, Evergreen's Vice Guild Leader, asked standing before the desk.
"Yes. I received word today."
At those words, Yu Chohui's face brightened instantly.
With two first-rate guilds leaving the Anti-Tyrant Alliance and all remaining second-rate guilds pulling out as well, the participation of Atlas—which possessed SS-rank Hunters—was incredibly welcome news.
Hong Jigwang slid the tablet toward Yu Chohui. She read the contents with a happy face, but her expression twisted instantly.
"They say they'll prepare four hunters close to SS-rank?"
Thinking she had misread, she read the message again, but the contents remained the same.
"As far as I know, Atlas only has one SS-rank Hunter..."
Hong Jigwang rose from his seat and walked toward the wall adorned with the green spear.
"The Elder seems to have some plan in mind. But we can't just sit idle either."
He drew the spear.
"I can't let scum like the Tyrant Guild run rampant. Even if Evergreen is the only guild left in Korea without the Tyrant name, we will stand against them."
"Yes!"
Yu Chohui answered loudly.
"Bring the S-rank Hunters we've selected to the training ground. I will personally serve as their sparring partner."
Hong Jigwang exited the room first, spear in hand, and Yu Chohui soon followed.
***
Time passed, and on a Friday evening, two days before the match against the Tyrant Guild.
Guided by the Guild Leader, I made my way to the building of Evergreen, a first-rate guild.
Besides the two of us, the Vice Guild Leader, Mister Gangil, and Hyeri were also with us.
"Fitting for Korea's 4th-ranked guild. To think they use the entire building."
Hyeri said, looking up at the building with a weary expression.
According to what I had heard, Evergreen had thirty S-rank Hunters—five times Atlas's number. Their A-rank Hunters numbered over a hundred, and both the Guild Leader and Vice Guild Leader were SS-rank Hunters.
"But seeing how even a guild like this only has two SS-rank Hunters makes me realize how abnormal the Tyrant Guild is."
Mister Gangil muttered.
Guided by a staff member, we took the elevator to the top floor.
In a room incomparably larger than our guild leader's office stood two people.
"Welcome, Atlas."
The one who spoke was a man wearing armor and holding a green spear.
Beside him was a woman equipped with red gauntlets.
'So that's Hong Jigwang, Evergreen's Guild Leader. Then the woman beside him must be Yu Chohui, the Vice Guild Leader.'
I guessed their identities based on the information I had heard from Hyeri beforehand.
"Despite how the situation has turned out, I am truly grateful to the Elder and the members of Atlas for accepting the match."
"No, Jigwang, you must have had a hard time yourself. Thank you for trusting and waiting for us."
When our Guild Leader said that, Evergreen's Guild Leader shook his head and gave a bitter smile.
"Elder. I'm truly sorry, but could you all accompany me to the adjacent building?"
"The adjacent building?"
If I recalled correctly, there was something like a gymnasium next to the Evergreen Guild building.
"Are the guild members anxious?"
When the Guild Leader asked, Hong Jigwang lowered his head as if ashamed.
"Understood. Everyone, please take care of us."
The Guild Leader said so and winked at us. I wondered why this old man was suddenly acting this way.
I understood the meaning of that wink immediately upon arriving at the gymnasium.
Inside the building, which had interior facilities similar to a martial arts dojo, stood five people.
You could tell they were all hunters from their gear and weapons. They all had eyes gleaming with fighting spirit.
"These are Evergreen's S-rank Hunters."
Hong Jigwang explained that he had selected the most capable S-rank Hunters in his guild and trained them in preparation for the match against the Tyrant Guild.
"If it is alright, could you please have a match with them?"
"So the winners get to participate in the match against the Tyrant Guild, is that it?"
Mister Gangil crossed his arms and spoke as if he understood, and Hong Jigwang nodded.
"Alright, Hwajin. Let's do it, the two of us."
I answered that I understood. At that, an uproar broke out on the other side.
"You two will face all five of us?"
Hong Jigwang asked in surprise.
"Yes. You said they are S-rank Hunters, so it should be sufficient."
As if my words had offended them, the Evergreen S-rank Hunters now revealed not fighting spirit, but killing intent in their eyes.
"Don't regret this."
I ignored the man on Evergreen's side gritting his teeth as he spoke, and drew a spear from my inventory.
It was a new spear with a golden shaft and a red blade, made for me by the workshop owner.
It was a so-called synthesized item, made using Jein's Axe-spear—of which I had kept one after two dropped previously—and the Hongyeombu obtained by defeating the boss of the Scorching Hell dungeon.
Mister Gangil also raised a large axe.
"Then... begin!"
The moment Hong Jigwang gave the signal, four hunters charged. One seemed to be a rear support.
"Flame Spear! Lightning Spear!"
I layered two skills on my spear simultaneously.
Sparks and flames engulfed the spear.
"Hup!"
I gripped the spear with both hands and swung it wide.
A wave of lightning and flame crashed over the charging hunters.
"Uwaah!"
"Kuk!"
"Ah, hot...! Numb...!?"
The Evergreen S-rank Hunters screamed and froze in their tracks.
Due to the 'Paralysis' of Lightning Spear and the 'Burn' of Flame Spear, they could do nothing but take damage.
"Hrrgh!"
In that time, Mister Gangil twisted his waist and brought the axe behind his back.
"Upgraded Bisection Slash!"
He shouted and swung the axe at the air.
Shiiiiiiick!
A storm blew.
To be precise, it was an artificial wind created by the pressure of the axe swung at terrifying speed.
"Uwaaah!"
The S-rank Hunters screamed in unison and flew into the air of the gymnasium like scraps of paper swept up in a tornado.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Evergreen S-rank Hunters who crashed to the floor trembled violently, unable to move.
"H-huh!?"
The remaining hunter in the rear support role stared at us in terror, unable to do anything.
"Will this suffice?"
I turned my head toward Evergreen's Guild Leader.
He, and Yu Chohui standing beside him, were both gaping with wide eyes.