Episode 29.
Thwack, crunch!
I struck the sandbag with all my might.
Clank!
The chain fixed to the ceiling rattled loudly and swayed.
Even after the two weeks of training with the Hero ended, I didn't neglect my training.
My body was definitely getting better.
If this had been a short while ago, I might have been satisfied with this much.
However.
‘Black Moon.’
Black Moon, an apocalyptic force that appeared out of nowhere.
Thanks to those who had appeared alongside the prematurely begun Awakening Ritual, I could no longer be satisfied with my current situation.
‘Number of affiliated personnel: uncountable. Estimated to be several thousand. All subordinates are Awakened, expanding their domain across the world.’
Black Moon's domain wasn't limited to South Korea alone.
Having placed Awakened who appeared across the globe under its command, it was truly the greatest, strongest force of all.
‘The hierarchy is clear, but I know nothing about the executives or the organizational structure.’
I had succeeded in extracting information by exploiting the blind spot of the Contract trait, but it wasn't extensive.
That was because Seon Hyeon-min, the one who gave me the information, was nothing but a small fry.
Despite possessing the powerful trait of Stealth, he had merely been guarding the spot where Choi Jin-seong died under an executive's orders.
He had been given orders to kill anyone who appeared here.
‘No matter how small a fry he is, keeping an assassin force capable of stealth on standby for three weeks? That means they knew something.’
Keeping Stealth-type Awakened capable of assassination tied to one place for three weeks required certainty.
Which meant.
‘They were preparing for someone to come, as if they knew who would Awaken.’
The thought that crossed my mind was of a regressor like me.
But I soon shook my head.
‘There is only one Stone of Regression from the apocalypse.’
Only the White One had succeeded in that monster raid.
Naturally, there could only be one Stone of Regression, and so I was the only one who could have returned to the past.
Not even a hypothetical possibility existed.
"Hoo—"
I stopped hitting the sandbag.
I had pushed myself beyond my limits to the point where I could feel my heartbeat vividly.
"Screw it!"
And I collapsed onto the floor.
‘The deeper I dig, the more questions arise.’
Black Moon, an organization that had suddenly revealed itself.
Who on earth was behind it?
What trait did they possess to have so many Awakened under their command?
Choi Jin-seong died, so how was the Contract trait he should have had being manifested?
The endless chain of questions only added to my confusion.
"Ugh, forget it. I'm not the type to use my head anyway."
Honestly, I wasn't an intelligence-type character.
I was closer to a brute-force type who solved everything with my body, so trying to force my unused brain into action would likely be poison instead.
"There's only one way."
No need to think complicated thoughts.
I just had to get stronger.
‘Whether it's Black Moon or whatever, I just need to crush them with overwhelming force.’
People often say.
That the world is full of things that can't be solved by strength alone.
Bullshit.
That's because you lack the strength to solve all those problems.
Truly powerful strength can crush anything.
Of course, it would undoubtedly take tremendous effort to reach that point.
And I couldn't achieve it right now.
"First, my own safety."
What I needed immediately was to survive among the Awakened appearing one after another.
And the most urgent thing for that was the 'Evolution' of my trait.
‘Taking them on with my current strength is impossible.’
Reinforcement?
It was true that the Infinite Reinforcement I possessed was an extremely powerful trait.
It was one of the absolute traits, actually ranked among the top 100.
The problem was that my current trait had clear limits.
That was why I needed the power of a trait that had developed one step further—an evolved trait.
And for that.
Riiing—
I immediately called someone.
"Chairman. I need information on one person."
I had originally postponed the evolution of my trait a bit.
But the situation had changed drastically; I didn't think I could wait any longer.
『Apocalypse D-DAY 70』
"Did you hear the news?"
A group of survivors gathered in the ruins.
With the Awakening Ritual, a clear hierarchy had formed among the survivors, and those gathered here now belonged to the lower class.
Those who had failed to Awaken a powerful trait were bottom-feeders who somehow clung to strong Awakened just to survive.
Their only joy in life was the various rumors, including portents.
"News? What news?"
"How can you be so slow with news? They say a Treasure has appeared."
"A Treasure? What's that?"
"Sheesh, you. You don't know that?"
"I'm asking because I don't know. What the hell is a Treasure?"
"Ahem. I don't know the exact details either, but I heard it's an object containing mysterious power. You know, like swords, spears, or armor that appear in legends."
"Huh? Those actually exist?"
"Well, if traits appeared, why shouldn't Treasures?"
"That's true."
Those gathered nodded at the middle-aged man leading the conversation.
With the Awakening Ritual, abilities called traits had appeared.
With superpower-like abilities appearing, it wouldn't be strange for legendary weapons or armor to appear.
"So. What Treasure appeared this time?"
To the people's questions filled with anticipation.
"Don't be surprised! None other than the Twin Dragon Sword (雙龍劍)!"
"...Twin Dragon Sword?"
"Don't tell me you've never heard of it?"
"I don't think I have."
"Ah!"
The youngest among the group.
The boy with a youthful face, who had seemingly just reached adulthood, exclaimed.
"General I Sun-sin's?"
"That's right. The very sword General I Sun-sin wielded!"
Twin Dragon Sword.
A hwando of 1 jang (3m) in length, said to have been used by Chungmugong General I Sun-sin.
"They say the sword whose whereabouts had been unknown for hundreds of years has appeared."
The legendary sword, whose actual existence hadn't been accurately known, had finally revealed itself.
"So. What ability does that sword have?"
"That... I don't know either."
"Hm?"
"Man! I only overheard it; how would I know the details? I just know that such a Treasure has appeared, that's all."
"Well. People like us can't know high-level information."
In the end, the conclusion ended in self-deprecation.
Those driven to the bottom along with the changing world were gnawing away at themselves with self-mockery.
"...Twin Dragon Sword."
A young man mixed in with that crowd.
He repeated the word Twin Dragon Sword and once again focused on the words of the middle-aged man chattering excitedly.
Before the apocalypse began, my situation hadn't been very good.
That was because, in a world where existing order and society had collapsed—a world ruled solely by force—I possessed the weak trait of Reinforcement and had to live the lowest of lives.
A question might arise here.
Why, when I possessed Reinforcement, and even the top 100 trait called Infinite Reinforcement?
Honestly, if you looked at the trait itself, Reinforcement wasn't that powerful.
It was merely a supporting role like a blacksmith in the Middle Ages, reinforcing the equipment of combat agents.
But I had transcended it.
Through a quirk called Great Fortune.
Obtaining a quirk that pushed the reinforcement success rate close to 100% barring special circumstances, I could become a special trait holder—an Infinite Reinforcer.
Of course, I could have approached a more complete form through various talents and other quirks, but in the early stages of the apocalypse, I was merely a weak Awakened.
'Still, I joined a good group of survivors and heard all sorts of rumors.'
If there was one fortunate thing, it was that I met a good group and was able to hear various rumors while under their protection.
Among the things I heard there was also about the Treasure that would reveal itself to the world for the first time—the Twin Dragon Sword.
Luckily, I had overheard the location of the Twin Dragon Sword, and based on that memory, I requested information from Chairman Gang.
Since he was a figure in the business world who held South Korea in his grip, verifying that person's identity was no trouble at all.
However.
"I didn't think he'd be someone with a personal connection to you, Chairman."
Inside the sedan gliding forward smoothly.
Chairman Gang, wearing his seatbelt, occupied the seat next to me.
"That's what I wanted to say. I never imagined you'd know Yun-sik, that guy."
Song Yun-sik.
The man known as the owner of the Twin Dragon Sword.
I had requested identity information through that name I overheard by chance before the regression, and surprisingly, he was someone with a personal connection to Chairman Gang.
"He retired now, but he was an executive who built the Taewang Group with me. The man—I tried so hard to dissuade him, but he said he wanted to live quietly in the countryside."
It turned out he had been an executive at the Taewang Group.
One who could have taken the president's seat but stubbornly refused and chose to return to farming.
"If your purpose in meeting him is something bad..."
"It's completely different from your worries. It will be a very amicable meeting, so you need not worry."
"Then that's a relief."
I stared intently at Chairman Gang.
To think that he, to the point of being called cold-blooded, would cherish someone this dearly.
Moreover, to the point of insisting on accompanying me himself.
'He must be an extraordinary figure somehow.'
Unfortunately, I hadn't met him before the regression.
However, according to rumors, he had died in battle after having the Twin Dragon Sword stolen following a fierce fight.
Thinking about how various forces and powerful individuals had participated to claim the first Treasure, Song Yun-sik's strength must have been extraordinary as well.
Screech!
The sedan stopped as we conversed.
"Chairman. We've arrived."
I got out of the car following the driver's guidance.
"...."
I looked around.
A quiet suburb; fields that weren't expansive but well-maintained stretched out.
And beyond that, a hanok like an old tiled house was situated.
A narrow path through the fields.
An old couple standing where the path ended, connected to the tiled house, could be seen.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes. It's been a while."
We exchanged light greetings.
No matter where you looked, they wore faint smiles like close acquaintances.
But at that moment.
'...What?'
An unpleasant, bizarre sensation that couldn't be precisely pinpointed crept in.
How should I explain it?
Perhaps a sense of alienation toward the scene unfolding before me?
But if asked to explain it, there was nothing to say.
So.
Step.
I walked forward.
To find the source of this unpleasant sensation.
"And this person is...?"
Song Yun-sik expressed doubt while looking at me.
"Ah! This is Yun-chan, Shin Yun-chan. He's also my business partner."
"...Business partner?"
He revealed his surprise by opening his eyes wide.
And he stroked his chin as if by habit.
'Ah!'
In that instant, I realized the identity of the alienation I had felt.
Hiding my expression to avoid revealing myself as much as possible, I slowly approached the two.
"Well, pleased to meet you. To be the Chairman's partner at such a young age, you must be extraordinary...."
When I cheerfully reached out my hand, I could see clearly.
There was a moment's hesitation, but there was no longer any reason to hesitate.
Swish!
Refusing the offered hand, I took a wide step and instantly burrowed into his chest.
And.
Thwack!
I threw a punch straight to his face.
If he had been an ordinary person, his face would have been crushed and he would have lost consciousness from that single blow.
However, Song Yun-sik did not fall.
However.
Crackle.
Due to the impact on his face, that mask was peeling away.