Chapter 26

The Superhuman of Beombal (4)

"...It is possible."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Yeongwoo glanced up at the title floating above his head. As he had just confirmed, he was currently the Gumi First Sword.

Can First Swords hold multiple positions?

Otherwise, why would the system grant another title of the same type to someone who already possessed one?

As he finished reading the notification, new information appeared.

Title Acquisition and Merger

If you acquire additional titles with similar properties and effects, they can be merged.

Some titles evolve into new titles depending on the number of mergers performed. Your title, Gumi First Sword, is one of them.

Beneath that, something resembling an evolution tree appeared.

[Gumi First Sword]
→ Merge 2 or more times
→ [Gyeong bok First Sword (True)]

"Huh?"

What does 'True' mean? Is it like a promotion candidate or something?

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, an explanation appeared.

If you possess at least three First Sword titles within the Gyeong bok region, you can obtain the title Gyeong bok First Sword (True).

Among all holders of the Gyeong bok First Sword (True) title, the individual possessing the largest number of regional First Sword titles will ascend to become the Gyeong bok First Sword.

"Why does this have to be so complicated?"

In simple terms, the person with the most First Sword titles became the Gyeong bok First Sword, provided they had at least three.

Yeongwoo scratched his chin as he reread the explanation.

Well, it made sense.

Gyeongsang bok-do alone contained twenty-three regions.

How else could one determine the strongest among them?

Yeah. Competing based on the number of First Sword titles is the most straightforward method.

But then—

Flash!

Another rule appeared.

All Gyeong bok First Sword (True) holders can determine the current Gyeong bok First Sword's location in real time.

First Sword titles may also be inherited through killing.

"...There it is."

Exactly as expected.

Becoming the Gyeong bok First Sword would make someone stronger, but the price was becoming prey for every Gyeong bok First Sword (True) holder.

Then the same must apply to Gyeongnam First Sword, Busan First Sword, Jeon bok First Sword...

In essence, it was a nationwide battle royale.

Of course, judging from what happened in Gimcheon, there might not actually be that many First Swords around.

Regardless, Yeongwoo had already gathered two First Sword titles from the Gyeong bok region.

One more, and he'd qualify as a candidate for Gyeong bok First Sword.

Would you like to merge the Gimcheon First Sword title?

Merge authority expires in 5 seconds.

4...

3...

Without hesitation, Yeongwoo approved the merger.

Immediately, the title floating above his head flashed as if struck by lightning.

You have merged the Gimcheon First Sword title!

The effects of the Gumi First Sword title have become stronger.

Piiing!

[Gumi First Sword+]

Unique Title

First Sword's Dominance

Gumi Swordsmanship

A plus sign got added.

Exactly how much stronger did it become?

After inspecting the title for a moment, Yeongwoo remembered the golden sphere still floating before him and reached out.

Tap.

The sphere began spinning faster and displayed his rewards.

Guaranteed Reward

[Nol's Armored Waist Belt]
Mutated Belt

Retrieves weapons remotely.

Optional Reward

3,000,000 Karma

OR

30,000 Karma granted to every resident in the region

Same choice as in Gumi.

Maybe it was because this Mutant had appeared recently.

Either way, unlike last time, Yeongwoo had a clear reason to choose the latter.

[Golden Foundation]

Cause a Golden Rain in at least two regions.
(1/2)

It was the perfect opportunity to complete the achievement.

Honestly, the amount of Karma spread through Gimcheon won't even be that much. There aren't many survivors left.

Even so, he chose to distribute it.

For the public good?

No.

This decision was entirely for his own benefit.

Flash!

Boom!

"Huh?"

[30,000 Karma will be granted to every resident in the region.]

The moment he selected it, the sphere vibrated before shooting into the sky.

Whoosh!

A golden streak cut across the skies above Gimcheon.

"What?"

"W-What's that?"

"Wh-What is...?"

The surviving Gimcheon heroes stared in shock as the sphere raced overhead.

Too exhausted to question Yeongwoo, they simply watched.

Was it a disaster?

A miracle?

They couldn't tell.

Then—

Boom!

The sphere exploded like fireworks, dyeing the sky gold.

"My God..."

Golden light reflected in the heroes' eyes.

Moments later—

Shhhhhhh!

The phenomenon that had practically become Yeongwoo's trademark began once more.

Golden rain fell from the heavens.

Countless golden droplets poured down.

The exhausted survivors accepted the rain without resistance.

And then messages appeared before their eyes.

Gumi First Sword+ 'Jung Yeongwoo07' has relinquished exclusive ownership of 3,000,000 Karma and donated 30,000 Karma to every resident of Gimcheon.

The Karma will be distributed in the form of Entrepreneur Coins. Prepare yourselves.

"Entrepreneur Coins?"

"What does that even mean?"

While everyone was confused, Yeongwoo felt something strange around his waist.

Ah, the scabbard was attached there.

The crude scabbard had disappeared.

In its place was a black steel belt.

Aside from having two weapon hooks instead of one, it looked ordinary.

But—

Ping!

Retrieves weapons remotely.

Let's see if it really works.

Holding Early Bird in his hand, Yeongwoo threw it about five meters away.

Thunk!

The sword embedded itself into the ground.

Then he reached out his hand.

Swish.

The result shocked him.

"What?"

The sword immediately flew free of the ground and returned.

Technically, it returned toward the belt's hook.

However, he could intercept it midway.

This is basically telekinetic sword control...

Well, not quite. Since it only works for retrieval, maybe "semi-telekinetic swordsmanship" is more accurate.

He didn't know the maximum range, but it would clearly be useful in combat and many other situations.

Looks like each Mutant drops different equipment too.

At that moment, coins began materializing in midair with metallic clinks.

Without even looking up, Yeongwoo casually caught them.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

Meanwhile, the Gimcheon heroes fumbled helplessly.

The coins were golden.

Just as Yeongwoo and the Hanulchae group had once been, they were completely bewildered.

Feels like ages ago already.

Watching them scramble around, Yeongwoo felt a sense of camaraderie.

"Invest everything into Strength and Durability first. After that, loot every corpse in Gimcheon. There should be plenty of dead people who never got to spend their Karma."

Advice from a man who now possessed two regional First Sword titles.

The survivors looked up.

Then they finally realized something.

The face engraved on the coins was identical to the Beombal man standing before them.

"...!"

"W-Wait... could you be...?"

They tried to speak.

But Yeongwoo had already kicked off the ground.

Boom!

He needed to head north immediately.

If Sangju had failed to kill its Mutant just like Gimcheon—

There might not be a single survivor left by now.

And if that happened, the Mutant probably wouldn't still be in Sangju.

...I've really stopped thinking like a normal person.

Yeongwoo gave a bitter smile.

Before he knew it, he was already thinking like a native of this ruined world.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

His legs carried him along the road from Gimcheon to Sangju.

Meanwhile, system messages continued flashing.

Achievement Complete: Golden Foundation

Grade: Legendary

Rank: First

Recommended achievement list updated.

You have 2 unclaimed achievement rewards.

"Two rewards? Ah, right. The Social Worker achievement."

That meant two new recommended achievements should have appeared as well.

Yeongwoo opened the achievement window.

Ping!

Your Achievement Tendency: "Mad Dog"

Completed Achievements: 4

Caller of Golden Rain [Legendary] - First

Forgive Your Enemy [Heroic] - #46

Special-Class Social Worker [Legendary] - First

Golden Foundation [Legendary] - First

His tendency remained "Mad Dog."

The completed achievements had now increased to four.

Let's see the new recommendations.

Recommended AchievementsGolden Flood

Cause Golden Rain in 5 or more regions.
(2/5)

Nocturnal

Spend one entire night outside a residential area.

Jeweler's Touch

Wear two Hero-grade or higher rings on both index fingers and ring fingers.
(2/4)

Complete Orphan

Eliminate your parents.
(1/2)

That Complete Orphan achievement really refuses to disappear.

Shaking his head, Yeongwoo examined the new achievements.

Golden Flood is obviously the next stage after Golden Foundation...

Then his gaze settled on Nocturnal.

Nocturnal

Spend one entire night outside a residential area.

People with the "Mad Dog" tendency would absolutely attempt something like that.

And seeing it, Yeongwoo became nearly certain of one thing.

Abnormal weather—or something equivalent—would appear every night.

Otherwise, why create an achievement for simply surviving outside?

There must be a way to ignore or overcome the nightly disasters.

As he reviewed his achievements, the regional status display flashed.

Already near Sangju?

Flash!

Current Region: Sangju

The First Sword of this region is Dokgo Sehwan 01

"Huh?"

To his surprise, Sangju's First Sword was the real deal.

"Second-generation First Sword... and 146 defenses?"

That number said everything.

It meant he'd killed the original Sangju First Sword and survived 146 subsequent challenges.

Just what kind of person was this?

Someone that ruthless almost certainly hadn't avoided fighting monsters.

There was a high chance he'd killed the Mutant too.

And he probably took the 3 million Karma for himself.

Yeongwoo checked his comparatively mediocre stats.

Character: Jung Myungwoo07

Strength: 600 (19 + 581)

Endurance: 350 (21 + 329)

Durability: 550 (13 + 537)

Senses: 100 (24 + 76)

In gaming terms, it was a bizarre build heavily reliant on equipment.

That had worked well in Gimcheon.

But Sangju might be completely different.

Because—

The Sangju First Sword's total stats are probably over 3,000.

Yeongwoo's total was only around 1,600.

How do you beat someone with nearly double your stats?

He already knew the answer.

What other choice do I have? I'll just have to rely on equipment even more.

At that moment, only one message remained in his vision.

You have 2 unclaimed achievement rewards.

Looking toward the distant skyline of Sangju, Yeongwoo quietly spoke.

"Claim rewards."