Chapter 6
Gumi’s Number One Blade (2)
“…A life price?”
At Youngwoo’s proposal, the student flinched, clearly startled.
Then he quickly composed himself and nodded again.
“If… if I can survive, I’d give you my entire fortune!”
He decided this because there was no way he could find another “bodyguard” like this at this stage. Anyone who had both Early Bird and Bangmae (skills/items) was clearly top-tier talent.
And it wasn’t like he was even asking for money immediately.
“So I just pay you when we reach the exchange station?”
“Well… that’s….”
Youngwoo hesitated for a moment.
On one hand, he was technically saving the other person’s life, but actually taking everything they owned felt a bit uncomfortable.
“Forget everything. Just about 100,000 would be fine. You should at least keep something for yourself.”
“Ah…! Y-yes, that makes sense.”
“Then it’s settled at 100,000.”
The deal was made.
Thus, Youngwoo’s current task was survival—for himself and his employer—and exchange.
“Two hours of stay time at the exchange station,” he recalled.
“Then I’ve got about an hour left.”
Finding another exchange station wouldn’t be difficult. As he had seen while heading to the Mountain of Swords, they were scattered everywhere.
However—
“17,000 karma… that’s 170 coins.”
He could probably pick them up thanks to his bag, but would people really just let that happen?
“There are only two ways. Find an empty exchange station… or….”
Kill everyone who gets in the way.
At that moment, the arrow at his feet tilted west.
“Next destination?”
The main quest that had pulled Youngwoo toward the Mountain of Swords remained unchanged.
[Main Quest] “Rookie”
Follow the arrow to the Mountain of Swords and change your fate.
Survival equipment
In other words, the quest would only complete once he changed his fate.
“So fate changes… maybe it’s done in the west.”
Swoosh—
As he thought this, the arrow moved again.
“Huh?”
He blinked, thinking he saw wrong, but the arrow clearly shifted direction again.
The target location was moving.
“No… it might not be a fixed area the arrow is pointing to.”
Whatever the case, he had no choice but to follow it.
“Are you okay anywhere? Any trouble moving?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine.”
“Good. We’re going to run.”
Youngwoo took the lead, gripping his sword and shield tightly. The student clenched his empty hands and followed.
* * *
“Hah… hah!”
“Huuk… huuk!”
It was the first time he had ever acted as a bodyguard.
Aside from running while holding a sword and shield being a bit inconvenient, it wasn’t actually that hard.
Everyone they met avoided them as soon as they saw their armed state.
‘I hope it’s the same at the exchange station.’
About five minutes had passed since they began sprinting west from the Mountain of Swords.
By now, exchange stations should have started appearing.
The student following behind seemed to think the same.
“Um… mister.”
“Yeah?”
“If a fight breaks out… what should I do?”
“Hah.”
Youngwoo hesitated.
He had little combat experience himself.
“…Do whatever it takes to survive. I’ll try to handle things quickly if something happens.”
That was all he could say.
And soon after—
“……!”
It appeared.
An exchange station.
About 150 meters ahead on the right.
‘This is a gift.’
There were almost no people near it.
At most four or five silhouettes.
“You. What’s your name?”
“Yechan. Kang Yechan. What about you, mister?”
“I’m Jung Youngwoo. Stay right next to me when we go in.”
Yechan nodded.
‘They don’t have weapons… they won’t attack recklessly. Just grab the coins fast.’
As they closed in to 50 meters, people at the exchange station noticed them.
“Ah…!”
“Huh?!”
“What the—?”
Panic spread instantly.
As expected, they were unarmed and mostly weak-looking. The strong ones had already moved on toward the Mountain of Swords.
Still, Youngwoo shouted loudly, acting vicious on purpose.
“Get lost! Anyone near the exchange station dies!”
Even Yechan shivered at the killing intent in his voice.
People immediately began fleeing, like gazelles before a lion.
“Go now.”
Once the area cleared, Youngwoo pushed Yechan forward.
“You just touch it, right?”
“Yeah. Hurry.”
The real situation would begin the moment the coins were dispensed.
As Yechan activated the exchange—
Clink.
A sound Youngwoo could never forget echoed.
And then it happened.
CRASH!
170 crimson coins poured out at once.
“M-Mister?”
Startled, Yechan looked at his bodyguard.
“Grab everything!”
Youngwoo threw the backpack over and immediately dropped to the ground, scooping coins like a madman.
“What is that…?”
“Why is there so much money?”
The noise drew attention quickly.
At first, a dozen people gathered… then thirty… then a crowd so large even a fully armed Youngwoo couldn’t easily handle it.
Yet—
No one dared to pick up the coins.
Not just because of his sword, but because people like him were common in this place.
Then something happened at the edge of the chaos.
“Why are there so many people here?”
“Move aside.”
A forceful voice.
Youngwoo’s instincts screamed immediately.
‘They’ve arrived.’
Armed people.
But it wasn’t the worst-case scenario yet. He was almost done collecting coins.
“Put the rest in your pocket. We’re leaving immediately.”
As he slung the bag back on, Yechan looked behind him, frightened.
“…Mister.”
They were already here.
“Just put it in your pocket.”
“Huh? Mister!”
“…!”
Youngwoo saw Yechan’s expression and understood.
They had already struck first.
He twisted his body and raised his shield—
THUD!
A heavy impact rang out.
Something massive struck the shield.
‘A hammer?’
The sensation reminded him of past encounters near dorm exchange stations.
A familiar surge of pain and rage welled up.
‘These bastards…’
His entire body began to heat up.
He noticed a man’s lower body behind the shield. Above it—
The blade came out in a split second.
Stab!
“W-what?”
The attacker gasped in shock.
“Gah—!”
He stumbled backward, screaming.
Youngwoo confirmed the situation.
Three enemies.
One closest had his eye pierced and was falling back.
The others froze in shock.
‘An axe…’
‘They’re in a line…’
Without hesitation, he sprinted.
Tap!
The spear user barely reacted before his face was slashed diagonally.
Fwoosh!
The man behind him rushed in with an axe, shouting—
“You crazy bastard!”
But his shout only revealed his position.
Youngwoo blocked with his shield.
Clang!
A dull hit.
The attacker immediately retreated.
But Youngwoo pressed forward relentlessly.
“Anyone who touches me dies.”
He charged.
The attacker lost balance.
Thud.
And in that moment—
Stab.
The blade pierced his chest.
Silence spread through the crowd.
“…My god.”
“What is this…?”
Some fled immediately, others stared in shock.
Only Yechan remained standing, trembling but watching with awe.
“Mister… are you okay?”
But his eyes were filled with admiration.
Three armed men had been taken down effortlessly.
The reality was slightly different, but still—
‘It’s… over?’
Youngwoo’s hands trembled as he checked the fallen man.
No movement.
Dead.
Only the spear user and hammer user remained.
The spear user was still barely alive, crawling away.
The hammer user lay shaking, unmoving.
Youngwoo walked to the hammer user first and finished him off, then chased the crawling spear user.
Step… step…
“Huh!”
The man flinched at the footsteps.
But the blade pierced the back of his neck.
Silence.
A 1 vs 3 battle.
Only after all enemies stopped moving did Youngwoo finally exhale heavily.
“Hah… haah…”
As his breathing steadied, reality returned.
Yechan stood frozen with a stuffed bag.
Dozens of spectators watched from afar.
And then—
“Huh?”
A message appeared in his vision.
[You can obtain a new title.]
Below it, new text appeared:
Many people have witnessed your strength. No one can deny that you are the “Gumi’s Number One Blade.”
“……What?”
His pupils widened instantly.
But it didn’t end there.
Becoming the Number One Blade will grant great authority. However, many will know you—and some will challenge you to take the title.
‘So I’ll just walk around with that title above my head?’
Like a game.
He quickly looked up at the empty space above him.
And then—
A final prompt appeared:
「Gumi’s Number One Blade」 – Unique Title
[Authority of the First Blade]
[Gumi Sword Technique]
Will you ascend to the position of Gumi’s Number One Blade?