All‑Master Who Regressed to Bronze - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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All Master Who Regressed to Bronze Episode 023

The sparring match between Lee Hoseok and Shin Hyeok.

While most people showed admiration and interest at this fact, Sang-cheol, the director of the training grounds, did not.

“W-wait a moment. Guild Master of Oseong. No, Sword King senior. Even if that friend provoked first, you shouldn’t go this far, senior.”

As Shin Hyeok had thought, Sang-cheol knew morality and how to care for the weak.

This consideration wasn’t because Shin Hyeok was a descendant of Shinwha Group, but because he was still a young player who hadn’t properly grown yet.

Shin Hyeok wasn’t unaware of this, but he lightly waved his hand.

“It’s fine, Director. Surely a senior who’s the ‘Sword King’ wouldn’t make dangerous attacks against a junior player who’s so far below him? Especially with so many players watching?”

“…This brat?”

Lee Hoseok, who had been planning to teach Shin Hyeok a lesson, gritted his teeth seeing Shin Hyeok sarcastically pretend not to know while already being aware of this fact.

“…I’ll match my physical stats to Silver level. I won’t use sword aura or sword energy either. This should be enough.”

“That’s sufficient. I’m grateful for Sword King senior’s consideration.”

Shin Hyeok smiled seeing Lee Hoseok not only restrict himself to Silver stats but also limit his sword energy and sword aura that only players with unique enlightenment could use.

“How about we make a bet on this?”

“A bet?”

“If I win, what could you give me?”

A bet declaration.

At the question of what he could give if Shin Hyeok won, Lee Hoseok didn’t hide his disbelief.

“…Ha! Are you already counting your chickens before they hatch? The gap between you and me isn’t something that can be narrowed just by restricting stats and enlightenment a bit.”

“Then you should definitely do it. It’s a chance to get something from me for free.”

“You know who I am, right?”

“Yes. The sole heir of Oseong Group and simultaneously the owner of Oseong Guild, a big shot in the player world. Sword King, Lee Hoseok senior.”

“Do you think someone like me would have anything to gain from a Silver player who just finished placement?”

Lee Hoseok’s thinking was correct.

The sole heir of Oseong Group.

The owner of Oseong Guild.

The First King among the Iwhang Samjeo Owang (Two Emperors, Three Sovereigns, Five Kings), the Sword King.

Even on a global scale, there weren’t many people who could give Lee Hoseok something.

However, if there was one thing Lee Hoseok didn’t know—

“I’ll wager Shinwha Workshop.”

“…What?”

“Oseong Workshop has good equipment but receives criticism for the poor quality of its artisans. In contrast, Shinwha Workshop’s artisan level is top-tier. How about it? Don’t you want to secure an overwhelming first place with this opportunity?”

“…Gulp!”

It was that Shin Hyeok was one of those few people.

Even Lee Hoseok swallowed dry saliva at the boldness of casually wagering Shinwha Workshop as stakes.

Lee Hoseok, who swallowed what might have been drool, regained his composure and threw a rebuke.

“You’re not even the 2nd generation of Shinwha Group, just the 3rd generation—do you think you can decide such big matters alone? That’s nonsense. Stop talking nonsense and just—”

“Hello? Grandfather? This is Shin Hyeok. I have something to tell you.”

“…What?”

But that rebuke didn’t last long.

Lee Hoseok froze at the words that came from Shin Hyeok’s mouth as he made a phone call somewhere before Lee Hoseok could finish speaking.

Grandfather.

It wasn’t a particularly strange word.

However, if it was Shin Hyeok’s ‘grandfather,’ it was strange enough.

“Grandfather says he wants to talk to you.”

“…Really?”

“Is there any reason for me to lie?”

“No… of course not… Whew…”

A phone call with an existence that could freeze even Lee Hoseok, who had lived thinking there was nothing in the world to fear.

After taking a deep breath and receiving the phone, Lee Hoseok heard the voice of an elderly man whose power couldn’t even be measured, despite his age.

-Is this Hoseok?

“…Yes, yes! This is Hoseok.”

-I see, it’s been a few months since we saw each other at the political and business meeting and this is our first contact.

“I should have contacted you first, but I’m truly sorry it turned out this way, Chairman.”

-No, that’s enough. What would that make me if you acted like that over a call about my grandson’s business? Just know that everything my grandson said is true. The boy has that much authority.

“…Really?”

Even at the words of Choi Cheolho, who was both the chairman of Shinwha Group and could be called a living fossil of the business world, Lee Hoseok couldn’t believe it.

-Are you saying I would lie to someone as young as you?

“No, no! Not at all. I believe you.”

-And.

“…?”

-Don’t forget that stakes should naturally be equal.

“Are you saying I should… wager Oseong Workshop too?”

-Don’t tell me you haven’t received that much authority from that Yongjae fellow?

“…No! Of course I have it. Of course I’ll wager it.”

-Heh heh heh, good. Let’s have a meal together with Yongjae sometime.

“Yes, please go ahead, Chairman.”

But at one sharp word from Choi Cheolho, he had no choice but to nod.

By the end, Lee Hoseok, who finished the phone call with his back half-bent, accepted Shin Hyeok’s proposal with a stiff face.

“What are the defeat conditions?”

“If senior arbitrarily releases the restrictions or admits defeat, that’s a loss.”

“Arrogant. I’d rather make it a success if you can inflict even one wound on my body.”

“I’d be grateful if you did that… are you really confident?”

“…This bastard—”

It was something he said out of courtesy, and he knew that considering his opponent was a Silver player, even the condition he stated was generous, but Lee Hoseok couldn’t readily answer ‘yes’ to those words.

‘This guy has something. I shouldn’t think of him as an ordinary player at least.’

Since his player instincts built up as the Sword King told him so, Lee Hoseok, who ultimately couldn’t nod, accepted the original conditions.

Even that was damaging to his pride, so Lee Hoseok’s face soured considerably, but Shin Hyeok didn’t care at all and took his stance.

Whoosh!

‘Different. The aura he gives off changed the moment he took his stance. Definitely… he’s not at a level to be compared with Joo-ho.’

At the same time, with the chilling gaze and the aura that pierced his entire body, Lee Hoseok realized the difference between his son Lee Jooho and Shin Hyeok.

He had thought that Jooho was only a paper-thin difference away and could win later, but Lee Hoseok knew well.

At best, Lee Jooho would grow to be a solid Diamond player.

He would never reach the same position as the Iwhang Samjeo Owang like himself.

But Shin Hyeok was different.

‘Maybe even higher than that… I should step on him while I can.’

Thinking that he might soar to heights even higher than himself, Lee Hoseok decided to give his all.

Shing—

Having finished his thoughts, Lee Hoseok drew his Sword King’s main sword.

Like Shin Hyeok’s sword, it was a Unique+ grade sword.

Of course, it wasn’t crafted but obtained as a reward, but that didn’t make it any less valuable.

As both sides completed their preparations, Sang-cheol, who naturally took on the role of referee, looked around with a stiff face and then roughly brought down his raised hand.

“Begin!”

The sparring match between the Sword King and the future challenger began.

* * *

Whiiiiing!

‘…He’s throwing his weapon?’

As soon as the sparring began, Shin Hyeok unhesitatingly threw the sword he was holding.

For Lee Hoseok, who had lived his entire life as a swordsman and thought of his sword as his life, never letting go of it even when defeated in the arena, this sight was shock itself.

Clang!

“Kugh!”

Perhaps that was why.

Lee Hoseok, who deflected an attack he could have normally blocked instantly but was a beat too late, let out a groan.

His body was already heavy like waterlogged cotton due to the stat restrictions, and now he was properly caught by this follow-up attack targeting his opening.

But Shin Hyeok’s assault was just beginning.

Pip pip pip pip ping!

Shin Hyeok threw his weapon and simultaneously drew a bow from his inventory, shooting arrows relentlessly.

Though he couldn’t yet manifest ki, he had infused plenty of mana, making each impact powerful enough to shatter rocks.

As such attacks continued without pause, Lee Hoseok was forced to take a defensive stance despite himself.

Ting ding ding ding ding!

Thanks to this, he could block all the incoming arrows without damage, but Lee Hoseok’s face was red as a beet.

He never imagined he would be forced into pure defense in a sparring match against a Silver Player.

“You bastaaaaard!”

Lee Hoseok, unable to contain his rage, charged toward Shin Hyeok like a bolt of lightning.

Lee Hoseok’s movement technique, reaching right in front of him in the blink of an eye, was indeed profound and magnificent enough to be worthy of the title Sword King.

Swish swish swish swish!

Shin Hyeok watched the Sword King’s True Sword cutting through the air without blinking once, then threw away his bow without hesitation and leaped backward.

“Throwing away your weapon twice! Do you have no pride as a Player!”

“True pride is found in victory. And my real weapon is neither sword nor bow.”

As Lee Hoseok roared in fury at this sight, Shin Hyeok calmly replied and gathered the surrounding mana.

“Kasa, Undine, Sylph, Gnome.”

Shin Hyeok summoned all four great spirits without taking a breath and drew their power together.

“Elemental Shower.”

“…!”

Kwaaaaaaaah!

Fire, water, wind, earth.

A torrent containing all four elements mercilessly pounded Lee Hoseok.

Lee Hoseok gritted his teeth as the forces of nature relentlessly hammered the sword barrier he created by swinging his blade.

Seeing the natural forces that had been raging like a fierce downpour gradually subside, Lee Hoseok’s lips curved upward.

“So that’s it, spirits. Not sword or bow, but spirits. It’s certainly a remarkable ability. But it’s meaningless before me!”

He seemed convinced that Shin Hyeok’s weapon was spirit magic.

Indeed, Shin Hyeok’s spirit magic was clean, perfect, and magnificent beyond what words could describe.

It wasn’t strange for Lee Hoseok to make such a mistake.

“My weapon is not spirit magic either.”

“…What?”

Crack crack crack!

“Rise.”

“…When?!”

Undead that had begun rising from bone fragments Shin Hyeok had scattered at some point firmly grasped Lee Hoseok’s legs.

The moment Lee Hoseok, held so tightly he couldn’t even think of escaping, showed shock for the first time.

“My weapon is myself.”

Shin Hyeok calmly revealed the answer and drew from his inventory an item he had hastily procured before coming to the training grounds.

“A throwing knife?”

A single throwing knife.

Not even one made by Sejin, who would be called a Meister in the future, but just one of the countless throwing knives common in workshops.

Lee Hoseok was about to sneer at Shin Hyeok holding such a thing.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!

“…What the!”

The moment he gripped the throwing knife.

He surely would have sneered if he hadn’t felt Shin Hyeok’s dramatically transformed aura.

A sensation as if the entire training ground was being pressed down.

Realizing this pressure was focused solely on him, a cold sweat trickled down Lee Hoseok’s back.

“Damn it! Let go! How dare you lowly things!”

Thud! Crack! Thud!

Sensing something ominous, Lee Hoseok tried to break free from the undead’s grasp.

But it didn’t take long to realize this was a futile effort.

“Take this. Heaven-Annihilating Supreme Lightning Throwing Knife.”

“…Ah.”

A single throwing knife became supreme lightning that would annihilate the heavens, shooting toward Lee Hoseok.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaah!

What followed was a massive tremor that engulfed the entire training ground.

Seeing Lee Hoseok standing tall where the tremor had subsided, Shin Hyeok smiled.

“You released it, didn’t you? The restriction.”

“…!!!”

Lee Hoseok’s body was clearly not at Silver Player level at first glance, and consequently, the brilliant sword aura glowing blue-white in his hand was decisive proof that he had released the restriction he had imposed.

In other words—

“Oseong Workshop. I’ll gladly take it, senior.”

It was Shin Hyeok’s victory.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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