Murim Login - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 34
I once had a conversation like that with my Elder Brother Jin Ho while watching TV.
‘Is that him? Han Sung-jin?’
‘You know who Han Sung-jin is?’
‘It’d be strange not to. His face is all over the screen. I’ve seen it so much, he feels like family now.’
‘Watch your mouth. That’s defamation.’
‘Damn it.’
On the screen, a handsome man with an elongated frame was smiling brightly. Dozens of cameras and countless crowds reacted to his every movement. Flashes and screams erupted ceaselessly.
‘That guy has it all. An A-rank Hunter is basically a walking mid-sized company. Having model proportions and a celebrity face is just too unfair. How old is he again?’
‘Same age as me.’
‘…Hang in there.’
In any profession, there are those who earn well and those who don’t. But no occupation has such a stark disparity as being a Hunter.
‘Don’t worry, man. Your time will come if you just wait a bit.’
‘How long do I have to wait?’
‘Just wait another hundred years or so. It might be possible in your next life.’
Right now, I wish I could show my Elder Brother Jin Ho, who was teasing me with that laugh, what I’ve become.
‘I wonder what expression he’d make seeing this sight.’
With each step I took, dozens of people surged forward. The NPCs of the Taewon Jin Family, a mix of all ages and genders, gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
‘Is this what celebrities feel like all the time?’
The attention of the crowd, their reverent gazes—burdensome yet strangely exhilarating.
This was the moment I understood that common game promotional phrase: ‘Awaiting a new hero!’
‘Right. Since it’s nearly the end, I should savor this.’
As I waved my hand with a smile, cheers erupted. Leading the ever-growing crowd, I arrived at the Great Hall, which served as the Council Chamber.
“They await your arrival.”
The warrior’s face was familiar. He was the one who had looked at me with contempt when Lee So-gun visited last time.
‘About two weeks have passed.’
Just as I was different now compared to then, so was the warrior. With an extremely respectful demeanor, he cupped his fist and opened the door wide.
* * *
The Great Hall was exactly as I remembered it. A large table sat in the center, and the scattered chairs on either side indicated that a meeting had just concluded.
“You’ve come?”
Jin Wi-kyung, seated at the head of the table, offered a weary smile. He was alone in the vast hall.
“Where is Wi Paeng?”
“He’ll return shortly.”
As I took my seat, Jin Wi-kyung broached the main topic.
“Word came from the Haowen Sect. The Hangsan Inspection Bureau is mobilizing every soldier they can muster.”
They’re panicking over there too, it seems.
I don’t know war, but I know battle. And war is made of battles. The enemy, already having lost many warriors and morale in one decisive defeat, will throw all their strength into the next engagement.
“This will be a difficult fight.”
“We’ve poured all the First Gate’s resources into it. If reinforcements join the main force led by the Blood Wolf Sword, we’ll number in the thousands.”
“A thousand…”
An astronomical number. I’d never experienced a large-scale battle of that magnitude, and I had no desire to.
Jin Wi-kyung continued with a hardened expression.
“We’ll lead the entire force northward. The plan is to strike the enemy’s main force before the reinforcements arrive.”
“When will that be?”
“In two days.”
Damn. Painfully fast. The race against time wasn’t just happening between the Taewon Jin Family and the Hangsan Inspection Bureau. It was happening to me too.
‘Can I log out by then?’
If I reach the First Gate within two days, I can log out. But if I don’t? I’ll have to fight until I’m completely battered again.
‘If that happens, I’m completely done for.’
That’s when Jin Wi-kyung spoke.
“I’d like you to take command of the rear guard.”
I can’t. I won’t. The reflexive refusal nearly burst from my lips, but I barely swallowed it.
Jin Wi-kyung’s expression was more serious than ever before.
“This is a battle where the Main Residence stakes everything. Your mere presence will greatly boost morale.”
“….”
I was deliberating whether to accept this when—
“Fortunately, the Sanseo Five Gates have agreed to aid us. In the rear guard, move alongside some of them.”
“The Sanseo Five Gates?”
“An alliance of five minor sects. We’ve maintained good relations with them for some time.”
“…I see.”
“Will you take command of the rear guard?”
Ding.
Quest
[Rear Guard Defense]
Jin Wi-kyung has proposed that you take command of the rear guard.
If you accept this mission, the martial artists will praise your resolve and courage.
Type
: Short-term Quest
Rank
: First Gate
Restriction
: Jin Tae-kyung
Objective
: Accept Proposal (Incomplete)
Reward
: Reputation +10
Failure
: Reputation -10
Without further deliberation, I answered.
“I will do it.”
A message appeared notifying me that my reputation had increased along with the quest’s success.
Rejection would lower my reputation, it seemed. The quest window’s offer was impossible to refuse, which was absurd in its own way, yet a strange sense of relief washed over me.
‘Relief? Am I truly losing my mind?’
Jin Wi-kyung laughed brightly at me, berating myself for game addiction.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
His smile was genuine, yet an invisible shadow hung beneath it.
Buried under mountains of documents all day was not enough—now war had erupted. Commanding the vast Taewon Jin Family was surely a heavy burden for him as well.
‘He said in two days.’
This would be a decisive clash between two powers dividing a province. For the Taewon Jin Family, lacking sufficient warriors, even an all-out effort would leave us at a disadvantage.
‘Can we win?’
I pushed away the thought that suddenly arose. Whether I lived or died was irrelevant. The expedition was two days away, and several more days would pass before actual combat. Regardless of who won, I would not be here when a victor was decided.
Now it was my turn to ask what I needed to know.
“Um, I have a question.”
“Speak.”
“I’m still stuck at the second-rate level….”
Jin Wi-kyung tilted his head after hearing my entire explanation.
“You’re second-rate?”
His tone suggested complete bewilderment. I had utterly overwhelmed Lee So-gun and even defeated Jo Pil. Jin Wi-kyung had long considered me first-rate, and Jo Pil felt the same way.
“Yes. My level simply won’t improve, so I wanted to seek some advice.”
“Advice, you say….”
Jin Wi-kyung fell silent in thought before speaking.
“You’re already first-rate.”
“I’m second-rate though.”
“First-rate, I’m telling you. A supreme master warrior standing at the very threshold of perfection.”
“No. I’m definitely second-rate….”
“Who told you that?”
This is driving me insane. I wanted nothing more than to show him the system window.
It clearly stated second-rate, and since only I could see it, the frustration was unbearable. I answered with a sigh.
“No one told me I was second-rate.”
“Then?”
“It’s just that I’m second-rate, so it’s hard to explain.”
“Do you believe yourself to be second-rate?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s simple.”
“What, what is it?”
Was the secret to breaking through my level finally coming?
I stared at Jin Wi-kyung with eager anticipation, but his lips remained sealed. Instead, he dipped his finger into the cold tea and brought it to the table.
Swish.
And there appeared a single character.
信
‘Trust in oneself?’
Jin Wi-kyung, catching sight of my expression, let out a soft chuckle.
“You look like you’ve just taken a slap across the face.”
“…You must be mistaken, sir.”
Though truthfully, I looked like I wanted to deliver that slap myself.
“What is this?”
“Exactly as I said. Believe in yourself.”
“How does that relate to advancing my realm?”
“Martial arts begin with belief.”
Belief as the foundation—it sounded like grasping at clouds. Yet the moment those words reached my ears, my heart began thundering in my chest.
‘Martial arts begin with belief…’
Strangely, that single phrase circled endlessly through my mind, spinning and spinning until it made me dizzy.
‘What have I been believing in all this time?’
One word surfaced first, and alone.
The System. The thing that had aided me most in this world, always revealing only absolute truths.
I had deemed myself second-rate because the System had labeled me second-rate.
‘Because I believed in the System.’
I had overwhelmed Lee So-gun, a first-rate master, long ago. I had toppled more than twenty Bandits single-handedly and even defeated Jo Pil, a peak-realm master.
Everyone hailed me as a first-rate master, as a hero, yet I remained second-rate. Because I believed in the System more than in myself. But now I understood.
‘I am already first-rate.’
Already. Perhaps I had been all along. I was first-rate.
“You look like you’ve just taken a slap across the face.”
This time, Jin Wi-kyung’s words were right. I slumped against the chair’s backrest, my spirit drained from my face.
‘What a fool.’
I was second-rate because I couldn’t even believe in myself. Or rather, I had been.
Ding.
–
[First-Rate]
realm has been achieved!
– All martial arts realms rise by one stage!
– Bones and meridians are greatly enhanced!
– The dantian expands in size!
– Level Up!
– Level Up!
From third-rate to second-rate. Then from second-rate to first-rate.
I felt power surging from deep within my body, and Jin Wi-kyung laughed aloud.
“What happened?”
Wi Paeng, arriving belatedly, asked with a bewildered expression.
* * *
It felt as though a blocked passage had suddenly opened. With my realm ascending to first-rate, there came a dramatic surge in every aspect—sensation, martial prowess, everything.
I exited the Great Hall and began walking. The breeze was refreshing.
“It’s the Third Young Master.”
“Are you fully recovered?”
As expected, people’s gazes converged on me. I deliberately turned toward where more people gathered.
‘Anyone watching would think I’m a natural attention-seeker.’
But everything happens for a reason.
Ding.
– Someone gazes upon you with reverent eyes.
– Reputation increases by 1.
– Someone hears of your deeds and marvels.
– Reputation increases by 1.
As I walked, crowds gathered like clouds. Among them were numerous NPCs in unfamiliar attire.
‘Who are they?’
My eyes met with one of them. A youth who appeared to be just over twenty looked startled, then approached and clasped his fist in salute.
“Gwak Mo of the Samdo Gate offers his respects.”
“Ah, yes.”
By now, the fist salute came reflexively and looked quite convincing. But where was the Samdo Gate?
Ah, could it be?
“Are you affiliated with the Sanseo Five Gates?”
Gwak Mo nodded enthusiastically.
“Indeed. Our Samdo Gate has decided to lend our strength to the Taewon Jin Family. I, Gwak Mo, am delighted to offer whatever assistance we can, however modest.”
In a situation like this, reinforcements were worth their weight in gold. I grasped his hand, hoping this Gwak Mo would fight earnestly on my behalf as well.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Please, it is an honor to participate in the Young Master’s legendary deeds.”
– Someone hears of your deeds and marvels.
– Reputation increases by 1.
A complete stranger had traveled all this way to fight for me and kept raising my reputation. I offered Gwak Mo my warmest gratitude.
“God bless you.”
“Pardon?”
“It means I hope the Jade Emperor’s protection goes with you.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you. May fortune smile upon you.”
“Ah, yes.”
I moved forward with an artificial smile. Now that everyone who mattered knew of me, my reputation no longer increased from the Taewon Jin Family members.
‘Still, quite a few have gathered.’
Opening my status window, I was about fifty points short of my target. If I pushed hard for just two more days, I might be able to log out.
“Um, Young Master Jin.”
I turned to see that friend from the Samdo Gate. He seemed determined to follow me to the ends of the earth.
“If you’re not busy, perhaps we could share some tea together….”
“I apologize. I have pressing matters to attend to.”
It sounded like a lie, but it was the truth. My destination had been set from the beginning.
I pointed toward the building to show the disappointed man. The faded signboard hanging there wafted the pungent aroma of medicinal decoctions.
Medicine King Organization.
And beneath it, a small wooden plaque.
No entry except for authorized personnel.
The people surrounding me exhaled sighs of regret.

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