Chapter 72:
Chapter 72:
Chapter 72
"I won't accept divine blessing. Go back to your training."
"Hyungnim!"
Seo Gangrim left the dining hall, but Jang Taehun was still following him, pestering him to accept divine blessing. Seo Gangrim continued to ignore Jang Taeheon, which he knew would eventually make him give up.
On another note, Jang Taehun seemed to be familiar with Shin Sooah, which was a relief for Seo Gangrim. As long as they didn't become hostile, everyone would eventually get used to each other.
Father Yohan, meanwhile, had always been a simple person, and although he didn't have any past connections with Yoon Bom or Yoon Geoul, they were of a similar age, so it should be fine.
...Although there were some concerns.
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-Boom!
A loud noise echoed through the training ground. The training ground was always noisy due to people sparring or training, but the sound Seo Gangrim just heard was on a different level. It was as if a part of the mountain collapsed, or large rocks were colliding. The training ground was covered in dust and debris from the previous attack. In the midst of it all, Jang Taehun's figure emerged, and blood was flowing from various wounds on his body.
"Jang Taehun-ssi."
Someone walked over from the other side. Yoon Bom, holding a rifle, looked at Jang Taehun with a stern expression.
"I'm sorry. I don't have any personal feelings about this, but our patron god... doesn't like you very much."
Jang Taehun spat out blood. Even though the training weapons didn't contain lethal rounds, they still caused substantial damage.
Jang Taehun glared at Yoon Bom and said, "Why doesn't he like me?"
"He says you lack morality. We were already keeping an eye on Seo Gangrim, but you suddenly appeared, trying to take advantage..."
Their patron gods were most interested in Seo Gangrim, who had achieved good results despite not having a god. They were actively pursuing him, offering various things, and some even tried to manipulate him through personal relationships. After all, when someone close urged one to do something, it was hard not to waver. So Yoon Bom, Yoon Geoul, and Yohan were persuading Seo Gangrim to accept divine blessing. Of course, they weren't successful so far.
Amidst their anxiousness about when Seo Gangrim might be taken away by another god, Jang Taehun suddenly appeared and started his own business. The most enraged by this was the patron gods of Yoon Bom and Yoon Geoul.
The 'Father of Gods and Men' who was targeting Seo Gangrim was Zeus, the supreme god of Greece. Zeus's subordinates, Apollo and Athena, had given orders to Yoon Bom and Yoon Geoul: 'Pressure Jang Taehun and make him step back.'
Yoon Bom looked at Jang Taehun and said, "Anyway, Master isn't interested in divine blessing, so why don't you stop?"
"Why are you blaming me for not being able to persuade him? And..."
Jang Taehun still gave Yoon Bom a sharp look.
"You don't have any personal feelings? Doesn't seem like it."
'...There's nothing good about this.'
Seo Gangrim had told Jang Taehun to get along with them, but Jang Taehun remained a distant outsider to them. In fact, they seemed suspicious of him. He had come from another zone and was trying to persuade Seo Gangrim to accept divine blessing.
Yoon Geoul, who had been holding a bow in the back, looked at him and said, "Aren't you really a spy, trying to take Master to the other zone…?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I said I wasn't, would you?"
"Anyway, don't bother persuading Master to accept a god anymore. If you don't, we won't interfere with you either."
Jang Taehun laughed sarcastically at Yoon Geoul's words. His eyes were full of defiant spirit.
"If you don't like it, that's your business."
"I don't want to fight you, but if your patron god can't be persuaded with words, then maybe with force..."
"Do you want to fight? You look weak anyway. Don't hide behind and come at me."
Jang Taehun's taunting voice made Yoon Geoul's expression sharper. Yoon Geoul then spoke his mind, "I'm letting you off the hook because I think you might die easily if we fight, so why don't you get to the point? It doesn't seem like you're a big shot seeing that you ended up here after failing the missions from the other zone."
"...What?"
The atmosphere grew tense, and it felt like a fight could break out at any moment. At that moment, footsteps from someone approached.
"What are you guys doing?"
Startled, all three turned around. Seo Gangrim had entered the training ground. Yoon Bom and Yoon Geoul's faces froze as if they had been caught doing something wrong.
"I thought I told you to get along with Jang Taeheon."
"T-That... well..."
Yoon Bom couldn't muster a defense and hung her head. Yoon Geoul, who was watching the situation, mumbled.
"Actually, Jang Taeheon keeps asking you to receive divine blessings... So, our patron gods advised us to make Jang Taeheon give up."
Seo Gangrim sighed inwardly at their words. He recalled how Yoon Bom and Yoon Geoul had subtly encouraged him to receive divine blessing from Zeus since a long time ago. They couldn't help it since they were tasked by their own gods, but Seo Gangrim found it unpleasant.
Seo Gangrim preferred it if they fought because they simply didn't like each other. However, what bothered him was how they played along according to the gods' orders, rather than their own will. Seo Gangrim looked at the three of them and said, "Jang Taeheon. Is your god still there?"
"...Yes. He wants me to convince you."
The situation wouldn't get any better if Seo Gangrim left this alone. The gods wouldn't bend to each other's will, so they would continue to clash. Seo Gangrim looked at the three of them and said, "Alright, let's do this. I'll favour the faction that wins the fight."
"What?"
"What?"
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise. It was news that their gods would likely appreciate. However, Seo Gangrim continued without a change in expression, "But I'll fight as well. If I beat you, give up cleanly, and each of your gods should give me an item, at least one of Spirit-rank. Tell them."
At that, the three stiffened, then fell silent, as if they were talking to something. They were talking to their gods. After a moment, Jang Taeheon hesitated and said, "They say you're too strong and we're at a disadvantage."
"Then I won't use any abilities, and if I get hit, I'm out."
Upon Seo Gangrim's suggestion of a handicap, the gods seemed somewhat satisfied. Yoon Geoul, with a slightly relieved expression, said, "Alright, Master. But if getting hit just once is the condition, it'll end too quickly..."
*Clang!*
Before he could finish his sentence, Seo Gangrim swung his sword at him with alarming speed. Yoon Geoul instinctively raised his bow to defend, but that was all he could do. Seo Gangrim's eyes glowed ominously close to him.
"You won't even have time to worry about that."
Yoon Geoul struggled to maintain his defense; he remained frozen in place. If he withdrew his bow now, Seo Gangrim's attack would come again before he could retaliate. At that moment, Yoon Bom's voice was heard from the side.
"Geoul!"
Suddenly, Yoon Bom was aiming a gun at Seo Gangrim. However, she couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger. Seo Gangrim had Yoon Geoul's arm twisted, and held him in front of him. Like a shield.
"Do you want to shoot?"
If she attacked now, Yoon Geoul would surely be hit. When Yoon Bom hesitated, Seo Gangrim dragged Yoon Geoul forward and threw him. At the end of his path was Yoon Bom.
*Crash!*
"Kyaaah!"
"Ugh!"
Both of them collided and tumbled across the floor. They tried to get up quickly and assume an attacking stance, but Seo Gangrim was quicker. Stepping on their hands, he said, "I'm not playing around."
"Ugh..."
The twins were strong, but they were in a crisis right now. Furthermore, they specialized in ranged combat, so they needed distance to engage, but Seo Gangrim didn't give them that chance. Just then, there was movement behind him.
*Splatter!*
Seo Gangrim swiftly avoided Jang Taeheon's punch, which whizzed past him. Jang Taeheon seemed to be enjoying the current situation.
"Hyungnim, should I fight you too?"
He looked quite pleased with the current state of affairs. After smiling briefly, Jang Taeheon rushed towards Seo Gangrim.
*Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!*
Seo Gangrim either blocked or deflected Jang Taeheon's punches with his sword. The sharp sound of fists and sword clashing echoed sharply through the air. At first glance, it seemed like they were evenly matched in skill, but in reality, Seo Gangrim had more room to spare. Most of what Seo Gangrim did were focused on evading, blocking, or deflecting Jang Taeheon attacks. Occasionally, he attempted to counterattack, but it lacked any lethal force. Observing this, Jang Taeheon growled and said, "Are you just toying with me, hyung? You shouldn't be!"
Jang Taeheon intensified his attacks even more to the point that it looked like he was throwing ten punches at a time. Amidst his relentless barrage, there was an attack that Seo Gangrim couldn't avoid in time, aiming for his face.
*Bang!*
*Thud!*
Gunshots rang out as Jang Taeheon hastily retreated. Bullets and arrows were embedded where he had been standing. Confused, Jang Taeheon shouted, "Hey! Who's shooting at me?" Suddenly, the twin siblings, who had regained their positions, were targeting Jang Taeheon. It seemed they wouldn't want to let Jang Taeheon win just like that.
*Thud!*
Seizing the opportunity, Seo Gangrim struck Jang Taeheon's back forcefully, hitting a vulnerable spot. Jang Taeheon staggered and could only collapse after the blow. Immediately after defeating Jang Taeheon, Seo Gangrim rushed towards the twin siblings.
*Thud!*
Yoon Geoul and Yoon Bom couldn't defend against Seo Gangrim's attack. In no time, the three of them were on the floor, groaning in pain. Seo Gangrim looked at them emotionlessly and asked, "Is it over?"
The three of them were left breathless, realizing that Seo Gangrim was even stronger than they had thought. It seemed like it was over.
Yoon Bom thought about something and then turned to Yoon Geoul and Jang Taeheon. The three of them remained motionless, apparently engaged in conversation. After a brief moment, they finally got up from their positions. The second hand of the clock on the training room wall moved one tick at a time. And then, when the second hand moved once more...
*Bang!*
Jang Taeheon rushed towards Seo Gangrim like a cannonball. However, Seo Gangrim was quicker in terms of agility. He swiftly dodged to the left just as Jang Taeheon lunged at him.
*Bang!*
A bullet whizzed past Seo Gangrim's side, narrowly missing him. Yoon Bom, keeping her distance, was fixated on Seo Gangrim alone. Just as Seo Gangrim was about to charge towards the snipers to eliminate them first...
"Hyung, I don't think that's a good idea!"
Jang Taeheon suddenly stood in his front. With a man as big as Jang Taeheon standing there, Seo Gangrim found himself blocked. Just then, an arrow was shot from the opposite side.
*Thwack!*
For every attempt to evade, bullets and arrows flew towards Seo Gangrim. Whenever he hesitated against long-range attacks, Jang Taeheon was right there, following up with his assaults. They chose cooperation when faced with a stronger opponent. Initially, they believed that if they defeated Seo Gangrim first, they would have a better chance in their ensuing fight.
Their judgment was paying off. The training room, which had seemed spacious just moments ago, suddenly felt confined. As the three of them continued their coordinated attacks, the tide began to turn in their favor.
Once Seo Gangrim noticed this fact, he looked at them and said, "Not bad."
*Thud!*
As soon as he finished speaking, Jang Taeheon experienced intense pain. Unbeknownst to him, Seo Gangrim had struck him. Coincidentally, it was the same spot where Jang Taeheon had received a fatal wound during their last encounter. Although it had been treated, it hadn't completely healed, and now, unbearable agony surged through Jang Taeheon. Jang Taeheon's body stiffened uncontrollably, and with this, Seo Gangrim was now free to rush towards the twin siblings.
*Thud!*
Seo Gangrim's fingertips struck the twins' necks. They felt lightheaded for a moment before both collapsed to the ground. Suddenly, the only person standing was Seo Gangrim.
"I think it's over now."
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