Chapter 178

Even though I showed up out of the blue, Shin Jae-heon thankfully wasn’t busy.

I hadn’t thought he’d chase me away, but well, if he had been busy, I was planning to wait.

‘Even if I don’t know exactly what I need help with, people might come here, right?’

He even moved to another spot after saying that.

Now that I was upper A-rank, I could almost keep up with Shin Jae-heon’s movement speed.

Thanks to that, we dashed off in our black robes, quickly leaving the imperial palace area behind.

Only after reaching a desolate empty lot with no signs of life did Shin Jae-heon flip back his robe hood.

Then he turned to look at me.

“What do you need help with?”

This guy was proactive. I was grateful he came out like this.

Still, I couldn’t help feeling bad.

“Sorry for suddenly showing up and asking this.”

I scratched my cheek.

I tried picking my words carefully, but with Shin Jae-heon staring right at me, nothing elegant came to mind.

Well, when had I ever spoken elegantly anyway?

“No one else came to mind but you.”

Just saying what popped into my head was best.

At my words, Shin Jae-heon stared at me intently. I took a few steps back from him.

No, I was just about to.

He quickly grabbed my wrist.

Now that I was upper A-rank, my wrist wouldn’t get crushed just because he grabbed it.

“You asked for help—where are you going?”

Lightning-fast reaction before I could even take one step?

I scratched my cheek again.

“I need some distance for you to help me?”

Was he planning to swing Maletia’s Sword at this range?

“?”

While Shin Jae-heon raised his eyebrow in confusion, I backed away.

After creating some distance, I pulled my sword from my inventory.

My rank wasn’t high enough yet to use the PE teacher’s wooden sword (SS).

So this was what I was using.

C-rank, but the durability was good.

I beckoned him over.

“Draw your sword.”

At my words, Shin Jae-heon narrowed his eyes.

Then he slowly drew a sword from his inventory.

It wasn’t the familiar greatsword with the red blade, but a plain one.

“Not that—Maletia’s Sword.”

Shin Jae-heon froze at my words. Then he asked.

“Why?”

“I need you in your usual condition.”

Actually, even better than usual.

To make it real practice, I needed the strongest opponent possible up close.

At my words, Shin Jae-heon lowered the sword he held.

“I’m in my usual condition now, too.”

I raised my eyebrow at that.

How could the condition be the same with a different weapon?

“Quickly.”

Grasping the intent behind my curt words, Shin Jae-heon eventually slammed the sword he held into the ground.

It’s not as sturdy as Maletia’s Sword—doing that would damage the blade.

Habits are a scary thing.

As I thought that.

He drew Maletia’s Sword from his inventory.

The familiar red blade gleamed.

Maletia’s Sword, his personal item that others could barely lift, was said to be quite heavy even for its owner.

But he handled it one-handed like a light shortsword.

His movements were precise, to boot.

“Hoo.”

I let out a short breath and sized him up.

Facing him head-on like this—it had probably been less than ten years.

About eight?

When was the last time?

There’d been no such moments since he hit S-rank.

‘Yuri, help me out a bit.’

You, showing up one day.

‘Huh?’

Me, innocently asking without knowing your troubles. To that me, you said.

‘I want to get stronger.’

Those sharply gleaming eyes, that gaze hardened with resolve—what desperate longing they held, I didn’t understand back then.

I just vaguely figured you wanted to reach S-rank like me, hated hearing me get flak for dragging around a reckless C-rank kid… something like that.

Of course, that was probably part of it.

But standing in your shoes now, I finally got it.

I want to get stronger, too.

Strong enough to protect everyone.

No one gets hurt in front of me.

I’ll make damn sure of it.

At first, you couldn’t even block my light swings—your sword flew off into the distance.

‘You okay?’

To my startled question, you insisted you were fine, even if on purpose. Blood flowing, bones cracked—you got back up every time.

Now I knew: you didn’t want to get hurt, fearing I’d never spar with you again.

I only realized once I stood in the same spot.

And you got strong enough to stand before me.

I’ll do the same.

I smiled without realizing it.

“Come here.”

I swung my sword down hard and leveled the tip at him.

“Come at me full power.”

Like ten years ago.

Shin Yuri blocked his sword cleanly.

Memories from years ago flooded back to Shin Jae-heon.

Back then, I swung at you with everything, and you batted it away effortlessly.

Of course.

I wasn’t S-rank then.

But now it was reversed.

Maletia’s Sword—one of the toughest SS+ weapons—clashed against a normal sword. He’d have to pull punches just to avoid snapping hers.

The stat gap was massive, too.

Even with Shin Yuri’s upper A-rank stats, he hadn’t stagnated since hitting S-rank.

He ranked top among the world’s S-ranks.

Some even pegged him as the first to breach SS-rank.

Every time he saw those articles, though, he was sure Shin Yuri would beat him to it.

For Shin Yuri to parry amid that sword and stat disparity was impressive.

Plus, he had the emperor skill bonus ‘Blood of the Emperor’ stacked on him.

“Not turning on buffs?”

But Shin Yuri demanded full seriousness.

Shin Jae-heon reluctantly activated one skill.

But Shin Yuri frowned.

“I said don’t go easy.”

She wanted full buffs, it seemed.

Finally, Shin Jae-heon asked.

“Why?”

Shin Yuri answered a half-beat late.

“Just want to fight.”

Shin Jae-heon raised one eyebrow.

Earlier she’d begged for help?

There had to be a reason.

Not emotional.

The Shin Yuri he knew hashed out emotional stuff with words.

She didn’t bottle it up and flail blindly—that wasn’t her style.

So this swordplay meant she truly needed his sword.

But full buffs…

As he hesitated.

Shin Yuri’s party window turned chaotic in an instant.

She was attacking for real.

“!”

True to a speed dealer, her sword lunged at A-rank-defying velocity.

Shin Jae-heon twisted away.

But his reaction lagged—he couldn’t fully evade.

Blood sprayed from his cheek.

A single afterimage had grazed him.

Shin Yuri scowled.

“Gonna daydream in dungeons too!?”

She’d clocked his delayed reaction from distraction right away.

Shin Jae-heon thought suddenly.

Words he’d never heard during training years back.

Of course not.

Back then, getting stronger was his sole obsession.

So… not anymore?

Was I strong enough now?

He swung hard, blocking Shin Yuri’s sword.

Several afterimages shattered, shoving Shin Yuri back.

But her assault left no openings.

“!”

Ignoring the recoil, she charged right back—that had to be Leap skill at low ground angle, amped by Dive and Pendulum for speed.

Unorthodox combos, just like her.

Hard to counter even knowing her kit.

Maletia’s Sword met hers head-on.

An ill sound echoed from the ground beneath his feet.

But Shin Yuri’s onslaught wasn’t done.

“……!”

The afterimage she’d fired early—before leaping—finally crashed into his view.

Utterly unforeseen.

Life-or-death instinct kicked in first.

The swords collided with entirely new ferocity.

Weak Point Analysis lit up several blue lines near Shin Yuri’s body.

Instinct had already thrust toward them.

“……!”

But reason snapped back—he halted the blade at once.

In that split-second pause, Shin Yuri slipped her sword under his chin.

Sword to his throat like she meant to decapitate, Shin Yuri said.

“Do it properly.”

Shin Jae-heon’s mouth went dry.

He finally created distance from Shin Yuri.

But it repeated several times after that.

Whenever an opening appeared, he couldn’t thrust.

‘Do it seriously.’

He knew that was her plea—even guessed it stemmed from looming L-rank dungeon pressure, hence the training request.

Yet he couldn’t swing for real.

It’s fine if I die—as long as you’re safe.

That desperate wish, transcending instinct, shackled his moves.

Thus, tiny cuts multiplied across his body.

…Unlike Shin Yuri, not a single tear in her hem.