NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 4 - Cutting
The day to meet Master Choi Cheolhyeon was Wednesday.
There was still one day left.
Sitting in a formal posture, I practiced the Superion mana cultivation method, which I learned at
I heard that the Superion mana cultivation method was based on very fundamental principles, so even if learned later, it wouldn’t interfere with learning other cultivation methods.
I repeated doing the Superion mana cultivation and swinging the wooden sword.
A day passed in a flash like that.
Finally, it’s the day to meet Master Choi Cheolhyeon, a national treasure-level craftsman.
7 AM.
I arrived at Yangcheon Station by bus.
In my right hand was a wooden sword.
37 years after the era of monsters and hunters began, carrying weapons on trains was allowed as long as you had a hunter’s license.
For large or sharp weapons, it was recommended to put them in subspace pouches before boarding.
Wooden swords weren’t even subject to weapon regulations, so no one seemed to pay much attention to my wooden sword.
‘Carrying around a wooden sword?’
On the train to Paju.
Kim Sohee, the 3rd team attack captain of
In his right hand was a wooden sword.
‘Is he a concept-obsessed weirdo or an Athena student? No, an Athena student wouldn’t likely be on a train at this time on a weekday.’
Not considering the possibility of an Athena dropout, Kim Sohee soon turned her gaze away from Lee Dojin.
And her mind filled with thoughts about the awakened high school
‘I’d like to secure talented individuals before they enter Iroaz Academy, if I could.’
But that’s not allowed.
Because Athena’s students were still minors.
According to Hunter Law, those who aren’t adults can’t make any contracts or financial transactions with hunter guilds.
Even though it’s become a world where monsters appear and blood flows freely, we shouldn’t put teenagers who aren’t even adults yet on the battlefield.
That was the stance of the Awakened Management Bureau, responsible for the security of hunters and students of Athena and Iroaz.
It was 7 years after gates appeared that the world gradually stabilized, and most countries adhered to the above rules.
‘I can only make contact right after graduation. I heard there aren’t as many talented individuals in the current graduating class as expected. And Jin Hyunwoo in the second year is said to be the most promising.’
Recently, Kim Sohee was more interested in scouting activities than being on the front lines of combat.
Because she clearly knew the limits of her own talent.
No matter how hard she tried, she’d be a B-rank hunter at best.
An excellent hunter, but that’s where it ends. Just one of many excellent hunters.
So she was desperate to discover talented individuals and bring them to Karma Guild.
‘Lee Dojin… I heard he was definitely the most promising student in the first year. But they said he had no mana sensitivity. What a pity.’
But it was purely a feeling of pity.
Cases of talented youth suddenly slipping were common even before the world of hunters began.
This world is never equal.
-This is Paju Station. Please use the left doors to exit.
The train had already arrived at Paju Station.
The man in the white hoodie holding a wooden sword, Lee Dojin, prepared to get off.
Tap-
Kim Sohee and Lee Dojin coincidentally got off the train one after another.
Crackle!
Lee Dojin and Kim Sohee simultaneously stopped in their tracks.
Because the space in front of them started to distort.
It was the phenomenon right before a ‘Gate’ appeared.
The air tore.
Rip!
A large rift opened in space. And from it, three goblins jumped out.
Kiaaak!
Kaaak!
The goblins let out sharp cries and quickly scanned their surroundings.
Only one thought occurred in their minds.
Tear apart the humans in front.
That was the only thought.
Kiaaak!
Swish!
Kim Sohee hurriedly opened her subspace pouch. And grabbed her weapon, a spear.
Just as she was about to move, Lee Dojin in front of her caught her eye.
Her eyes widened involuntarily.
Colorless flames flickering on the wooden sword.
‘Sword… energy on a wooden sword?’
It was clearly sword energy.
Transparent sword energy was rising on the wooden sword in Lee Dojin’s right hand.
Lee Dojin ran towards the goblins without hesitation.
‘I cut.’
It’s something I’ve done countless times. There was no hesitation.
Thud!
Firmly planting my right foot to maintain balance.
I swing.
It was the posture of iaido.
The wooden sword drew a semicircle.
Swish─────!
The colorless sword energy tore through the air.
A goblin’s head floated in the air.
‘……!!’
Kim Sohee felt goosebumps all over her body.
‘He can produce such sharp sword energy using a wooden sword as a medium?’
How uniform must that sword energy be.
And to draw out such sword energy in such a short time meant it was something he did routinely.
Lee Dojin didn’t stop moving.
Because there were still two goblins left.
Slash!
The wooden sword cut from the goblin’s left shoulder blade to its right shoulder. The goblin’s upper body, cut diagonally, slowly tilted.
Red blood splattered on the ground.
Slash!
And for the last remaining goblin, he struck down on the center of its head.
The goblin with its head completely crushed sprawled on the ground.
‘Clean.’
Kim Sohee swallowed hard.
‘To draw out sword energy sharp enough to bisect goblins with a wooden sword, and with such efficient movements…’
Kim Sohee was certain he was at least her equal or above.
‘He probably doesn’t only use wooden swords.’
There are no crazy hunters who insist on using only wooden swords.
If he can display such physical ability with a wooden sword, he must be even stronger with his usual weapon.
“Hello.”
Kim Sohee bowed her head towards Lee Dojin, who had finished putting all the mana stones into his subspace pouch.
“Do you happen to belong to a guild?”
Kim Sohee naturally assumed that the man in front of her was an active hunter with an official hunter license.
Lee Dojin, who had been thinking for a moment about the intention behind this question, decided to be vague.
“No, I’m not affiliated with a guild yet.”
“This is who I am.”
And she handed out her business card.
Lee Dojin took the card.
Kim Sohee, Team Leader of Karma Guild’s 1st Attack Team.
‘Karma Guild.’
Although not one of the top 5 guilds, it was a mid-sized guild that most people interested in the hunter world would know about.
“If you’re interested in joining a guild, please keep our guild in mind. If you come, I’ll personally ensure you get a favorable contract.”
Kim Sohee tried to look closely at Lee Dojin’s face.
It was to guess his approximate age. But because he was wearing a white hood pulled down, it was difficult to estimate his age.
Just by his voice, he didn’t seem that old.
“I’m currently gaining experience. If I become interested in guilds later, I’ll consider yours first.”
Kim Sohee nodded at Lee Dojin’s words.
It was a rejection that was as considerate as possible, and pushing further would only make her unlikeable.
‘Actually, I want to push more.’
-Come as soon as possible. It’s an urgent matter.
Damn it, the guild master was waiting for her. Kim Sohee bowed her head and added one last word.
“Yes, I hope we can meet again. Definitely.”
Lee Dojin watched Kim Sohee walk away and surveyed his surroundings.
He stared intently at the corpses of the dead goblins.
It was his first real combat. And first kill.
Lee Dojin stared at his arm.
His arm was trembling slightly.
Nervousness? No. He wasn’t nervous at all.
Pleasure.
It was clearly pleasure. A sense of achievement.
The corners of his mouth turned up.
“I can cut.”
Even with a wooden sword.
I can cut monsters.
It was the moment he became certain of that.
**
After dealing with the three goblins.
I immediately headed to the address Master Choi Cheolhyeon had sent by text.
“It’s incredible.”
Who would think this building was a blacksmith’s workshop?
It was a high-tech building exuding an aura that would be believable even for a mid-sized company.
Zing-
As I passed through the automatic doors, a large man in a suit appeared beside me.
“What is your name?”
“Lee Dojin.”
“Welcome. He’s been waiting for you.”
The man, who I couldn’t tell if he was a security guard or bodyguard, got in the elevator with me.
And he opened the door to a place that looked like some corporate chairman’s office.
“Please enter.”
As I entered, the guard closed the door from outside, and in front of me sat a middle-aged man with white hair whom I had met before.
“You’ve come. The last time I saw you was at Hyukwoo’s funeral, so it’s been 4 years.”
“Yes, sir.”
The master’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Sir… I’m only 7 years older than Hyukwoo. Just… call me teacher.”
“Yes, teacher.”
Choi Cheolhyeon gestured with his chin.
“I’m not interested in what you’re doing now or what situation you’re in. Just tell me what you want. Whether it’s money or whatever, I’ll grant you one thing unconditionally.”
He’s not interested in what situation I’m in.
And he’ll grant me one thing, whatever it is.
As expected of a national treasure-level craftsman, he’s quite magnanimous.
He seems to think I want money, but what I want isn’t money.
“Is there a tree that can withstand sword energy?”
“…What?”
Choi Cheolhyeon’s eyes widened as if it was a completely unexpected question.