The owner of the raw fish restaurant, Mr. Jang.
He was a well-known informant.
Every small and big commotion in the neighborhood spread through his mouth.
The situation was the same now. He hastily entered the makeshift restaurant made of tents.
“Oh, oh. Hey, everyone.”
Upon seeing him, Mr. Jang, the owner of the raw fish restaurant, and other merchants with familiar faces pretended to recognize him.
“Is Mr. Jang here?”
“Everyone else just ran off with their knives. What’s the deal with that? Anyway, Mr. Jang, what’s going on? Why are you in such a rush?”
“What’s going on? Don’t we know Mr. Jang? He’s a drunk who can smell food from a mile away. Anyway, Mr. Jang has a lot to eat, right? Come and sit down quickly!”
“That’s right. Try some appetizers made by the owner of the Dok’s Family restaurant here. What did he call it again? Caprese? Capraze? Anyway, it goes well with soju.”
“What’s Capraze! Sir, it’s Caprese!”
“Hahaha. Was it? Well, as long as you understand! Mr. Jang, please, have a seat.”
While Trigo and his companions spent a long time in the workshop,
a light drinking party was unfolding in the makeshift restaurant.
The residents were all smiling and invited Mr. Jang to join them.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jang, who caught his breath, suddenly delivered this news.
“It’s not important right now! Uh, that Hunter Kang Chang-soo and the owner of the Dok’s Family restaurant are having a duel in the backyard.”
“What? What do you mean? What are they doing now?”
“They’re sparring! Everyone is staying here to watch. But who am I? The self-proclaimed newsman! I came running here to tell you guys! Those who want to watch get up quickly. It might have already started.”
The people who heard that got excited and got up from their seats.
Why wouldn’t they? The most interesting things in the world are watching fires and watching fights!
And the news reached Jong-pal, who was busy cooking, and Ha-ri and Yeona, who were helping him.
“What is my brother doing? Sparring?”
“Dad, shouldn’t we go and see too?”
“Why? What’s a sparring?”
“It’s when people compete with each other in martial arts.”
“But they could get hurt! We can’t let Dad get hurt!”
Unlike other people, the Dok’s Family looked worried. Especially Haeli seemed unable to contain his anxiety.
Then Pyeong-ari stepped forward. Since there were no weapons that needed inspection, she had also been spending time in the makeshift restaurant.
“It seems like everyone is going to watch. How about Jong-pal stops cooking and joins us to watch? You’ve never seen the owner of the Dok’s Family restaurant duel before.”
“…Are these situations common?”
Jong-pal asked, and Pyeong-ari replied.
“They’re not unheard of.”
“Have there been times when someone got hurt?”
“Huh. Who, Dok Jong-sik?”
Nodding.
“That’s why you need to see it for yourself. Haven’t you been worried every time Dok Jong-sik went out to the field?”
“Wouldn’t it be strange not to worry?”
“Well, yes and no…”
“Yes?”
“You’ll understand when you see it! What are we waiting for? Let’s go see!”
Pyeong-ari urged. Jong-pal then took off his apron and headed towards the workshop backyard.
There, all that remained were empty glasses and Caprese.
***
Blacksmith workshop, backyard.
“This place is quite suitable for a duel, isn’t it?” Jong-pal thought.
But the other party had different thoughts.
For them, this place seemed insignificant for a duel.
“Why not indeed.”
‘Being able to duel with the best weapons against the best opponents.’
‘It’s the dream scenario. But to duel in such a makeshift arena…’
‘It’s difficult to fully demonstrate my skills in a place like this.’
Why not indeed. Spectators might get hurt when using skills, and the workshop might get damaged.
So inevitably, two rules were established.
First, mana, meaning skills, cannot be used during the duel.
Second, if one steps out of the drawn circle (dueling ground), the duel immediately ends.
Because of this, Kang Chang-soo felt regretful.
In his heart, he wanted to run to the ‘Starfield’ right away.
But he knew it was an excessive request.
By the way, ‘Starfield’ refers to a duel arena equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
‘Should I postpone the duel for now? Dok Jong-sik would surely understand…’
But he didn’t want that.
Although his head said postponing the duel was the right thing to do, his heart was shouting ‘right now!’
With the repaired, or rather, recreated Odin’s Spear in hand, he wanted to wield the spear immediately.
In the end, his choice became the latter. Perhaps it was the predetermined answer.
‘Yes. Let’s go with what my heart desires. Thinking about it, it might actually turn out well. If I limit the use of mana, maybe, just maybe…’
Kang Chang-soo’s gaze changed. Jong-sik, who noticed this, spoke up.
“I think we can start now. Shall we begin?”
Kang Chang-soo nodded with a determined expression.
“I entrust it to you. But Dok Jong-sik.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not planning to duel bare-handed, are you?”
“Of course not. But I might have to use mana unavoidably. Will that be alright?”
“Oh, you’re planning to summon. That’s fine.”
As he answered, Jong-sik began to manipulate mana.
The spear, crafted from mana, swiftly found its way into Jong-sik’s hand.
Onlookers gasped in amazement.
“Wow, did you see that just now?”
“Amazing.”
Meanwhile, Kang Chang-soo voiced his surprise for a different reason.
“…A spear, huh? You also know how to wield a spear?”
“Well, somehow.”
Why just a spear? Jong-sik was skilled in the eighteen martial arts.
He learned swordsmanship from a swordsman, axe techniques from a barbarian comrade, and spear techniques from a mnk.
‘Come to think of it, it’s about time I hear back from the little master. Still undecided?’
As Jong-sik briefly pondered,
Kang Chang-soo adjusted his grip on the spear and replied.
‘To be able to handle a spear. I thought there would be nothing more surprising, but apparently not. Dok Jong-sik always manages to surprise me.’
After swallowing once, he continued.
“But I won’t be underestimated either.”
At his words, Jong-sik smiled faintly. And then he announced the start of the duel.
“I look forward to it. Please come at me first.”
“I won’t refuse.”
In an instant, Kang Chang-soo leaped into the air. It was a movement akin to teleportation.
Not only his body movements but even his thrusts were unpredictable.
Odin’s spear seemed like a lone eagle, piercing towards Jong-sik’s vital spot, his neck.
It was a thrilling sight.
However, Jong-sik responded with swift and concise movements.
Clang!
He focused solely on defense.
He deflected the storm of spear thrusts with his own spear.
The clash of spears continued fiercely.
“Ugh!”
Onlookers watched with sweaty palms. Some even placed bets on the outcome of the duel.
“Hehe, look at that!”
“Why isn’t he attacking at all?”
“Could you do any better? He’s struggling just to defend, when do you expect him to attack?”
“And on top of that, the spear Kang Chang-soo has doesn’t seem like an ordinary one…”
“Yeah, isn’t that cheating? It’s not like he’s not using mana!”
“Well, then Dok Jong-sik can’t say anything either. Where do you think that spear came from? Huh? Wasn’t it made using mana?”
“Well, yeah, but…”
“Sir, I guess I won.”
Most of the bettors were civilians, although there were a few from the Poison Toad Clan, a semi-civilian group.
They bet on Kang Chang-soo Hunter’s victory, becoming more convinced as the duel continued. Kang Chang-soo Hunter’s victory, that is.
On the other hand, the hunters were different. They were experts in combat and could clearly see who had the upper hand.
“I’m so nervous I can’t watch. Are you okay, Uncle?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Haah. Team Leader Pyeong, shouldn’t we intervene now?”
With a worried expression, Pyeong-ari spoke to the Poison Toad Gang members watching the duel.
“You’re worried. Since he’s only defending, it looks like he’s losing, doesn’t it?”
“…… He does seem to be struggling a bit. Kang Hunter keeps pressing without giving him a chance to rest.”
“Looks like that to the eyes of ordinary people.”
Former chef Dok Jong-pal. His former occupation was that of a hunter, albeit at the lowest rank. However, in Pyeong-ari’s eyes, he was no different from a civilian.
She smiled and said, “But look at the expressions on both of their faces. Despite appearances, how do you think Kang Chang-soo Hunter feels right now?”
“…Huh? He looks exhausted.”
“What about Dok Jong-sik?”
“Just his usual self.”
“Now do you understand why I told you not to worry?”
Relaxation shows in facial expressions. In other words, it means his brother has the upper hand in the duel. For some reason, his brother seems to be intentionally focusing only on defense.
“…!”
His anxious heart eased a bit. Jong-pal watched the duel with a sigh of relief.
And then it happened. The two men, who had been clashing spears incessantly, suddenly distanced themselves.
Or more precisely, Kang Chang-soo distanced himself. He gasped for breath, glancing at Jong-sik.
‘There’s no opening. Damn it!’
Even though the outcome of the duel was already decided, he hadn’t expected this result.
Not a single move would work.
And it wasn’t just that. The grip holding the spear seemed to be tearing apart. Meanwhile, Jong-sik looked utterly calm.
‘Surely he felt the power imbued in Odin’s Spear…’
‘Why was he so unscathed? Kang Chang-soo felt a deep sense of defeat. Pouring out all his spear techniques made him feel even more so. There was nothing more he could do.’
‘Did Jong-sik feel it too?’
“Is it all over?”
His mouth suddenly opened. Kang Chang-soo nodded with a defeated expression.
“Haah, yes. Thank you for the duel.”
He admitted defeat. But Jong-sik furrowed his brow and asked,
“I suddenly hear a tone of ending. We haven’t even started yet.”
“W-What do you mean?”
“Now it’s my turn, isn’t it?”
Duel Rule 2.
If the drawn circle (dueling ground) is exited, the duel is immediately ended.
Both men are still within the circle for now. But that might change soon.
As if to prove it, Jong-sik stepped forward. The atmosphere changed instantly as Jong-sik, who had been solely on the defense, assumed an attacking position.
He extended the spear with subtle movements, as if preparing for a throwing technique.
However, the spear did not leave his hand. It simply moved freely in his hand like a living snake.
Swish, swish, swish!
From bottom to top, top to bottom, side to bottom, side to top.
His movements were so dazzling that it was impossible to guess from which direction the attack would come.
As a result, Kang Chang-soo was frantically trying to block his spear.
It was a scene completely opposite to his demeanor just a moment ago.
Swish, swish, spear, swoosh!
“…I’m late again.”
The only difference from a moment ago was that Jong-sik had successfully blocked all his attacks, while Kang Chang-soo had failed to block any of his.
He continued to defend himself one beat too late. In the meantime, Jong-sik’s spear tip pierced Kang Chang-soo’s body countless times.
“Haahh!”
Even with all his might and effort, nothing changed.
And then it happened. Jong-sik suddenly turned the spear he was holding sideways.
It was a gesture to stop the attack.
‘Why?’
At the same time, the dueling ground was enveloped in silence.
Kang Chang-soo looked around belatedly.
‘Oh no!’
Unbeknownst to him, he had already stepped out of the circle.
It was a complete defeat.
Eventually, just like Jong-sik, he too turned Odin’s spear he was holding sideways.
A moment later,
“Wow! Dad, you’re the best!”
Haeli clapped his hands, his eyes shining brightly. It was the signal.
“Oh… my money.”
“Hahaha! Look at that. Didn’t Dok Jong-sik say he would win?”
“Wow, impressive!”
People expressed various admirations. Thus, the duel came to an end. It was an event perfectly suited for the grand opening.
