Chapter 207

“Do I have to tell you that?”

“…Ha, our boss has no manners? It’s hard to show respect like this.”

A strange atmosphere began to flow in the room.

“So what do you want me to do?”

“What do you mean, what to do? Should I just barge in? Tell me why you’re covering half your face, or just show me your face? Huh?”

“I don’t like either. And stop using informal speech. How many times do I have to tell you?”

“Ha, if you don’t like it, neither do I.”

As the atmosphere suddenly heated up, Jo Byeong-cheol, who was next to Bae Joo-won, started to intervene.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong with you!”

“Ha, look at this bitch! Her attitude is just fucked up.”

Shaking off the hand trying to stop him, Bae Joo-won stomped towards the woman.

Facing each other, Bae Joo-won swayed and sneered.

“What makes you think you can act like that? I’m just asking to see your face once. Or at least tell me why you’re covering it? You say you don’t like either, but you want me to show respect?”

“Sigh…”

Seeing Choi Ga-in sigh at him, Bae Joo-won’s veins popped on his forehead.

“Hey, just because I got temporary command, do I look easy to you?”

“…That’s not it.”

“Fuck, then why the attitude? Huh?”

“……”

“Did you get a taste of the sword in the Soseongdan Clan and now you’re acting all high and mighty?”

“That’s not it either.”

“Ah, talking to you is really fucking frustrating. You don’t get any love anywhere, do you?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean, you bitch? I mean you’re just not loved.”

“Don’t swear. And I think I’m better than you, who swears at your own charge and sexually harasses your superior.”

“What? Sexual harassment?”

“Do you think I didn’t hear the conversation you two just had?”

Even though they thought they spoke quietly, Bae Joo-won was momentarily flustered that the woman had heard their conversation.

But the fluster was brief. Bae Joo-won decided to brazen it out.

“So what? Fuck, you’ve done some mercenary work, right? This kind of talk is normal in this line of work, so what? You’re a mercenary too, don’t you know that?”

“Nice talk. A man who can’t even speak properly in front of the person himself.”

“What?!”

“Then can you say that to the person’s face?”

“……”

“Can you swear at your charge to their face? From now on, show respect and go back to your seat.”

Just as Bae Joo-won reached for the axe at his waist at Choi Ga-in’s words.

“Is what I’ve heard so far true?”

Instantly, the three present froze at the sudden female voice that sent chills down their spines.

‘What, what? Since when?’

Somehow, their superior Wi Ho-yeon was standing behind them.

No one present, including Bae Joo-won, had sensed Wi Ho-yeon’s presence.

Bae Joo-won unconsciously swallowed hard.

After all, not sensing her presence until she was this close meant one thing.

‘…To this extent?’

The fact that the gap between the Sword Monarch and himself was enormous.

In fact, he had heard many stories about the Sword Monarch.

From her rookie days when she first entered the continent, to winning the martial arts tournament of the Eastern Alliance.

That she had single-handedly taken down groups targeting her.

And that she was one of the key figures in dismantling the Execution Society this time.

He had also heard that she had the skill to give even the notorious Gwi Chang Baek Si-hoon a hard time.

Naturally, given all the rumors and stories he had heard, he could nod at the significant gap.

The problem was that he couldn’t even sense the Sword Monarch’s presence.

This fact spoke clearly.

‘The gap… is this big?’

Not just one or two levels, but a completely stark difference. At least three or four levels apart.

Bae Joo-won himself was no pushover as a player.

Not top-tier, but definitely high-tier.

He knew the Sword Monarch was now clearly a top-tier powerhouse, but the extent of the gap was shocking.

“Choi Ga-in, is what I’ve heard true?”

“Ha… haha, no, Wi Ho-yeon. You must have misheard and exaggerated…”

“You, be quiet.”

“…Yes?”

“I asked Choi Ga-in. Bae Joo-won, be quiet.”

“…..”

“Choi Ga-in, is what I’ve heard true?”

“…Yes, it’s true.”

At Choi Ga-in’s answer, the two men raised their voices in denial.

“Wh, what are you talking about!”

“When did we ever do that?! You must be imagining things!”

The two men shouted that they had never done such a thing, but Wi Ho-yeon paid them no mind.

“What exactly did they say?”

“Well…”

“No harm will come to Choi Ga-in from your answer.”

“…I heard them sexually harassing you, Wi Ho-yeon.”

“Sexual harassment, you say?”

“Well… it’s a bit detailed…”

“…I see. Then, the part about swearing in front of the charge, were you referring to Lee Yun-seong?”

“…Yes.”

The two men started to gauge the Sword Monarch’s suddenly stiffened expression.

“Um… Wi Ho-yeon. That woman’s claim about sexually harassing you is exaggerated.”

“…..”

“It, it was just an exclamation of admiration for your beauty, Wi Ho-yeon. Absolutely not…”

“…Swearing.”

“…Yes?”

“Did you swear about Lee Yun-seong?”

“Th, that was…”

“No, I guess there’s no need to ask. It must be true.”

“No, no…”

“Bae Joo-won, Jo Byeong-cheol. You’re both fired. You’ll receive your pay up to now, so please leave Eternity immediately.”

“Wh, what?”

The two men were dumbfounded by the sudden dismissal, their mouths hanging open.

“Bodyguards who badmouth their charge are unnecessary. Pack your things and leave now.”

“What the… fired?! Where does this happen?!”

“It’s correct…”





“Ah! This is a bit too much…”

“Too much? What’s too much about this?”

“Well…”

“How can you trust someone who badmouths the person they’re supposed to protect behind their back? In a real emergency, wouldn’t you just abandon Lee Yun-seong and run away?”

“Well, that situation hasn’t happened yet, so you can’t guarantee we’d do that, right?”

“No. I can’t trust you. Please leave.”

“Damn… This is too much!”

“……”

The two men flinched under the cold gaze directed at them.

“…Fine, let’s do this. If you two can defeat me or if it ends in a draw, I won’t fire you.”

“…Huh?”

“If you feel the dismissal is unfair, I’ll give you a chance. If you two team up and defeat me, not only will I not fire you, but I also won’t report this to the higher-ups.”

At the Sword Monarch’s words, the two exchanged glances.

A one-on-one fight would have been an absurd suggestion, but a two-on-one seemed doable.

No matter how famous the Sword Monarch was, they were also top-tier fighters who were respected wherever they went.

Plus, having worked together for a long time, the offer seemed quite tempting.

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes. I keep my word.”

They doubted her sincerity, but her expression didn’t seem deceitful.

They drew their weapons and spoke.

“Just so you know, Wi Ho-yeon, you said it first. Don’t regret it.”

With that, they charged at the Sword Monarch.

‘Damn her…!’

Bae Joo-won had been annoyed since earlier. Everything about her, from her expression to her tone.

The situation was frustrating, but her dismissive gaze made him even angrier.

‘How dare she…!’

He knew they’d lose one-on-one, but two-on-one was a different story.

Fighting one person versus fighting two simultaneously was a huge difference. It wasn’t just twice as hard.

He swung his axe at the Sword Monarch, but she hadn’t even drawn her sword yet.

‘Arrogant woman!’

Whoosh—

Wi Ho-yeon twisted her body to dodge and tripped Bae Joo-won.

Thud.

“Ugh?!”

He felt his body tilt, but he had expected her to dodge. The real threat was his partner’s attack.

In an instant, Jo Byeong-cheol’s sword rushed toward Wi Ho-yeon. If it hit, it would pierce her shoulder.

Clang!

“What?”

Jo Byeong-cheol was shocked to see Wi Ho-yeon deflect his sword with her palm.

‘How?! Did my attack look that slow to her?’

Jo Byeong-cheol was a swordsman who specialized in speed. His agility was in the mid-80s.

For her to read his attack and deflect it with her palm meant the Sword Monarch’s agility was at least in the mid-90s.

Thud!

“Ugh…!”

Jo Byeong-cheol rolled his shoulder to absorb the impact of her kick, but it felt like his shoulder was shattered.

Whoosh—

After landing the kick, Wi Ho-yeon drew her sword and deflected the incoming axe.

Clang!

“What… what is this…?”

An absurd situation. Bae Joo-won had thrown one of his dual axes at the Sword Monarch, but in the blink of an eye, it was embedded in the ground.

‘I didn’t even see her draw her sword.’

A rumor he had heard came to mind.

The rumor that the Sword Monarch had grown explosively after her fight with Gwi Chang.

That she had grown by two levels, that she was now on par with top-rankers, all seemed like exaggerated nonsense.

There were even rumors that after Gwi Chang’s death, the Sword Monarch was being considered for his vacant position.

Of course, he dismissed it as baseless. The Sword Monarch was famous, but the reputation of top-rankers was too high for her to compare.

‘But was that rumor true?’

He thought it was just Eternity exaggerating to boost their clan’s reputation, but the power she displayed now was something else.

Even with two top-tier players teaming up against her, her expression didn’t falter in the slightest.

“Crack…!”

Crash!

He had kept his eyes on her to anticipate her attacks, but somehow, he was already kicked in the stomach and slammed into a wall.

“Ugh!”

The pain was so intense he couldn’t even think straight.

His partner, Jo Byeong-cheol, was already unconscious.

“Ugh… we… we lost… ugh…”

“……”

Wi Ho-yeon ignored Bae Joo-won’s words and pressed an invisible sword to his neck.

“…W-wait… ugh… what… what are you doing?”

With the sword at his neck, it was only natural that his body trembled under her emotionless gaze.

“W-what… are you… planning to kill me…?”

“……”

“D-did I… sexually harass you? I-I won’t do it again! P-please…”

“…Bae Joo-won, remember this. It’s best if you don’t even think about running into me outside.”

“Huh?”

“I’m letting you off this time. Don’t ever badmouth the person I serve again. If I see you doing that even once more, I won’t forgive you.”

“Y-yes! I-I was wrong! I won’t do it again!”

“…Take Jo Byeong-cheol and leave. Don’t come near Eternity again.”

Bae Joo-won immediately scrambled to gather his partner and left the area.