The Veteran Swordmaster’s Stream (Novel) - Chapter 76

Chapter 76

By the time he lost count of how many craters had been formed.

His vision turned red for a moment, and a warning notification rang.

“Hmm? What is this?”

Seo-jun backed away for a moment.

Since they had practically been taking turns attacking each other like brothers in harmony, This is Not the Martial World did not pursue Seo-jun.

“Did you run out of internal energy by any chance?”

“It seems so.”

He did not know because it was his first time experiencing it.

Looking at the internal energy gauge, it was indeed a warning triggered by having used up almost all of it.

“Hehe. If you want me to wait, I shall wait for you!”

-This is chivalry!

-Keh!

-It’s intoxicating!

“Why?”

“Because you have shown what true martial arts and chivalry are in an era where wuxia has become a vulgar joke!”

When on earth did he do that?

And what exactly was martial arts and chivalry?

Seo-jun had questions, but he let them slide.

“Yes, I get it. Now let’s start again.”

“Haha! Accept my consideration. Your skills are certainly outstanding, but the Heavenly Demon Divine Art without internal energy is beyond nothing and is like a beginner wearing sandbags. In other words, fighting in that state is arrogance. Since it is also my fault that we fought like this, it cannot exactly be seen as consideration…”

“Enough, I don’t need it.”

“I understand, do not regret it if you lose!”

“Sure.”

-Bluffing king

-Internal energy is a luxury for the Heavenly Demon, lol

-No way, lol, did he eagerly use up his internal energy without knowing it would turn out like this? He has a plan.

-Didn’t he just fail to manage it because he used a new skill after using the Great Art of Absorbing Stars?

He felt a sudden pang of guilt, but Seo-jun did not show it.

‘I’ve used up almost all my internal energy. Natural recovery is indeed extremely slow.’

This was why managing resources like internal energy during combat was a major part of one’s skill.

Now the opponent no longer needed to dodge his sword, and Seo-jun still must not clash directly.

“Here I come!”

Even so, Seo-jun did not feel disadvantaged at all.

The greatsword flew in with its blade turned toward Seo-jun’s flank.

Deflecting that greatsword would consume twice as much resource.

So it was an unalterable fact that he had to dodge it at all costs.

However, there was a way.

‘He said that trait doesn’t apply when the Green Forest blocks.’

The Green Forest’s trait was only activated when they attacked directly.

Therefore.

Seo-jun easily reached a conclusion.

He just had to prevent the enemy from attacking.

Seo-jun retreated precisely to the narrow distance where the tip of the greatsword could not reach.

Even so, the unfavorable situation did not change.

His attack speed was also slow.

In the game outside the Battleground, the classic counter to the Green Forest was the Assassination Guild.

This was thanks to the rapid speed that Seo-jun lacked, which allowed them to press the opponent to prevent them from attacking and dodge easily.

“Now it is my turn.”

However, the enemy did not fail to attack only when his attacks were fast and relentlessly pressing.

What if he could move the enemy exactly as he wanted?

Seo-jun dug his left foot inside the enemy’s range and slashed his sword in his right hand diagonally from outside to inside.

The sword moved at a speed that was not fast, looking even lazy at first glance.

-Looks seriously frustrating

-That’s because the opponent has a greatsword, and we’re just watching

-It’s even more frustrating if you do it yourself, lol

-No wonder that ‘Heavenly Demon’ is unpopular among Koreans

-Otherwise, it’s a glass cannon that gets near-death in a single hit

It was slow. The trajectory of the sword was naturally visible. The Heavenly Demon’s sword my foot. Its power was practically non-existent.

Clang!

The opponent blocked Seo-jun’s sword as if it were natural.

While recovering the heavy greatsword that he had swung leisurely.

If it went on like this, it seemed he could indeed dodge it all day, just as the enemy had said.

Yet Seo-jun’s expression was only relaxed.

‘Hooked.’

Seo-jun moved his opposite foot this time, preparing the next attack.

And.

Seo-jun thought now was the optimal timing to teach him about martial arts and chivalry.

“Listen well. Martial arts is the power for the Heavenly Demon, and chivalry is to revere the Heavenly Demon.”

Fortunately, the reaction from the viewers was not bad.

-Ah lol, that’s a bit…

-Severe eighth-grader syndrome (chuunibyou)

-Please don’t do this. My cringing hands and feet, lol

-If you win, I’ll acknowledge it

***

“Ah! The second round is also ending with This is Not the Martial World’s defeat! In the first round, the duel between real men ended due to Seo-jun’s internal energy consumption, and Seo-jun fell into a crisis where he had to settle the score in that state, but…”

Bangju took a breath and said.

“He defeated the enemy quite smoothly against expectations. Seeing This is Not the Martial World getting helplessly beaten for some unknown reason, it makes me wonder if Seo-jun used magic.”

There was a separate reason for explaining the previous round like this.

-Real, lol

-Suddenly it ended so easily

-Where did This is Not the Martial World, who was searching desperately for romance, go!!!!

-Looking at his face, he looked genuinely flustered…

-The problem is that it is still happening now

Exactly.

“That’s right. The problem is that it is still happening now! Exactly. In the second round, I expected him to counterattack instead of being defeated so futilely, but the opposite result came out. He continuously fails to cope! Why is that!”

There was no battle pattern to speak of.

Clang!

Clang!

The clashing of the greatsword and the sword.

When Seo-jun swung, the opponent blocked.

When he swung again, the opponent blocked again.

When he attacked at that slow speed again, the opponent blocked, but as time passed, the opponent would somehow allow an attack.

Chwaaaaak!

Just like now, as Seo-jun’s sword slashed across This is Not the Martial World’s chest.

“If it was going to be like this, This is Not the Martial World should have at least changed his traits! He should have given change, created variables, and shown a different side! Yes! Isn’t that right, everyone?”

-lol, why should he, he’s not getting paid?

-It is a shame to lose so easily like that

-Gives a feeling of helplessness

-If it were me, I think I could’ve avoided it?

That was why Bangju rooted for This is Not the Martial World.

“It must not end like this. He shouldn’t keep getting pushed back; he must show us something!”

-Why on earth, lol

-Weren’t you rooting for Seo-jun?

Even so, it did not change the already practically decided outcome of the game.

Bangju shouted in a loud voice.

“Ah. GG! Seo-jun’s sword slashed his neck, depleting the last remaining health!”

Although it was ambiguous to call it a great match, the battle in the beginning had something that warmed the heart.

“With this, he has already defeated two people!”

This is Not the Martial World exited the game after bowing politely.

He seemed to cleanly accept his defeat.

On the other hand, the spectators did not accept it at all.

-Martial arts was indeed the power for the Heavenly Demon, lol

-Perhaps because he fought a greatsword, the speed discrepancy didn’t feel very big

-The wuxia boomer’s sword is on the larger side, lol

-Even so, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art debuff is slower than that

-We’ll need to see the next game to be sure

Bangju scanned the public opinion in the chat window.

People could not purely acknowledge Seo-jun’s skill.

This is Not the Martial World, who fought just now, had the excuse of his weapon.

Defeating the fast Dignity of the Unorthodox Faction had the excuse of the opponent’s mental state collapsing.

‘Defeating two top-tier rankers is amazing though.’

The evaluation was harsh compared to the achievements made.

‘Whatever the reason, as long as it makes sense, it’s fine, but perhaps the real reason they still don’t acknowledge him easily is…’

Because the battle visible to their eyes looked too easy.

The most major factor was likely that the battle of the top-tier users reflected to them looked too easy.

Because even Bangju himself, who had watched and casted countless battles up until now, felt a similar way.

The This is Not the Martial World who fought just now seemed to accept his own defeat, but Bangju had quite a few differing opinions.

‘It seems he could have done it if he just moved the sword to the side there.’

Or backed out completely.

Clearly, opportunities to escape and reverse the tide were visible to him too.

No matter how much of a spectator’s position it was, a skill gap between Bangju and a real veteran definitely existed.

If so, there was no way it wouldn’t be visible to a ranker’s eyes.

Bangju only thought in his head that there must be something he couldn’t see.

“Now, the next match has been found! It took some time, but will a top-tier ranker appear this time too, or will it be a normal user!”

We’ll know once we see the next battle.

***

The opponent of the fourth match was a user with a contribution ranking below 50th, who was not top-tier but could be called upper-tier.

The first round.

Seo-jun, who brought the Great Art of Absorbing Stars, toyed with the enemy by showing off his unique, overwhelming physical ability and continuous sword strikes (due to the trait).

Subsequently, the second round.

Seo-jun, who drew out the Heavenly Demon Divine Art again, began to leisurely attack the enemy.

“A trait that forces you to be relaxed, or a trait that forces you to defeat them quickly. Both feel like they have no middle ground, and I wonder if this is Seo-jun’s problem or the Demonic Sect’s problem…”

Bangju said while spinning his chair in place.

-lol

-The Demonic Sect is at fault for this one, lol

-No, why is it the Demonic Sect’s fault when he’s the only one using what most people don’t use?

-They are guys without chivalry

The reason he brought up useless stories.

“Haha, this game also ended with Seo-jun’s victory!”

Again, once again.

The ranker was helplessly defeated by a sword that swung as if by an employee suffering from chronic fatigue.

Busy just blocking without being able to do anything.

Bangju pondered.

‘Will they say the ranking is low this time?’

Indeed, the reaction appeared exactly as expected.

-Maybe because they’re in the 50s, they play pretty badly, lol

-Toyed with in the 1st round, and what is he even doing in the 2nd round? At least put in a counterattack like the 1st round

-Hmm, the Great Art of Absorbing Stars aside, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art seems manageable? Should I try sniping too?

Watching people doubt the defeated player’s skill instead of the winner’s, Bangju felt frustrated.

Correcting misunderstandings through commentary at times like this was the quality of a caster.

Since only doubt remained for him as well, there was nothing he could do.

Still, something should be visible in the next match.

Despite Bangju’s hope, several more matches proceeded, but he could not tell.

[Heavenly Demon-nim, I have learned a valuable lesson.]

Ranking 77th.

Defeated lightly.

[Good game. Wow, you are really good.]

Current contribution 11th place, NamgungFamilyWaiter.

Since he usually had a common neighborhood older brother image, the viewers laughed and said they had expected it.

But by this point, no matter how slow-witted one was, they had to realize.

[Going to the next match.]

That the background of Seo-jun getting a six-game winning streak with weird traits, precisely five wins against rankers, was not because the rankers played poorly.

Bangju eventually failed to grasp it properly, but he felt the necessity to mention this part.

“Do you think it’s strange that rankers are helplessly falling to that slow sword right now?”

Eventually, he read a chat.

“So do I.”

-What are we supposed to do if you don’t know?

-Turns out the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is complete cheat, lol

-Speed is merely a number

“Speed is merely a number? No, I can clearly say that is not the case. Yes, sorry for only stating things like this clearly. Anyway, but still. Surely there is something we don’t know, right?”

It was the maximum explanation he could provide.

-The rankers were just complete frauds, lol

-Anyway, this game has completely become a veteran-only game

-Because they were just unskilled people gathering together, there was no progress! Then when a slightly skilled master came from outside, they just got smashed! lol

-The reason pros don’t come to For Chivalry has been revealed, lol. Because it’s not even worth fighting.

Oh dear.

Because Bangju touched on the topic without explanation, the viewers’ attention converged, and public opinion began to skew strangely.

Bangju felt cold sweat running down his back and began to handle the situation.

“We all know that the rankers absolutely don’t play poorly. Haha, everyone. And… oh, a donation came in.”

Fortunately, thanks to the help of a ranker who had been defeated by Seo-jun, he found a clue to resolve this situation.

[‘This is Not the Martial World’ donated 200,000 won!]

[Watch the next match from the perspective of the opponent. Then you will know.]