novelGranddaughter of the Great Chief (3)
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Shinyoung was a place where only talented people from all over the world gathered, but even in that crowd, there were a select few with exceptional talent. These students were called Shinyoung's Golden Generation, which Baek In-ha himself was a part of. He had soundly defeated the Knight Crown Douglas Payne, and with a bit more luck, he might've gone as far as defeating the Magic Crown as well. Even the Crown of Two Kings would've been feasible for him.
"Hey, isn't that Kang Shin-hyuk?"
"Did you hear about last weekend?"
"You heard too?"
But nowadays, there was another person who came to mind, and that was none other than the Rookie King Kang Shin-hyuk. The recent events did not serve to keep him hidden from the other students.
"I heard about it from a friend in the Wyvern Knights."
"The captain position changed? It makes sense, she's stronger than the Knight Crown."
"But it's not just that. On the same day, Kang Shin-hyuk took down a member and joined them."
"Uh...?"
"Perhaps...?"
Rumors had spread throughout the dormitories, inflating as they made their way through the students. Eleanor R. Algiers, the Crown of Two Kings, had gained the attention of the hot newcomer Kang Shin-hyuk. People couldn't help but get excited about it.
"What, then, the two of them?"
"I saw them in the café before. She won't speak to other men."
"Hey, but there was a rumor about him and the Empress."
"She's pretty, but there's a big age difference."
"I don't know, she's powerful, though."
"The Crown of Two Kings is strong too."
Kang Shin-hyuk went to class, ignoring the people who were making noise around him. However, even after sitting down in class, the situation was the same. It was natural for students their age to gossip about love.
"Traitor."
"Don't, I'm tired." He sat down while Baek greeted him. He decided to let the other students talk about what they wanted to. The person he couldn't forgive, however, was Karen, who only fanned the flames.
"Karen is dead to me."
"Shin-hyuk, you may be my friend but...you're really amazing."
"Yes, we're no longer friends."
"No, that's right! On the same day that you joined them, the Crown of Two Kings became the captain!"
"I'll tell you later about it, so shut up. Oh, wait, we're not friends anymore so I don't need to."
"I was wrong." The particularly noisy class froze right away as the teacher, Siara Bertrand, entered.
"The final exams will start soon." The complexions of the students went pale at once. The rumors that Kang Shin-hyuk was in a fiery affair with the captain of the Wyvern Knights died away.
"No...didn't the athletic meet just end?"
"Please say we still have time."
"Shinyoung's final exam lasts two weeks. To become a top-notch superhuman, you mustn't forget the importance of writing subjects. It would be good to prepare in advance. Additionally, there will also be practical exams."
"Ahhh...!" It was mid-June now, and the exam would start at the end of June. The time had come to prepare for the exams.
"It goes without saying that the better you do, the higher you will be in the rankings. It is no exaggeration to say that Shinyoung's ranking determines your life as a superhuman. You won't have time to chat and play."
"Last week was supposed to be my break, but I had to work...!"
"Hey, what about the practical skills? Combat training will be difficult." The classroom atmosphere dimmed as Siara Bertrand announced the schedule with a mirthless face.
"Graduation ranking, right..."
"Well, the really good ones don't care because their seats are already reserved in the top guilds."
"We have no hopes or dreams." That was where Baek was. His future was secured even before he was admitted.
"Shinyuk, is it the same for you? Are you going to join the association?"
"Ah...well." While it was undercover, he was technically already in. However, he couldn't say that.
"Well, who knows. We'll see." He would've had no worries of entering the association if it weren't for a certain granddaughter.
"You are a cautious type. Who knows what'll happen by graduation."
"Then are you a reckless type?"
"Of course, I'm cautious too. My growth has only just begun." Kang Shin-hyuk laughed at the triumphant posture of Baek. He wouldn't be able to rest quietly if he wanted to surpass Baek.
***
The teachers weren't going to ease up on the students just because testing was near. In these extreme conditions, the students had no choice but to hunker down and endure. At the beginning of the semester, students would go to the Choin Shopping Center or the Unyu hall to play, but such a sight was now but a dream. If they had time to play, they used it to rest instead, and when their strength recovered, they went back to work.
"But you seem relaxed." It was the fifth day since they started working on the artifacts, and Lee Na-hee was looking a little tired. Kang Shin-hyuk shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the wall.
"My resilience is high."
"I'm going to die and I'm using artifacts to help me...besides, you're a knight. Your physical training must be harder than mine."
"I'm exceptionally resilient?" His regenerative power had increased to B-rank, which far exceeded that of the average superhuman. Thanks to that, he only needed a little rest to recover from his exhausting training. The teachers noticed it and focused on him, but he still couldn't be worn out. Rather, it only sped up his growth. At this rate, maybe reaching A-rank would be possible for all of his stats.
"How can you keep this up with your metallurgy?"
"Ah, I don't know." Kang Shin-hyuk finished preparing for work and opened the door to the workshop. Lee Na-hee followed closely behind, throwing off her jacket and vest. The studio was swelteringly hot, and he could see her bra peeking out from her shirt. She wouldn't lose to even Claire in terms of beauty.
"Your underwear's the same as last time."
"Are you stupid? You don't need to say anything, just quietly appreciate it."
"If I'm busy doing that, I'll ruin my work." Kang Shin-hyuk grumbled a bit and lifted up the hammer and tongs. Once he started working, nothing else mattered.
"Whoo...!"
"...You don't seem to see me as a woman?" Lee Na-hee looked at Kang Shin-hyuk as he started working right away, but he seemed not to hear. His expression as he hammered the sword was one of absolute seriousness.
"...I don't like that either." Her eyebrows wiggled as she felt pissed off. She felt his expression held some mysterious feeling she couldn't explain.
"You're making good time." Lee Manwoo watched them from behind, muttering in satisfaction. Without a word, Lee Na-hee collected mana to the tip of her finger and fired it off at her grandfather. Having successfully hit him with a mini magic missile, she got to work herself. After five hours, the work was completed.
-You succeeded in making [Shield Guardian's Long Sword (B)] with a large amount of spiritual power and mana through collaboration with an enchanter! Proficiency in metallurgy has greatly increased!
-Synchronization has accelerated—current rate of 18. 7%.
-500HP bonus from an administrator admiring this great work!
A bastard sword was on top of the anvil, silver like the magic metal used to craft it. From inspecting the item, it had a special ability called [Generate Shield], and a passive ability called [Increase Defense]. No doubt, it was an artifact that would be ranked at the top of B-grade artifacts.
"We really...succeeded."
"...Yeah. So, it has two abilities?"
"It seems so. If I were alone, I wouldn't have been able to manage it."
"Is that so." Until now, all the weapons he had made contained characteristics that were faithful to its intended function. Now, however, he had dared to create a sword with a defensive function. Restraining his impulses and working with Lee Na-hee led him into learning new things. He had been successful in making a B-rank item that wouldn't easily appear in the market. It could be sold for billions and would be enough to win the grand prize in the contest.
"I thought we would fail a few times. Artifacts aren't born right away just because you prepared a blueprint for them...really." Lee Na-hee touched the sword with an odd expression, running her fingers over the engravings she had placed in it. The work she had contributed to had reached B-rank. That feeling finally hit her. Half of it was the happiness that she was able to complete her work, and half of it was resentment that she couldn't do it by herself. Jealousy of Kang Shin-hyuk's ability...she tried to brush it away as they worked, but once more, it was rising. It wasn't the first time she had encountered a talent she couldn't keep up with.
"..."
"If a student says they made this, no one will believe it...huh? Why are you making that look?"
"No." Kang Shin-hyuk shook his head at the question and stood up to hand the sword over to Lee Manwoo.
"I'm tired, so I'll go first."
"It's tiring work. Go on."
"Yes. My senior also suffered a lot."
"Huh? Yes, but you..." Kang Shin-hyuk wasn't listening as Lee Na-hee tried to speak up. He went ahead and gathered up his things and took off. Lee Na-hee tried to chase after him but stopped herself after realizing what she was doing. She was wearing a shirt soaked in sweat, so she couldn't just chase after him. She cast magic on herself to clean herself up before looking back at Lee Manwoo, who was examining the bastard sword with an expression similar to Kang Shin-hyuk's.
"Do you know why he's running off, grandpa?"
"His pride is hurt." Lee Manwoo responded as if he had been expecting it.
"His pride? He made a B-rank artifact at his age. What the hell do you mean his pride is hurt?"
"Neither age nor rank matters. Was he able to create a work that used all of his power or not? That is what matters."
"So now...are you saying this isn't good enough? Did he run out like that because he couldn't show off his skills?" Lee Manwoo nodded and lowered the sword.
"There was a reason I proposed the collaboration. That guy started by making weapons for himself. So he was able to make everything with all of his heart. But not this time. He had to work on design and coordination while being aware that it was all for a contest. As such thoughts collided inside of him, he failed to fully contain his will in the work."
"I thought it fit without any complaints."
If it weren't for the collaboration with you, he wouldn't have made a sword in the first place, nor would he have challenged himself. All of this was tailored to you."
"No way, considering me...no, that's not it. You used this as an opportunity..." Lee Na-hee's expression upon grasping the whole picture was grim. Lee Manwoo was laughing by himself.
"It's just proof that he's aware his own way wasn't as good. But now he has to work to solve the problems he faces. If you succeed in your partnership, your skills will increase tremendously once more...I'm really looking forward to it."
"Did you use me as a way to push that guy forward?"
"What sort of things are you thinking? You must've felt yourself growing by seeing him."
"Because I felt inferior!" Lee Na-hee shouted, but Lee Manwoo still had a smile on his face like he saw past it all.
"It'll be a good partnership, make sure to work hard. Maybe you could build a business."
"I don't want to hear that from my grandfather..." Lee Na-hee calmed her temper and packed up. She made sure to shout back at him as she left.
"Hold your horses! I'll have to wait and see how great he is!"
"Hah." Lee Manwoo laughed at his fleeing granddaughter's words. He looked back at the sword. It may be a failure for Kang Shin-hyuk, but it would be enough to steal the show at the contest.
***
What was Kang Shin-hyuk up to as he returned to his room, struggling to suppress his own resentment?
-The Godslayer sword has finished digesting the power contained in the Heroic Shield and has grown to A-rank. All existing powers will be strengthened, and the Godslayer will be further restored.
-A new special ability of the Godslayer, [Guardian], has been unleashed.
-Some of the memories contained in the Godslayer sword have been unlocked.
"No, why now-aaaaaahhhhhhh!"
As usual, he was swept away by the flow of memories.
| ← Ch. 072 | Ch. 074 → |