Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant - Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Ahn Suho smiled confidently as he saw the tremor in Jung Chulmin’s gaze.

Yes.

He must be curious.

No, anyone would be.

If they were a person.

If they were a man.

If they were a player.

If they were a hunter.

Anyone would have to be curious.

It was understandable, since Suho’s real combat abilities had never once been revealed to the public.

‘Though, Chulmin did see me during the healer’s exam…’

But that was different from now, wasn’t it?

Back then, he didn’t have any skills or equipment—he’d fought only with a sword in hand to protect others.

So, he had used that as bait.

‘Because no one has a greater desire for battle than Chulmin.’

Jung Chulmin was also a former Hunter player.

However, given his age and lack of natural combat sense, he had quit hunting early on and joined the Korean Hunter Association instead.

But that choice had come from objectively assessing his abilities and setting his life’s course—it didn’t mean he had let go of his long-time dreams and aspirations.

Being good at something and loving something were clearly matters in different realms.

Suho continued speaking.

“Think of it this way. In our organization, as long as the results are good, no one questions the process. I promise, if any situation even seems remotely dangerous, I’ll leave the gate immediately.”

“……”

Jung Chulmin was silent for a moment.

To someone like him who had always followed the standard procedures, Suho’s suggestion completely contradicted his usual values.

But curiosity was the most powerful thing, and Jung Chulmin couldn’t make a quick decision.

However…

“…Are you serious?”

Jung Chulmin was, after all, human.

A man carrying a burning passion in his heart.

Seeing Jung Chulmin’s positive response, Suho’s smile deepened.

‘This is the Chulmin I know.’

How many years had they spent together?

He knew Jung Chulmin’s character inside out.

This was a tactic he had prepared, confident that it would work.

Besides, if anyone should witness his battle process, it should be Jung Chulmin.

After all, seeing was believing, and if Chulmin witnessed it firsthand, he’d be more likely to trust and support Suho in future situations like today’s.

Suho assured him again.

“Absolutely. I give you my word.”

“Whew… Alright. Since you’re so determined, how could I refuse? But know this: I’m not someone who normally grants this kind of permission easily. It’s only because it’s you, Suho, that I’m agreeing.”

“Of course. Absolutely.”

Yes, of course.

You always said so, Team Leader.

In any case, it was done.

The first step was always the hardest; the second time would be easier.

Now that he’d gotten Jung Chulmin’s approval, all that remained was to take down the Monster Lion that ruled the Iron Gorge and etch his skill into Chulmin’s memory.

Suho crumpled his empty coffee cup and stood.

“Oh, by the way, Team Leader, what’s your class?”

“I’m currently classified as an archer. Why do you ask?”

“I was just curious. It probably won’t happen, but if things turn even slightly dangerous, you’ll need to run for your life.”

“…Ahem.”

He had a point.

If things got dangerous, Jung Chulmin would indeed be more at risk than Suho.

“Also, just so you know, everything you’re about to see today is strictly between us. Especially my skills and items—you must keep them confidential.”

“That’s a given. I understand.”

“Alright then.”

[ Blood Weapon has been activated. ]

As Suho summoned the Blood Sword into his hand, he said,

“I’ll go ahead and clear the area. Just follow at a safe distance to avoid drawing too much attention.”

“Huh? Right now?”

“Well then, see you soon.”

As Suho finished speaking, he shot forward.

***

[ You have defeated the Gorge Lion. ]

[ You have defeated the Gorge Lion. ]

[ You have defeated the Gorge Lion. ]

[ You have defeated the Gorge Lion. ]

…

It was exhilarating.

After a long time, Suho felt like a fish in water, freely running across the field.

As such, his sword swings were fluid, and where he passed, the bodies of Gorge Lions lined up, forming a river of blood.

[ Blood Orb has been activated. ]

Not a drop of blood went to waste.

Opportunities like this didn’t come often.

Watching this scene, Jung Chulmin couldn’t help but be shocked.

Was it because of the Blood Orb absorbing the blood?

Not at all.

‘Wow… Those movements are…’

What captivated Jung Chulmin was Suho’s movements.

It was like watching an acrobat’s performance.

Of course, he’d seen movements like this before.

He’d once witnessed Suho fight Orcs during the healer’s exam.

But now, it was more dazzling, faster, and fiercer.

That was expected.

There were many things he hadn’t possessed then that he had now.

One prime example was his S-rank Leap skill, which allowed for a double jump.

When Suho launched himself off the air once more, Jung Chulmin’s eyes widened in astonishment.

‘Is that… an Air Step?! Am I seeing this right? He actually flew just now!’

And that wasn’t all.

His sword, wielded like a katana, sliced through everything in its path, and one lion, terrified by Suho’s overwhelming aura, met its end while trying to flee.

Watching Suho’s one-sided massacre, Jung Chulmin thought to himself.

‘A calamity… Yes, Suho is a disaster that has descended upon the Iron Gorge. There’s no other way to describe it…!’

How many lions had he cut down by now?

– Kahooooong!!

A roar echoed across the gorge.

Simultaneously, a system notification appeared before the two.

[ A boss monster has appeared. ]

It was the clearest warning that the ruler of the gorge had appeared.

The roar they’d just heard was in a different league from any previous lion roar they’d encountered.

– Growl…!

Suho looked up and locked eyes with the creature gazing down at him from the highest point in the gorge.

– Monster Lion Lv.113

The Monster Lion.

As Chulmin had described, its name was simply Monster Lion, and it had grown to an impressive level 113.

“Level 113…”

With his own level at 73, the difference was a full 40 levels.

But it didn’t matter.

The last boss monster he’d faced, the Sky Wyvern Queen, had been level 120, which was a full seven levels higher.

‘This is doable. No, I’d be grateful if it’s only this strong.’

But Jung Chulmin thought differently.

‘Its level went up again?!’

It was a shock, as its level was even higher than the last time he’d seen it.

This was unsettling.

He’d heard that Suho’s level hadn’t yet reached triple digits.

‘With that level difference, can he really handle this?’

The Monster Lion’s defenses had previously withstood even the combined assault of elite raiders without sustaining a scratch.

But the die was already cast.

Jung Chulmin closed his eyes and prayed inwardly.

‘Alright. Let’s trust him this once. If things go wrong, we can just run for it.’

At that moment, Suho called out.

“Team Leader! Keep your distance so you don’t get caught in the boss monster’s Fear effect! I won’t be able to protect you from now on!”

“Yes, understood! Don’t worry about me!”

Then, in an instant…

– Kheooong!!

The Monster Lion unleashed its Fear effect without hesitation.

[ The Monster Lion has used a boss monster-level Fear. ]

A spine-chilling Lion’s Fear!

In the face of the Monster Lion’s thundering roar, most hunters would have suffered severe debuffs.

‘But not me.’

Lion’s Fear?

Compared to a dragon, it was just the cry of a kitten.

Proof of that was…

[ Dragon Blood has been activated. ]

[ Thanks to Dragon Blood’s ‘Dragon’s Will’ effect, Fear is nullified. ]

He was protected by the blood of a dragon.

Thanks to it, his body, which had heated up from fighting, felt perfectly cooled.

Seeing the Dragon Blood notification, Suho chuckled.

“This is what I call a natural air conditioner.”

But was Chulmin alright?

The Fear had been difficult for elite raiders to withstand, and with Chulmin’s lower level, he’d likely have fainted by now.

Fortunately, though, Chulmin had already distanced himself and was watching from afar.

Looking at him, Suho was reminded of old times.

‘As expected, Chulmin has the survival skills of a cockroach. Just being the head of the management team at his level speaks volumes about his resilience.’

Remembering Chulmin’s old nickname, Suho turned back and met the gaze of the Monster Lion once again.

Then, with a slight smirk, he taunted it.

Come down here.

Stop mewling like a kitten from up there on the cliff.

He delivered that sneering message with his gaze.

Had it understood him?

The creature began to move slowly in response to Suho’s taunt.

Yet it remained calm, descending the gorge as if it were a king surveying its domain.

‘Yes, a king indeed.’

It was entirely different from the other lions inhabiting the gorge.

Unlike those with brown manes and bodies, this one had a coat that was a mix of ashen gray and black, with eyes that gleamed a deep, vibrant green, almost like gold.

And it was alone.

Despite being a species known for forming prides, the appearance of the Monster Lion caused the others to disappear entirely.

The Gorge Lions and the Monster Lion were not part of the same group from the start.

‘That’s why it’s the sole bearer of the boss monster title.’

Suho summoned his Ghost Shadow Spear into his hand and murmured.

“Let’s see just how formidable this famous Indestructible Hide truly is.”

It was his greeting.

A nod of respect to its formidable reputation.

Summoning the Ghost Shadow Spear, Suho hurled it with all his might at the Monster Lion as it descended.

[ Spear Throw has been activated. ]

Swoosh!

The Ghost Shadow Spear hurtled forward.

It flew straight toward the creature’s forehead.

But…

Thunk!!

Even with the Spear Throw effect enhancing it, the Ghost Shadow Spear struck its forehead and rebounded.

More astonishing than that, however…

“Wow, look at this guy.”

It had absorbed the blow directly to the forehead, without even flinching or turning its head.

That was confidence.

Absolute faith that its fortress-like hide would never be pierced.

Seeing this, Jung Chulmin closed his eyes tightly.

‘Sigh, as expected…!’

Even though he’d placed high hopes on Sword God Ahn Suho, it seemed even his abilities couldn’t breach the Indestructible Hide.

If that was the case, this was bad news.

The single-target destruction from a spear throw would surely have been stronger than a normal sword strike.

But since that hadn’t worked, Jung Chulmin couldn’t envision how the battle between the Monster Lion and Suho would end.

But Suho was different.

Amused by the lion’s audacity, Suho gave a smile of admiration.

“That’s impressive. This is what a Nemean Lion should be like.”

It was his true respect.

Because this Monster Lion was a mythological creature Suho had always wanted to encounter someday: the “Nemean Lion.”