The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All - Chapter 176

Episode 176: Takashi Akiyama (1)

* * *

Even in the original work, Takashi always emphasized pattern familiarity and pursued ‘thinking play’ as his number one priority.

In a way, he was sincere in everything and his strategy. I enjoyed thinking hard and taking on challenges.

Thirteen Stars, on the other hand, took a different approach.

When they were beginners, they enjoyed trials and tribulations and preferred to encounter difficulties.

After my level and skill got back on track, I wanted to attack the game in an easy way.

This is because there was no need to go too far and take risks.

The tendency to avoid injuries or failures that could lower their self-worth has become stronger.

In any case, all we had to do was experience trial and error by sending a separate search party.

All you had to do was get valuable information from them and later move on with a strategy that was close to the answer key.

Takashi in the original always disapproved of that.

It was fun to be able to go to various dungeons because of the thirteen stars, but that was it.

So, towards the end of the original work, he was shown to separate from the thirteen stars and take individual actions.

I still remembered the words he left at that time clearly, as they were lines written by Kang Hu himself.

– Fruits eaten without knowing the value of hard work are sweet. But… Fruits that you eat knowing their value are like a drug that is so thrilling that you will never forget it for the rest of your life.

Naturally, the reaction of my colleagues was lukewarm.

In particular, Chae Gwan-hyeong, who was hostile to him, said that if he talked nonsense for too long, it was bullshit, and if he provoked him, he told him to leave the Thirteen Stars.

‘I don’t open my heart easily, though. The type that gives everything once you open your heart.’

That’s how Kanghu defined Takashi.

As much as you like adventure and challenges, you should approach it with emphasis on those aspects. He is a passionate hunter.

Part of the publicly known eccentric appearance is camouflage. It is a device to weed out awkward relationships.

“….”

Ganghu stopped in place and focused all his attention on the flow of mana around him.

It is a feast of numerous mana traps, none of which can be seen with the naked eye.

There were traps sprinkled here and there to the extent that it would be appropriate to call it harsh.

If Takashi himself, who designed it, is not properly aware of it, it is a trap that he will most likely have no choice but to touch.

The more you focus.

It was seen and felt.

Even though I couldn’t see it with my own eyes, I was able to draw a map following the flow of my senses.

‘I should praise you for managing your weight well so far. ‘If I were obese, I wouldn’t have been able to go.’

I laughed out loud.

If it weren’t for my current body type, I wouldn’t have been able to pass through the section where the mana traps were dense.

Sigh. Susssseu.

After completing the calculation, Ganghu started moving without hesitation.

I didn’t rely on visuals at all. Because there is nothing that can be seen with the eyes anyway.

I believed in the feeling of the body, that is, the senses. I moved along the route that my senses believed was safe.

Depending on the need, there are sections where you have to lift your body high or jump over obstacles.

Half willingly, half willingly, a little performance was also included. Takashi is probably watching everything.

I glanced behind me and saw Ahn Young-ho and Fumiya watching with worried expressions.

It must be strange to jump up and down in the air without seeing anything.

I guess it was good.

Right now, it’s more important how Takashi views him than the other two.

* * *

At the same time, as Kang-hu expected, Takashi was watching all movements through CCTV.

As it was his training ground, he was serious about installing CCTV. There was so much CCTV that it seemed excessive.

Thanks to this, I was able to see Kanghu’s movements from various angles, and Takashi’s gaze deepened as time went by.

“Is it pretty good?”

I thought I was lucky when I avoided the first few trap lines.

This is because there were some sections that were so close that it felt like my toes or body would touch.

However, as time passed, Takashi felt that there was a problem with his judgment, which he had dismissed as luck.

Ganghu was dodging as if he had entered a map of the trap lines in his head.

At some point, it was seen that they were moving at a sufficient distance without any risk of danger.

“Look at this guy…”

Takashi sipped his coffee with plenty of sugar and leaned more into Kanghu’s video.

My neck, which was already suffering from a turtle neck, was especially protruding forward today.

I felt like I knew why he had the guts to say he wanted to see me right away.

It seems like he had some confidence in his abilities. So much so that I can prove it with the truth, not just bragging.

While Takashi admired and admired again, Kanghu had already entered a considerable depth.

There have been countless hunters who have tried to pass the trap out of curiosity or as a test like this encounter.

However, Kanghu was the first person to enter the section marked G by Takashi.

Starting from section A, which is the entrance, we had to break through to section H to get as far into the abandoned factory as possible.

Ganghu was approaching the last section of the race. It was the first entry record.

Right then.

Papat! Pot! Pot!

It was as if Kanghu was doing acrobatics, moving his body around, jumping up and lowering his body and then repeating this.

Paaaaat!

He soon took a long leap and quickly dug between the trap lines in the H section.

When entering diagonally, Kanghu accurately caught the ‘only’ safe gap and entered.

This was such a perfect entry that it could be said that someone had planted a blueprint in their head.

“Fuha!”

Takashi burst out laughing.

It’s funny that he tries to test his customers with such bizarre behavior.

On the one hand, it was funny to see Kang-hoo acting so seriously in a space that was clearly created by such a weirdo.

Although it was a laughter code that others could not understand, Takashi felt enough joy and fun in it.

“It’s fun, it’s fun. Oops. “It’s not the time to be like this.”

Takashi, who was concentrating on the video, began fiddling with the pad diligently.

I thought there would be no need to use the microphone attached to the alter ego, but it seemed like I would have to talk to Kang-hoo.

“Ah. Ah. Hmm. “Big.”

I kept my mouth shut for a long time and tried to keep my voice quiet.

If you say things wrong like this, the conversation could end up being completely different from the first meeting.

Takashi’s eyes became serious.

I would have to talk to him to find out what kind of guy he was, but he was a very interesting guy.

I wanted to talk quickly.

* * *

‘When will this guy’s obsession with warriors end? It makes me laugh every time I see it. ‘Are you intentionally trying to make me laugh?’

Meanwhile, Kang-hoo, who entered the final section, laughed when he saw Takashi’s self-immolation at the scene.

I thought there might have been a self-immolation in Korea around this time, but it looks like it came back.

Anyway, it is possible to get from Korea to Japan in just a few hours.

Even though I was in Korea in the morning, it wasn’t strange to be in Japan in the afternoon.

Takashi’s alter ego was wearing red armor covering his entire body, a devil mask, and a number of amulets with unidentifiable Chinese characters written on them.

To say it was Japanese style had Chinese colors, but to say it was Chinese style it was basically Japanese colors.

To sum it up, it was a terrible hybrid.

I thought this was how Takashi should be, but I couldn’t help but wonder if it had to be like this.

at that time.

Whirly! Cheok!

Takashi’s alter ego made a dazzling move and held out a sharp-edged Japanese sword in front of Kangfu’s nose.

If I had gone even half a finger further forward, my nose would have been cut sharply.

However, Kang-hu stared straight into the eyes of the alter ego without blinking.

Although it is Takashi’s alter ego, it was also a look directed at the guy who was ultimately also his real self.

The link between the alter ego and the main body is not simply a mechanical connection.

If I had done that, I would have been blocked in the dungeon. Because the use of electronic devices made by human civilization is impossible in the dungeon.

However, the alter ego was able to share sensations with Takashi anytime, anywhere. This was a spiritual union.

– I heard you said you wanted to see me. What is the reason, Shin Kang-hoo?

Even though it was said right in front of me, it felt like there was quite a distance because of the microphone.

For a moment, Kanghu wondered if this was the distance between himself and Takashi’s fate.

It’s kind of a random thought. Unstructured thoughts that come to mind paradoxically in order to endure tension.

Kang-hu, who found his composure within, prepared to open his mouth confidently.

Kanghu’s concept was simple.

I was thinking of benchmarking how Emilia became close to Takashi in the original work.

The method is ‘pulling in’.

Funny enough, I like you and I’m confident you’ll like me too.

To Takashi, a standard approach was meaningless because it only strongly stimulated his mistrust.

For example, he admired your skills, thought you were cool, or looked forward to meeting you for a long time.

These lip service comments are actually poisonous to Takashi.

Considering its original personality, it is a word that is difficult to shake off.

Kang-hoo thought that Takashi had become the person he wanted for now and decided to act accordingly.

“Let’s be friends.”

– I beg your pardon?

Takashi’s alter ego tilted his head to one side in response to Kang-hu’s persistent shouting.

It was a nod to my face that made me wonder if this was some kind of bullshit.

“Not like window friends who console and console each other soullessly. A friend who grows by sweating, clashing, and competing.”

– Why me?

It’s a short question, but the embarrassment is evident in his voice, which trembles ever so slightly.

It’s a positive sign.

It’s a natural defense mechanism of Takashi who doesn’t want to show his true feelings from the beginning.

Tremors are a human flaw in Takashi that arose from not being able to completely control them.

“People like us are always lonely by nature. “Isn’t that right?”

I raised the tone a little more.

It’s a high tone that doesn’t fit my usual low-middle tone of voice, but it makes my speech more powerful.

– You don’t know me. I don’t know why you’re lumping it together and saying we’re people just because you know something.

“You just have to find out what you don’t know. “Even if we were strangers, once we saw each other, we are now us.”

– Are you seriously talking bullshit?

“If you say bullshit seriously, it becomes plausible.”

Takashi was about to retort in response to Ganghu’s reaction, which was like a snub, but he soon closed his mouth.

It was amazing to see Kang-hoo speaking so calmly, as if he didn’t even suffer minor internal injuries.

On the other hand, I wondered what this guy believed and was acting so confidently.

The keyword that penetrated this thought was curiosity.

Without even realizing it, Takashi was caught up in Kanghu’s proactive attitude.

It was a refreshing shock for Takashi, who rarely experienced a linear approach.

Aside from his thirteen stars, he has always been an object of fear and respect.

So, I have never seen a hunter attack so boldly. Because everyone was afraid.

Rising interest.

Maybe that’s why Ganghu, who started looking different after passing the mana trap, started to look special.

If you say that a person suddenly looks different, some people might point at you and ask if you are writing a novel.

But my heart was like that.

As if a filter had been applied, curiosity about Shin Kang-hoo began to multiply infinitely.

It was an instant, and the resonance was enough to stimulate Takashi’s sense of exploration.