The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become-Chapter 141: Friends (2)
Fwooooosh!
In an instant, the scenery shifted.
[You have entered the Sword King’s Domain.]
- Objective: Defeat the Sword King and ascend to the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
- Failure or death will return you to your original location.
The dense jungle transformed into a mountainous landscape, with a waterfall cascading down rugged cliffs.
And there, standing at the base of the waterfall, was an elderly man.
He had long white hair tied into a topknot, a flowing white beard, and wore pristine white robes adorned with golden embroidery. His upright posture exuded an undeniable air of dignity.
[Lv 700. Sword King, Master of the Blade’s Pinnacle.]
Truly, he was worthy of the title Sword King.
The Sword King raised a gleaming, white sword, pointing it directly at Kang Hyunsoo. The mist from the waterfall framed him like a scene from a legend.
“Step forward. Are you the one seeking to ascend to the pinnacle of the sword?”
His voice, though soft, carried enough power to drown out the roar of the waterfall.
There was no hint of hesitation or weakness in his tone. His stance, impeccable and unyielding, radiated the confidence of a true master.
‘Still the same as ever,’ Hyunsoo thought with a faint smile.
The Sword King’s demeanor brought back vivid memories of his past life.
When he first received the Sword King Quest:
“Step forward. Are you the one seeking to ascend to the pinnacle of the sword?”
The Sword King had greeted him with the same words. It was his signature line for all challengers.
At the time, Hyunsoo had been awestruck, both by the Sword King’s presence and by the fact that he could speak.
“Y-you can talk? How are you even here?”
But before Hyunsoo could get any answers, the Sword King declared:
“To claim the title of Sword King... prove your worth by defeating me!”
Thud! The Sword King launched forward with a mighty leap, his blade descending in a devastating arc.
CLANG!
Hyunsoo barely managed to block the attack with his Incarnation Sword, but the outcome was immediate.
Slash!
[Sword King Title Quest failed.]
[You have been incapacitated.]
[Returning to your original location.]
“What...?”
In disbelief, Hyunsoo found himself back at the portal in his home, completely unscathed but utterly defeated.
Unable to accept the loss, he re-entered the portal to challenge the Sword King again.
[You have entered the Sword King’s Domain.]
“Step forward. Are you the one seeking to ascend to the pinnacle of the sword?”
This time, Hyunsoo didn’t waste time with questions. Instead, he gripped his sword tightly, fully focused.
“To claim the title of Sword King... prove your worth by defeating me!”
CLANG!
And once again—
[Sword King Title Quest failed.]
The result didn’t change.
Hyunsoo fell with a single exchange of blows.
And so it went.
[You have entered the Sword King’s Domain.]
“Step forward. Are you the one seeking to ascend to the pinnacle of the sword?”
[Returning to your original location.]
Time after time, Hyunsoo challenged the Sword King, only to be defeated.
Much like with the Sword Demon title quest, failure in a title quest didn’t result in actual death. Instead, he would be returned to his original location, free to try again.
“Step forward. Are you the one seeking to ascend to the pinnacle of the sword?”
“Step ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ forward. Are you....”
“Step forward....”
Ten times, twenty times, fifty times.
Hyunsoo kept trying.
Even when his neck was severed or his heart pierced, he paid no attention. He didn’t stop until he could withstand even a single strike from the Sword King.
Most would have opted to grind levels or upgrade their equipment before attempting again. But Hyunsoo knew instinctively that such measures wouldn’t bridge the gap.
And he had no time to spare.
Fifteen days.
That was the deadline he had set for himself to claim the Sword King title and return to confront Choi Taehun and Seo Jieun.
Hundreds, perhaps even thousands of attempts later, Hyunsoo no longer ate, drank, or rested. He threw himself at the Sword King relentlessly, consumed by his goal.
Finally, something changed.
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“Step forward. Are you—”
The Sword King suddenly faltered.
“Hey, you insane lunatic, enough already! Stop coming back!”
“...Huh?”
The Sword King, who had always repeated the same lines without fail, suddenly changed his demeanor. Instead of attacking Kang Hyunsoo, he slammed his sword into the ground, his face contorted in frustration.
“Do you have no end, you lunatic?! I was planning to take you seriously as the first challenger to visit my domain, but this is too much! Enough already—get out of here!”
Hyunsoo blinked, stunned.
“Wait... you can talk?”
“Normally, no. But you’ve pushed me so far that I’ve been forced to break my silence!”
The Sword King stormed closer, raised the flat of his sword, and struck Hyunsoo on the head.
Thunk!
“Ack!”
The pain was blinding, enough to make Hyunsoo’s vision blur. Yet this time, he wasn’t sent back to the starting point.
Instead, the Sword King glared at him, veins bulging on his forehead as he bellowed:
“You fool! You keep relying on your eyes, which is why you can’t dodge my attacks! Have you learned nothing? You must feel with your ki—your energy—not just see with your eyes!”
For the first time, Hyunsoo received advice instead of a sword to the chest.
“...What? Ki?”
“Yes! My first technique distorts time and space, making it faster than what the eye can perceive. If you rely solely on sight, you’ll never block it! By now, you should have figured this out, yet you’ve shown no progress at all! What’s wrong with you?!”
The Sword King launched into a tirade, criticizing everything from Hyunsoo’s lack of skill to his reckless persistence.
“I expected more from a swordsman from another world, but I’ve wasted my expectations! You’re just a clueless idiot rushing in blindly. And that face—how is it even possible to look so pathetic?!”
The harsh critique felt more like insults than constructive feedback, but Hyunsoo didn’t retaliate.
Instead, he dropped to his knees.
Thud.
“Please teach me, Sword King.”
The elder paused, taken aback.
“...What?”
“I need to become stronger. I must grow. Only the sword can save me. Please grant me your guidance!”
For the first time in his life, Hyunsoo knelt in desperation. He yearned to grow, to prove himself, and to finally gain recognition.
But—
“Tsk, tsk. It seems your heart is just as ugly as your face. Begone!”
Slash!
[Returning to the starting location.]
The Sword King rejected his plea, sending him back once more.
Yet Hyunsoo felt a sliver of hope.
The Turning Point
Hyunsoo kept returning, relentlessly challenging the Sword King.
One day, while taking a brief break to quench his thirst, he spotted alcohol at a convenience store and had an idea.
‘Could the Sword King like this?’
He purchased soju, beer, makgeolli, and even some dried jerky before entering the domain again.
When he arrived, the Sword King didn’t even acknowledge him at first, clearly tired of his antics.
“Perhaps you’d care for a drink to refresh yourself?” Hyunsoo offered, holding out the bottles.
“Hmm? What is this?”
The Sword King, who had been ignoring him entirely, lowered his sword and turned to look at the offering.
‘This is it!’
Sensing an opportunity, Hyunsoo quickly set up a makeshift picnic. He spread his outer garment on the ground like a mat, placed the drinks and paper cups on it, and respectfully presented them to the Sword King.
“Please, just a sip. I’ve brought a selection of liquors from my world for you to try.”
“Hmm... It’s against my principles to engage in matters unrelated to the sword, but... perhaps just a taste to wet my throat?”
The Sword King, after a hesitant cough, took a cup and sipped.
“Oh-ho! This is excellent! Clean and unique, with a refined flavor. Even its appearance suggests it was crafted with great care!”
Before long, the Sword King had joined Hyunsoo on the mat, the two sharing drinks like old friends.
From Reluctance to Teaching
Though Hyunsoo continued to fail the quest, the Sword King softened over time.
Whenever he drank, he insisted that they do something “related to the sword,” and began imparting lessons to Hyunsoo.
The teachings went beyond simple techniques.
The Sword King explained the philosophy behind swordsmanship, the strengths and weaknesses of various styles, and even pointed out flaws in Hyunsoo’s current approach.
Moreover, he offered personal advice:
“Don’t cling to ties that will strangle you, like Choi Taehun and Seo Jieun. Too much attachment can become a noose around your neck.”
“Beauty isn’t everything, but one’s spirit is reflected in their face. That’s why it’s called a ‘countenance.’ Even if you don’t embellish it, keep it clean and neat.”
“No matter how impossible a challenge seems, never give up. Keep enduring, and an opportunity will eventually come your way.”
The Sword King’s advice ranged from insightful to brutally candid, but it was undeniably effective.
“Now, if you’ve understood, try blocking my sword!”
Slash!
[Returning to the starting location.]
Over a week passed, during which Hyunsoo grew closer to the Sword King. Their relationship became one of teacher and student, mentor and friend.
The Final Test
But all things must end.
Slash!
“E-Elder! Why didn’t you dodge?!”
The Sword King coughed, his life fading as Hyunsoo’s blade struck true.
“I had to see if my teachings bore fruit... How could I dodge? You’ve done well. Don’t cry. Smile. You are the first to complete my swordsmanship.”
Though the quest required him to strike down the Sword King, the time they spent together was one of the most meaningful in Hyunsoo’s life.
The Sword King wasn’t just a title or a challenge. He had become a true friend—a companion Hyunsoo cherished deeply.
As he stood before the Sword King now, memories of that bond filled his heart with warmth.
“Yes, I am the challenger, Sword King.”
But then, to his shock, the elder tilted his head.
“Hm? Aren’t you the scoundrel who brought me liquor before?”
“...What?!”
The Sword King remembered him.
And not only that—
“How did you get back here, you ugly fool?”
The elder addressed him by his nickname from the previous life.
