The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 291

290

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Armed Avalokiteśvara – Awakening]

[Four of the Six Avalokiteśvaras]

[4th Stance – Eleven-Faced Avalokiteśvara]

[Unique Skill: First Blood – Awakening]

[Doppelganger]

[3 – 11 – 8 – 13]

[3 – 11 – 8 – 13]

Clang—!

Clang clang clang—!

Only the sound of swords clashing echoed between Kim Min-ju and Kate.

Terrifying speed of strikes and terrifying speed of defense.

‘Doppelganger…?’

Kim Min-ju narrowed her eyes, observing Kate’s movements.

Doppelganger.

A skill that summons shadows mimicking her attacks, much like the Eastern art of creating clones.

Unlike other classes, swordsmen are greatly influenced by their individual physical abilities.

No matter how outstanding their skills, ultimately, they are the ones wielding the sword.

The reason why there are hardly any swordsman classes among the world’s top rankers is because of this.

Even with S-rank skills and S-rank weapons, many lose their lives from a single mistake if their body and swordsmanship can’t keep up.

The most basic class, yet with the most fatal flaw.

Instead of unleashing attacks beyond common sense, they can only perform one action per movement, inevitably creating openings.

But… what if there was a swordsman who could perform multiple actions with a single movement?

That would mean they have no weaknesses.

[Unique Skill: First Blood – Awakening]

[Doppelganger]

[1 – 4 – 8 – 19 – 1]

Swish—!

Swish swish swish—!

“Kuh…!”

Kim Min-ju barely managed to block the two simultaneous attacks this time as well.

It felt like fighting two people.

No… even if it were two people, she could block them if she only focused on their individual movements, but that was impossible here.

Reacting after seeing it was too late.

She had to rely on instinct.

‘Hoo…….’

Kim Min-ju didn’t even dare to let out a breath, focusing solely on Kate’s sword.

Even excluding her awakened skills, her skills themselves were very threatening.

She linked multiple movements in a single breath as smoothly as flowing water.

From stance to stance, every action showed no openings.

After clashing swords a few times, she realized Kate had a total of 20 stances.

Depending on how she combined them, they became completely different attacks.

In other words, the number of attacks she could use… exceeded tens of thousands.

‘Damn it…….’

Kim Min-ju gritted her teeth.

She had no chance of winning if she fought as before.

Her skills also had six stances, but they were all specialized for single strikes.

To face that monstrous swordsman, she also had to link her skills.

“Hmph!”

She drew strength from her entire body and let out a small shout.

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Armed Avalokiteśvara – Awakening]

[One of the Six Avalokiteśvaras]

[1st Stance – Holy Avalokiteśvara]

Swish—.

[Six of the Six Avalokiteśvaras]

[6th Stance – Cintamani-Chakra Avalokiteśvara]

Whoosh—!

She forcibly linked two stances, but.

Clang, Clang clang—!

As expected.

“You’re putting on a clumsy imitation.”

Kate blocked it too easily.

“……I have no choice if I want to keep up.”

“Your skills aren’t meant to be linked in one breath.”

“…….”

“I think it would be better to fight in your own style instead of trying to force it.”

Kate said, adjusting her stance.

She was right.

Skills specialized for single strikes.

Trying to forcibly link them would only weaken their power and create openings.

There was no way she could imitate the rank 1 player without any training.

Kim Min-ju knew that better than anyone.

But…….

‘I can’t win if I only attack once at a time…….’

It didn’t matter if she had never done it before.

She just had to make it possible here.

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Armed Avalokiteśvara – Awakening]

[Outside the Six Avalokiteśvaras]

[Divine Intervention – Avalokiteśvara]

Immediately, blue energy exploded from her entire body.

Kate stared at her intently.

At that moment.

[Six Avalokiteśvaras]

[1st Stance – Holy Avalokiteśvara]

[4th Stance – Eleven-Faced Avalokiteśvara]

[3rd Stance – Hayagriva]

Swish, Swish—.

Swish swish swish—!

Creeeaaak—!!

“……!”

A much more refined attack than before.

Kate hurriedly blocked the attack, but she seemed to falter for a moment, as it was much sharper than expected.

“You live up to your name as the 2nd ranker.”

Kate said in a calm voice.

But Kim Min-ju couldn’t hear those words.

In her mind, there was only one thought.

‘I can do it…….’

That was all she was thinking.

It was far from enough compared to her, who freely linked dozens of stances, but the power of each attack was a step ahead of hers.

If she could just keep up with Kate’s attacks like this, she could win.

Kim Min-ju sincerely believed so.

Of course.

[Unique Skill: First Blood]

[Doppelganger x4]

“……?!”

“Did you think I could only attack twice?”

Even that didn’t last long.

[Tactical Combo]

[5 – 3 – 15 – 1 – 9 – 6]

[x4]

Swish swish swish—.

Swish swish—!

Swish, Swish swish—!

Attacks poured down like a storm.

Kim Min-ju hurriedly raised her sword to defend, but there was no way she could block all the dozens of strikes.

“Kuh, Keuh…!”

Shoulder, arm, leg, cheek.

Red blood seeped out from her entire body.

Blocking all of her attacks was impossible from the start.

She had barely managed to avoid fatal wounds.

For a moment, her legs gave way, and she almost collapsed on the spot, but Kim Min-ju gritted her teeth and barely regained her balance.

If she collapsed here, her head would be next.

She had to endure… somehow.

Kate, watching Kim Min-ju’s appearance, opened her mouth slightly.

“You have the spirit, but you’re still far from being number one.”

“……I guess there’s a reason why people call you a genius.”

Kim Min-ju replied, trying to sound calm.

Kate openly scoffed and shook her head.

“That genius, genius… what’s so great about being able to use a sword a little? Why does everyone say that?”

“……?”

“No matter how talented you are, no matter how hard you try and train every day, there’s an insurmountable wall.”

Then, Kate said something meaningful and shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Following her gaze, she saw Secretary-General Wesley.

But that was only for a moment.

Soon, Kate’s gaze returned to Kim Min-ju.

“Look at this. Even though I haven’t held a sword for years since becoming a personal secretary, you can’t even touch me.”

“…….”

“Effort and all that are useless. Well… maybe if you were a different class instead of a swordsman, you might have been able to do something.”

Kate continued in a heavy voice.

“Swordsmen can’t escape common sense. And that’s a very big weakness among the many ability users who defy common sense.”

Kate’s eyes were filled with emptiness as she spoke, and she looked very hollow.

“What can someone who wields a piece of metal do in a world where people shoot magic and summon monsters?”

“…….”

Kim Min-ju listened to her quietly for a moment.

Then, she smiled faintly.

“I don’t know. I’m just an ordinary swordsman.”

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Armed Avalokiteśvara – Awakening]

[Six Avalokiteśvaras]

Immediately, she adjusted her stance again.

[3rd Stance – Hayagriva]

[6th Stance – Cintamani-Chakra Avalokiteśvara]

[5th Stance – Amoghapasha Avalokiteśvara]

[1st Stance – Holy Avalokiteśvara]

“……!”

A four-hit combo, with one more stance added than before, flew fiercely towards Kate.

Kate immediately raised her sword.

[Doppelganger x4]

[18 – 17 – 9 – 8 – 1]

[x4]

Clang—!

Clang clang clang clang—!!

Once again, fierce sparks began to fly between the swords.

And soon.

[Doppelganger x8]

[20 – 3 – 7 – 3 – 13]

[x8]

Kate raised the tempo first.

[Six Avalokiteśvaras]

[6th Stance – Cintamani-Chakra Avalokiteśvara]

[4th Stance – Eleven-Faced Avalokiteśvara]

[1st Stance – Holy Avalokiteśvara]

[2nd Stance – Amoghapasha Avalokiteśvara]

[6th Stance – Cintamani-Chakra Avalokiteśvara]

Clang clang clang clang—!!

Kim Min-ju also increased her speed to match.

“……Kuh!”

Kate gradually took a step back from Kim Min-ju’s increasingly heated attacks.

At the same time, bewilderment appeared on her face.

Was this really possible?

Was it really possible to catch up to movements that she had been practicing for nearly 20 years since she started walking… in real-time?

“Keuh……!”

[Unique Skill: First Blood – Awakening]

[Doppelganger x16]

[1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1]

[x16]

As if she couldn’t believe the sight, Kate eventually pushed her power to the maximum.

At the same time.

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Armed Avalokiteśvara – Awakening]

[Six Avalokiteśvaras – 9-Hit Combo]

Swish—.

Kim Min-ju disappeared from sight.

───!!

No one else could even see what was happening between the two, who was winning.

Only the sound of swords clashing echoed, and the two people’s strikes continued endlessly.

The two had long since transcended human movements.

But that wasn’t enough.

Faster, stronger.

Both of them were moving their bodies to the limit when.

“…Got you.”

“……!”

0. 1 seconds.

No, a difference of 0.01 seconds.

Kim Min-ju finally caught up to Kate’s movements.

A swordsman ranked 1st, unleashing 16 attacks in one movement… with only one stance, one body.

The moment Kim Min-ju’s movements were slightly ahead, she clearly spotted Kate’s weakness.

[Two of the Six Avalokiteśvaras]

[2nd Stance – Amoghapasha Avalokiteśvara]

Swoosh—!

Her sword flashed for a moment, cutting through the air.

After a tremendous gust of wind swept through the earth.

The movements of the two stopped.

“Cough…!”

Kate dropped her sword and spat out blood.

“What… I thought you said you weren’t a genius…?”

A red line drawn from her shoulder to her abdomen.

“No. Compared to you.”

“I don’t know if you’re being humble or just stupid…….”

Kate gave a hollow smile.

“It’s a shame… if I had met you when I was still active, I might not have given up the sword…….”

“…….”

“Congratulations. Rank 1.”

After struggling to say those words, she lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.

“…….”

Kim Min-ju stared at her in silence for a moment.

She paid her last respects to the once-best swordsman, her idol.

And immediately after.

“Hoo…….”

As if the tension had been released, she also collapsed to the ground, her legs giving way.

Honestly, she didn’t remember how she fought.

She was just sincerely relieved to be alive.

But she didn’t know yet.

[Unique Class Awakening: The Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven]

Second unique class awakening.

She had just met the promotion requirements for the SS rank, which only five people in the world had, during the battle.

***

[Unique Skill: Destroyer]

Bang—!!

“Damn it, there are so many…!”

It was when I was entrusting my back to Han Yu-bin and gradually digging into the camp while dealing with the constantly rushing troops.

Whoooooosh—!

“……!”

I felt a chilling gust of wind somewhere that made my hair stand on end.

I immediately turned my head and looked at the place where Kim Min-ju was fighting.

‘…Is it over?’

The place where a fierce battle had been going on until just now was as quiet as a mouse.

The victory or defeat of the two swordsmen had been decided.

“Hey, Kim Min-ju! Are you okay? What happened!”

I immediately picked up the radio and contacted Kim Min-ju.

“Answer me! What happened?! If you’re hurt, at least say something…!”

「…I’m okay.」

And soon, her voice was heard.

“Did you win?”

「Yes. I’m now the number one swordsman in the class.」

“Geez… it’s not like you’re a kid, what’s so great about that.”

I deliberately spoke in a grumpy voice, but I was greatly relieved inside.

「How about you, teacher? How’s Yu-bin doing?」

“He’s dealing with the team leaders. I’m charging in to find Wesley.”

「Can you win?」

When she asked in a heavy voice, I snorted and let out a burst of laughter.

“You won too, why wouldn’t I be able to?”

「……That’s true. I was worried for nothing.」

“Okay. If you understand, please watch my back. You can still fight, right?”

「I can fight… but from now on, it’s overtime.」

“…….”

She sounds fine from the way she’s talking.

“I’ll give you double the allowance, so please do a good job…….”

The moment I said those words, I discovered something and trailed off.

「Teacher…? What’s wrong?」

“I’ll contact you later.”

I put the radio away and looked straight ahead.

Then, I smiled and opened my mouth cautiously.

“I had some trouble finding you. You were hiding very well.”

“A young man should come to me, I can’t go to you, can I?”

“Or were you hiding because you were scared?”

“Hahaha! You’re saying funny things.”

The man burst into laughter.

I glared at him intently.

Secretary-General of the International Association.

The culprit of all this.

Wesley David.

I had finally faced him.