<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 106>
Overman.com
Hey seniors, remember that guy who needed urgent cash? Things have loosened up a bit as the Gate restrictions are gradually lifting. I apologize deeply for snapping at you all back then.
Sorry!
But, seniors, I have a question. Someone I’ve grouped with a few times claims that working together will let me earn a ton of money—like, an unreal amount of money that I can’t even make by hunting. But this seems off, so I’m asking.
└ How much are we talking here?
└ Writer) Five times the payout for a 1st-level Gate 5-man group.
└ Five times? 😳 That’s practically the profit you’d make from a Level 3 Gate. Sounds impossible.
└ <<<High profits guaranteed. Seeking superhuman members. Certified company with contracts provided. Call 070.8888.XXXX>>>
└ Is this a recruitment offer? Talking about signing bonuses?
└ Writer) I know my own limits, and I’m not at the level where I’d be scouted.
└ You’re asking about the purple guy, right?
└ Writer) Purple guy? What’s that?
└ ‘Purple Gate’ hunting. It pays much better than hunting a same-level Blue Gate.
└ Oh! Really?
└ ㅅㅂ Did someone smash this guy’s brain and put it in the fridge? Speak clearly. The money from Purple Gates is called ‘life stipend’—you could be risking your life. And even then, you won’t get paid unless you personally clear it.
└ ㅇㄱㄹㅇ A friend joined a Level 1 Purple Gate run, and the leader insisted on clearing it all by himself. It ended in total annihilation. 😂😂😂😂
└ The Purple Gate raid isn’t something just anyone can handle. It involves agents. Absolutely don’t do it.
└ Writer) ㅇㅋ Got it. Not going.
└ Writer, what you’re describing sounds like the currently popular “Under Circle.” It’s like dealing with thugs or gangsters. Avoid it if you can.
└ Under Circle? We call them underground agents.
└ Under Circle, underground agents ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 개ㅅㅂ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Just mobsters, look at how fancy they’re trying to sound. 😂
└ Don’t underestimate them. These days, mobsters recruit superhumans to maintain ‘control.’ Be careful.
└ I saw them.
└ Now I know why there’s so much control going around. They’ve been cracking down on that.
└ Easy money always comes with problems. Don’t ever go.
└ Yeah, illegal money is easy to make but hard to get out of. Unless you’re ready to abandon your normal life, just avoid it altogether.
└ Are you a superhuman? ‘5-minute loan!’ No collateral, no guarantor, no interest. We don’t ask questions. Contact us right away!……
└ ㅅㅂ Why are there so many ads lately?
……
…
I believe that people are inherently lazy.
You sit down and want to lie down. You lie down and want to sleep—it’s human nature, right?
Isn’t Monday syndrome proof? Even though you rested over the weekend, you should feel refreshed—but on the way to work on Monday, everyone looks pale and exhausted.
It’s like our situation right now.
“Daddee, I don’t want to go to kindergarten.”
“Dad doesn’t want to go either.”
My father-daughter lying together in bed.
“Meee-yaa… Arf.”
And there’s Berrie too…
We don’t want to do anything. Though we’re already not doing anything, we want to do even less.
Thus, like a well-cooked sunny-side-up egg, we sprawl across the bed with no intention of getting up.
Well.
‘We partied way too much.’
The fireworks by the beach were a signal flare.
A signal flare for a grand journey. We truly roamed wherever our hearts desired: sleeping on mountains one day and waking up by the sea the next.
Sometimes we got lost and wandered around.
“Dad, where are we?”
“According to the GPS, it’s Ulsan.”
“Where’s Ulsan?”
“Dad doesn’t know well either. Let’s find some food.”
“Sure~!”
The heart of parenthood is such—it urges you to show your children as much as you can. I’m a sorcerer after all, so I clearly know how much seeing and experiencing things helps in growing the soul.
One of the healing trip schedules was a visit to the amusement park with the orphanage kids.
It was funny when we first entered the orphanage. The kids always think I come alone, so they all ran at me, but when they saw Spring by my side, the orphanage erupted with joy.
“Wow, friends! Spring’s here!”
“Spring!”
“Oh, Spring. Do you remember me?”
“Spring, huuuuug! I’m so glad you’re okay!”
Honestly, I was surprised.
I thought at least one kid would feel jealous or envious, but all the kids welcomed Spring warmly.
Looking back, I think it’s due to the orphanage environment.
Even though it’s already better-off than other orphanages (thanks to Optimum’s sponsorship), ever since they learned I visit frequently, the director significantly increased the sponsorship funds.
Anyway, I was careful not to hurt Spring emotionally, but I was lucky everything turned out well.
With that, Spring and the orphanage kids came with me to the amusement park.
And I was once again amazed at this amusement park, a space created solely for playing—it’s something unimaginable in the Empire.
There were so many people and so many rides. Even with unlimited ride tickets, we couldn’t possibly try them all.
Looking at the long lines for each ride, I knew we had to do something about it.
So,
“This won’t work. You guys are on vacation, right?”
“Yes, we are.”
“Anyone have plans? No? Anyone who wants to play more? Excellent. Let’s go to a nearby hotel. We’ll spend the night there and come back in the morning. What do you think?”
“Wahhhhhhhhhh!!”
For two nights and three days, we went back and forth to nearby hotels.
As a human, if we’ve come this far, we should at least experience all kinds of rides once, right?
After such an intense play session, there was still time left in Spring’s travels with me. This trip, however, was different from the initial healing trip.
Of course, there was still playing, but it was also a time to teach ‘sword dancing’ and ‘star magic.’ Here, sword dancing referred to the Geomho-ryu swordsmanship, and star magic referred to Apocalypse.
“Dad, like this?”
“Let’s see. Yeah, that’s good. That’s how you hold the sword.”
“Dad, when do I get to hold a big sword?”
“You’ll get the great sword once you can handle the regular sword properly.”
“Buwwwwww…”
By the way, we couldn’t do ‘doll play.’
When I wondered why it had the word ‘real’ attached to it, it turned out to be life-sized dolls, a technique Yggdrasil taught me.
While apologizing, I promised her I’d personally make one for her next vacation.
Recalling it briefly, that’s about it.
“Haa…”
We really played a lot.
Taking into account both my previous and current life, have I ever had this much fun? I don’t think so. I don’t really have memories of playing at all.
If this is how I feel, how does Spring feel?
Continuously tossing and turning, she burrows deeper into my arms, using her whole body to express ‘I don’t want to go to kindergarten.’
While my heart wants to say, “If you don’t want to go, don’t,” I’m the father, and I need to keep things in check.
“Let’s get up, Spring.”
“Wuuuuuh~ a little more.”
“Then you just stay there.”
Since Dad will move you.
I pick her up and take her to the bathroom.
After swiftly dressing her and getting in the car, we’re now in front of the kindergarten.
“…I’ll be back later.”
“Study well and eat well.”
“…Yeah…”
Spring wobbles into the kindergarten, looking like she lost half her soul.
As I grab the steering wheel to head to the academy,
“…I don’t want to go either.”
Even I am human, after all.
Everything feels bothersome.
I reluctantly stepped on the gas.
……
…
Somehow, I managed to arrive at the academy.
After mentally preparing myself at the door of the lecture hall, I open it.
Creak-
Everyone in the lecture hall looks at me, and amidst all the gazes, the person charging forward isn’t anyone else—Jin Yu-ri.
“Ki-hyuk!”
“Hey.”
“Long time no see. Didn’t miss me, huh?”
“Missed you, but only until you started clinging like this.”
“Wow, so touching. Sooo touching.”
She only hears what she wants—definitely our Jin Yu-ri.
Attaching herself to me, I walked to my seat as if nothing was wrong. It’s probably exactly what it looks like when a cicada clings to an old tree… a few people chuckled watching this.
Meanwhile, our Jin Yu-ri shows no change in expression while still checking up on me.
Did you have fun with Spring? Which part was the best?
And she starts throwing tantrums, asking if she can go next time.
I really don’t care what others think, but she doesn’t care at all—seriously.
Upon reaching my seat, Joon-woo and Mary greet me.
“You came.”
“Yes, Captain Ki-hyuk.”
“It’s been a while. Your face looks good—did you have fun on your trip?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Excuse me, Ki-hyuk. What did Joon-woo just say? ‘Yeah, sure’?”
“That, sure. I already said this, but I didn’t sleep well.”
“Huh? What’s that even supposed to mean? Whose fault is that?”
“Yours for waking me up this morning.”
“Oh, so Joon-woo eats breakfast now!!”
The usual bickering between the two.
Still, something feels off. Hard to pin down, but their relationship seems to have deepened quite a bit. It feels like watching a married couple.
“Look at Joon-woo and Mary. They’re really like a couple.”
“I thought the same.”
“Isn’t it nice? Kind of makes you jealous and wish we’d end up like that too?”
“Looks good, doesn’t it?”
“If they keep this up, they’ll probably get married after graduation, right? It’s a trend these days to marry early.”
“Not bad. Those two, their vibes are good. They’ll probably live happily.”
“We’ll be happy too.”
“…”
“Got it. I’ll keep it in check.”
Yikes, Jin Yu-ri made a squeaky noise and slouched.
Wow, she’s so cute and also absurdly funny, making me laugh.
After all, just a few days ago, I didn’t even want to leave home, but now it’s kind of fun to be back here. Humans truly are fickle creatures.
“Anyway, Ki-hyuk, why did we gather today?”
“I don’t know. They just told me to come. Didn’t hear anything from you?”
“I was busy too.”
“Hmm.”
That’s when Jin Yu-ri, who was scoffing smugly, interrupted.
Looking at her arrogantly raised nose, I suspected she knew something.
“Curious?”
“…Yes, I am.”
“Really?”
“Really, I want to know.”
Though truthfully, I’m not at all curious, but shouldn’t I at least acknowledge her effort of finding out?
But then,
“Here’s why we gathered today…”
Creak-!
“?!”
The door opened, and the professor walked in.
“Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed your break. I’ll explain why we’re gathered today.”
So much for my plan to help you out. The world isn’t cooperating today, huh?
I ran my hand through Jin Yu-ri’s hair, who had gotten in a sour mood.
“Starting today, you’re all fourth-year students. There’s only one year left in your academy life. Very soon, you’ll be thrown into the field, so theoretical studies won’t matter as much anymore.”
“To be honest, don’t you guys hate lectures? I’d rather you focus on gaining experience. Right? Raise your hand if you don’t, haha. I’m just being honest too—I skipped them all. I can see you prioritize field experience over grades now. I was the same when I was your age.”
“So, the academy every year provides the graduating fourth years with as much practical experience as possible. In other words, on-the-ground training. That’s why we’re gathered today.”
“Currently, illegal organizations are on the rise nationwide. You will assist the police in investigating and arresting these illegal organizations.”
“Facing monsters is different from facing human criminals. Throughout your studies, the experience you’ve gained clearing Gates is what we’d call the role of a ‘Hunter.’ This task, however, is to act as a ‘Knight,’ protecting the public interest and justice.”
“‘Hunters’ and ‘Knights’—why do we categorize enhanced humans into these two roles? Make sure to remember that distinction through this training.”
“Ah, by the way! Even though this is fieldwork, the regular classes can’t be skipped. We’ll have classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and fieldwork from Thursday to Saturday. Hehe, your reactions are good! Students aiming to raise their GPA, prepare yourselves.”
“Lastly, this time, the field training will be supervised not by the professors but by graduates. Since they’re active in the field now, try to learn as much as you can from them. Thank you for listening!”
Two days after the announcement about the field training.
After finishing hunting at the Gate, we headed to the café we had pre-arranged.
As everyone knows, our Team 20 consists entirely of “top students.”
Since we don’t have much academic pressure in terms of grades, we usually cram our essential courses on Mondays and spend the rest of the time focused on monster hunting, which also applied today.
As I rotated my shoulder, I said,
“We’ve really played too much. After a long break from hunting, my body feels completely off.”
“…Do you think I’m any better?”
Joon-woo wasn’t in a great mood today.
His movements were sloppy, and he made many positioning mistakes.
“Joon-woo, it’s fine. There’s a saying: even cheetahs fall from trees.”
“Monkeys.”
“Oh, you dense fool. You know exactly what I mean. It’s just that Mary is worried, so she’s being nice.”
“It’s okay, Yu-ri. Joon-woo isn’t exactly known for being perceptive, is he?”
With that exchange, we sat comfortably at the café for a while.
As soon as a woman opened the café door and approached us,
A navy-bluesuit, a neatly combed hairstyle—her attire reminded me slightly of my mother’s style.
Is this the person helping with our practical training?
My assumption seemed correct as the woman approached and greeted us.
“Hello, my name is Yeon Su-ji. Nice to meet you all. Let’s do well together.”
Then, Su-ji glanced at me and said,
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I hope you’ve been doing well.”
I calmed down Jin Yu-ri, whose eyes were literally on fire, and asked,
“Who is she?”
