<560 - That’s Not How You Climb Up! (2)>
Although Hiscliff had already taken a hit from the Pegasus Training Method, he really didn’t want to interfere, but he just couldn’t help himself when he saw the craziness of the training.
“Strong people have their quirks, but Rung Nosa is a bit excessive. Teaching free-diving assassination techniques, really?”
“Doesn’t Eungchilgeom do this kind of training? Aren’t you also strong like Rung Nosa, Uncle Hiscliff?”
“Nope. We modify our bodies with money, take potions, and learn customized martial arts and Mana Flow Techniques.”
Just then, Son Ohchun, who had nearly climbed up the cliff, glared at Hiscliff with a face saying there’s only one betrayer in the world.
“I’m so envious.”
“Is that something a Revolutionary Army General should say? The previous Revolutionary Army might have needed a lot of money, but this new Revolutionary Army accomplished its goal of toppling the Emperor. From now on, only growth is left for us. The support you’ll receive as the muscle representing the Revolutionary Army won’t be any less than Eungchilgeom’s.”
“Oh?”
“We were seven, and you’re all alone.”
“Ughahah! Is that how it is? I shouldn’t keep pointing fingers at the rich kids anymore. Nice to meet you, Jezel. Make this body a diamond spoon!”
“I was thinking about support, but seeing you so excited makes me want to hire a completely different master.”
Of course, Jezel had no intention of abandoning Son Ohchun, who had struggled through this hardship together with him. It would be more surprising if someone who even prepared a handkerchief to congratulate Son Ohchun on climbing the cliff wanted to toss him aside.
“So, are you really going to continue Rung Nosa’s overly dangerous training?”
“Training has to be dangerous for experience points to come rolling in!”
“Oknodie is right. Besides, it’s not that dangerous. You just need to master the principles of magical property transformation and viscosity enhancement, as well as understanding and implementing the structure of a web to catch falling objects, along with deployment speed practice!”
…There’s a lot more I need to learn!
Having frequently operated in the shadows as one of the Emperor’s lackeys, Hiscliff had had considerable experience fighting numerous assassins.
He could definitely say that assassins with the abilities that Jiang mentioned were rare even among those aiming to assassinate the Emperor.
Usually, they tried to compensate for their lack of skills with ambushes and poison; it was rare to find an assassin doing things that would make even active knights tremble.
“Hey, you guys! When are you planning to come down?!”
For a moment, surprise donned Hiscliff, as the mountains echoed with a booming voice carrying mana, shaking loose stones from the cliff.
“Whoa! The Master is angry!”
“I’ll be right back.”
Oknodie and Jiang mounted their Pegasus once more, heading off to demonstrate the free-diving throwing assassination technique. Unlike Titosso, who was scared to look down and squeezed his eyes shut, or Son Ohchun, who was exhausted from climbing the cliff, Hiscliff calmly looked down at the abyss with one hand on the cliff.
‘The activation speed of the linked abilities is impressive, but the level of experience required to maintain focus using precise aiming and flight magic is amazing.’
Jumping off while instinctively aiming and throwing the assassination tools before lining up with the target, and casting flight magic immediately regardless of whether the target was hit or not…it had to be done at an astounding speed!
Considering the overwhelming strength of the former Emperor, the power accumulated was not something ordinary masters could withstand, but any master of Hiscliff’s caliber would undoubtedly find themselves petrified if such an ambush came flying at them.
A moment later, after listening to the two who had gone down, an old man was gazing up at him from the bottom of the cliff.
Chatter, chatter.
What could they possibly be chatting about as they spun around him, Oknodie and Jiang buzzing with energy? The old man cast a glare at Hiscliff, his silence betraying a stubbornness reflected in his eyes and furrowed brows, contorting his face into an angry expression.
Assassins, who were usually as calm as a still lake, seemed to meet their match in Hiscliff, who wielded a long sword, appearing quite fiery.
Spinning, spinning.
As if it were predictable, Oknodie and Jiang, silently circling around the fierce old man, ended up grabbing each other’s heads and clashing them together, leading to an expected outcome.
‘Talk about getting beaten up.’
Holding their heads, the two little ones suffered as Rung Nosa stood firmly on the cliff.
His performance astonished Hiscliff.
‘Climbing straight up the cliff like that?!’
How skilled must one be to perform such feats and have absolute confidence in their abilities? At least it was something Hiscliff could never do.
“So, it’s you guys? Friends and guardians of my young apprentices.”
With a voice sharp enough to match his first impression, the old man’s high pitch pricked at their ears, causing Hiscliff to furrow his brow.
“Word has it you have quite a few complaints about my teaching methods.”
“I do.”
That’s separate and this is separate. Hiscliff couldn’t back down, especially for the sake of those kids.
“Children of the Empire deserve to grow under protection as equal beings, receiving personal treatment. I cannot endorse your abusive training that nearly approaches torture.”
“You’re cocky, aren’t you? You’re practically making me want to poke a god with your attitude. What’s gonna happen if I don’t accept that?”
“I’ll overpower you by force and take the children away.”
Hiscliff’s bold declaration turned everyone’s attention toward him.
The showdown between Eungchilgeom and the continent’s top ten thieves!
Those who knew that several of the continent’s top ten thieves had caused a massive uproar recently gleamed with anticipation in their eyes.
━━━
Number 1 of the continent’s top ten thieves, the strongest thief, Destroyer.
Severely injured in the Kanelle City’s great battle, he requires absolute stability and restorative potions.
Number 5 of the continent’s top ten thieves, Mirror Thief Lilia.
Enlisted by the revolutionary after being captured during the Kanelle City’s great battle.
Number 6 of the continent’s top ten thieves, Instant Thief Shogen.
Worked as a supporter for the revolutionary during the Kanelle City’s great battle but was promptly killed in Destroyer’s serious mode.
Number 7 of the continent’s top ten thieves, Body Thief Mihura.
Died unable to avoid the revolutionary’s gaze during spy activities in the Kanelle City’s great battle.
Number 8 of the continent’s top ten thieves, Flight Thief Raizen.
Spent too long in a dimension humans shouldn’t enter while evading underground tunnel traps and explosions during the Kanelle City’s great battle, requiring a long time for recovery.
━━━
A major incident involving five of the continent’s top ten thieves, the [Kanelle City Great Battle]!
Particularly known for slaying four or five highly skilled individuals in an instant, Destroyer’s terrifying strength spread panic among many just from rumors.
Eungchilgeom Hiscliff.
Number 10 of the continent’s top ten thieves, Life Thief Rung Nosa.
While not lacking in reputation compared to the previously mentioned figures, the two’s skills were harder to respect due to Hiscliff’s standing being shaken by the Emperor’s disappearance and the former Emperor’s twisted status.
Watching the eyes of the children, the slightest hint of uneasiness washed over Hiscliff, prompting him to tightly grip his sword.
“There’s going to be nothing pretty about this. It’s not a difference in skill that’ll leave you in good condition.”
“Try if you can, you bloodsucker.”
With a tremendous amount of magical power conjured in Rung Nosa’s hand, a thread of magic was released.
There’s no need for tricks.
From enhanced slicing magic used by princess assassins to high-viscosity magic demonstrated by Jiang, although difficult to handle, the variety of magic was many.
However, with an extremely resilient body, one could rip through any magic without regard to kind.
Hiscliff’s great sword swung forward, making the air howl.
[Powerful, Smash]
[Area Decomposition]
With a natural deployment accompanied by the magic, Hiscliff dove through the gap created by tearing apart the area.
As multiple magical threads converged like prison bars closing in on Him, they became hard to break apart when gathered together.
[Physical Resistance]
[Impact Absorption]
[Attack Reflection]
From annoying defenses to reflections that splattered blood on his skin, every step became terrifyingly burdensome, weighing down Hiscliff’s body and brain.
Still, he pressed forward through it all, taking a step with resolve.
[Magic Distribution]
[Sense Diminution]
[Simultaneous Dominion]
[Dangerous Pretense]
Dozens of clones sprung forth around Hiscliff, each one manifesting in human form.
All shared the same amount of mana, extending their diverse postures to unleash a storm of magic.
The power of a single army that could wipe out hundreds of soldiers and render thousands of attack forces useless!
“So basically, Eungchilgeom is one man who’s an entire army.”
Without a shred of defense against that relentless assault, Hiscliff charged ahead.
Wham!
Fwoosh, fwoosh, slash!
Becoming the embodiment of blood, he shouldered through every bruise but trusted his enhanced body and Mana Refinement Techniques.
He showed the same absolute trust in the defenses carried by Oknodie, calmly powering up.
As a result, Hiscliff’s great sword could cleave through the clones one after another.
[Iron, Iron Wall]
[Charge, Augment]
[Spin, Crush]
Though he didn’t possess any magnificent finishing moves, Hiscliff’s ability to execute solid attacks allowed him to counterattack, pushing back Rung Nosa’s skill to what was almost a finishing move category.
His efforts, talent, the Empire’s support, and accomplishments in refinement elevated even the most mundane of accomplishments to a level capable of soaking up the continental top ten thieves’ ultimate techniques.
Pop!
“That so-called many clones can barely touch me. Do you think you can withstand it? All while using up so much energy, for my next charge?”
Hiscliff’s words offering surrender made Rung Nosa scoff.
“You don’t understand at all why I’m called the Life Thief. Whoever falls into Rung’s hands, they’re already dead.”
So you’re really going for it.
As Hiscliff readied himself to charge, he suddenly felt the ground beneath him disappear, causing him to feel weightless.
“What?”
His eyes widened, his body fell, and a scream escaped him.
Understanding came quickly.
Suddenly, his body was thrown into the air before the cliff’s edge.
[Clone Creation]
[Position Shift]
“For anyone caught in the old man’s hands, I can swap places with the clone generated in the air anytime.”
Aaaaaah!
Ughhh!
What the hell!?
As Hiscliff plummeted from the cliff, the disciples who had turned spectators began folding their hands over their chests and kneeling politely as they awaited Hiscliff’s return.
“Is there anyone else unhappy with my teaching method? If so, feel free to come out. I’ll make you like that.”
As Hiscliff continued his plunge every three seconds, Jezel, Son Ohchun, Isabel, and Titosso were covered in cold sweat.
“Experience points need to be earned through tough training.”
“Typically, Monkey Humanoids grow on their own and such.”
“Adventurers also grew by rolling in the wilderness.”
“There’s even Professor Sadako, who trains through live burial; I think it’s not strange for there to be a cliff diving assassination technique practice method!”
No one weaker than Rung Nosa dared to voice dissatisfaction with his training method!
“Professor Bronze, don’t you have any complaints?”
“……”
From the start, as if he was a total nobody, Professor Bronze remained hidden within Oknodie’s shadow; it seemed likely that Rung Nosa’s educational principles would remain unshaken in the future.
