Trait Hoarder

Beneath the Han River — Part 3

“Holy shit!”

A male student leaning against the wall, staring at his smartphone, suddenly shouted.

Then, he walked over to his friends, who had been chatting idly nearby.

“Hey. Pay up. 10,000 won.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Bullshit.”

“What’s your problem now?”

“I told you Warrior Kim was a Swordmaster, didn’t I? Look. He’s a Swordmaster, right?”

A live broadcast.

A streamer had managed to capture an incredible moment—a radiant white Sword Qi flashing like starlight on the screen.

“Whoa, no way!”

Another student, who had been sitting, shot to his feet.

“Is that real Sword Qi?”

“Yeah! It was filmed using a mage-tech lens and played back in slow motion. The speed is at 0.05x.”

“Start it from the beginning! From the start!”

Acting smug, the student rewound the video.

The streamer had gotten incredibly lucky.

They had captured the exact moment when the Sky Ship first appeared.

Shadows cast over the city, and confused citizens lifted their heads.

Beyond their stunned expressions, the Sky Ship approached, grand and imposing.

“This is insane…”

“Shit, that ship’s flying.”

“It’s a Sky Ship, right?”

“No way a Sky Ship is that big! Even the Saintess’ ship isn’t that massive!”

A modernized, heavily armed Sky Ship.

It hovered in the air, projecting magic circles and opening fire. The students couldn’t tear their eyes away.

An aerial battleship unloading cannons, missiles, and machine guns.

How is this not cheating?

But the Sky Ship was just the appetizer.

The main event was yet to come.

The streamer zoomed in, catching three black dots falling from the Sky Ship.

Skillfully, they focused on the leading figure among them, and at that moment, an explosive roar erupted—not just in the classroom, but across the entire school.

“Wooooah!”

“It’s Black Tiger Swordmaster!”

“He looks sick!”

“What a badass! He jumped without a parachute!”

Like a meteor, he plummeted to the ground.

The impact sent shockwaves in all directions.

A brutal spectacle unfolded, yet the cheers only grew louder.

This violent and savage world.

Even middle schoolers were already desensitized to extreme footage.

“When does the Sword Qi come out?”

“Aura Blade! Aura Blade!”

“Skip ahead!”

“Hold on, you impatient bastards.”

The battle soon began.

A superhuman, transformed into some grotesque monster.

But it didn’t matter.

The man wielding Black Tiger Sword—the very figure they had seen in their textbooks.

The scar on his cheek made him all the more iconic.

And then, the chilling, radiant Sword Qi.

“Daaamn!”

“This is insane!”

“They’re all dead!”

“Swordmaster!”

“This is crazy!”

And then, the next moment.

The man vanished.

No—he became light itself, shooting forward.

A blinding glow erupted.

It was as if a star had descended from the heavens.

In an instant, the monstrous superhuman was sliced into dozens of pieces.

“Hey! Can’t you slow it down more?”

“How did he do that?”

“Hold on. I’ll set it to 0.01x speed.”

Only then did the truth become clear.

The man’s sword moved at a terrifying speed.

Even with the latest mage-tech lens, his motions were blurred—mere afterimages.

But the streaks of white light carving through his enemies were unmistakable.

It was as if countless crescent moons bloomed behind him.

The students’ jaws dropped.

“Is this real?”

“It’s like watching a movie.”

“CGI? Is this CGI? Is this real footage?”

“It’s real! It’s on the news! Warrior Kim took down terrorists again!”

“Damn! He’s like the ultimate terrorist hunter. Didn’t he also take down the Massacre Empress?”

“Back then, people were arguing about whether he was a Swordmaster or not. But this time, he just proved it outright.”

“Ugh, hyung! Take me!”

“Warrior Kim wouldn’t even look at you. He barely gave Chadojun the time of day.”

“For Warrior Kim, I’d even cross-dress!”

“Ew, I’m gonna puke.”

The male student replayed the video over and over, unable to get enough.

He wanted to see more.

The dazzling movements.

The sheer decisiveness as he cut down his enemies in a single stroke.

The radiant Sword Qi.

Was it because he had essentially stopped the Seoul terror attack and wiped out the remaining threats?

Warrior Kim himself was unaware, but among the citizens of Seoul—and the entire nation—his popularity had skyrocketed.

No matter where you went on the internet, it was all about Warrior Kim.

[Warrior Kim for National Assembly!]

[Why stop at the Assembly? Send him to the Blue House.]

[How about making him president for life?]

[Come on, that’s too much… Ever heard of democracy?]

[Still, he’s better than those damn politicians. Didn’t you hear how he handled the redevelopment of Guro-dong and Daerim-dong?]

[Wait, what? Relocation compensation? Moving expenses? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.]

[He’s a true superhuman who cares about ordinary people.]

[It’s all an act! Just wait. Once he gets into politics, his real colors will show.]

Some people idolized him, while others remained skeptical.

But there was one thing everyone agreed on.

[He’s a monster. From what I know, Warrior Kim is 23, right? And he’s already a Swordmaster.]

[Insane. Is he some kind of god of the sword?]

[Swordmaster is just the beginning. Superhuman analysts say Warrior Kim is also a Paladin, a Gunner, and a Fighter.]

[Don’t be ridiculous.]

[Ridiculous is what you’re saying.]

[I heard that too. They said it doesn’t even make sense. He’s just completely out of the norm.]

[He’s been famous for ages. He’s taken down superhumans stronger than him in level.]

[Is he going to become the next Heavenly Demon?]

[I got some inside info from China. Apparently, the Blood King is insisting that Warrior Kim should be the Heavenly Demon’s youngest disciple. He even fought with the Divine Army General over it.]

[Seriously?]

[Could the next Heavenly Demon really come from our country?]

[He’s got everything. Everything.]

[Early twenties, insanely handsome, tall, rich, and ridiculously powerful…]

[Come on, be honest. He’s just good-looking, not insanely handsome.]

[He hit Swordmaster at level 6. That alone makes him drop-dead gorgeous. Even if he looked like an orc, I’d still call him handsome.]

[Same here.]

[Isn’t his whole life just a cheat code? I’d be happy just reaching level 3.]

[Same.]

Clipped videos of him were spreading everywhere.

[23-Year-Old Swordmaster Compilation.GIF]

[This is How You Use Aura Blade—So Easy, Right?]

[Warrior Kim Rolling Up an Aura Blade.JPG]

Titles like these were all over the place.

It seemed that the moment he unleashed his Sword Qi and cut down the mutated superhuman had left a deep impression.

Not just on the internet, but on social media, the news, and even in unrelated posts—it had become a required reference.

Like a badge of authenticity.

Naturally, a new nickname emerged.

[Sword Star]

Until this morning, people had called him Black Tiger Swordmaster.

A title that carried more weight because the Eastern Army Legion Commander had acknowledged him rather than because he had proven his own strength.

But that name was already fading into the past.

Now, he had a title he had seized entirely through his own power.

A name burned into the minds of every citizen, taken from that unforgettable moment when he charged forward.

It echoed across the entire nation.

I let out a short laugh when I heard it.

“Sword Star?”

Not Sword Saint (劍聖), but Sword Star (劍星).

Honestly, even I had to admit—it did look like a star.

The cascade of Sword Qi I had unleashed in that video…

“Yes, hahaha! Becoming a Swordmaster in your early twenties is truly unheard of. Perhaps only the Heavenly Demon of Ten Thousand Peaks has done the same? Hahaha.”

The President laughed heartily.

I had been wrapping up the cleanup when he suddenly showed up.

What’s his angle?

I stared at him, and only then did he reveal his true intention.

“There’s been a lot of talk lately. Black Tiger Swordmaster—no, Sword Star. Have you ever considered a career in politics?”

So, they’re already trying to keep me in check after I started the redevelopment in Guro-dong and Daerim-dong.

And with what just happened, some people must be wary of me.

The Sky Ship.

It wasn’t just a means of transportation—it was a warship, a mobile stronghold.

‘Could it be the Saintess?’

It was possible.

Before the Seoul terror attack, I was just a sacrificial pawn she needed to nurture carefully.

But now, I was no longer a mere offering—I was turning into a poisoned apple.

I set my suspicions aside and revealed a bit of my stance.

“I have no intention of entering politics.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame. We were considering inviting you to join our party.”

He said it was a shame, but he actually looked relieved.

But wait… something feels off.

Can the President even openly invite someone to a political party?

Isn’t he supposed to remain politically neutral?

I don’t know enough about the political system in this world to say for sure.

“But I will protect my assets and my territory.”

“Your assets and territory, you say…”

“Yes. You’re aware that the Terror Alliance attacked Manager Choi, correct?”

“Yes, I know.”

“I intend to make sure that never happens again.”

“Hm…”

Recently, I had made some organizational changes.

I even started my own company.

A construction firm and a security firm—two companies in total.

I was the official CEO.

Manager Choi was in charge of construction, while Kim Chulkwon ran security.

Even the Iron Fist Gang had been formally absorbed.

They were working hard to eliminate all illegal activities and transition into a legitimate business under Choi Sunsoo and Kim Chulkwon’s leadership.

Guro-dong and Daerim-dong were just the beginning.

I might have to extend light redevelopment efforts into Gwanak-gu and Geumcheon-gu as well.

“I support you, Sword Star.”

The President spoke with careful deliberation.

“You saved my life, after all. You may not have realized it, but I’ve been doing my part to support you.”

“Not realized? Of course, I know. I’m always grateful.”

“As you must be aware, whenever someone rises too high, there are always those who try to drag them down. And I have a feeling… the political, corporate, superhuman, and even religious circles are all growing uneasy.”

“Specifically, who?”

“Well… I’m not in a position to say that outright.”

The President bowed his head apologetically.

I quickly waved my hand.

“No need to apologize. I understand I shouldn’t pry too much. Just knowing this much is already a great help.”

“Please, take care of yourself. I’ll do my best to shield you, but we can never be certain how things will unfold. For now, it would be wise to either stay at home or move discreetly.”

Did I draw too much attention?

On the other hand, I had successfully increased my influence.

No one could treat me lightly anymore.

I had secured my survival.

Of course, there were still major obstacles ahead—the Saintess and the Old Father’s Cult.

“Sword Star. Our Geumo Group will stand by your side no matter what. What do you think about formally announcing an alliance soon?”

“I like that idea. I’ll consider it positively.”

“By the way, your companies are named Warrior Security and Warrior Construction? Why not Sword Star Security or Sword Star Construction instead?”

“I’ll think about it.”

I had founded them in a rush, so I had just named them after myself—Warrior Kim.

Now that I thought about it, Sword Star did sound better than Warrior.

But I wasn’t in a hurry to change it.

I had a feeling my nickname wouldn’t stop at Sword Star.

Something bigger, something stronger, something even grander would come next.

Something… like the Heavenly Demon.

It would happen within just a few months.

So, there was no reason to change the company’s name just yet.

“Hahaha.”

The President chuckled in satisfaction.

“Young people being so close—it’s a wonderful thing to see.”

“Right?”

Seong Huiyeong beamed as she linked her arm with mine.

Another sudden move.

“Oh, Sword Star. I have a gift for you.”

She was quick on the uptake.

Before I could react, she pulled a golden dragon ornament from her pocket and held it out.

A palm-sized dragon accessory with a notched design so it could be attached to a belt.

It was made from a blend of Celestial Gold and Infernal Gold.

Each scale was inlaid with mithril, as well as enchanted rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

The materials alone were extravagant, but the subtle magic resonance radiating from it was on another level.

“Oh.”

The President let out a murmur of admiration.

“This is one of those items trending in the U.S. lately, isn’t it? I heard it’s incredibly rare. During my summit with the American President, he was proudly showing off the one he was wearing. But since I’m not a superhuman, I could only listen.”

It was a Weapon Holster.

An SSR-grade item, if this were a game.

Unlike my current holster, which could only hold two firearms, this one could hold up to five.

That meant I could carry a shotgun, a sniper rifle, an assault rifle, and still have room for more.

Hell, I could carry the entire Dasan Five-Gun Set with me at all times.

I accepted the holster with genuine appreciation.

“Thank you. I’ll make good use of it.”

“It was a bit much, seeing you lugging all that gear around on your back. Instead of a golf bag, I’ll get you a proper belt pouch with spatial expansion. How long are you going to keep carrying around a measly 4x magic bag? You’re really careless about this stuff.”

“No, this works fine. Besides, I’ve gotten so used to carrying the golf bag that I’d probably feel weird without it. I’d rather just get a golf bag with a higher expansion ratio.”

“Did a ghost of a golf bag addict possess you or something?”

“Hahaha.”

Ever since I landed in this world.

That first attack by Roe Deer… It still haunted me.

If I hadn’t been armed back then, I’d be dead.

That’s why I always carried my golf bag.

Stuffed with every weapon, tool, and consumable I could possibly need.

Seong Huiyeong didn’t stop at just the Weapon Holster—she handed me a whole pile of rewards.

A new golf bag, cash, gold bars, real estate, diamonds, Nectar, top-grade potions, magic materials—the list went on.

It was too much trouble to check everything, so I only took the golf bag, diamonds, Nectar, and top-grade potions for myself and dumped the rest on Choi Sunsoo.

“As expected, Chairwoman Seong is incredibly generous. This must be worth hundreds of billions.”

“Really? Honestly, you deserve at least that much.”

It was the price of my life, after all.

After exchanging a few words with the President, Seong Huiyeong left as well.

Both of them were busy people.

And so was I.

‘There’s a lot to do.’

The President told me to lay low.

But since when have I ever cared about that?

Sitting still meant death.

With Episode 2 about to begin.

And Episode 3 right behind it.

‘I need to prepare in advance.’

There were four key elements to the upcoming zombie crisis.

Zombie hordes.

The zombie virus.

The Dark Jaguar Cult.

The Corpse Dragon.

Just because I cleaned up beneath the Han River didn’t mean it was over.

I needed to deal with the Corpse Dragon lurking in the Great Rift ahead of time.

I had to clear out zombie spawn points across Seoul.

And I had to secure a cure for the zombie virus.

The simplest, most straightforward task came first.

I reached down and tapped the two pistols holstered at my waist.

The Dasan Five-Gun Set.

A collection of magic-imbued firearms crafted by the late-Joseon-era Grand Mage, Dasan Jeong Yakyong.

The answer lay within these weapons.

The Dokkaebi. (TL Note: Korean Goblins)

A race that, in this world, had become little more than legends and folktales.

They held the strongest Gunner traits in existence.

And they possessed the cure for the zombie virus.

–TL Notes–

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