Chapter 37: Boss Jang Ho-cheol
“Isn’t this area ahead the bandits’ territory?”
At Choi Jun-seop’s words, Gang Cheol-du tilted his head.
“What are you talking about?”
“……?”
“Wait, don’t you know what bandits are?”
“I do.”
Cheol-du tilted his head again.
“Aren’t they bad guys?”
“Well, it’s a bit harsh to lump them all together like that.”
Unable to stand it any longer, Sergeant Gi Yong-su stepped in.
“They’re stronger than they look. Even New Seoul hesitates to send forces to subdue them.”
“Even better.”
Cheol-du’s eyes lit up.
Stronger humans?
And they’re bad guys?
This is better training than fighting monsters.
I can’t miss this opportunity.
Seeing Cheol-du strangely fired up, Choi Jun-seop sighed.
“For individual hunters like us, it’s better to just avoid them. Are you avoiding it because it’s dirty like shit?”
“It’s fine. Jin-tae, let’s go hunt some bandits.”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
As Cheol-du and Jin-tae walked ahead again, the two men looked bewildered.
“Wow, he’s even more of a lunatic than I thought.”
“Hah, I didn’t expect this.”
“Maybe it’s just for show?”
“Well, at that age……”
But it wasn’t just for show. This guy clearly had confidence in his abilities. Didn’t he beat Lieutenant Oh?
“Anyway, let’s follow them.”
“Yes, hyung.”
Choi Jun-seop and Gi Yong-su hurriedly caught up with Cheol-du and his group.
“Let’s go together.”
“Huh? Didn’t you say it was dangerous?”
Choi Jun-seop’s eyes gleamed.
So he does recognize the danger.
He wasn’t the type to blindly charge in without understanding the situation. He was confident in his own strength.
Whether it was overconfidence or recklessness remained to be seen, but at least his aggressive nature was clear.
“Haha, what isn’t dangerous in Nova?”
“True. I also have a grudge against those bandits. It would be great to get revenge while we have more people with us.”
“Hmm, if it’s revenge, I can’t stop you.”
“Haha, mind if we join you?”
Cheol-du glanced at Jin-tae.
“Cheol-du, do as you wish.”
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
Advertisements
“Haha, since we’re traveling together for now, let’s introduce ourselves properly.”
“I’m Gang Cheol-du.”
Choi Jun-seop smiled awkwardly.
He sure is blunt.
“Don’t you know how to speak politely?”
“I do.”
“I’m Choi Jun-seop. I’m 31 years old.”
“I’m Gi Yong-su. 29 years old. We met as seniors and juniors in college.”
Cheol-du tilted his head.
“I’m 32 years old.”
“……”
Damn brat, we know you’re still in high school.
“Is... is that so?”
He barely swallowed the urge to call out the lie.
They already knew his background but couldn’t let on that they did.
“Haha, age doesn’t matter if our hearts align. Since we’ve met like this, why not become friends?”
“You lack manners.”
“……”
This damn bastard?
As Captain Choi Jun-seop was about to lose his temper, Gi Yong-su stopped him.
‘Stay in character!’
Just as Choi Jun-seop managed to calm down, Cheol-du casually said,
“My only friend is Jin-tae.”
“Gasp!”
Seeing Kim Jin-tae’s oddly touched expression, Choi Jun-seop’s eyes gleamed.
His friend seems a bit naive. Maybe I should target him instead.
“Haha, your friend looks quite young. I’d believe he’s still a teenager.”
“Hehe, I look younger than my age.”
These damn brats.
They’re lying without batting an eye?
At least we only lied about our affiliations; these guys are lying about their ages?
“Hahahaha!”
“Let’s go. Jun-seop, Yong-su.”
“……”
“……”
“Since the bandits are strong, be ready to run if things go south.”
Sigh “Alright...”
A sigh escaped Choi Jun-seop’s lips.
For the time being, they’d have to treat these two brats as their hyungs.
The location of New Seoul isn’t bad at all.
No—compared to other cities in Korea where portals have appeared and cities being developed worldwide—it ranks among the top in terms of strategic positioning.
With a portal and a river flowing to the north, and a Lizardman Point just a day’s journey to the west...
The marshes provide high-quality clay for bricks and tiles, while Lizardmen themselves drop valuable loot.
Thanks to those who drop bronze and brass items, New Seoul quickly entered its Bronze Age before expanding its surrounding activity areas further outwards...
Obong Mountain, located four days northeast from New Seoul, gave wings to its development...
Obong Mountain lived up to its name, having five peaks each housing an Orc camp where hunting down boss monsters provided stable iron supplies...
It was only natural small pioneer villages sprouted near such crucial locations...
A small village by Obong Mountain once served as an important hub supplying iron until bandits took over, turning it into their den...
Jang Ho-cheol used to be just another neighborhood thug—growing up playing around instead of studying, hanging out with friends doing delinquent stuff—until he grew older, returned to his hometown, and tried helping his parents farm...
Coincidentally around the time the Doomsday Trial broke out in Paju, he became a Novice...
Jang Ho-cheol thought:
‘Ah, right. My life couldn’t end pathetically like this.’
Second prime time!
Originally having a good build and unmatched strength among peers, he quickly rose to become a core member of New Seoul...
But gradually, government-supported talents began arriving, threatening his position...
Worse, his growth slowed, increasing his anxiety...
Everyone has limits in activating stat stones. Though Jang activated more than others, even he eventually hit his ceiling...
‘Damn this lawless world. Why should we live like dogs following orders?’
Jang led his followers to secede from New Seoul...
‘If everyone grows to their limit, weapons matter most.’
After occupying Obong Village, he expanded his forces. Whenever large-scale subjugation teams came from New Seoul, he’d temporarily retreat only to reclaim it later. After all, Jang’s combat prowess was the real deal...
Worse, he near-monopolized iron, upgrading his underlings’ armaments until even New Seoul couldn’t ignore them. Though they couldn’t use the portal to return to Earth, few complained—many subordinates were criminals who’d face life sentences back home. To them, Nova might as well be heaven...
“Hey! Mr. Park. Why’s the sword quality so bad lately?”
“Uh, it’s similar to last week’s...”
“Damn! Can’t you see this chip from yesterday’s Orc hunt? Make it properly!”
“Y-yes...”
The bandit den was filled with enslaved craftsmen and workers forced into labor under the bandits’ tyranny...
Jang frowned deeply:
“Bastards! Stop lazing around and go rob someone!”
“But boss! The Seoul bastards don’t even come near Obong anymore. What’s the point?”
“You damn bastards! Not going?!”
“Tch, even if we go, we’ll just mess around and come back...”
“Ugh, worthless scum!”
The bandits’ biggest problem lately was the dried-up flow of people. Iron was essential for city development, but with bandits blocking paths, hunters had found ways to bypass Obong entirely. Now, even individual hunters had stopped coming...
“Sigh... parasites.”
Only Jang worried about the bandits’ future...
“The bandit village is that way.”
“Huh? They built a whole village? Why hasn’t anyone subjugated them?”
At Jin-tae’s awkwardly informal question, Gi Yong-su earnestly replied:
“When subjugation teams come, these bastards scatter like rats.”
“Can’t they chase them down?”
“Ehh, Jang Ho-cheol’s no pushover. He’s among the top three strongest in the region.”
“Top three?”
Cheol-du showed interest.
“New Seoul’s Captain Lee, the mercenary leader Kim Chun-bae, and bandit boss Jang Ho-cheol. They were all friends once... but things changed.”
“Ho.”
Cheol-du decided that if Jang Ho-cheol lived up to expectations, he’d challenge the other two next.
While traveling, the group encountered another party approaching from the opposite direction.
“Huh? People.”
The strangers froze upon seeing them.
“Huh? Bandits?”
After a beat of silence, both sides grinned simultaneously.
“Kids! Time to work!”
“Hehehe.”
They drew their weapons with mutual enthusiasm.
Advertisements
＃40: Ogre Power
“Who’s Yong-su?”
“Who knows? The boss has killed plenty.”
“Tch, killed an auntie too? Pure scum.”
From the murmuring bandits, the burly Jang Ho-cheol stepped forward.
“Come out, you idiots!”
Whose side are these guys even on?
Jang Ho-cheol marched forward with imposing dignity and roared:
“Who dares summon the Mountain King?!”
“Hmm? I called for Jang Ho-cheol!”
Cheol-du studied the man exuding danger. His unkempt beard matched the classic bandit look—straight out of a historical drama.
“I am Jang Ho-cheol!”
“I’m Gang Cheol-du! Fight me!”
“Ha! Unbelievable.”
Jang laughed, genuinely amused.
“Hahahaha!”
Not even thunder could match this kid’s audacity.
Gang Cheol-du?
Never heard of him.
“You any good?”
“Quit yapping.”
“Wow, this brat’s pissing me off.”
Jang turned and barked at his men:
“What’re you morons doing?! Call the sub-bosses!”
His so-called bandits just stood there watching their boss get disrespected.
‘Pathetic discipline.’
Cheol-du eyed unarmed Jang:
“I’ll wait. Get your weapon.”
“You think you’re special? Some ranker?”
“No.”
“Then why pick a fight?”
“I’m here to avenge Yong-su’s mother.”
Though challenging Jang’s strength was the bigger reason.
“Who the hell’s Yong-su?”
Cheol-du pointed behind him.
“My brother.”
“……”
Even squinting, Gi Yong-su looked older. The kid in front had smooth skin, barely looking 20...
Advertisements
“Never met Yong-su. And I’ve never killed any auntie!”
“Must’ve been when his mother was a girl.”
“No, damn it! I’ve never killed any woman!”
Women were rare enough in Nova. The gender ratio alone made encounters scarce.
Though there’s one woman I’d kill... but I’ve kept my oath.
“Hmph. Lies.”
“I’m not lying, you little—!”
“Enough. Fight me. Unarmed if you must.”
Shing!
Cheol-du drew his sword, ending the conversation.
“Feisty brat.”
At least he’s not completely delusional.
Jang assessed the situation. The anxious trio behind Cheol-du versus the confident kid.
Just a hotheaded youth on a revenge trip. Easy to manipulate.
Normally, Jang would send sub-bosses to gauge strength, but this time, the answer was clear.
“You’re dead.”
Jang pulled his beloved mace from inventory.
Thud!
The smooth, spike-less mace was perfect for incapacitating, not killing.
Why kill when you can enslave?
“Oh, you have inventory too.”
Cheol-du was oddly pleased—he’d never met another inventory user besides Jin-tae. Jang barely stifled a laugh.
“Hehe, so young. I’ll beat some sense into you.”
Big, dumb brutes are easiest to break.
“Hryaaaah!”
Whoosh!
The mace tore through air. Cheol-du tried blocking with his sword but had to dodge sideways, aiming for Jang’s flank.
Need a better weapon.
His steel sword couldn’t cut a steel mace. An axe would’ve matched better...
Clang!
Cheol-du’s slash only grazed Jang’s armor—expertly crafted layered plates.
“Heheh!”
Whoosh!
Jang’s missed swing became a kick. Cheol-du blocked with his arm and skidded back.
…!
First time meeting someone stronger.
“Stronger than an ogre.”
Jang guffawed:
“Hahaha! Of course! I’ve mastered a giant’s strength!”
So ogres exist here.
Cheol-du sheathed his sword, making Jang raise an eyebrow.
“Giving up?”
“No. Sparing you.”
“What?”
“This is enough.”
He’s just a warm-up for the sword saint.
“You arrogant brat!”
Jang spun his mace furiously. Cheol-du ducked into range and punched.
Thud! Crack!
The impact thrilled him.
Solid.
He has a giant’s hide too.
“Hahaha! No one in New Seoul can match my defense!”
Jang stored his mace and raised his fists.
“Let’s fight fair!”
No honor here—just calculated dominance.
Cheol-du smiled, bouncing on boxing footwork.
“Cocky.”
Skills can’t bridge raw power gaps.
Jang had activated 57 strength stat stones and two ogre cores.
I’m the undisputed strongest.
Thud! Whoosh!
Fists collided.
“Damn, he’s taking hits.”
“Still standing after the boss’s punches?”
None doubted Jang’s victory—even Cheol-du’s group.
Captain Choi Jun-seop prepared to flee, wary of the three sub-bosses.
If things go south, I’ll carry Cheol-du.
He whispered to his team, noticing the sub-bosses’ predatory grins.
“Cheol-du will win.”
“Jang doesn’t fight losing battles.”
His real skill is assessing threats.
But Cheol-du’s persistence moved Choi.
He’s brutal but principled. A rare gem.
“Look—he’s barely getting hit now.”
“Huh?”
Choi focused. Blood streamed from Cheol-du’s nose, but Jang’s strikes only grazed him.
His dodging’s insane.
Cheol-du’s enhanced agility compensated for his earlier sluggishness.
Adapting.
Jang, panting, suddenly lunged for a grapple.
Crunch!
Even at point-blank, Cheol-du hammered Jang’s armored ribs, denting the plates.
“You bastard!”
Jang tightened his bear hug, intent on crushing bones.
‘My strength is supreme!’
He activated his ultimate skill:
Ogre Power!
Creeeak.
