# Player with Maxed-Out Talent, Episode 30

Kim Hyukjin had been sketching his strategy till now.

A sword-to-sword fight which could have been disadvantageous, he overcame the gap in skills with his basic physical abilities. He did not exert all his strength, but maintained a slight reserve of power.

“Now is the time.”

At this very moment, Kim Hyukjin moved faster than Shin Yeonseo. He lowered his stance and surged forward like he was attempting a tackle, resembling a wrestling technique. To Shin Yeonseo’s eyes, it appeared as if Kim Hyukjin had vanished suddenly.

“So fast…!”

The movement was different from before; much faster than anything he had demonstrated until now. There could be only one explanation.

“Was he holding back his strength?”

While she fought earnestly, it seemed Kim Hyukjin had not. It appeared he had been conserving strength for this precise moment.

“I’ve been had.”

Shin Yeonseo couldn’t move her sword. One-Strike Kill—a unique skill signifying the power to kill the opponent with a single blow.

A piercingly swift attack aimed to penetrate a single point. But that strike had not reached Kim Hyukjin. The sword aiming for his throat was now lodged in a roadside tree.

This was what Kim Hyukjin had intended. In this sword fight, he knew how to utilize the surroundings. Bit by bit, inching towards the roadside trees during the fight. All to draw this picture, to fight not a duel, but a combat.

“One-Strike Kill is fast.”

Fast and precise. If the opponent moves within the predicted range, the targeted point can be pinpointed perfectly.

“And it has lethal power.”

Meaning, much body weight is channeled into the strike.

“As fast and powerful as it is, there’s a risk when it fails.”

A proper hit would be a sure kill, but in case of a miss, the likelihood of a counter-attack was high. The movements, being large and swift, took time to regain balance. In the present situation, a counter-attack was inevitable since Shin Yeonseo’s sword was stuck in the tree.

A spot caught Kim Hyukjin’s eye—Shin Yeonseo’s vulnerability was crystal clear.

“Now it is my turn.”

One-Strike Kill—a fleeting unique skill granted by the true owner of Cheonma Mountain, Cheonma, for a moment.

[Temporary Skill. Using One-Strike Kill.]

The target was right in front of Shin Yeonseo’s throat.

“Eek! Mom!”

Although possessing qualities of a future swordmaster, Shin Yeonseo, with little actual combat experience, fell down backwards.

Kim Hyukjin smiled cunningly.

“I win, right?”

“…”

Shin Yeonseo’s face reddened. She was ashamed of being stuck trying to pull her sword out of the tree, and equally embarrassed about her recent fall.

“…Yes.”

Shin Yeonseo knew. If Kim Hyukjin had truly struck her, she would be dead without question. Though PVP zone meant dying was acceptable, being human, no one is free from the fear of death.

“I lost.”

[Player Shin Yeonseo acknowledges defeat.]

[The first to win in the PVP zone, PVP battle achieved.]

“If the lady Han Minghee had seen this, she would’ve been shocked. It’s my first time calling for Mom since elementary school.”

Shin Yeonseo muttered embarrassingly. Kim Hyukjin didn’t catch her words and tilted his head curiously.

‘The first PVP zone, PVP battle?’

Was there such an announcement?

‘No, there wasn’t.’

April 28th, 2028. A memo he always carried, now treasured in his inventory. Whenever he had time, he would organize strategies and future developments, creating a new guidebook. However, ‘the first victory in the first PVP zone’ was not mentioned.

Kim Hyukjin helped Shin Yeonseo to her feet.

‘The first victory was likely to belong to Shin Yeonseo.’

Kim Hyukjin assessed. Swordmaster Shin Yeonseo, who had never lost a one-on-one PVP except to ‘Typhoon Kwak Tae-woon.’

‘It must’ve been kept secret.’

[A title ‘First Opponent’ has been created.]

“Thanks. But you’re really strong. Haven’t you learned sword fighting?”

“…”

How could someone who hasn’t learned fight like this? And you held back in the middle, right? Your final movement was completely different; I feel like I’ve been hit in the back of the head. Shin Yeonseo’s rambling didn’t reach Kim Hyukjin’s ears.

‘Another title?’

Titles, difficult even for the high-rankers to obtain, yet he had gained another.

‘First Opponent.’

This was presumably a title that should have belonged to the swordmaster.

──────────

[First Opponent]

The title conferred to the first player to win in player-versus-player combat.

‘Opponent’ can provide a considerable advantage in combat against other players.

Attack speed: +7%

Movement speed: +4%

Special Skill: Skill of Transposition available.

──────────

Kim Hyukjin was certain now. The Skill of Transposition appeared, a concept completely different from instant-movement magic like ‘Blink’ or ‘Warp.’ Without any trace of mana flow or movement, the ability allowed him to instantaneously switch positions before the opponent realized it.

A marvelous step-technique that brightly illuminated the swordmaster’s PVP battles. Now that power, the Skill of Transposition, was bound to Kim Hyukjin.

‘It should have been the swordmaster’s ability.’

Shin Yeonseo, now all smiles uncovered by shyness, was in sight. Something about that naïvely cheerful smile felt complicated in his heart.

‘Now I have it.’

With knowledge of the future, he has taken a power that rightfully belonged to the swordmaster.

‘I’m not sorry.’

Though he didn’t feel entirely at ease, nor was he uncomfortable. The swordmaster had her path, Kim Hyukjin his—each was giving their best.

Each was responsible for their own results following their best efforts. It was a simple and straightforward principle. And Kim Hyukjin’s victory also surprised the guardians.

[‘The Anonymous Watcher’ expresses amazement.]

[‘The Anonymous Watcher’ sponsors coins.]

[+400COIN]

The Anonymous Watcher had sent another 400COIN.

[‘The Lady of the Scale’ admires your chivalry.]

Here, chivalry likely meant he hadn’t killed Shin Yeonseo.

‘If you’re amazed, you could give some coins too.’

One of the ‘Eight Heroes’ of South Korea, ‘Typhoon Kwak Tae-woon’ received a bounty lavishly. Just admiration without giving coins seemed unfair.

[‘The Whispering Demon’ likes your stratagem.]

[‘The Pearl of Cheonma Mountain’ begins to notice you.]

Kim Hyukjin felt amused.

‘Four guardians are starting to send me messages.’

The number of guardians who can send messages is limited to five. Though not precisely known, it’s said the guardians compete among themselves to be within this ‘five.’

‘It takes a considerable amount of coins to be among the four.’

While he didn’t know all of the system’s details, he was aware that the guardians also competed to send messages. In other words, the guardians sending messages are the ‘real deal’ among the ‘named’ guardians.

‘Just one more, and the five would be full.’

However, the alerts continued.

[‘The Valiant Lion King’ mocks your petty tricks.]

It was almost laughable to think about the competition among guardians to send that message.

‘They must not like me much.’

Nevertheless, they couldn’t keep their eyes off him. If compared to famous guardians like ‘The Lady of the Scale’ or ‘The Pearl of Cheonma Mountain,’ it might be a notch below. Yet, the persistent messages suggested,

‘Could that one be a tsundere?’

It felt like they had entered a relationship of love and hate. Then Shin Yeonseo’s voice came through.

“What are you thinking so hard about? In 3 minutes, the PVP zone will be deactivated.”

“Ah.”

Right. Shin Yeonseo was in front of him. Too caught up in various thoughts, he had forgotten about her.

“Um… hey.”

Shin Yeonseo’s cheeks reddened slightly. Kim Hyukjin sensed an awkward emotion.

‘What’s this?’

Difficult to articulate, a sort of ticklish feeling, an emotion, swept through him like a spring breeze.

“Can you give me your phone number?”

“Why?”

“Well… knowing a player of your caliber in advance could come in handy for partying… Ah. Not a drinking kind of party, but like… you know, the system-based party and…”

Shin Yeonseo rambled on before cutting herself off,

“Just give me your number, okay?”

She chose to be direct.

“I like you. That’s what I’m saying.”

She bit her lip slightly and looked up at Kim Hyukjin, eyes full of expectancy, her face resembling a pink peach.

Her voice softened.

“Give me your number.”

* * *

I had to experience a fierce back smacking. After the PVP zone was lifted, my sister with swollen eyes was all I could see. My sister’s back smacking, although I had awakened as a player, still hurt quite a lot. My senses warned me of the danger, but I didn’t avoid it.

‘She must’ve been very worried.’

She had even tried to report it to the police to no avail. This ‘Play’ was a mystery even to the police, unable to do anything about the BJs, and reports related to gates or the play were not being properly processed. It was too early in its stage.

‘The only thing she could do was wait here, I guess.’

If I had known this would happen, I would have explained in more detail before leaving. It seemed she had waited outside for about 7 hours. After a long while, my sister finally calmed down.

“Don’t worry. I won’t die before treating the family better.”

“…”

Inside a taxi, my sister just gazed endlessly out the window, as if to express she had never been worried about someone like me. As we approached home, she offered something to me.

“Eat it or not.”

It was chocolate. Kana chocolates, my favorite. I accepted the chocolates. Knowing full well about her own battle with leukemia, she worked three shifts in a factory just to support me behind the scenes. Her sincerity and love were packed into these chocolates, or at least, that’s how I felt about it.

‘I will do well, sister.’

All the past debts, I’ll pay them off. I have a home now, and money.

‘It should take about 3 days to get settled.’

In three days’ time, we would be moving into our new sanctuary. Those experiences of sweltering summers, frigid winters, insects scattering at the flick of a light switch – they’ll be things to reminisce about one day as memories and experiences.

Another day passed. The news articles burst forth.

-Global conglomerate Seongshin expands into ‘new treasures’ business.

Seongshin announced its focus on ‘Play,’ naming the obtained items ‘new treasures,’ pouring full effort into this ‘new treasures business.’ Shortly after, ‘Tutorial Fields’ began to pop up worldwide.

I knew it.

‘More than 20 million people will die globally.’

It was beyond my control. I’m no hero, not a deity. I can’t save them. The people right in front of me, those on the second floor of D Tower, I couldn’t save them either. It’s the inexorable flow of the times.

‘The vitality of Seongshin. Along with the world’s introduction to tutorial mode.’

The world flowed as I had known it would.

Another day went by.

I came across ‘juvenile orcs’ at a ‘mini-gate’ near my home. Their level was around 15. Although not fully grown, it was necessary to diligently handle them.

‘Soon, I will need to hunt orcs.’

And not just one, but a considerable number.

Yet another day passed.

[Level has increased.]

[Current level: 25]

[2 bonus stats awarded.]

[1 random bonus stat awarded.]

‘Level 25.’

I’ve achieved level 25. The first milestone. Before traversing the devilish leveling-up period of 30-40. In other words, before reaching level 40, the 25th level marked the first ‘turning point’ of this play.

‘I should be receiving a notification.’

I waited for the level 25 notifications.

‘Huh?’

But something felt off.