Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing - Chapter 47



Chapter 047 Bonguk Sword (3)

The Bonguk Sword is a swordsmanship of Joseon that has been passed down to the present day, and anyone who uses a sword can learn and perform it.

However, unlocking it as an ability is a completely different matter.

What is an ability?

It is, in a sense, a personal trait that requires a high degree of proficiency and understanding.

It is not something that is created overnight.

But now it was different.

It was created overnight, no, in an instant.

《Here is the list of abilities derived from the [Bonguk Sword].》

《Basic Stances: [Ji Geom Dae Jeok Se], [Geum Gye Dok Rip Se], [Maeng Ho Eun Rim Se], [Jo Cheon Se], [Jeon Gi Se], [Baek Won Chul Dong Se]》

《21 Techniques of the Grid Method: [Jin Jeon Sal Jeok Se 3 techniques], [Hyang Jeon Sal Jeok Se 2 techniques], [Hu Il Gyeok Se 3 techniques], [Hu Il Ja Se 2 techniques], [Il Ja Se 1 technique], [An Ja Se 1 technique], [Jik Bu Song Seo Se 1 technique], [Bal Cho Sim Sa Se 1 technique], [Pyo Du Ap Jeong Se 1 technique], [Jwa U Yo Gyeok Se 2 techniques], [Jwa Hyeop Su Du Se], [Jang Gyo Bun Su Se 1 technique], [U Chan Gyeok Se 1 technique], [Yong Yak Il Ja Se 1 technique], [Si U Sang Jeon Se 1 technique]》

《Defense Techniques: [Nae Ryak], [Woe Ryak]》

A total of 26 abilities related to the [Bonguk Sword].

All of them are combat skills, so rather than increasing attack power or destructive power, they enhance combat skills, that is, the sense of combat, but still.

Even just [Efficient Parrying] was unlocked and awakened in less than two hours thanks to that sense.

In the end, sense can also become combat power.

I have already become stronger.

Swooosh.

I stepped forward with my right foot and pushed my body with my left foot, bringing down the sword gripped in both hands vertically.

Into the empty air.

Swoosh!!

With just two steps and a light swing of the sword, the precise and powerful movements of [Huilgyeokse 3su] were perfectly executed.

In just one attempt.

As mentioned earlier, this sensation would play a significant role in building proficiency and understanding of existing abilities, as well as those to be unlocked in the future.

It saved years, if not decades, of time.

“Amazing.”

The taste of [Bongukgeom] experienced firsthand was beyond imagination.

Repeatedly admiring it, I destroyed the stone box.

There was no need to leave it behind and cause unnecessary trouble.

Of course, the plum blossom was left untouched.

The outside had now fully regained the scenery of the Joseon palace.

Its dazzling appearance was almost overwhelming.

After being immersed in it for about 30 minutes, I finally exited the two dungeons.

With the death of the samurai demon, the door to the double dungeon was now wide open.

I couldn’t let anyone else take this valuable source.

I immediately called my older sister, who works as a journalist.

“Big sis, I have an exclusive scoop for you.”

* * *

The double dungeon within the Seoul Hanyangdoseong public dungeon.

And the perfectly preserved ruins of the Joseon palace.

My older sister was the first to report its existence exclusively.

It was her first scoop since she started working as a journalist.

“Yoonho, your big sister got a major scoop this time, didn’t she?”

“The double dungeon in Seoul Hanyangdoseong, right?”

“Yeah. How did she find out about it? I heard even the managers didn’t know.”

“Someone must have given her the source.”

“Wow, who?”

“You know, like an informant.”

“An informant? Isn’t that something only the police have?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, that’s what I heard.”

After returning to the base, I roughly explained to Corporal Jeong Yesom, who came running to ask.

That information source is me.

But there’s no need to disclose all the TMI, right?

“I see. Anyway, it went well.”

“Yes.”

From noble mtl dot com

It starts with the eldest sister.

She plans to provide information in a way that guides the second sister, who is an unknown actor, to hit a big drama or role, and the third sister, a private guild hunter, to a dungeon with relics like the [Homeland Sword].

Our sisters have done things for me, as a younger sibling, so I should do this much.

“Yoonho, you’ve returned?”

“Sergeant Goo Yoonho. Yes, I just returned. Have you been well, Sergeant Kwak Woohee?”

“Hmph, of course I’ve been well. Who would think you’ve been on deployment for a few months when they hear about it?”

“Haha.”

“Oh, wait a moment.”

Sergeant Kwak Woohee, who had been happily shoulder to shoulder with a smile, suddenly widened her eyes.

“Is this flesh or a rock?”

She poked and prodded my shoulders and arms. Her delicate touch reached my muscles.

Corporal Jung Yesom, who was about to climb onto the bed, came back wearing slippers.

“Why?”

“Yesom, you should try touching too.”

The hands of the two women began to feel all over my body, even reaching down to my thighs.

“Don’t touch me there.”

“It’s fascinating. How can it be so hard?”

“Wow. It really feels like a rock.”

They didn’t even pretend to listen to what I said.

Of course, it’s understandable.

With the enhancement of existing physical abilities into an awakening in a reinforced form, tremendous muscle growth has been achieved.

It has been compressed into [Strong Bones], so it is no exaggeration to say that my body is really like a rock now.

“Is it the same down there too?”

“Surely not.”

They made some more remarks, then both squatted down and stared intently at my lower body.

These sisters are something.

“If you keep doing that, I will do the same.”

“Whatever.”

“Come.”

Avoiding the lewd devils who exposed their bodies with arms wide open, I climbed onto my bed.

I changed from my combat uniform to casual clothes.

It was sweaty, given the circumstances.

I should take a shower first.

“I’ll go take a shower and come back.”

“Should I ask the older sisters to give you a back rub?”

“…I’ll politely decline that.”

Those scary older sisters.

As I hurried towards the shower room, I felt a strange gaze from behind.

“―”

Byeon Jitak was staring at me silently. When our eyes met, he quickly turned his head.

What’s up with that guy?

* * *

The next day.

The last week of July had arrived.

Today was the day for the regular specialty training.

From the morning, soldiers from each platoon moved to the training ground according to their specialties.

For me, it was, of course, the swordsmanship training ground.

Another corporal with the same specialty went ahead of me.

“Jitak.”

“Corporal… Byeon Jitak….”

Byeon Jitak turned around, paused, and saluted. His lips trembled.

I patted his shoulder gently.

“Corporal… Byeon Jitak….”

“If you’re going to salute, do it with more strength.”

“Corporal Byeon Jitak.”

“Don’t speak too softly, okay?”

“Corporal Byun Ji-tak!”

“That’s right, just like that. Ah, the reason I called you.”

He said, patting his shoulder.

“Is it okay for a junior to overtake a senior?”

“…”

“You told me that yourself. While punching me in the cheek.”

When he pointed to his cheek, Byun Ji-tak couldn’t respond.

He remembered it too.

“Not going to answer?”

“Understood! I’m sorry!”

It’s not about paying back what was done to me. It’s just that his actions were annoying, so I decided to touch on it a bit.

If I wanted to pay him back exactly, I should have used my fist instead of words just now.

Byun Ji-tak was that kind of guy to me.

That’s how we arrived at the swordsmanship training ground.

The instructor was Second Lieutenant Noh Young-il, who we often encountered during specialty training.

The soldiers stood in line in front of him.

“Today’s specialty training will be a real combat sparring. As the name suggests, it’s real combat sparring. You can think of your opponent as a monster. However, we will use training swords instead of combat swords.”

“Are all abilities allowed?”

“Yes.”

“Then, what if the opponent gets seriously injured?”

“As long as you don’t kill them, it’s fine.”

“!”

There was a reason why Second Lieutenant Noh Young-il spoke so harshly.

“Find your partner according to your rank. Sergeants with sergeants, privates with privates.”

If they fought with soldiers of the same rank, and since they all specialized in swordsmanship, the situation the soldiers were worried about wouldn’t occur.

“If you understand, move quickly.”

“Yes!”

At that moment.

“Instructor!”

Someone raised their hand.

“I have a desired opponent at the sergeant rank. Can I face that soldier?”

“Sergeant? Who are you talking about?”

His eyes were burning with some kind of desire. Byun Ji-tak pointed at me and shouted.

“Sergeant Koo Yoon-ho!”

“Koo Yoon-ho?”

A weak laugh escaped from Lieutenant Noh Young-il’s mouth.

“Man, Byun Ji-tak. You were even pushed out by Yoon-ho as a shooter, and now what?”

“I can win!”

“If you could win, you would have been the sergeant, not Yoon-ho.”

Lieutenant Noh Young-il was adamant.

Byun Ji-tak pleaded.

“I’ll show you! Just give me one chance!”

“Did he eat something wrong?”

Lieutenant Noh Young-il’s face was hardening.

Considering his FM nature, he should have backed down by now, but Byun Ji-tak did not give up until the end.

“I can really do it!”

“Really, is that so?”

Suddenly, for some reason, Lieutenant Noh Young-il nodded and looked back at me.

“Yoon-ho.”

“Sergeant Koo Yoon-ho!”

“Are you okay with facing Byun Ji-tak?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Okay.”

He clapped his hands and said.

“Koo Yoon-ho, Byun Ji-tak. Let’s have you two do the first sparring.”

“Yes!”

Excitement was already evident in his response. Byun Ji-tak clenched his fists.

Some soldiers who were close to him tried to stop him, saying, ‘Are you out of your mind?’ but he remained undeterred.

Of course, I had no reason to refuse.

Isn’t this a legitimate opportunity to beat him up?

“Let the rest of the soldiers watch the duel between the two. It will be a good experience.”

A good experience.

Lieutenant Noh Young-il personally explained its meaning to me as I ascended to the training ground.

“Gu Yoon-ho.”

“Sergeant Gu Yoon-ho.”

“I’ve heard some things from the training officer.”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard that guy gave you a hard time when you were a junior soldier.”

“Ah.”

“Blow away all the grievances you’ve had so far with this duel.”

Lieutenant Noh Young-il must have also been under a lot of pressure from his superiors.

Especially Captain Oh Joon-beom, the company commander.

I’ve always known that Captain Oh was eager to give Lieutenant Noh a hard time.

Maybe he felt a similar sentiment from me for a moment.

“But don’t go too hard. You might end up killing him.”

He said it with a smile, but he seemed somewhat worried. Lieutenant Noh Young-il remained on the training ground instead of going down to the soldiers.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes!”

“Then begin.”

On the training ground, Lieutenant Noh Young-il raised his hand.

At the same time, Byun Ji-tak’s face turned red.

A bright red bull surged over the sword.

Bull manifestation.

It was Byun Ji-tak’s ability.

But something seemed off.

The bull on Byun Ji-tak’s grinning face grew excessively large.

It was already big, but not to this extent.

It looked more like an American bison than a simple bull.

“?!”

Even Lieutenant Noh Young-il, who was watching, was momentarily surprised and took a step back.

Although it quickly fell back again.

Byun Ji-tak kindly explained the situation.

“I awakened while you were on vacation. I’m not the same person you knew.”

“Oh, I see.”

I replied, scratching my chin.

Byun Ji-tak went berserk.

“Die!”

Byun Ji-tak charged with a massive bull.

The murderous intent in his eyes was thicker and hotter than that of most monsters.

This is beyond the norm.

An interesting fellow.

I just stood still.

Holding only a single sword.

No matter how much that bug tries, it’s just a bull with a slightly bigger build.

With my newly armed [Strong Bones], [Enhanced Physical Strength], and [National Sword], it poses no threat to me.

I didn’t even bother to raise my energy.

Kwaaa!

The snorting bull was in front of me in an instant.

Byun Ji-tak’s sword was raised high.

It was imbued with a tremendous force and swung down towards my head.

Tak.

I lightly placed my sword against it.

The bull split in two like a watermelon.

“W-what is this…!”

His murderous eyes shook violently. As if this couldn’t be happening, his sword came at me again.

A body bigger than mine by a head.

The bull somehow revived again.

“Just die!”

The enraged sword emitted a crimson aura. The bull charged at me like a tank with its horns.

Once again, I just lightly extended my sword.

Crack.

The red sword split in two and fell to the ground. A crimson current burst out in all directions.

The bull was completely erased.

Thud.

Byun Ji-tak, unable to withstand the recoil, fell backward. His face, soaked in astonishment, looked up at me.

His trembling body was at my feet.

“Now it’s my turn, right?”

I raised my sword in the same manner. A blue aura swirled around the blade like a vortex.

In an instant, it took the form of a giant snake.

“I, I was wrong―”

An unpleasant voice.

Ignoring it cleanly, I struck down with the sword.

* * *

That evening.

Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-cheol called the division commander.

“Commander, about ‘that proposal’ you mentioned before. I think we need to hurry it up.”

― Hurry? What are you talking about all of a sudden? ‘That proposal’ is on a different level from the soldiers’ promotion exams.

Even though the opponent was a corporal, the level of combat shown had already far surpassed that of other sergeants.

So the plan had to be changed.

“Gu Yoon-ho, that guy, has already exceeded my expectations.”