Reminiscence
“The records have been confirmed as fact.”
From the Giant War to the ancient priestess’s dialogues.
Had he been talking for too long? After finishing his lengthy speech, Kim Su-hyun rubbed his chin and shifted restlessly.
Kim Yu-hyun asked back, “Confirmed as fact?”
“Yeah. After we secured the Third Region, we found proof of the ancient priestess.”
“Proof of the ancient priestess?”
“I told you earlier. The giants who suffered through those painful, humiliating times in the Third Region were able to regain some of their strength after encountering the ancient priestess. That proof acts as a catalyst to restore their power.”
“A catalyst, huh? So…”
“Exactly. This is something we only learned after the operation was over, but if we’d known about the proof back then, we might have approached things differently.”
At that moment, a flicker of interest sparked in Kim Yu-hyun’s eyes.
Whether on an expedition or a mission, every user is obligated to record and report their findings. Not just information about the monsters, but also details that might help if similar creatures appear later. It’s common for users to say things like, “If only we’d known this, the operation would’ve been easier.”
“Proof of the ancient priestess… If we could somehow manipulate that, couldn’t we strip the giants of their regained power? Bring them back to their old levels?”
“That’s right. Actually, the method itself is simple.”
“Simple?”
“Think about it. The proof of the ancient priestess is like a sacred relic, right? But sacred relics don’t just activate anywhere. They have to be held by someone with the priestess’s power, or be kept in a designated place. A holy site, you might say. Like an altar the priestess made to contact the gods.”
It was easy enough to understand, thinking of talismans or sacred objects.
Kim Yu-hyun immediately caught on and couldn’t hide his excitement, breaking into a broad smile. When he first heard about the giants’ traits, he thought there was no way. But now, he’d found a surprisingly straightforward way to tackle them.
However—
“I get what you’re thinking, but it’s impossible.”
“Then what if we steal the proof or destroy the altar… What?”
Kim Yu-hyun, caught up in his excitement, suddenly stopped mid-sentence at his brother’s serious expression.
Kim Su-hyun’s face hardened as he pulled out a cigarette, looking as if he was about to share something important. But when Kim Yu-hyun narrowed his eyes sharply, he grumbled and put it back.
“Anyway, you’re not wrong. But the chances of pulling it off are practically zero.”
“Why? Sure, the proof is important to the giants, so they’d guard it fiercely. But giants can’t sense magic, right? So if we send in users with peak stealth abilities, shouldn’t that work?”
A faint smile tugged at Kim Su-hyun’s lips—not a sneer, but a knowing one. Some people don’t get it even after one explanation, but others understand after two or three. Kim Yu-hyun was definitely the latter. He wasn’t just sitting there; he was trying to figure out a plan on his own, which was encouraging.
“It makes sense, but it’s tough. The place where the proof is kept is considered a ‘Divine Territory.’ Since it’s an area influenced by divine power, access is restricted.”
“Divine Territory?”
“Yeah. To put it simply, it’s a zone where not even humans or giants can enter freely. Only the ancient priestess—or giants who carry the bloodline of Kushan, the giants’ king—can go in.”
“Then how did we get the proof in the first round?”
“Not sure. But the Divine Territory is maintained by a sacred relic. Maybe someone from the Kushan clan tampered with it, or it’s connected to the giants’ downfall.”
“Is that so?”
Kim Yu-hyun tilted his head slightly, and Kim Su-hyun nodded firmly.
“Hmm…”
The earlier excitement vanished quickly, replaced by a heavy silence as Kim Yu-hyun sank into thought. When the proof of the ancient priestess came up, he thought they’d found a way. But now, with Kim Su-hyun’s explanation, they were back to square one.
“So in the end, a frontal assault is the only option?”
“Doubtful. Unless the East, West, South, and North all combine their forces.”
Kim Yu-hyun muttered almost to himself, and Kim Su-hyun shook his head in response.
“……”
After a brief hesitation, Kim Su-hyun fixed Kim Yu-hyun with a sharp look.
“Could it be…”
A duel between a user and a giant. Though unofficial and not particularly meaningful, there was a subtle battle of pride beneath it all.
Thirty users watched quietly as a man gripped a silver spear and slowly approached Kushan.
“Hah!”
Suddenly, the man let out a fierce shout and charged forward—not in a straight line, but moving in a zigzag pattern, using footwork to confuse Kushan’s gaze.
On the surface, Kushan calmly tracked the man’s movements, but inside, he was slightly surprised. The man’s speed was better than expected. So, he hunched slightly and raised his fist to shield his ribs.
Moments later, the man’s foot suddenly shifted left. Kushan’s eyes followed the movement calmly.
Then, the man abruptly pivoted right, drawing a wide arc. Taking advantage of Kushan turning his head left, the man thrust the spear forward with all his might. The spear sliced through the air and drove straight into Kushan’s abdomen.
Or rather, it was about to.
Thwack!
The man’s eyes widened in shock. Kushan’s head was still turned left, but his left fist—previously guarding his ribs—dropped down and grabbed the spear’s tip without even looking. The man’s face slowly filled with disbelief and confusion.
“Uh, uh?”
Holding the spear firmly, Kushan slowly turned his head. The man reflexively tried to pull the spear free, but Kushan’s grip didn’t budge. When Kushan shook his hand sideways, the man was finally freed, falling hard onto the ground with a thud.
“That—was a mistake! Again!”
Whether out of anger or embarrassment, the man sprang up and charged again. Kushan snorted. The idea of a “mistake” was laughable, and after that exchange, the difference in skill was clear. The man was fast, but not fast enough to be untouchable, and his strength was negligible.
“Pathetic.”
Thinking this, Kushan watched the man charge like a bull. The same moves as before. Kushan had let it slide once out of ignorance, but he wouldn’t be caught twice.
As expected, the man quickly changed course and attacked from the side. Despite his massive size, Kushan reacted nimbly. In a flash, he swatted the spear away with his left hand, then twisted halfway around and shoved the man’s abdomen with his right.
Thud.
It wasn’t a punch—it was a shove. But the giant’s strength, even with just a bit of rotational force, was overwhelming. The man couldn’t even scream as he was sent flying through the air, crashing roughly to the ground.
Crash! Crash!
A heavy silence fell over the watching users. Some stood with mouths agape in disbelief; others sank down in defeat. A low murmur spread.
“No way! What just happened?”
“One of humanity’s greatest warriors…”
Whispers, murmurs.
Some of the words drifted to Kushan’s ears. Most were variations of the same disbelief: they couldn’t believe what had just happened to the man. But Kushan’s only thought was one question.
“Is this what humanity’s greatest warrior looks like?”
Kim Yu-hyun had said they’d prepared a very strong human. Yet this was the result.
“This is way too weak…”
The brief satisfaction of beating arrogant humans faded quickly. Seeing Kim Yu-hyun’s expression, as stiff as the others’, Kushan scratched his head apologetically. He needed a real fight to feel exhilarated; this was almost embarrassing to call a victory.
“Enough. Everyone, quiet down.”
After a moment, Kim Yu-hyun stammered and calmed the crowd.
“Next, let’s try three against one.”
One-on-one, three-on-one, five-on-one, ten-on-one. Four rounds of duels against the giant ended in crushing defeat for the humans. Though their endurance improved with numbers, not once did they land a meaningful hit on Kushan. Judging it pointless to continue, Kim Yu-hyun called off the duels and began the journey back with Kushan.
Though the victory was overwhelming, Kushan wasn’t exactly pleased. Just as humans don’t boast about beating ants, Kushan felt similarly. What bothered him more were the fearful eyes of the humans after the fight.
“Heh heh, see? I told you he was incredibly strong.”
Kushan deliberately spoke in a bright tone, trying to catch Kim Yuhyun’s attention. But there was no response. Kim Yuhyun just walked on in a daze, his face stunned and pale. Occasionally, he staggered, looking utterly drained of strength.
(Um… you said you’d tell me something earlier…)
Still no reaction. Kushan decided to keep quiet. Kim Yuhyun’s expression was so serious, and somehow Kushan felt he could understand the mood of humans. They had been so confident in their superiority, but that confidence had been shattered completely. It wasn’t surprising he was acting this way.
A little while later, they arrived somewhere different—not where the pillar had stood.
(Huh? What’s that…?)
Kushan looked around, searching for the pillar, but then caught sight of a huge tent right in front of him. He let out a faint gasp. It was enormous—big enough to easily fit him inside. Suddenly, Kushan’s face brightened.
(W-what is this? Did you make this for me?)
He took a step toward Kim Yuhyun, turning to him.
(Gasp!)
Suddenly, Kim Yuhyun jumped back as if struck by something, putting some distance between them. Then, realizing his reaction, he forced a smile that looked strained and nodded awkwardly. But Kushan could see the unmistakable fear lingering in his eyes, and found himself at a loss for words.
(Y-yeah, well… it’s kind of a gift, I guess?)
(…)
(Ha, haha. That’s your tent, and the one next to it is mine… I thought it’d be more comfortable that way.)
(…)
(Of course, there’s a separate pillar inside, and it’s just to keep out the rain and wind. If you don’t like it, I can change it. I could set one up somewhere quieter, too.)
(…No, it’s fine.)
The joy of receiving the tent was short-lived. Kushan barely replied and then walked inside with a sullen expression.
If things had been like this from the start, Kushan wouldn’t have felt much. But even though their time together had been brief, Kim Yuhyun and Kushan had shared meals and conversations during marches and at camp. They had built a surprisingly deep connection. By now, they were quite close.
So, if Kim Yuhyun had been afraid from the beginning, that would have been understandable. But to act this way after just one sparring session? From Kushan’s perspective, it was genuinely disappointing.
(Did I do something wrong?)
Once inside the tent, Kushan pouted and spoke with a hint of hurt. Kim Yuhyun, who was muttering a binding spell, looked up, startled.
(Hmm? No, nothing.)
(Then why is everyone acting like this?)
(Huh? Like what?)
(Don’t lie. I see and feel things too. This is really unfair.)
(Hmm. Sorry if it felt that way.)
(Tch… that’s why I didn’t want to do this in the first place…)
Kushan trailed off, sulking. Kim Yuhyun sighed softly, quickly finished his spell, and spoke quietly.
(…The sparring results were a bit—no, a lot—more unexpected than I thought.)
Kushan was about to ask, “Is that guy really the greatest human warrior?” but swallowed the words. Looking at Kim Yuhyun’s face, he felt it wasn’t the right time.
Then Kim Yuhyun quietly spoke again.
(Let me ask you just one thing. Are you strong?)
(Huh?)
Surprised, Kushan asked for clarification.
(You’re Kushan, right? The king of the giants’ clan? So you’re the heir, aren’t you? Among giants, you must be incredibly strong, right? Huh? That’s right, you’re the strongest, aren’t you?)
The rapid-fire questions sounded like he was hoping for a “yes.” Kushan stared at him for a moment, then shook his head.
(No.)
(You’re not?)
(No, I’m actually on the weaker side.)
(Weaker side?)
(Once I undergo the coming-of-age ceremony and receive Thor’s power, I’ll become much stronger… but not yet. I’m the youngest, and there are many far stronger than me.)
(…How many are there?)
Kushan answered, “Eight hundred.” Kim Yuhyun’s face twisted in disbelief, clearly visible.
(800… eight hundred…)
Muttering to himself as if stunned, Kim Yuhyun slowly turned away.
(Alright… I get it…)
In the past, they might have talked about something else, but this time, those were his last words before he left the tent, his steps unsteady. Kushan stared after him, then suddenly frowned and twisted his body. The ropes binding him felt unusually tight and uncomfortable today.
Outside the tent, Kim Yuhyun exhaled softly and stretched. At the same time, he massaged his face, turning his head side to side with a look of exhaustion. It was hard enough to focus on his words, let alone his expressions or actions. Soon, his weak gait returned to normal.
Then—
“Ah, Thunder Lord!”
Suddenly, a few users spotted Kim Yuhyun ahead and quickly approached. They were the commanders who had been at the sparring ground earlier.
“So, how is it? Are we ready to—”
“Shh.”
Just as someone was about to speak, Kim Yuhyun raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence. The users exchanged uneasy glances and fell quiet. Kim Yuhyun shot a sharp look at the tent, then slowly mouthed his message—no sound, just lip movements.
His words were brief:
“The giants have keen hearing.”
“We should move somewhere else.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------
Wishing all readers a peaceful night.