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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Episode 12: Curious About Bloodline (3)
He could have asked for something material.
But what Kwon Hanul wanted most was Kwon Jiseok’s submission.
By receiving a formal apology, he would redefine their relationship—
So that the word "lowborn" would never come out of Kwon Jiseok’s mouth again.
No—actually, that didn’t matter.
None of that mattered anymore.
He simply couldn’t endure it any longer. The insults calling him lowborn, the accusations of his father being a traitor—
He would use this opportunity to shatter Kwon Jiseok’s arrogance so thoroughly that he would never dare spew such nonsense again.
"This bastard must be out of his mind. Why the hell would I accept that kind of bet?"
As expected, Kwon Jiseok wasn’t quick to take the deal.
'Of course.'
Given how vague the situation was, it was only natural for him to be suspicious since Hanul had been the one to suggest the wager first.
"Well, if you’re not confident, you can always back out."
Hanul feigned indifference.
"In that case, I’ll just take my time enjoying the Core."
At those words, Kwon Jiseok immediately shouted, "Wait! Fine, I accept the bet!"
Hanul smirked internally.
He knew Jiseok would agree—he was the one at a disadvantage here, after all.
"Remember those words," Hanul warned.
"I should be the one saying that," Jiseok shot back.
The two locked eyes for a brief moment before going their separate ways.
‘Idiot.’
Kwon Jiseok suppressed a laugh.
'He must have something up his sleeve if he’s proposing a bet… But it won’t work on me.'
He pulled out a monocle from his coat and placed it over his left eye.
A faint, glowing ring surfaced on the monocle’s lens—proof that it was a relic with a special ability.
Monocle of the Royal Thief
Grade: Unique (C)
His vision shifted, now overlayed with colors. The materials in the storage room appeared in different hues.
The monocle’s ability allowed him to visually distinguish the value of each item and provided precise information about them.
'A dungeon raider wouldn’t survive without an appraisal artifact.'
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
'What a fool. That Imoogi’s Core is as good as mine.'
Jiseok confidently roamed the storage, selecting all the materials labeled as coming from Dragon-type monsters.
"I’ve gathered them."
"Hmm?"
Park Tae-sik, who had been napping in his chair, opened his eyes at the sound. He casually glanced at the materials Jiseok had brought.
"Huh. You actually picked the right ones."
"Please, this was nothing."
Jiseok chuckled, relieved. He had been tense since this was a test set by the legendary craftsman, but it turned out to be easier than expected.
Meanwhile, Hanul was still searching the storage.
Jiseok had no doubt that he had already won.
Until—
"This won’t do."
Park Tae-sik shook his head.
"…What do you mean? You said to bring Dragon-type materials," Jiseok protested.
"I did say that. But I never said you could use an appraisal artifact."
Jiseok’s face stiffened. He looked like he had just been caught red-handed.
‘When the hell did he see me using it?’
"Every single person who takes my test uses appraisal items. And because of that, they all make the same mistake."
Park Tae-sik waved dismissively, as if swatting away a pesky bug.
"You fail. Those materials belong to the Hyukcheon Group. Put them back where they were."
"T-This is absurd! You never said we couldn’t use appraisal items! You clearly stated we just needed to bring Dragon-type materials!"
Tsk tsk.
Park Tae-sik clicked his tongue.
"You think this is some standardized test? If I say it doesn’t count, it doesn’t count. If I say it does, then it does. Hell, even if you somehow passed, I could just refuse to acknowledge it, and that’d be the end of it."
"That’s ridiculous!"
"Listen, kid. You’ve got this all wrong. You are the one in need here—not me."
Jiseok gritted his teeth. But before he could argue further, Tae-sik continued.
"True Black Dragon Bloodline holders are naturally drawn to the power of dragons. And the stronger the potential of the bloodline, the greater that instinct becomes. This test is meant to assess that potential."
Just then, there was a movement from behind.
Hanul had finally returned, holding a single item.
Unlike Jiseok, who had gathered a pile of materials, Hanul had chosen just one.
A small glass vial filled with dark red blood.
Jiseok scoffed when he saw it. But Tae-sik’s reaction was entirely different.
"Puha-ha-ha-ha!"
The old craftsman suddenly burst into laughter. Jiseok, confused, stared at him.
Still chuckling, Tae-sik took the vial and examined it closely.
"I never thought anyone would actually pick this."
He looked at Hanul with an expression of pure amusement.
"Not even the pureblood managed to find this. But you did. You truly are a dragon-blooded."
* * *
When Kwon Jiseok pulled out an appraisal artifact, Kwon Hanul wasn’t surprised.
‘As expected, he’s using an appraisal item.’
He had already anticipated this.
For hunters who frequently explore dungeons, appraisal artifacts are essential equipment. Naturally, Hanul expected that Kwon Jiseok would have one as well.
That’s exactly why he had turned that expectation against him by proposing the bet.
And when Kwon Jiseok failed, Hanul wasn’t surprised either.
‘There’s no way Master Craftsman Park Tae-sik wouldn’t account for appraisal artifacts.’
He had considered this possibility beforehand.
With an appraisal artifact, this test wouldn’t be difficult at all. And yet, Park Tae-sik never explicitly forbade their use.
‘Using an appraisal item means you’ll fail this test.’
From that perspective, Kwon Jiseok was as good as disqualified from the start.
So, then—how could one pass this test?
As Hanul searched the storage room, he realized that every material that exuded draconic energy was nothing more than low-grade scraps.
It was an intentionally crafted deception—there was no doubt about it.
That left him with only one possibility.
‘A treasure hunt.’
Hanul ran his fingers over the materials one by one as he moved through the storage.
[True Black Dragon Blood senses the power of a dragon.]
Messages popped up repeatedly. Then, about halfway through the storage—
[True Black Dragon Blood detects a powerful dragon’s energy.]
The message had changed slightly. Hanul retraced his steps and examined the material his fingers had just brushed past.
A glass vial containing dark red blood.
Without hesitation, Hanul picked it up.
“Do you know the flaw of appraisal artifacts?”
Park Tae-sik asked Kwon Jiseok, who remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line.
“They only determine an item’s current value. That’s usually not a big deal—once something is crafted, its value doesn’t change.”
But in this world, some materials fluctuate in value based on how they are processed.
“Raw materials, however, are different. Their worth changes completely depending on how they are refined.”
For example, iron ore is just a rock with iron content until it is properly smelted and refined.
“Your appraisal artifact probably didn’t display any useful information about this vial, did it? That’s because, in its current state, this blood is worthless. It needs to be processed to reveal its true value.”
Park Tae-sik shook the vial as he spoke.
“There are only two ways to recognize the true worth of an unprocessed material. Either you have extensive knowledge, like me… or you’re instinctively drawn to it.”
And there was only one type of instinct he was referring to.
A dragon’s blood recognizing another dragon’s power.
“What’s your name again?”
“Kwon Hanul, sir.”
Park Tae-sik let out a hearty laugh.
“You pass.”
Without realizing it, Hanul clenched his fist in triumph and turned to look at Kwon Jiseok.
Jiseok stood frozen, his expression blank with shock.
“You heard him, didn’t you?”
At Hanul’s words, Jiseok flinched.
“You lost the bet, so keep your word.”
“Y-you… you—!”
“You wouldn’t go back on your word, would you? Especially as a proud pureblood of the Hyukcheon Clan. Isn’t that right?”
Hanul’s mocking tone made Jiseok’s face turn red with fury.
Looking down at him coldly, Hanul continued.
“Get on your knees and apologize for everything you’ve done to me.”
Jiseok trembled with rage, his glare murderous. If looks could kill, Hanul would have been dead on the spot.
“You… you lowly—”
“I warned you not to say that ever again. Do you really want to make that mistake a second time?”
Hanul’s words cut through the air like a blade. Jiseok clamped his mouth shut.
“What’s taking so long? Apologize.”
Jiseok ground his teeth so hard it was audible. Slowly—agonizingly slowly—he began to kneel.
Just before his knees touched the ground, Hanul spoke up.
“If you hate it that much, let’s make another bet.”
Jiseok’s eyes widened. Hanul continued.
“If you win, we’ll pretend none of this ever happened. But if I win, you’ll have to leave behind everything you brought with you today.”
“L-leave it behind?”
“The materials you collected.”
A sudden burst of laughter filled the air. Park Tae-sik, who had been watching the scene unfold, couldn’t hold back his amusement.
“Ah, I like this! If I’m going to craft something, I’d rather not use mediocre materials. I admire that boldness.”
Even if they used the same materials, equipment crafted by a master like Park Tae-sik would be leagues beyond that of any other craftsman.
And since he was going to make something special, it would be a shame to settle for subpar materials.
“That’s the kind of spirit I like to see! So, what will you do?”
Park Tae-sik looked at Jiseok with an expectant grin.
For a brief moment, hesitation flickered across Jiseok’s face. The materials he had gathered weren’t easy to acquire.
“…Fine. I accept.”
But there was no way he would endure this humiliation.
“What’s the bet?”
“We’ll keep it short and simple—let’s test our skills with a single technique.”
Jiseok frowned in confusion.
“…You’re not suggesting we fight, are you?”
It was common knowledge that, among Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk’s children, Jiseok had the least talent.
But even so, he was a pureblood.
Aside from the direct bloodline, his lineage was among the strongest. He had grown up with the full support of the Hyukcheon Group.
All of his physical stats were above A-rank, and he had mastered the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques up to the fifth level.
“You must be feeling cocky after defeating some low-level bastard, but I’m different!”
“Who said anything about a brawl? I said we’d test our skills with a single technique.”
“That’s the same thing—”
“There’s a technique in the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques that focuses purely on skill rather than brute force, isn’t there?”
Jiseok narrowed his eyes. The Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques was a power-based martial art.
It relied on overwhelming physical strength to unleash explosive destruction.
Then, suddenly, it hit him.
“…You’re talking about the Disruptive Style, aren’t you?”
The Disruptive Style was an unusual technique within the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques.
It neutralized an opponent’s power by either redirecting their force or nullifying it entirely.
Because of that, it was the only technique in the entire martial art that wasn’t dependent on physical abilities.
“Yes. Whoever forces the opponent to their knees first wins.”
“…You bastard.”
Jiseok didn’t particularly like the Disruptive Style. But since it was required for advancement, he had trained it up to the fifth level.
There was no way he could lose to someone like Hanul, who had just begun learning advanced techniques.
Even knowing that, why had Hanul suggested such a reckless condition?
The intent was unclear—but Jiseok had no choice.
If he refused, he would have to kneel before Hanul.
“…Fine. Let’s do this.”
Jiseok growled, his voice laced with fury.
* * *
The three of them stepped out of the warehouse. Causing a commotion in a place like this was out of the question.
As soon as Kwon Hanul emerged, Joo Hayun approached him with a concerned expression.
“How did it go?”
“I passed.”
For a brief moment, a smile flickered across her face before disappearing. She was truly someone whose smile was rare to see.
“But I made a bet.”
“A bet?”
“That bastard challenged me to a match using the Disruptive Style.”
From a short distance away, Kwon Jiseok shouted, pushing a steel box filled with materials forward.
“As promised, if you win, all of this is yours.”
“And if you win, we’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”
Hearing their exchange, the craftsmen around them began murmuring amongst themselves. They didn’t know the full story, but one thing was certain—
Kwon Hanul, a True Blood, was about to duel Kwon Jiseok, a Pure Blood.
“…Lord Kwon Hanul?”
Concern returned to Joo Hayun’s face. Kwon Hanul reassured her before stepping toward Kwon Jiseok.
“The conditions remain the same as we discussed earlier.”
“Only Disruptive Style. The first to force their opponent to their knees wins. That correct?”
“Exactly.”
The two grasped each other’s hands, their gazes locking in midair with fierce intensity.
“I’ll make you regret everything that happened today.”
“You talk too much. Less chatter, more action.”
Kwon Jiseok scowled. At that very moment, his hand moved.
The match was decided in an instant.
‘I have to win!’
That was the only thought in Kwon Jiseok’s mind.
His pride wouldn’t allow him to kneel before Kwon Hanul. More than that, he refused to suffer another humiliation.
Fortunately, the odds were in his favor.
With no other conditions—just technique—it was obvious that the one with the higher mastery would win.
Kwon Hanul had only been training for five months, whereas Kwon Jiseok had been practicing for over a year. His level of mastery was undeniably higher.
Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques – Basic Form
Disruptive Style: Soul Release
A technique that subdued the opponent by redirecting their movement.
Of all the Disruptive Style techniques, this was the one Kwon Jiseok was most confident in.
And then—his body trembled.
“…What?”
Confused, Kwon Jiseok looked down.
Just moments ago, he had been standing firm, yet now—his knees were on the ground.
It had happened before, during Hanul’s fight with the Mixed Blood.
Back then, Kwon Hanul had completely subdued his opponent using Disruptive Style from the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques.
It worked not just because he caught him off guard, but also due to the sheer gap between their techniques.
But Black Dragon Ascension Art wasn’t just stronger than the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques.
It held far deeper meaning. Sometimes, it even manifested as an entirely different technique.
Black Dragon Ascension Art – Basic Form
Disruptive Style: Soul Release
A technique that instantly drains an opponent’s strength.
That was all it did—on the surface.
But Soul Release from Black Dragon Ascension Art and Soul Release from the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques were entirely different in nature.
And a person cannot defend against a technique they don’t understand.
That was why Kwon Hanul had made this bet.
“W-What? Wait… no, hold on—”
Kwon Jiseok, kneeling on the ground, shouted in disbelief.
Kwon Hanul let go of his hand and spoke.
“The materials are mine now.”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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