Chapter 6.2

I didn't care who came in at first. After all, how amazing could a hunter who came to such a place to have a drink be. 

But the people in the tavern began to chatter.

"Hey, that guy over there…"

"What? Really?"

"Why was he in a place like this?"

The bar became strangely quiet as if everyone was afraid to breathe.

At this point it would be odd if I didn't get curious. So, I turned my head to look. Standing there was an old man dressed in an expensive looking black suit.

"Um."

The man was dressed as if he had just come back from work. He wore a white shirt and a patternless red tie. If one saw this man, one couldn't help but think,

'When did I return to the outside world.'

The man looked like any common office worker, but there was one thing that stood out. On his feet were bright red sneakers.

Not shoes. Sneakers.

'Wow, what kind of fashion sense is that?'

The difference was striking. But it wasn't just his clothes that were weird.

"Milk?"

"Yes."

"Please add vodka and sugar to a glass of warm milk. Actually, it would be better if you used honey instead of sugar."

The owner of the tavern was embarrassed by the strange orders.

"Uh…customer. I'm not a bartender…"

"I will pay the necessary amount. Don't worry."

The owner of the bar nodded hesitantly. The other customers were mumbling quietly, all of them still looking at the old man. 

It seemed that this man was quite famous. 

'Who is this?'

My eyes narrowed slightly. 

'Strange, I can't seem to remember someone like this.'

While I wasn't proud of it, there was probably no other human who envied the top ranking hunters as much as I do. So naturally, I was able to say every name from the 100th to the 2nd in the rankings. All because of my jealousy. 

Even then, this old man in this suit, was someone unfamiliar to me. 

'I think I saw him somewhere before. Where did I see him? Where?'

It came to me after thinking for a long time.

'Ah!'

I remembered in my room. Among the fragments that were attached to the wall. There was a picture of this very old man. 

[22 days since the Sword Saint's disappearance. Will the Hunter Association face its worst crisis?]

'It's the Sword Saint!'

I remembered. This was the most famous person before Yoo Soo-ha became known as the Flame Emperor. 

I'd forgotten because he was a hunter who'd disappeared long ago. It was hard to remember those hunters who'd been active more than 10 years ago. 

I didn't know what to think, looking at someone who I knew would disappear.

'Ah right…now it's years in the past.'

I finally, truly felt that I'd returned to the past.

'This man would soon become the strongest in the world…even the Flame Emperor had to look up to him.'

It was an amazing feeling. Even though I knew it was just an excuse, I kept staring at the Sword Saint. What should I do? It was strange to see such a great man in front of me, even if he'd died long ago. Either way, it was pretty strange.

'Hey. Doesn't this senior have S ranked skills?'

A thought ran through my head as I drank my beer.

'Not strange skills like mine either, but actual combat skills…'

It was at that moment.

'Uh?'

My hand had moved without me realising it. Suddenly, my S rank skill appeared in front of me. 

[I Want to Become Just Like You.]

Rank: S+

Effect: 

         →Activates automatically upon death. 

         →After being killed by an enemy, copy one of their skills and make it your own. 

         →Skills cannot be copied from targets who have killed you before. 

          →The copied skill is randomly selected. 

          →However, you die!

'Wait a minute.'

The feeling was like being struck by a lightning bolt. The same sensation I felt when I finally figured out a way to kill the Flame Emperor filled my body. 

[I Want to Become Just Like You.] 

This skill was amazing. With it, you could copy any skill from any hunter. The only drawback however, was that you had to die first. 

However.

'I don't stay dead.' 

Because I had another skill.

[Returner's Clockwork Watch.] 

Rank: EX

Effects:

      → Activates automatically upon death. 

      → Return 24 hours prior to death. 

      → Memories and abilities are preserved even after returning. 

      → However the higher the rank of the hunter, the larger the penalty. 

      → Skill copied from Hunter Yoo Soo-ha.

'Then.'

A chill went down my spine. 

'Can I just copy anything? A hunter who picks up things by dying?'

The pressure of having to kill Yoo Soo-ha had caused this fact to evade me all this while but I'd finally realized. (TL: It took him long enough, I was wondering when he was gonna run into the old man's sword)

'The Sword Saint , the world's strongest in the present era.'

Gulp.

I swallowed the mouthful of beer I'd forgotten in my mouth. 

The Flame Emperor who had also been considered the strongest in his era, had such a game-breaking regression skill. So this Sword Saint, who towered over the world in the time before his disappearance. What kind of skill would this great person have? 

Wouldn't it be just as good as Yoo Soo-ha's skill?

'If I could copy it…'

I stared intently at the old man's back. 

'Jackpot.'

Maybe…

My hunt had not ended yet.